BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Lynn University men's basketball team enters the 2025-26 season with renewed focus and momentum following one of its best campaigns in recent history. Under second-year head coach Bill Morosco, the Fighting Knights are determined to take the next step toward becoming a perennial contender in the Sunshine State Conference and on the national stage.

Lynn was voted fourth in the 2025-26 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Preseason Coaches Poll, collecting 70 points for its highest preseason ranking since 2019. The recognition comes after a stellar 21-win season and a trip to the NCAA South Regional semifinals, marking the program's deepest postseason run since 2018-19.

"Our focus is to build on the success of last season and try to make the jump from having a great team to creating a great program," said Morosco. "We want to set the foundation to do it again and again and build something that can compete for SSC and national championships."

Lynn returns a strong nucleus from last year's NCAA Tournament squad, including JP Baron, Braydon Iuli, Austin Vick, Sveinn Birgisson, Noah Kattan, Antoine Jacks and John Roland among others while also welcoming several newcomers expected to make an immediate impact.

"We've got a good mix this year," Morosco explained. "We return a lot of guys who earned big minutes late in the season, and we've added transfers who've already played heavy minutes elsewhere. That combination has made us much deeper, probably one of the deepest teams we've had."

Among the returners, Baron has emerged as a vocal leader. "JP has probably been our most vocal leader, he's our standard bearer," said Morosco. "He holds everyone accountable and sets the tone in practice."

Meanwhile, Iuli, one of the most dynamic guards in the SSC, is poised for a standout senior season. "Braydon has really embraced his role as a leader," Morosco added. "He's one of the most talented players in the league, and the guys look to him in big moments."

Roland is another player expected to make a leap after a breakout postseason performance last spring. "We're hoping John makes a big jump," said Morosco. "He came on strong late in the year, and now there's a bigger opportunity for him. He's earned it."

This year's roster features a blend of experience and athleticism. Returners like Vick and Birgisson provide size and versatility in the frontcourt, while additions such as graduate guard Justin Bubak, and Latvian sophomore Frederiks Meinarts bring fresh skillsets to the rotation.

"Last year we were playing seven guys early," said Morosco. "Now, we could realistically play 10 or 11. That depth gives us options and competition every day. I keep telling the guys to make my job hard when it comes to deciding who plays."

Among the biggest preseason surprises has been Matthew Puodziukaitis, a local Wellington product. "Matty P has been the biggest surprise," Morosco said. "He came in a bit under the radar but has surpassed expectations from day one. He's going to be a really good player for us."

While Lynn's 2024-25 squad ranked among Division II's most explosive offenses, finishing second nationally in three-pointers made and third in assist-to-turnover ratio. This year's group brings a slightly different look.

"We're still going to play fast, but we'll play to this team's strengths," Morosco explained. "Last year, we had four guys who shot 40% from three. This year, we'll still space the floor, but we've got more size and physicality, so we can attack the basket and rebound at a higher level."

Morosco also praised the team's defensive potential: "Last year, we were actually the second-best defensive team in the SSC, even though our offense got most of the attention. This year's group can be even better defensively. We've got the length, athleticism, and toughness to make that happen."

As Morosco transitions from building a culture to establishing a standard, he's emphasized accountability and hunger within the locker room.

"The first year, you try to create a culture," he said. "The second year, you create a standard. Our guys know what good looks like now, they know where the bar is, and they're holding each other accountable to stay above it."

After last year's success, complacency is not a concern. "We're not sitting fat and happy," Morosco stated. "We were close to achieving something special last year, and that fuels us. We want to go back and take that next step."

When asked how he'd like this team to be remembered, Morosco didn't hesitate: "I'd love for this group to be remembered as the team that took the next step—the team that turned excitement into expectation. But more than that, I want us to be remembered for how hard we play, how together we are, and the joy we bring to the court."

The Fighting Knights open their 2025-26 campaign on Saturday, November 15, facing Union (Tenn.) at 3:00 p.m. in Winter Park, Fla., hosted by Rollins College.