GLENSIDE - The Arcadia University men's basketball team will be looking to defend its Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) crown in 2023-24, returning a large chunk of the roster and every player who saw minutes in the NCAA Division III Tournament a season ago.

"We have an experienced group, definitely a veteran group that was able to get to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history," explained head coach Adam Van Zelst. "We have some goals and expectations that we want to reach as a program and try to do something that this program has never done before."

Up front, the Knights return two-time MAC Freedom Player of the Year Jalen Watkins, who averaged a double-double with 18.7 ppg and 12.0 rpg and led the conference in field goal percentage at 59 percent. Watkins was also named First Team All-Region IV by NABC, Second Team All-Region IV by D3hoops.com, City of Basketball Love Division III All-Area, and First Team All-MAC Freedom. Joining Watkins down low will be Joshua Okocha, Debarrin Norman, Jamal Carr, Tre Diguglielmo, and Corey Attivo. 

In the backcourt, graduate student Justin Money will lead the way. The three-time All-MAC Freedom and City of Basketball Love Division III All-Area selection averaged 13.9 points and led the MAC Freedom in three-point percentage, converting at a 45 percent clip. Returners teaming with Money include Nas Johnson, Darius Isaac, Dom Vazquez, Josh Parks, Kahmai Clark, and Chris Williams. Newcomers looking to make their mark early are Latrell Bullock, Amyr Walker, Tymir Smalls, Kyndall Crawford, and Aidan Melograna.

"We've put together a really difficult non-league schedule," shared Van Zelst. "Knowing that we are returning an experienced group we wanted to challenge ourselves, so we are playing three teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year. We are just hoping to make some noise this year and get off to a better start than we have in the last couple seasons."

Arcadia, who was picked as the league favorites in the MAC Freedom Coaches Preseason Poll, kicks off the 2023-24 season on Thursday when it will host Susquehanna for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off inside the Kuch Center. MAC Freedom play begins January 3rd at DeSales, with the semifinals of the MAC Freedom Tournament scheduled for February 21st.