After averaging 77.6 points and going 24-7 last season, including an 18-4 mark in conference, the Shippensburg men’s basketball team is expected to repeat in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division.

IUP, meantime, is the favorite to win the West Division.

Shippensburg brings back three starters, including grad student guard Jake Biss (Latrobe), an All-PSAC first team player who averaged 15.9 points and made 73 3-pointers. The Raiders are coached by Chris Fite, a Latrobe alum.

IUP won the PSAC title, defeating Shippensburg in the final. The Crimson Hawks begin the year ranked No. 18 in the NABC poll. Key returning players include redshirt junior guard Armoni Foster (19.8 ppg) and sophomore forward Ethan Porterfield.

The other West teams in the top 5 include Mercyhurst, Pitt-Johnstown, Cal (Pa.) and Gannon.

UPJ was 22-9, 15-7 and returns junior 6-7 forward John Paul Kromka (Gateway).

Cal (19-11, 14-8) has senior guard Brent Pegram (20 ppg).

The season tips off Nov. 12, with conference play beginning Dec. 3.

PSAC preseason polls (first-place votes)

East

1. Shippensburg (7)

2. East Stroudsburg

3. West Chester (1)

4. Millersville (1)

5. Kutztown

6. Shepherd

7. Lock Haven

8. Bloomsburg

9. Mansfield

West

1. IUP (7)

2. Mercyhurst

3. Pitt-Johnstown (2)

4. Cal (Pa.)

5. Gannon

6. Slippery Rock

7. Clarion

8. Edinboro

9. Seton Hill

Players to watch

Jake Biss, GS/G, Shippensburg

Wesley Butler, Jr./G, Kutztown

Chris Clancy, R-So./G, Gannon

Jaden Faulkner, R-Jr., G, Millersville

Armoni Foster, R-Jr./G, IUP

John Paul Kromka, Jr./F, Pitt-Johnstown

MiyKah McIntosh, Sr./G, Mercyhurst

Brent Pegram, Sr./G, Cal (Pa.)

Marc Rodriguez, Rs-Jr./G, East Stroudsburg

Josh Samec, Jr./F, West Chester

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