Colonia, N.J. - The East Coast Conference recently released the results of its 2025-26 Preseason Poll for men's basketball and the Lions were selected eighth, voted on by the league's coaches. 

It is a new era in Rockville Centre for Molloy with Joe Conefry named the program's third head coach in history. Conefry joins Molloy after 19 seasons at Holy Trinity High School, developing the Titans into a powerhouse in New York State basketball. 

Conefry will have his work cut out for him, returning just one regular starter from last year's roster in Bryce Merchant. However, in total the Lions will return 10 from a season ago and will expect to see familiar faces in new roles. Molloy also welcomed five new additions in this year's recruiting class: Raymond Kinnard (Earl Monroe), Ebubenna Nwabudu (Elmont), Jared Weakly (Livingstone College), Chase Timberlake (Baldwin), Darius Coleman (Odessa College).

Molloy went 10-18 a season ago, going 6-10 in conference play. The sixth-seeded Lions fell in the opening round of the ECC Tournament to third-seeded Queens. 

This year, Molloy kicks off the campaign at local Hofstra on Monday, November 10. The team will then travel to Pleasantville for the Conference Challenge in games against both Pace (November 14) and Adelphi (November 16). League play kicks off from Western New York at D'Youville on December 5 before the home conference slate starts against Roberts Wesleyan on December 12. 

The Preseason Poll saw defending-champion Daemen receive all nine first-place votes. The playoff picture includes St. Thomas Aquinas, Staten Island, Queens, Roberts Wesleyan, and D'Youville in order. District of Columbia finished just above Molloy in seventh with Mercy following the Lions in ninth.