William Penn Picked to Defend Heart, Ranked Third in NAIA Preseason
William Penn Men’s Basketball 2017-18
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen men’s basketball team is not only projected to do extremely well in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, but also excel nationally as the preseason polls were released Tuesday.
WPU, which was 33-4 overall last year (23-3 Heart), has been chosen by the Heart’s coaches to defend its league crown. The team earned 169 points and 13 of the 14 first-place votes; Missouri Valley, picked seventh overall, earned the last first-place nod.
MidAmerica Nazarene is a distant second with 138 points, while Benedictine (134), Grand View (130), and Graceland (119) round out the top five.
On the NAIA scene, the navy and gold, national semifinalists from a year ago, are third in Division I with 203 points and one first-place vote. Defending national champion Texas Wesleyan is first with 219 points and eight first-place ballots. LSU Alexandria is second, while Georgetown (Ky.) and The Master’s (Calif.) are fourth and fifth, respectively, in the preseason ranking.
Fellow Heart programs MidAmerica Nazarene (#18), Benedictine (#20), and Grand View (#28) are also in the national ranking.
The Statesmen start the year in Pikeville, Ky., facing Florida National Friday at 5 p.m. and Central Penn (Pa.) Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (game times are Central).
Today is the Heart’s Virtual Media Day. Fans can view the Virtual Media Page at http://www.heartofamericaconference.com/2017_18_MBB_Virtual_Media_Day
NAIA Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Texas Wesleyan (8)
2. LSU Alexandria
3. William Penn (1)
4. Georgetown (Ky.)
5. The Master’s (Calif.)
6. Dalton State (Ga.)
7. Columbia (Ky.)
8. Montana Western
9. Life (Ga.)
10. Hope International (Calif.)
11. LSU Shreveport
12. Oklahoma City
12. Carroll (Mont.)
14. Pikeville (Ky.)
15. Dillard (La.)
16. William Carey (Miss.)
17. Park (Mo.)
18. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
19. Langston (Okla.)
20. Benedictine (Kan.)
21. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
22. Mid-America Christian (Okla.)
23. Vanguard (Calif.)
24. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
25. Martin Methodist (Tenn.)
25. Westmont (Calif.)
Others Receiving Votes: William Woods (Mo.) 41; Science & Arts (Okla.) 38; Grand View 24; Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 14; Cumberlands (Ky.) 13; SAGU (Texas) 6; Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) 5.
Heart Men’s Basketball Poll
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. William Penn–169 (13)
2. MidAmerica Nazarene–138
3. Benedictine–134
4. Grand View–130
5. Graceland–119
6. Central Methodist–107
7. Missouri Valley–94 (1)
8. Baker–91
9. Mount Mercy–79
10. Evangel–64
11. Peru State–54
12. Clarke–40
13. Avila–32
14. Culver-Stockton–23
