FLUSHING, N.Y. – Baruch College has been chosen as the league's top team on the 2021-22 CUNYAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, voted upon by the league's head coaches. In addition, Baruch's Adnan Bajrami was selected as the league's Preseason Player of the Year.
 
A 2020 CUNYAC First Team All-Star, Bajrami was one of the league's top performers, averaging 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. The guard was named a MWBA Second Team All-Star, a NABC Atlantic District Second Team All-Star and a D3Hoops.com Atlantic Region Third Team All-Star.
 
2021-22 CUNYAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Baruch – 58 Points (5 First-Place Votes)
2. Lehman – 51 Points (1)
3. John Jay – 49 Points (1)
4. Brooklyn – 43 Points (1)
5. Hunter – 30 Points
6. York – 24 Points
7. CCNY – 17 Points
8. Medgar Evers – 16 Points

Preseason Player of the Year: Adnan Bajrami, Baruch
 
Baruch (19-11, 9-5 CUNYAC in 2019-20) looks to return to the CUNYAC Finals for a third consecutive season, receiving 58 points and five first-place votes. The Bearcats qualified for the ECAC Division III Championship, advancing to the semifinal round.
 
Lehman (16-11, 9-5 CUNYAC in 2019-20) was chosen to finish second in the preseason poll after reaching the semifinals a season ago. The Lightning return CUNYAC First Team All-Star Gian Batista, who averaged 16.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest in 2019-20.     
 
John Jay (20-7, 13-1 CUNYAC in 2019-20) was picked third after having one of its best seasons in program history in 2019-20. The Bloodhounds went 13-1 against league opposition, winning the CUNYAC Regular Season title and entering the postseason tournament as the No. 1 seed for the first time in 35 years.
 
Brooklyn (13-16, 7-7 CUNYAC in 2019-20), the defending conference champions, were voted to finish fourth. The Bulldogs went on a Cinderalla run in 2019-20, winning the league title for the first time since 2016 and earning CUNYAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship.
 
Hunter (10-16, 8-6 CUNYAC in 2019-20), was picked to finish fifth, while York (8-17, 4-10 CUNYAC in 2019-20) was selected sixth. The Cardinals return CUNYAC Second Team All-star, Devine Chisholm, who averaged 14.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest in 2019-20.
 
CCNY (3-22, 2-12 CUNYAC in 2019-20) was tabbed seventh and return 2020 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year and D3Hoops.com Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year, Yassine Sakhi. Rounding out the poll is Medgar Evers (7-19, 4-10 CUNYAC in 2019-20), who return CUNYAC Second Team All-Star, Mousa Sinera.
 
The 2021-22 CUNYAC Men's Basketball Championships begin on Feb. 19, with First Round action at higher seeds. The semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 22 at higher seeds, followed by the championship game on Feb. 25 at CCNY.