WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference has released their Preseason Coaches Polls for men's and women's basketball. The Worcester State University teams are projected to finish fourth and third respectively, and each received a first place vote.
The Lancers men's basketball team is under the direction of first-year head coach Tyler Hundley. Hundley and the Lancers will look to improve upon their 3-22 record overall and a 2-10 record in MASCAC play from a season ago.
The Lancers will be led by junior forward Shaun McCarthy (Oxford, Mass.) who was named to the MASCAC All-Conference Second Team last season after averaging 18.8 points and six rebounds per game.
The Lancers women's team is led by head coach Karen Tessmer who is entering her 25th season as the head coach. Worcester State went 13-14 overall last season, including a 6-6 record in MASCAC games, good for the fourth seed in the conference tournament where they would ultimately fall in the semifinals to Westfield State.
Brittany Herring (West Brookfield, Mass.) is returning for her senior season after leading the conference in field goal percentage at 57.3% and blocks with 83 total in a season that saw her being named to the All-Conference First Team.
Both Lancer teams will open up their season this week. The men play first with their Midnight Madness Game at 12:01 a.m. on the morning of Thursday, November 8 where they will face Clark University. The women will play the next day, Friday, November 9, against Clark as well as part of the Worcester City Tip-Off Tournament at Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 7:30 p.m.
2018-19 MASCAC Men's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)
| 1. | Bridgewater State | (6) | 39 points |
| 2. | Salem State | 28 points | |
| 3. | Fitchburg State | 25 points | |
| 4. | Worcester State | (1) | 19 points |
| 5. | Westfield State | 17 points | |
| 6. | MCLA | 13 points | |
| 7. | Framingham State | 6 points |
2018-19 MASCAC Women's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)
| 1. | Westfield State | (6) | 36 points |
| 2. | Framingham State | 29 points | |
| 3. | Worcester State | (1) | 27 points |
| 4. | Bridgewater State | 20 points | |
| 5. | Fitchburg State | 15 points | |
| 6. | Salem State | 14 points | |
| 7. | MCLA | 6 points |
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