The Evangel men’s basketball team was tabbed 10th while the women were picked 9th in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Tuesday by the conference office.
Men
Evangel finished last season 13-17 and 10-16 in the conference standings. Voting for the polls was calculated with a 1st-place vote worth 13 points down to a 13th-place vote earning one point. Coaches did not include their team on their respective ballots.
William Penn was picked to repeat as conference championships after winning the league a year ago receiving 13 first-place votes. MidAmerica Nazarene was tabbed second as Benedictine was picked to finish third.
Grand View was picked fourth as Graceland rounded out the top five in the voting. Central Methodist was picked in the sixth position, followed by Missouri Valley in seventh, which included the remaining first-place vote to finish off the top half of the results. The final three spots in the top 10 were claimed by Baker, Mount Mercy, and Evangel.
Though the poll was conducted with all 14 teams in one ballot, divisional standings will be used this season. The North Division will include: Clarke, Culver-Stockton, Graceland, Grand View, Mount Mercy, Peru State and William Penn. The South Division will include: Avila, Baker, Benedictine, Central Methodist, Evangel, MidAmerica Nazarene and Missouri Valley.
Evangel tips off the 2017-18 season November 3 at the 18th Annual Cattle Classic in Seward, Nebraska against Midland University and Concordia (Neb.). The Crusaders open their home schedule November 11 against John Brown University in a men’s and women’s double-header at the Ashcroft Center.
Women
The Crusaders were picked ninth after going 13-17 overall last season and 12-14 in the Heart. Voting for the polls was calculated with a 1st-place vote worth 13 points down to a 13th-place vote earning one point. Coaches did not include their team on their respective ballots.
Benedictine earned seven of 14 first-place votes and tallied 157 points, three more than defending regular-season champion Baker, which claimed four first-place tallies. Central Methodist had one more point than MidAmerica Nazarene for third place, though the Pioneers had two first-place votes compared to one for the Eagles.
The lone tie in the preseason prognostics came in fifth place as William Penn and Clarke each received 105 voting points. Grand View rounded out the top half of the poll with 92 points, while Missouri Valley, Evangel, and Mount Mercy completed the top 10.
Though the poll was conducted with all 14 teams in one ballot, divisional standings will be used this season. The North Division will include: Clarke, Culver-Stockton, Graceland, Grand View, Mount Mercy, Peru State and William Penn. The South Division will include: Avila, Baker, Benedictine, Central Methodist, Evangel, MidAmerica Nazarene and Missouri Valley.
Evangel tips of the 2017-18 season November 1 at Stephens College in Columbia. The Crusaders make their home debut Nov. 11 against John Brown in a men’s and women’s double-header at the Ashcroft Center.
