C2C - Christopher Newport was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021-22 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll. The Captains received five first-places votes and totaled 25 points to land atop the preseason rankings in a vote among the conference head coaches. 

Salisbury and Mary Washington tied for second place in the rankings as the Sea Gulls compiled 19 points and the remaining first-place vote, with the Eagles also earning 19 points. 

UC Santa Cruz took fourth place with 13 points, followed by Finlandia and Pratt who were tied in fifth with seven points each to round out the poll. 

The 2021-22 campaign kicked off last week and the teams are underway. The C2C Championship tournament will take place February 24-26 on the campus of Christopher Newport University. 

2021-22 C2C Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

Below is a brief preview of each team entering the 2021-22 campaign: 

Christopher Newport heads into the 2021-2022 season with a diverse roster of returners and newcomers, with a total of 19 student-athletes ready to return to action following a season of exhibition games last year. The Captains, who were 23-6 and playing in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament when the pandemic halted play, return fifth-year seniors Jason Aigner and Adrian Beasley. John Krikorian begins his 11th season on the bench, and has led the Captains to seven NCAA trips in his first ten seasons.

Salisbury men’s basketball returns 10 players from the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, highlighted by two fifth-year seniors in 2019 All-CAC First Team selection Gary Briddell and Johnny Fierstein. Briddell entered the season seven points away from becoming Salisbury’s 33rd member of the 1,000-point club. Fierstein averaged 9.1 points per game with 6.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per contest as season ago. Sophomore forward Jordan Oates also returns to the team in 2021 after averaging a double-double last year with 13.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Mary Washington will look to challenge again in the C2C tournament, with a veteran backcourt and depth with new faces in the post. Head Coach Marcus Kahn will look to senior guards Da'Shawn Cook (13.4 PPG in 19-20), Ra'Shawn Cook, and Riley Welch (11.0 PPG) to lead a well-balanced squad that returns versatile guard Anias Saunders (8.3 PPG, 4.5 APG), senior forward Emmanuel Aghayere, and junior center Colin Coyne.

The UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs open the C2C era with a new coach. Former Tufts assistant Matt Malone takes the reins in Santa Cruz. Coach Malone welcomes six first-time players along with inheriting three returning starters from the last time UC Santa Cruz played in 2019-20: Center Avri Holmes provides a presence up front, Ryan Silva is a threat from three, and senior Simon-Mueller-Landsvik is a guiding hand at point guard.

Finlandia returns nine of 16 players, including four starters, from last season.  Six of the top seven scorers are back, led by junior Danny Zuchak (9.3 points per game).

The Pratt men's basketball program looks to build off a school record 15 wins from the 2019-20 season. Pratt returns two starters and four reserves from the 2019-20 season.  Nine newcomers will look to make an immediate impact for the Cannoneers as it looks to make noise in the C2C.