The Vikings of Salem State College are the pre-season pick to win the 2009-10 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball championship in a vote of the league’s coaches.
Salem State, who shared last year’s regular season crown with Bridgewater State, captured four first place votes to amass 45 points in taking the top spot in the poll, as the Vikings outdistanced the second place Bears’ total of 41 points that included two first place votes.
Framingham State, which garnered the other first place vote, is next in third place with 40 points, while Worcester State and Westfield State follow in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively, with 25 and 22 points. Fitchburg State and MCLA round out this year’s coaches’ poll with 14 and nine points, respectively.
Now in its 39th season of existence, the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference is comprised of eight state member institutions that sponsor 17 championships in NCAA Division III play. Over 2,600 student-athletes participate in intercollegiate athletics at MASCAC members Bridgewater State College, Fitchburg State College, Framingham State College, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State College, Westfield State College and Worcester State College and compete for league titles in the sports of baseball, men’s & women’s basketball, men’s & women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s ice hockey, women’s lacrosse, men’s & women’s soccer, softball, men’s & women’s indoor and outdoor track & field and women’s volleyball.
2009-10 MASCAC Men’s Basketball Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)
1. Salem State (4) 45 points
2. Bridgewater State (2) 41 points
3. Framingham State (1) 40 points
4. Worcester State 25 points
5. Westfield State 22 points
6. Fitchburg State 14 points
7. MCLA 9 points