WHEELING – The West Liberty University men’s basketball team has been named the Mountain East Conference preseason favorite, according to a vote of the league’s 11 head coaches.
The MEC men’s basketball preseason poll was announced Tuesday afternoon here at WesBanco Arena, the site of this year’s Basketball Media Day.
The Hilltoppers received nine of 11 possible first-place votes for a total of 98 points. Head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team. West Liberty won 26 games last season and finished as the MEC regular season co-champions. The Hilltoppers ranked in the top five nationally in points per game and 3-pointers while advancing to the NCAA tournament second round.
Fairmont State, which was voted second in the poll, and third-place Charleston each received a first-place vote. The Falcons are coming off a 21-win season, while UC and first-year head coach James Long will try to build off the team’s 29-5 campaign that included a regular season co-title and MEC tournament championship.
Following the top three, West Virginia State and Concord were voted as fourth and fifth, respectively. Glenville State is sixth in the poll, followed by MEC newcomer Point Park, Davis & Elkins, Wheeling, Frostburg State and West Virginia Wesleyan.
The 2024-25 MEC Basketball Media Day was held in the WesBanco Arena, the site of this March’s Mountain East Conference basketball championship. The tournament begins March 5 and will conclude with the championship games on March 9.
Mountain East Conference
Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
Rk Team Points
1 West Liberty (9) 99
2 Fairmont State (1) 87
3 Charleston (1) 81
4 West Virginia State 72
5 Concord 69
6 Glenville State 56
7 Point Park 44
8 Davis & Elkins 37
9 Wheeling 29
10 Frostburg State 20
11 West Virginia Wesleyan 11
