NEW YORK - Defending CUNY Athletic Conference regular season and tournament champion Lehman was voted first in the 2026-27 CUNYAC men's basketball preseason coaches' poll released Thursday morning. The Lightning garnered five of eight first place votes and totaled 47 points.
CCNY, which reached the conference championship game as a No. 6 seed last season, grabbed the other three first place votes and finished with 41 points. Brooklyn was voted third overall with 36 points, while Baruch (31) was slotted fourth. John Jay (26) rounded out the top five. York (19), Hunter (17) and Medgar Evers (7) rounded out the poll.
Lehman, which captured its first conference championship since 2004 last winter, finished the season 21-7 overall and with a perfect 14-0 mark in CUNYAC play, the first unbeaten CUNYAC season in men's basketball since 2016-17. The Lightning then battled Weslyan (Conn.) in the opening round of the NCAA tournament before falling 76-66.
CCNY, which was the first No. 6 seed to reach the conference final since 2012 last season, finished 5-9 in conference play a season ago. Brooklyn finished second in the regular season standings at 9-5 last season before being outlasted by the Beavers in double overtime in the conference semifinals.
The 2027 CUNYAC Men's Basketball Championship begins with first round games on Saturday, February 20. The semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, February 23, with the title game Friday, February 26 at 8 pm at Brooklyn's West Quad Gymnasium in a doubleheader with the women's basketball championship game earlier that evening.
2026-27 CUNY Athletic Conference
Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(first place votes in parentheses)
1. Lehman (5) - 47
2. CCNY (3) - 41
3. Brooklyn - 36
4. Baruch - 31
5. John Jay - 26
6. York - 19
7. Hunter - 17
8. Medgar Evers - 7
The Lightning open the 26-27 campaign on Saturday, November 11 at Keene State in New Hampshire at 1 PM. Lehman's first home contest is Wednesday, November 11 at 6 PM against Mt St VIncent. Tip-off is slated for 6 PM.
