HADDONFIELD, N.J. – The Atlantic East Conference announced the results of their annual preseason coaches poll for Men's Basketball on Tuesday afternoon and Neumann University earned the top spot.
 
The reigned conference champs earned four of the eight first place votes on their way to a total of 46 points. Last seasons runner-up, Marymount University nabbed 44 points with three first-place votes. Gwynedd Mercy picked up the third spot with Marywood right behind with 30 and 27 points, respectively. The final first-place vote with to Centenary as they finished right behind the Pacers with 26 points. The sixth spot went to Immaculata as they got 22 points with conference newcomers, Saint Elizabeth seventh with 19, and Pratt closing the poll with 10.
 
The Knights finished last season with a 20-8 overall record and were 9-3 in conference play, earning the top spot in the Atlantic East Conference tournament. In the semifinals, they took out Marywood University , 89-69 before an epic clash in the Championship. In the finale, Neumann was pressed to overtime but ultimately prevailed over Marymount with an 83-77 win, sending the Mirenda Center into a frenzy, and earning the team an NCAA Tournament berth. In their opening round match-up, they challenged No. 4 ranked and eventual national champion Trinity College, but fell by a final score of 76-60.
 
Neumann will start their 2025-26 campaign on Friday night in Scranton against DeSales University in the Hilton Scranton Invitational. The home portion of the schedule will start one week later with a non-conference game against Goucher. The conference schedule kicks off on January 7^th in the Mirenda Center against Immaculata with the finale on the road at Centenary on February 21^st. The postseason will begin on February 23^rd with a first round game with the semifinals on February 25^th, and the championship on February 28^th. All playoff games hosted by the highest seeded team.