PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The UMass Dartmouth men’s basketball team was named the favorite to once again take home the Little East Conference (LEC) title after accumulating 60 points and five first-place votes in the 2021 LEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The announcement comes following a vote of the league’s nine head coaches.
 
The Corsairs captured both the LEC regular season and tournament championships in last year’s COVID-shortened season, going 8-2 overall following a 6-2 regular season. The Corsairs defeated Rhode Island College 93-89 in the conference semifinals before rolling to a 108-68 title game triumph over Keene State College.
 
Head coach Brian Baptiste will have last year’s starting lineup intact as UMass Dartmouth looks to defend its title. That group that will be led by the reigning LEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year - senior guard Marcus Azor.
 
The Owls were picked to finish second in the conference with 54 points and two first-place votes, edging out 2019-20 LEC regular season and tournament champion Western Connecticut State University. WestConn, which did not participate last season due to the pandemic, totaled 49 points and garnered the remaining two first place votes.
 
The complete preseason coaches’ poll ranking is as follows:
 
2021-22 LEC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UMass Dartmouth - 60 points (5 FPV)
2. Keene State - 54 points (2 FPV)
3. Western Connecticut - 49 points (2 FPV)
4. Rhode Island College - 40 points
5. UMass Boston - 34 points
6. Eastern Connecticut - 33 points
7. Plymouth State  - 30 points
8. Southern Maine - 15 points
9. Castleton - 9 points