INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced its men's basketball preseason coaches' poll on Friday, October 23rd, with McKendree claiming the top spot at No.1 as voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Bearcats led with 190 total points and were tabbed with nine first-place nods among their peers. William Jewell College followed close behind at second with 186 points and the other six No.1 selections. Upper Iowa University rounded out the top three with 146 points.
This marks the first time the Bearcats were tabbed first in the conference poll since joining the GLVC and NCAA in 2012-13. Moreover, the program has never broken into the top three, as its previous high came at No.4 in the East when the league briefly separated into divisions.
"The preseason ranking is a testament to our team's hard work last year and their choice to return and pursue more success this season," said Head Coach George Suggs. "As always, the GLVC season will be a tremendous challenge. This time of year is just about focusing on how we win each drill, practice, and day. If we do that well, we will have another successful season of McKendree Basketball."
McKendree looks not only to maintain success, but also to reach new levels, as the program finished third last season in all of NCAA Division II in field goal percentage defense (38.3% allowed) and ninth in scoring defense (64.1 points per game allowed), including ranking No.1 in both categories a few times throughout the regular season.
The Bearcats made two appearances in the national rankings last year with several other weeks just outside receiving votes, as the team finished with a 22-8 record for the most wins in its NCAA-era with also their best conference mark with a 14-6 output and advancing to the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament.
GLVC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1 | McKendree University | 190 points (9 first-place votes)
2 | William Jewell College | 186 (6)
3 | Upper Iowa University | 146
4 | University of Illinois Springfield | 144
5 | University of Indianapolis | 140
6 | Missouri S&T | 136
7 | University of Missouri-St. Louis | 125
8 | Drury University | 121
9 | Rockhurst University | 80
10 | Quincy University | 67
T-11 | Lincoln University | 64
T-11 | Truman State University | 64
T-13 | Lewis University | 44
T-13 | Southwest Baptist University | 44
15 | Maryville University | 24
This year's team will officially tip off at home for the annual and host-rotating GLVC/G-MAC Crossover challenge on Friday, November 13th at 7:30 PM CT against Tiffin University inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in Lebanon, Illinois.
Keep up with McKendree University Men's Basketball on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram. #GLVCmbb | #D2mbb
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