LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University men's basketball team was picked to finish 11^th in the Preseason MAAC Coaches Poll, the league announced tonight on its annual Preseason Basketball Awards Show. Rider finished 2019-20 third in the regular-season standings, but returns just four players from that roster to go along with 12 newcomers.

Defending Champion Siena (121 points) received all 11 first-place votes, ahead of Iona (103), Monmouth and Saint Peter's (89), Manhattan (77), Niagara (63), Quinnipiac (54), Fairfield (39), Marist (36), Canisius (31) and Rider (24).

The Broncs are led by returners Christian Ings (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti), Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson (Lansdowne, PA/Monsignor Bonner), Allen Powell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College H.S.) and Tyrel Bladen (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville). Ings and Ogemuno-Johnson were two of six players to play in all 30 games for the Broncs last season. Included in Ings' 30 games played were 18 starts, with the then-freshman guard scoring in double figures six times. All 30 of Ogemuno-Johnson's appearances came off the bench.

Providing experience for the Broncs are Division I transfers Rodney Henderson, Jr. (Carson, CA/Avon Old Farms [CSUN]) and Dwight Murray, Jr. (Austell, GA/Pebblebrook [Incarnate Word]) and junior college transfers Dontrell McQuarter (Baton Rouge, LA/Believe Prep [Hinds C.C.]) and Jeremiah Pope (Clinton, NC/Clinton [Brunswick C.C.]). Freshmen Nehemiah Benson (Streetsboro, OH/Lutheran East), Corey McKeithan (Windsor, CT/Windsor), Jordan Smalls (Jonesboro, GA/Eagle's Landing Christian Academy), Jaelen McGlone (Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham), Lawrence Foreman (Kingston, Jamaica/Woodstock Academy), Elijah Perry (Queens, NY/Holy Cross/St. Thomas More) and R.J. Weise (Allentown, NJ/Allentown) also look to carve out roles with the team in 2020-21.
 
2020-21 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
(1^st Place Votes in Parentheses)
1. Siena                               121 (11)                      
2. Iona                                 103                 
T3. Monmouth                     89                  
T3. Saint Peter's                  89                  
5. Manhattan                       77                  
6. Niagara                           63                  
7. Quinnipiac                      54                  
8. Fairfield                           39                  
9. Marist                              36                  
10. Canisius                        31                  
11. Rider                              24                          

Preseason All-MAAC Teams

Preseason Player of the Year – Jalen Pickett
 
First Team:
Jalen Pickett, Siena*
Manny Camper, Siena*
Deion Hammond, Monmouth*
Marcus Hammond, Niagara*
KC Ndefo, Saint Peter's
 
Second Team:
Asante Gist, Iona
Majesty Brandon, Canisius
Warren Williams, Manhattan
Isaiah Ross, Iona
Tyrese Williams, Quinnipiac
 
Third Team:
Jacob Rigoni, Quinnipiac
Jesus Cruz, Fairfield
Doug Edert, Saint Peter's
Raheem Solomon, Niagara
Daryl Banks, Saint Peter's

*unanimous selection