Top-10 Start for IWU Men’s Basketball in NAIA Preseason Poll
Oct. 28, 2009
Indiana Wesleyan University men's basketball will open the season as the No. 9-ranked team according to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II Top-25 Coaches' Preseason Poll.
The Wildcats receive the recognition based on a stellar 29-7 record in 2008-09, a season with the second-most wins in program history. IWU earned the Mid-Central College Conference regular season co-championship and advanced to the NAIA Elite Eight for the second time in three seasons.
Defending national champion Oklahoma Wesleyan University gained 13 of 15 first place votes to open the season at No. 1.
The MCC schedule will again provide a challenge as the conference has a total of five teams receiving votes. Bethel College (IN) is ranked No. 3 and University of Saint Francis (IN) chimes in at No. 23. Huntington University (IN) and Spring Arbor University (MI) sit outside the top-25 but received votes in the poll.
IWU returns four players with starting experience from a season ago. Leading the team will be senior forward Zach Coverstone who was recognized last season as a NAIA All-American Honorable Mention selection. The 6-9 post player holds the Indiana Wesleyan record for blocks in a career with 187. Coverstone averaged 13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks while shooting 61.3-percent from the floor.
The Wildcats open their season November 6-7 at the Purdue-Calumet Tip-Off Classic and will play their first home game on November 17 against Indiana Tech.
