NEWTOWN, Pa. – The annual Preseason Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth Coaches' Poll was released on Wednesday morning. Albright was selected to finish fourth in the conference.

FULL COACHES' POLL RESULTS

Alvernia was tabbed as the top team receiving three of the eight first place votes. Hood and York were selected second and third, each receiving two first place votes. Albright received one first place vote and was followed by Eastern, Widener, Stevenson and Messiah in the poll.

Last season, Albright won the regular season MAC Commonwealth championship with a 12-2 mark in conference play. From January 25 to February 22 the Lions did not lose a game, winning nine in a row during that stretch. The win streak was the longest of the last 50 years for the program.

Jeremiah Stanton, Phanique Dupree and Qadir Mitchell all return for Albright. The trio averaged 29 minutes or more per game last year. Dupree is the reining conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in total blocks and blocks per game. Nationally, Dupree finished second in total blocks with 90 setting a new program record for blocks in a season.

Stanton was named an All-MAC Commonwealth Honorable Mention in 2024-25. As the Lions floor general, Stanton averaged 10.4 PPG and 3.9 ASP. The per game assist average was one of the best in the Commonwealth.

Mitchell appeared in all 25 games last year averaging a career best 12.1 PPG on 46% shooting from the field. Also returning to the court for Albright is Joey Callahan, Spencer Fuller-Wright, Akhir Keys, Miles Smith and Josh Strong. The Lions will welcome nine new faces to the team in 2025-26.

Head coach Rick Ferry returns for his 25^th season at the helm. Ferry's team won 17 games last year marking the most in season since the NCAA tournament team in 2017-2018. The 12 conference wins were tied for the second most in a season under Ferry's leadership. The impressive season saw coach Ferry win his fourth MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year honor. Coach Ferry will be joined on the bench by long time assistant coaches Matt Chalupa and Casey Ayers. Enterning his first season on the sidelines for Albright is coach Justin Pisapia. 

Albright will begin play on November 7 at home against Penn State Berks. The Lions figure to be major players in the MAC Commonwealth and have set their non-conference slate to include top teams in the area. Albright will host Ursinus and Stevens and travel to Franklin & Marshall, Swarthmore and Kean. All five teams made or won their respective conference tournaments last season.

The team's annual holiday tournament will take place on December 29 and December 30. The four teams featured in the tournament are Albright, John Carroll, Stockton and Pitt-Greensburg.

Conference play will begin on Wednesday January 9. The Lions will play each MAC Commonwealth member institution twice with one home and away game.