Seton Hall should be a lock for the NCAA Tournament. St. John’s should have its best team under Chris Mullin.

But the Big East programs aren’t the only local teams worth watching this season.

Several overshadowed programs in the metropolitan area are expected to be in contention for their respective conference championships, with multiple teams capable of making runs to the NCAA Tournament.

Here is a look at each team heading into the season:

Last season: 22-13, 12-8 MAAC

Coach: Tim Cluess (Eighth season, 162-78)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2017

Preseason poll: First out of 11 teams

Key returnees: G Rickey McGill (10.5 points, 5.1 assists), G Deyshonee Much (9.5 points, 3.6 rebounds), G Schadrac Casimir (7.0 points, 42.7 3-point pct.)

Key losses: F Jordan Washington, F Taylor Bessick, G Jon Severe, G Sam Cassell Jr.

Notable newcomers: F TK Edogi (transfer), F Roland Griffin (transfer), G Zach Lewis (transfer)

Outlook: The roster almost feels irrelevant at this point. Iona’s transfer-heavy rosters have faster turnover than most programs, yet the Gaels have finished with 20 or more wins in every season under Cluess. Coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, Iona is the favorite to make its fifth trip since 2012. One of the country’s most entertaining offenses is as deep as ever, with a solid mix of returning talent and new pieces; a mix Cluess has never had trouble blending before.

First game: Friday (7 p.m.) at Albany

Last season: 10-22, 5-15 MAAC

Coach: Steve Masiello (Seventh season, 102-93)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2015

Preseason poll: Second out of 11 teams

Key returnees: G Rich Williams (14.8 points, 6.0 rebounds), F Zane Waterman (14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds), G Zavier Turner (14.9 points, 4.4 assists)

Key losses: G Tyler Wilson, C Ahmed Ismail

Notable newcomers: F Pauly Paulicap (transfer), F Warren Williams (freshman), G Patrick Strzala (freshman)

Outlook: The Jaspers are coming off their worst season under Masiello — and first back-to-back losing seasons in his tenure — but the return of senior Rich Williams, out all last season with an injury, makes an experienced Manhattan squad a contender again. With Turner and Waterman, along with sophomore guard Aaron Walker, the Jaspers’ offense has a chance to finally keep up with its always relentless defense. Masiello has done plenty with a lot less talent.

First game: Wednesday (7 p.m.) vs. St. Francis Brooklyn

Last season: 11-16, 5-9 Ivy

Coach: Jim Engles (Second season, 11-16)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1968

Preseason poll: Fifth out of eight teams

Key returnees: G Mike Smith (13.6 points, 3.5 assists), G Nate Hickman (11.8 points, 2 assists), F Lukas Meisner (6.3 points, 6.1 rebounds)

Key losses: F Luke Petrasek, F Jeff Coby

Notable newcomers: F Jaron Faulds (freshman), G Myles Hanson (freshman), G Tai Bibbs (freshman)

Outlook: The Lions look as if they’ll be stuck in the second-tier of the top-heavy Ivy League for the second straight year. Engles loses two starters from last season and returns only two seniors, with the team facing an early challenge to keep its confidence up: seven straight road games to start the season. Smith and Hickman will keep the Lions in most games, but the loss of Petrasek has left the frontcourt dangerously thin.

First game: Friday (8:30 p.m.) at Villanova

Last season: 13-19, 7-11 Atlantic 10

Coach: Jeff Neubauer (Third season, 30-33)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1992

Preseason poll: 13th out of 14 teams

Key returnees: G Joseph Chartouny (12.1 points, 5.0 assists), F Will Tavares (5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds), F Prokop Slanina (5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds)

Key losses: G Javontae Hawkins, F Christian Sengfelder, G Antwoine Anderson

Notable newcomers: F Ivan Raut (freshman), G Tre Evans (transfer)

Outlook: The good news is Chartouny, one of the most well-rounded players in the Atlantic 10, is back for his junior season. The bad news? Many of the teammates he relied upon aren’t. Hawkins graduated, while Sengfelder (Boise State) and Anderson (UConn) both transferred. Neubauer has impressed in his two seasons with his coaching acumen and gotten more than most expected out of the Rams, but his recruiting will be put to the test.

First game: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Miami (Ohio)

Last season: 15-18, 3-15 Big Ten

Coach: Steve Pikiell (Second season, 15-18)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1991

Preseason poll: 14th out of 14 teams

Key returnees: G Corey Sanders (12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds), F Deshawn Freeman (11.1 points, 7.8 rebounds), G Mike Williams (9.5 points, 5.1 rebounds)

Key losses: G Nigel Johnson, C C.J. Gettys

Notable newcomers: G Geo Baker (freshman), F Mamadou Doucoure (freshman)

Outlook: Pikiell’s first season in Piscataway was a success, featuring the best start (11-1) to a Rutgers season in 31 years, and the most wins (15) since the 2012-13 campaign. His experienced core of Sanders, Freeman and Williams is back, joined by two quality recruits (Baker and Doucoure) who should make the defensively stout team formidable at the RAC.

First game: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. CCNY

Last season: 15-17, 7-11 CAA

Coach: Joe Mihalich (Fifth season, 69-64)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2001

Preseason poll: Fourth out of 10 teams

Key returnees: G Justin Wright-Foreman (18.1 points, 3.6 rebounds), F Rokas Gustys (9.3 points, 12.1 rebounds), G Eli Pemberton (12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds)

Key losses: G Deron Powers, G Brian Bernardi

Notable newcomers: F Joel Angus III (transfer), G Kenny Wormley (transfer)

Outlook: Don’t be surprised if Hofstra exceeds expectations. With the league’s best scorer (Wright-Foreman) and best rebounder (Gustys), Mihalich could lead Hofstra back to contention after a down season. But is there still much more room for Wright-Foreman — the nation’s most improved scorer last season — to grow? And can Gustys, whose numbers dipped after a spectacular sophomore season, handle a starring role any better this season?

First game: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Army

Last season: 18-14, 12-4 America East

Coach: Jeff Boals (Second season, 18-14)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2016

Preseason poll: Fourth out of nine teams

Key returnees: F Tyrell Sturdivant (10.6 points, 5.4 rebounds), G Akwasi Yeboah (9.5 points, 5.1 rebounds)

Key losses: G Lucas Woodhouse, G Roland Nyama

Notable newcomers: G Jordan McKenzie, G Jaron Cornish (transfer)

Outlook: So much for rebuilding. Despite losing longtime coach Steve Pikiell, along with the best player in school history (Jameel Warney), Boals overachieved with a largely anonymous roster last season, finishing with the second-best record in the America East. The Seawolves don’t bring back much offensive firepower, but defense remains the foundation for the longtime Ohio State assistant.

First game: Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Maryland

Last season: 20-12, 13-5 NEC

Coach: Derek Kellogg (First season)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2013

Preseason poll: Sixth out of 10 teams

Key returnees: G Joel Hernandez (12.2 points, 6.1 rebounds), G Jashaun Agosto (11.2 points, 3.2 assists)

Key losses: F Jerome Frink, G Iverson Fleming, F Nura Zanna

Notable newcomers: F Zach Coleman (transfer), F Jamall Robinson (transfer), F Eral Penn (freshman)

Outlook: Jack Perri posted back-to-back winning seasons, and the best record of his five-year tenure last season, and ended up without a job. The Blackbirds will badly miss Frink, but Kellogg, who was fired by UMass in March after nine seasons, could have a surprisingly strong first season behind the strength of his backcourt, which includes Hernandez, a fifth-year senior who suffered a season-ending injury in last season’s first game.

First game: Friday (7 p.m.) at Tulane

Last season: 16-14, 11-7 NEC

Coach: Bashir Mason (Sixth season, 87-69)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2003

Preseason poll: Third out of 10 teams

Key returnees: G JoJo Cooper (8.2 points, five rebounds), G Romone Saunders (9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds in 2015-16), F AJ Sumbry (4.2 points, four rebounds)

Key losses: G Corey Henson, F Mike Aaman, F Michael Carey

Notable newcomers: Nick Madray (transfer), Tim Graham (transfer)

Outlook: A buzzer-beating loss in the NEC semifinals was a heartbreaking finish to Wagner’s fifth winning season in the previous six years. Expect more victories than defeats again, as Mason brings back a high-quality backcourt in Cooper and Saunders, who missed all but one game last year due to injury. For this to be a special season on Staten Island, though, Sumbry will need to progress as a junior, and get help up-front from Madray and Graham after the graduation of stalwarts Carey and Aaman.

First game: Saturday (5 p.m.) at NJIT

Last season: 4-27, 2-16 NEC

Coach: Glenn Braica (Eighth season, 102-118)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Preseason poll: 10th out of 10 teams

Key returnees: G Rasheem Dunn (13.1 points, 5.1 rebounds), Glenn Sanabria (12.4 points, 2.5 assists), F Keon Williams (3.5 points, 4.3 rebounds)

Key losses: G Yunus Hopkinson, F Robert Montgomery

Notable newcomers: F Milija Cosic (transfer), G Chauncey Hawkins (freshman)

Outlook: There’s nowhere to go but up after one of the worst seasons in program history. Though undersized, the backcourt of Sanabaria and Dunn has the potential to be one of the better units in the NEC, and the Terriers could be a surprise if big men Joshua Nurse and Cori Johnson produce.

First game: Saturday (5:30 p.m.) at Duquesne

Last season: 27-7, 18-2 MAAC

Coach: King Rice (Seventh season, 106-92)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2006

Preseason poll: 3rd out of 111 teams

Key returnees: G Micah Seaborn (13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds), G Austin Tilghman (7.0 points, 3.2 rebounds), G Louie Pillari (3.1 points, 40 percent 3-point shooting)

Key losses: G Justin Robinson, G Je’lon Hornbeak, F Chris Brady

Notable newcomers: Marcus McClary (freshman), Deion Hammond (freshman)

Outlook: Three of the top four scorers from last year graduated, and five rotation players altogether. After going 55-15 the previous two years, Monmouth is starting anew, relying on a young core to hopefully break through in March. The onus initially will fall on Seaborn, a junior from Texas who goes from complementary piece to star.

First game: Friday (8:30 p.m.) vs. Bucknell

Last season: 11-19, 9-9 NEC

Coach: Greg Herenda (Fifth season, 47-76)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2016

Preseason poll: Second out of 10 teams

Key returnees: G Darian Anderson (17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds), F Mike Holloway (11.4 points, 6.3 rebounds), G Darnell Edge (9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds)

Key losses: G Stephan Jiggetts, F Earl Potts Jr.

Notable newcomers: G Jahlil Jenkins (freshman), F Noah Morgan (freshman)

Outlook: FDU never recovered from a 2-9 start, falling well shy of the sky-high expectations that followed the Knights’ NEC title the previous year. The losses of Jiggetts and Potts are significant, but this is now a battle-tested team, led by Anderson, a preseason All-NEC selection who is one of the best pure scorers in the area.

First game: Friday (6:30 p.m.) at Seton Hall

Last season: 23-13, 14-6 MAAC

Coach: John Dunne (12th season, 138-207)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2011

Preseason poll: Eighth out of 11 teams

Key returnees: G Nick Griffin (8.8 points, 41.7 3-point pct.), F Sam Idowu (5.9 points, 2.8 rebounds)

Key losses: C Quadir Welton G Trevis Wyche, G Antwon Portley

Notable newcomers: G Jeremiah Livingston (transfer), G Elijah Gonzalez (freshman) \

Outlook: Hopefully, St. Peter’s fans enjoyed their first winning season in six years, because it’s back to square one now. Three of the program’s top four scorers are gone, putting immense pressure on Griffin to emerge as a go-to option as a senior.

First game: Saturday (3 p.m.) at La Salle

Last season: 11-20, 3-11 Atlantic Sun

Coach: Brian Kennedy (Second season, 11-20)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Preseason poll: Eighth out of eight teams

Key returnees: G Anthony Tarke (10.0 points, 4.7 rebounds), F Abdul Lewis (9.9 points, 8.7 rebounds)

Key losses: G Damon Lynn, G Tim Coleman

Notable newcomers: F San Antonio Brinson (freshman), G Shawndale Jones (freshman), G David Kachelries (freshman)

Outlook: The Highlanders open a much-needed new arena — inside an athletic complex costing more than $100 million — but it will be much harder to fill seats than it’s been in years. Without Lynn, the school’s all-time leading-scorer, NJIT’s progress will pause.

First game: Saturday (6 p.m.) vs. Wagner

Last season: 16-15, 11-9 MAAC

Coach: Sydney Johnson (Seventh season, 90-108)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1997

Preseason poll: Fourth out of 11 teams

Key returnees: G Tyler Nelson (19.5 points, 3.6 assists), F Matija Milin (8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds), F Jerome Segura (5.9 points, 4.1 assists)

Key losses: G Curtis Cobb, G Jerry Johnson Jr., Amadou Sidibe

Notable newcomers: G Taj Benning (freshman), F Wassef Methnani (freshman)

Outlook: Hopefully Nelson has added muscle in the offseason to his 6-foot-3 frame, because he will have to carry Fairfield offensively. Cobb and Johnson transferred, placing even more responsibility on Nelson, the MAAC preseason player of the year.
First game: Saturday (1 p.m.) vs. Pennsylvania