MAAC coaches have chosen Quinnipiac as the preseason favorite to capture this year’s regular season championship. In the poll, the Braves received six first place votes and 113 total points. The 11 MAAC head coaches did the voting.
The Braves are coming off their second consecutive MAAC regular season title. Last season, Quinnipiac went 23-1-3 in league play and had an overall record of 27-6-3. The 27 wins set a single season Braves’ record.
Mercyhurst (105) and Iona (86) finished second and third, respectively, in the poll, while the MAAC’s newest member, Army (78), captured the fourth spot. Defending MAAC tournament champion Connecticut (77), and Sacred Heart (77), are tied for fifth in the poll, with Canisius (75) checking in at seventh.
Holy Cross (46), American International (28), Bentley (24), and Fairfield (17) finish out the preseason poll.
The MAAC enters its third season of play in 2000-01. The league has expanded for the third straight year with Army joining, raising membership to 11 teams. 2000-01 will be a landmark season for the MAAC; the winner of the 2001 MAAC Tournament receives automatic qualification to the NCAA tournament.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Quinnipiac (6) 113
2. Mercyhurst (3) 105
3. Iona 86
4. Army (1) 78
5. Connecticut 77
Sacred Heart (1) 77
7. Canisius 75
8. Holy Cross 46
9. AIC 28
10. Bentley 24
11. Fairfield 17
