Men's Basketball Ranked No. 10 in DIII News Preseason Top-25 Poll
The Washington University in St. Louis men’s basketball team is ranked No. 10 in the DIII News Preseason Top-25 poll, as announced by the publication’s special Preseason Preview issue.
Defending national champion University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point sits atop the poll, with Illinois Wesleyan University, Eastern Mennonite University, Carthage College and Williams College rounding out the top-five. Washington U. will host No. 2 ranked Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m.
Washington University returns 16 letterwinners and one starter from last year’s team , which posted a 24-3 overall record, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bears also captured their 10th University Athletic Association (UAA) title with a 13-1 conference mark.
Head coach Mark Edwards enters his 30th season the Danforth Campus with an overall record of 529-239 (.689). The winningest coach in school history, Edwards has guided the Bears to a school-record 26-consecutive winning seasons, 10 UAA championships, 15 NCAA Tournaments and the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship.
Washington University opens regular season play on Monday, Nov. 15, at MacMurray College. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., in Jacksonville, Ill.
DIII News Preseason Top-25 Poll
1. Wisconsin-Stevens Point
2. Illinois-Wesleyan
3. Eastern Mennonite
4. Carthage
5. Williams
6. Randolph-Macon
7. Franklin & Marshall
8. Wooster
9. St. Thomas
10. Washington University
11. Rhode Island College
12. St. Mary's (Md.)
13. Guilford
14. Hope
15. Whitworth
16. St. Norbert
17. Texas-Dallas
18. MIT
19. SUNYIT
20. John Carroll
21. Plattsburgh State
22. Anderson
23. SUNY Purchase
24. Middlebury
25. Merchant Marine
Others to watch: Wisconsin-Whitewater, Richard Stockton, Brandeis, Albertus Magnus, St. John Fisher, Cabrini, Maryville (Tenn.), Birmingham Southern, Albright, Occidental, DePauw, Claremont, DeSales, Chapman, Medaille.
DIII News is published by GSR Communications, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary season of covering small college basketball. More information can be found at www.smallcollegehoops.com