The Northwestern College men’s basketball team is the preseason favorite based on the GPAC Preseason Coaches’ poll released earlier today by the league office.
The Red Raiders earned seven of the 10 possible first place votes and totaled 78 points, five better than Dakota Wesleyan (73), who received two first place votes. Briar Cliff was picked third and earned the final first place vote, followed by Morningside and Midland.
Northwestern returns four starters and seven letterwinners from a 2017 team that finished second in the GPAC regular season with a 13-5 record and went on to win the conference postseason championship. They qualified for the NAIA D-II Championship, earning a win over Washington Adventist in the first round before losing to Indiana Wesleyan. Kris Korver returns for his 18th season as the Red Raiders head coach.
Northwestern will make its season debut on Friday, Nov. 3 at the University of Jamestown.
1. Northwestern 78 pts 7 1st place votes
2. Dakota Wesleyan 73 pts 2 1st place votes
3. Briar Cliff 61 pts 1 1st place vote
4. Morningside 57 pts
5. Midland 54 pts
6. Hastings 38 pts
7. Dordt 33 pts
8. Concordia 28 pts
9. Doane 18 pts
10.Mount Marty 9 pts
