Head Coach Bob Rukavina's Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cat men's basketball team has been pick to finish sixth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's (PSAC) Western Division when the 2018-19 Preseason Coaches' Poll was released on Thursday.

West Chester and IUP have been selected to win the Eastern and Western Division, respectively,

The Mountain Cats return two starters and six lettermen from last year's team that made its fourth consecutive in the PSAC Tournament.  Back in the starting are junior guard Josh Wise (15.0 ppg., 5.6 rpg.) and senior guard Olando King, Jr. (4.4 ppg., 5.4 rpg.). With six freshman, five of whom are former Pennsylvania or Ohio All-State selections, the 2018-19 version of the Mountain Cats will the the youngest in the 30-year tenure of Coach Rukavina.  Pitt-Johnstown must also replace three seniors in All-PSAC West selections Isaac Vescovi and Dale Clancy and staring forward Levi Masua.

WESTERN DIVISION
IUP claimed eight of the nine possible first-place votes and were selected as the favorite in the West. The Crimson Hawks return three starters from last season. IUP paced the league in three-point percentage (38.6) while holding teams to 70.3 points per game, which was third-best. Coach Joe Lombardi will rely on a trio of seniors in Jacobo Diaz, Dante Lombardi and Willem Branwijk. Diaz averaged 14.8 points and 9.7 rebounds. Coach Lombardi is 25 wins shy of 300 for his career and enters his 13th season at the helm.
 
Slippery Rock was slotted second and returns redshirt-junior Micah Till. Till was a monster on the glass while grabbing 12 rebounds per game. He claimed All-American honors while The Rock paced the PSAC in rebounds with 46.5. SRU coach Kevin Reynolds is 12 wins shy of 200 for his career. The Rock finished last season with a 21-9 record, including a 12-3 mark at home. 
 
Gannon was selected third and returns only one starter. The Golden Knights held teams to 65.9 points per game, marking the second-best in the PSAC. Coach John Reilly's squad went 14-1 at home last year. 
 
Mercyhurst was selected fourth and claimed a first-place votes and returns a pair of starters. The Lakers defense was tough last season while allowing only 65.5 points per game, which was best in the league. Mercyhurst will rely on senior Patrick Smith, who averaged 8.9 points and 7.9 rebounds. 
 
California was picked fifth and will be under the direction of Danny Sancomb. Sancomb joins the Vulcans after 11 seasons at Wheeling Jesuit. Cal returns one starter in Cordell Smith. Smith averaged 11.3 points per game last season. Cal is 16 wins shy of 900 as an institution.
 
Pitt-Johnstown was tabbed sixth and returns junior Josh Wise. Wise averaged 15 points per game. The Mountain Cats finished third in the PSAC in shooting percentage (48.0).
 
Edinboro was picked seventh and will be under the direction of sixth-year coach Pat Cleary. Cleary was named the West Coach of the Year while the Fighting Scots posted an 18-11 record. EU finished second in the league in free-throw percentage and three-point percentage. 
 
Seton Hill claimed eighth and will be under first-year coach Kendrick Saunders. The Griffins return four starters, including senior Trevor Blondin. Blondin scored 20.8 points per game while junior Nathan Davis turned in 14 points per contest. 
 
Clarion rounded out the poll and returns a pair of starters. 
 
The 2018-19 regular season commences Friday, November 9th. PSAC play begins Saturday, December 1.