College basketball preview: Division II men's teams, players to watch

D-II teams to watch

IUP: Reigning PSAC champions went 30-3 last winter and enter season ranked No. 11 in the NABC Coaches’ poll. … Team must replace two of its top players in recent history: All-American forward Jacobo Diaz and four-time all-conference point guard Dante Lombardi. … First-team all-conference guard Malik Miller (Farrell), who averaged 16.4 points, is lone returning starter. … Team will rely on four Division I transfers, including forward Tommy Demogerontas from Northern Illinois and Shawndale Jones (The Kiski School) from NJIT.

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Slippery Rock: Coming off 19-10 season, The Rock were picked to finish second in the PSAC behind IUP in the preseason poll. … Team’s fortunes will revolve around senior forward Micah Till, who is ineligible until Dec. 15 because of transfer rules. The NCAA ruled Till has just one semester of eligibility left because he originally attended N.C. State on a football scholarship. Till averaged 21.2 points and 11.2 rebounds last season and is the top returning rebounder in Division II. He also averaged 2.1 steals and 2.0 blocks.

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Mercyhurst: Lakers beat IUP en route to the NCAA Atlantic Region championship last season. Lost to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State, 55-51, in the Elite Eight. … Lone returning starter is sophomore guard MiyKah McIntosh (7.9 ppg). … Only senior on roster is Trystan Pratapas, who led team with 64 3-pointers last season and averaged 7.2 points.

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D-II players to watch

Nathan Davis, sr., G, Seton Hill: Averaged 19.2 points and 7.1 rebounds last season in earning second-team All-PSAC West honors. … Set school record with 89 3-pointers.

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John Paul Kromka, soph., F, Pitt-Johnstown: Gateway graduate was named PSAC West Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds.

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Brent Pegram, jr. G, Cal (Pa.): Led Vulcans with 18.5 points, 4.2 assists and 37.9 minutes per game. … Became first all-conference selection from Cal since 2014-15.