GPAC coaches predict DWU men will be No. 1

Senior forward Preston Broughton and the DWU men’s basketball team have been picked to finish first in the 2008-09 GPAC Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll. (Photo by Christian Begeman)

MITCHELL, S.D. – Basketball season is still more than three weeks away, but the expectations for the Dakota Wesleyan University men’s team have already officially begun.

The Great Plains Athletic Conference announced Monday that the Tigers, who were 24-9 a season ago and earned an at-large bid to the NAIA Division II National Tournament, have been tabbed as the overwhelming favorite to win the league title in 2008-09 by the conference coaches. DWU received 12 first-place votes and 144 total points to take the top spot in the 2008-09 GPAC Men’s Basketball Poll. The selection is essentially unanimous, because coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.

Northwestern College received the other first-place vote, and finished second with 122 points. Morningside College (113), Dordt College (110) and the University of Sioux Falls (97) rounded out the top five.

Last season, the Tigers tied for third in the conference with Dordt with identical 13-5 league records. Seven of DWU’s top nine players are back from that squad, including senior forward Preston Broughton, who is the reigning GPAC Men’s Basketball Player-of-the-Year and an NAIA Division II All-American First Team selection. All-GPAC First Team guard Colby Fitzgerald and All-GPAC Honorable Mention swingman Scott Nelson also return along with center Ike Muoneke to give the Tigers a solid core of senior leadership.

Guards Rocky Nelson and Chase Walder and forward Brady Wiebe round out the Tigers’ returning nucleus, and DWU head coach John Hemenway and his staff have added a promising recruiting class to solidify an already-deep roster.

The Tigers’ season officially begins on Friday, Oct. 31, when the team travels to the York Classic in York, Neb. DWU opens that night against York College at 7:30 p.m., and will also take on Mayville State University the next day at 1 p.m.

The Tigers will host a pair of in-state rivals the following weekend for its home opener at the Corn Palace. DWU will take on Black Hills State University at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 and South Dakota Tech at 6 p.m. on Nov. 8. The Tigers open GPAC play when the University of Sioux Falls comes to Mitchell for “Pack the Palace” on Nov. 25.

2008-09 GPAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Dakota Wesleyan, 144 (12); 2. Northwestern, 122 (1); 3. Morningside, 113; 4. Dordt, 110; 5. Sioux Falls, 97; 6. Briar Cliff, 91; 7. Hastings, 72; 8. Dana, 65; 9. Doane, 54; 10, Nebraska Wesleyan, 53; 11. Concordia, 39; 12. Midland Lutheran, 36; 13. Mount Marty, 18.

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Last updated: 10/6/08
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