TCNJ Favored To Sweep NJAC Hardwood

The College of New Jersey basketball programs found themselves atop the New Jersey Athletics Conference (NJAC) Men’s & Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Polls which were released on Thursday. Votes are tabulated from the conferences head coaches. 

TCNJ Women Looking to Defend Regular Season Title And More

On the women’s side, the defending regular season champions, received nine of the 10 possible first-place votes. The other first-place vote went to Rowan which finished third overall in the preseason polling. TCNJ returns three of their top scorers from last season in Nina Branchizio, Grace Kowalski, and Katie Fricker. Branchizio is the team’s leading returning scorer after averaging 10.6 points per game a season ago. She also led the team in assists and remains a defensive threat. Kowalski added 8.4 points per game while Fricker averaged 7.4. 

Joining the three returners are new transfer forward Jaclyn Feit who comes to Ewing from Franklin and Marshall College. The Lions are also expecting key contributions from freshman guards Amanda Baylock and Brooke McFadden. 

The Lions are a very well-rounded team on both ends of the floor. They are balanced in talent as well as size, a good combination for any basketball program. TCNJ appears to be the team to beat this season in the NJAC. 

Defending NJAC champion New Jersey City finished second in the preseason poll. 

2024-25 NJAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
(first place votes in parenthesis)

1. TCNJ (9)
2. NJCU
3. Rowan (1)
4. Kean
5. William Paterson
6. Stockton
7. Montclair State (dark horse)
8. Ramapo
9. Rutgers-Camden
10. Rutgers-Newark

TCNJ Men Looking For Repeat Title & NCAA Appearance

Last season, the TCNJ men’s basketball team made magical postseason run, becoming the first No. 5 seed to win the NJAC Tournament and claim the conferences’ NCAA Tournament berth. The Lions are hungry for more of that success following a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. The team lost fifth-year starters James Beckwith and Jason Larranaga but thanks to a deep roster, the Lions should be able to hit the ground running. 

TCNJ head coach Matt Goldsmith has two stars at his disposal that will lead the charge this season. Junior Nick Koch is back after averaging 17.7 points and 4.5 assists per game as a sophomore last season. He should be one of the top guards in the conference. Fellow junior, Matthew Solomon recorded 15 double-doubles last season, averaging 11.6 points and 10.5 rebounds. He led the conference in rebounding and is a force all over the court. 

The Lions go much deeper than their two top stars and should get plenty of contributions from players like Matthew Okorie, David Alexandre, and Jack Vreeswyk. 

2024-25 NJAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
(first place votes in parenthesis)

1. TCNJ (6)
2. Montclair State (2)
3. Ramapo (1)
4. Rowan (1)
5. Stockton
6. Kean
7. Rutgers-Camden (dark horse)
8. NJCU
9. Rutgers-Newark
10. William Paterson