New-Look Statesmen Claim #2 Spot in Preseason Poll
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–Though most of its crew have yet to play a minute in the navy and gold, its name and tradition are enough to warrant high praise as the William Penn men’s basketball team begins the season ranked amongst the nation’s best.
Tuesday’s NAIA Division I preseason poll has WPU tied for #2 with LSU Alexandria with 210 points and three first-place votes. It marks the 18th-consecutive time the Statesmen have been in the top four in the NAIA (dating back to October 2016) and the 21st time in a row they have been in the top 10 (dating back to February 2016).
William Penn, which was 30-5 last year (16-3 Heart) leads a group of five programs from the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the rating, including #11 Central Methodist and #19 MidAmerica Nazarene, as well as Peru State (#26) and Graceland (#30) from the receiving votes section.
The Master’s (Calif.) is hanging on to first in the division with 212 points and four first-place votes. Georgetown (Ky.) and Oklahoma City round out the top five.
William Penn begins the season at home Saturday, hosting Association Free Lutheran Bible School at 3 p.m.
NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Preseason Rating – October 23, 2018
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. The Master’s (Calif.) (8)
2. William Penn (3)
2. LSU Alexandria (2)
4. Georgetown (Ky.)
5. Oklahoma City
6. Columbia (Mo.)
7. LSU Shreveport
8. Pikeville (Ky.)
9. Hope International (Calif.)
10. William Carey (Miss.)
11. Central Methodist (Mo.)
11. Dillard (La.)
11. Texas Wesleyan
14. Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
15. Dalton State (Ga.)
16. Cumberlands (Ky.)
17. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
18. SAGU (Texas)
19. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
20. Wayland Baptist (Texas)
21. Menlo (Calif.)
22. Carroll (Mont.)
23. Westmont (Calif.)
23. Xavier (La.)
25. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
Others Receiving Votes: Peru State (Neb.) 48, Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) 42, Science & Arts (Okla.) 22, Campbellsville (Ky.) 20, Graceland 19, Stillman (Ala.) 17, Missouri Baptist 11, Faulkner (Ala.) 9, William Jessup (Calif.) 6, Providence (Mont.) 5, Wiley (Texas) 5, Life (Ga.) 4, Langston (Okla.) 3.
