The East region delivered several deep postseason runs in Division II and Division III last season. Scranton reached the DIII women’s national championship game, NYU made the DIII women’s Final Four, Daemen’s women reached the DII East Region final, Emory’s men played for the DIII national title and Daemen’s men advanced to the DII Elite Eight.
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FloCollege is home to Division II and III basketball all season long. From the ECC to the UAA to the Landmark Conference, here are five East Region programs to watch in 2026-27.
1. Emory Men's Basketball
Emory enters the 2026-27 season at No. 4 in the D3hoops.com preseason poll, marking the third straight season the Eagles have started in the top 10.
The Eagles reached the DIII national championship game last season and set a program record with 27 wins, finishing 27-4. They return 12 players from that team as they look to build on a historic run.
Seniors Ethan Fauss and AJ Harris bring experience, while junior Mario Awasum is also back. Fauss earned Second Team All-UAA honors after averaging 15 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Head coach Jason Zimmerman enters his 19th season at Emory. His teams have made the NCAA tournament in 12 of the past 13 seasons.
Emory faces Rhodes on Nov. 15, then meets Illinois Wesleyan on Dec. 30 in an Elite Eight rematch at the Emory Holiday Classic. Both games stream live on FloCollege.
2. Scranton Women's Basketball
Scranton made a name for itself by ending NYU’s 91-game winning streak with a 60-52 victory in the 2026 NCAA Division III Final Four.
The Royals finished 32-1 after falling to Denison, 55-41, in the Division III national championship game. It was Scranton’s first appearance in the title game since 1985 and the program’s 10th Final Four.
Scranton also won its 11th straight Landmark Conference championship and its 12th in 13 years. Several key players return, including All-Landmark Second Team selections Meghan Lamanna, Katie Gorski and Elizabeth Bennett. Sophia Talutto is back after earning Landmark Rookie of the Year honors.
The Royals open the season against SUNY Cortland on Nov. 13.
3. NYU Women's Basketball
If you’re not watching NYU women’s basketball, what are you doing? You’re forgiven if you start right now.
The Violets have won five straight University Athletic Association championships and claimed NCAA Division III national titles in 2024 and 2025. In 2026, they reached the Final Four before Scranton ended their record 91-game winning streak.
NYU opened the NCAA tournament with a 108-44 win over Maine-Farmington, then beat Messiah, 70-47. The Violets defeated Hardin-Simmons, 103-61, in the Sweet 16 and Wisconsin-La Crosse, 72-47, in the Elite Eight before their 60-52 semifinal loss to Scranton.
NYU begins UAA play against Brandeis on Jan. 9.
4. No. 5 Daemen Men's Basketball
Daemen enters the season as the two-time defending ECC tournament champion and the conference’s preseason No. 1. The Wildcats finished 33-2 last season, went undefeated in ECC play and won the NCAA Division II East Region.
Their run ended in the DII Elite Eight, where fifth-seeded Lander beat Daemen, 77-74. Daemen brings a 42-game ECC regular-season winning streak into 2026-27, along with seven key returners and a new group of freshmen.
Daemen was picked fifth in the FloCollege DII men’s basketball preseason poll.
The Wildcats open against Saint Anselm on Nov. 9, then face Saint Michael's on Nov. 13 and Gannon on Nov. 14.
5. Daemen Women's Basketball
Daemen’s women also have a title streak to protect. The Wildcats won their seventh straight ECC regular-season title and fifth consecutive ECC tournament championship last season.
They entered the DII tournament as the No. 3 seed in the East Region, beating Felician, 75-62, and Bentley, 58-55, before falling to Holy Family, 78-62, in the regional final.
Fifth-year forward Cecilia Lapertosa returns after missing most of last season with an injury. In 12 games, she averaged 13.7 points and seven rebounds. Other returning players include Sophie Auer, Julia Fontanillo Aparicio, Kyleigh Chapman and Brianna Caliri.
Daemen opens its season against Saginaw Valley State on Nov. 9.
FloCollege D2 Men’s Basketball Preseason Rankings
- Washburn (0-0)
- Nova Southeastern (0-0)
- Gannon (0-0)
- Lander (0-0)
- Daemen (0-0)
- Dallas Baptist (0-0)
- Black Hills State (0-0)
- West Liberty (0-0)
- Walsh (0-0)
- Cal State East Bay (0-0)
- St. Cloud State (0-0)
- West Alabama (0-0)
- Minnesota State (0-0)
- Michigan Tech (0-0)
- Eastern New Mexico (0-0)
- Saint Michael’s (0-0)
- CSU Pueblo (0-0)
- Palm Beach Atlantic (0-0)
- Western New Mexico (0-0)
- Jefferson (0-0)
- Point Loma (0-0)
- Alabama Huntsville (0-0)
- Grand Valley State (0-0)
- Cal Poly Pomona (0-0)
- Columbus State (0-0)
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