LANCASTER, Pa. – Following the program's second consecutive Centennial Conference playoffs appearance, the Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team returns several key contributors from last year heading into the 2024-25 campaign. The Diplomats will be led by head coach Nick Nichay, who begins his sixth season in charge.

F&M will open its season at the Penn State Tip-Off Classic at Penn State Harrisburg on Saturday, November 9, and Sunday, November 10.

2023-24 Diplomats

Last season, the Diplomats were 8-2 before the calendar year switch, starting the season on a six-game winning streak that included conference wins over Ursinus, Gettysburg, and Haverford. Returning to action in 2024, F&M started their remaining Centennial Conference slate with eight consecutive victories. The Diplomats' run-in to conference playoff action saw them go 3-3 in the final six games.

With a dramatic 52-51 win over Dickinson in the Centennial Conference playoffs first round, the team earned its first semifinal berth since the 2017-18 season. 

Matched up with Gettysburg in the first round, the Diplomats saw their season end with a 71-51 loss. The season came to a close in a 76-55 loss to Johns Hopkins in the semifinal.

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Players to Watch

G - John Seidman - Jr.
G - Vakaris Grauslys - So.
G - Kevin Nowoswiat - Jr.
G - Sebastian Charles - Sr.
F - Josh Parra - Sr. 

Grauslys enters his sophomore season following Centennial Conference Second Team last year. He led scoring for the Diplomats, averaging 15.6 points per game, including seven 20-point games. Grauslys also led the team in three-point percentage (.398) and free-throw percentage (.807). He totaled the 13th most free throws (142) across DIII last season. Grauslys also averaged 1.4 steals (team-high), 2.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Some notable single-game performances included a career-high 29 points (6-of-9 field goals, 14-of-15 free throws) against Gettysburg and a program-record 17-of-18 free throws against Ursinus. He was a three-time Centennial Conference Player of the Week. 

Seidman logged the most time on the court in 2023-24 of any returning Diplomat, and along with Grauslys, is one of two players to start every game. The junior earned NABC Honors Court recognition after leading the Centennial Conference in assists/game (3.8) and assist/turnover ratio (2.24). Seidman averaged 7.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game with an efficient 43.6 field goal percentage. He had a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds against Susquehanna and tied a career-high for assists (12) with a season-high 17 points against Washington College.

Nowoswiat started 26 of 27 games last season, averaging 11.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He was the team's second-best shooter from the field with a 50.5 field goal percentage. Across the season Nowoswiat had three double-doubles and posted a season-high of 20 points in two games. His season-high 11 rebounds against Washington & Lee was one of his double-doubles as he posted 11 points.

Charles proved a vital part of the Diplomats' success primarily coming off the bench last season, averaging 21.3 minutes per game. He averaged 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 points, and 1.1 assists per game with a 36.0 three-point percentage. He shot a season-high 12 points in two separate games. Against Johns Hopkins, he shot a career-high four three-pointers and against Muhlenberg he totaled a career-best 10 rebounds.

Parra enters his final season following a second consecutive Centennial Conference Honorable Mention selection. Para led the Diplomats with 7.6 rebounds per game which was third in the Centennial Conference, while he otherwise averaged 11.5 points, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks (team-high) per game. His seven double-doubles were the third-most in the conference, while he was a team-best 59.9 on field goals. He shot a season-best 22 points against Gettysburg. In Centennial Conference tournament action, he averaged 16.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game with a 57.7 field goal percentage while scoring the game-winning layup against Dickinson in the first round.

The Road Ahead

The Diplomats will open the season on Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10 with the Penn State Tip-Off Classic featuring match-ups against hosts Penn State Harrisburg and Albertus Magnus. They'll host Lancaster Bible on Wednesday, November 20th in the season's home opener, one of 11 home contests in 2024-25. They'll play in one other tournament as they face Saint Joseph (Conn.) in the opening round of the four-team Christopher Newport Tournament on Saturday, November 30. The Diplomats wrap up conference play at Hamilton on Tuesday, January 7.

F&M has a 13-game Centennial Conference schedule kicking off as they host McDaniel on January 11. They'll host seven games and six away games in the conference. The conference tournament is scheduled to be played between Tuesday, February 25, Friday, February 28, and Sunday, March 2. The NCAA tournament will begin on Friday, March 7, and culminate with the national championship game on Saturday, March 22. 

In The Polls

After a third place finish in the 2023-24 regular season standings, F&M was picked to finish third in the 2024-25 Centennial Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Poll with 65 points. Gettysburg led the poll with 78 points, followed by Johns Hopkins with 71 points. Defending tournament champions Swarthmore were ranked fourth with 57 points. 
 
Follow Along (Social Media)

All of your favorite Diplomat athletic teams are available on social media. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram, like them on Facebook and subscribe to the Diplomats YouTube page.

Court Club Donors

Thank you to our fantastic supporters who have already joined the Court Club for the 2024-25 season. Contact head coach Nick Nichay on how you can join the court club today.

John Fischer '77, Al Ingraham '72, Catherine Jasons '76, Mike Dee '85, Brian Seidman, Colin and Carolina Cormac, Rod and Lisa Lawrence, Charles Meehan '69, Stephanie Lavenberg, Ty Savastio '12, David Albright '85, Seth and Julie Berry, Richard Doremus '64, Anonymous Donor, Nicholas Fazzano '73, Kelli and Tim Walsh, Steve and Logan Donahue, Chris Frank, Samuel and Francine Jones, Wayne Kennedy '70, Brian Lewis '82, Francois and Helen Moreau, Richard Ryan '73, Les and Tara Satlow, Angela Slater, Richard Wilhelm '74