College basketball preview: D-III men's teams, players to watch

D-III teams to watch

Saint Vincent: Coach Terrance Smith replaces D.P. Harris after 16 years. … Bearcats won regular-season PAC title before losing in the conference semifinals. Finished 22-5 overall and 14-2 in the league. … Led league with 79.1 points per game. … Must replace PAC Player of the Year Tom Kromka (Gateway). … Top returners include junior guard David Stephen (15.4 ppg, 3.1 apg) and senior guard Josh Duda (7.7 ppg) of Bethel Park.

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Chatham: Defending PAC champion knocked off top-seeded Saint Vincent en route to title in program’s fourth year of existence. … Guard Will Sandherr (North Allegheny), the only senior on team, was second on Cougars with 14.3 points per game last season. … Roster features eight freshmen and eight sophomores.

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La Roche: Went 24-3 overall and 18-0 in conference play but lost 67-65 in AMCC title game to Penn State Behrend. … Team must replace AMCC Player of the Year Zach Gould but brings back junior forward Tyler Frederick (Butler), a first-team all-league pick who averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds.

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D-III players to watch

Ethan Moose, sr., G/F, Geneva: Neshannock graduate ranked sixth in conference with 15.6 ppg and first with 9.3 rpg last winter. … First-team All-PAC selection also averaged 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks.

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James Wells, sr., F, Grove City senior: First-team All-PAC choice ranked third in conference with 16.4 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game. … Led PAC with 2.5 blocks per game.

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Zach Howarth, sr., G, Carnegie Mellon senior: Two-time all-conference selected ranked second in University Athletic Association with 16.6 points per game and led league in free throws made (105) and attempted (144).