Men’s Basketball Selected Among GNAC Contenders in 2023-24

GNAC PRESEASON POLL PRESS RELEASE | 2023-24 REGIS COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

WINTHROP, Mass. - With a veteran roster, the Regis College men's basketball team has been selected to finish in a tie for fifth place in the 2023-24 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, as the results of voting by the league's 15 head coaches were announced Thursday, Nov. 2.

Regis and Saint Joseph's College tied for fifth place with 143 points apiece. The four teams in front of the Pride and Monks all received first place votes, led by defending GNAC champion Albertus Magnus with eight first place votes and 218 overall points, just ahead of University of Saint Joseph with five first place votes and 211 total points. Emmanuel collected one first place vote and 194 overall points for third place, followed by Johnson and Wales with one first place vote and 153 total points.

Regis opens the 2023-24 season at home against Trinity College Friday, Nov. 10, with the game dedicated as Military Appreciation Night as it comes on the eve of Veterans Day. The Pride remain home for a non-conference game against Rhode Island College Tuesday, Nov. 14.

The Pride will participate in the Curry College Autism Acceptance Classic, facing Salve Regina Friday, Nov. 17, and SUNY Canton Saturday, Nov. 18. Regis takes the short trip west to face Framingham State Tuesday night, Nov. 21, before celebrating Thanksgiving.

The Pride return home for a non-conference game against Lesley Tuesday, Nov. 28, before beginning conference play at Dean Saturday, Dec. 2. Regis closes out the 2023 portion of the schedule with home games against Worcester State Wednesday, Dec. 6, and Saint Joseph's College Saturday, Dec. 9.

Regis will reprise a trip it took eight years ago, traveling to Atlanta, Ga., for the Jack Berkshire Classic, hosted by Oglethorpe University. The Pride will face Belhaven University Friday, Dec. 29, and the host Stormy Petrels Saturday, Dec. 30.

Right after 2024 begins, Regis hosts Brandeis Wednesday, Jan. 3, the first-ever meeting between the neighboring schools, before road contests at Anna Maria Jan. 6 and at Fitchburg State Jan. 10. GNAC newcomer Mitchell comes to Higgins Court for a league matchup Saturday, Jan. 13, followed by a home game against Norwich Tuesday, Jan. 16.

The Pride play their next three conference games on the road, visiting University of Saint Joseph Jan. 20, Emmanuel Jan. 24, and Lasell Jan. 27. New England College, the second new member of the league, comes to Weston Tuesday, Jan. 30, with Rivier visiting the Pride Saturday, Feb. 3.

During the final two weeks of the regular season, Regis travels to Elms Wednesday, Feb. 7 before hosting Albertus Magnus Saturday, Feb. 10. The Pride travel to Colby-Sawyer Tuesday, Feb. 13 and then welcome Johnson and Wales for Senior Day and the regular season finale Saturday, Feb. 17.

The top 10 teams at the end of the regular season will qualify for the 2024 GNAC Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. The postseason starts with a Play-In Round featuring the bottom four tournament seeds on Monday, Feb. 19, with those winners advancing to the GNAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Following the quarterfinals, the remaining four teams will play in the GNAC Semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 22, with the tournament culminating in the GNAC Championship game on Saturday, Feb. 24. The winner of the championship game will be named 2023-24 GNAC Men's Basketball Champion and earn the league's automatic qualifier into the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship.

Regis posted a 14-12 overall record in 2022-23, including a 10-8 mark within the GNAC. Nate Hager, the only head coach in the 17-year history of the Pride men's basketball program, welcomes back 16 returning players, including 2022-23 Second Team All-GNAC selection Russell Rau (Fitchburg, Mass.), plus he adds two newcomers to the roster.