DWU men’s basketball picked to finish 3rd in GPAC

MITCHELL, S.D. – Heading into his second season on the bench for the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team, head coach Matt Wilber and his team will need to take on expectations after a strong season last year.

The Tigers, who return all five starters and welcome new players who should help contribute in 2014-15, were picked third in the Great Plains Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, it was announced Tuesday.

DWU received 83 points in the poll and received one first-place vote. The poll is voted on by the league's coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own team.

"With the preseason ranking it's all about what you have on paper and based on last year's results and not what you've done this year," Wilber said. "While it's nice to be recognized, it still doesn't mean anything because the ranking doesn't get you wins. Last year our preseason ranking was ninth but our goal wasn't to finish ninth and we didn't.  This year we are pre-season ranked third and again our goal isn't to finish where we are preseason ranked.  We have to stay focused on the process of improvement throughout this season.  That focus will keep us moving in the right direction as a team."

Midland University, which was eliminated by the Tigers in the GPAC tournament last season, was picked first with 98 points and eight first-place votes. Morningside College was chosen second with 88 points and two first-place votes, while 2013-14 regular season champion, Dordt College, finished fifth in the poll.

The Tigers finished 2013-14 at 18-14 overall and 10-10 in the GPAC in a season that ended with an overtime loss in the conference tournament semi-finals. DWU opens the 2014-15 season against instate rival Dakota State University at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1 in Madison, S.D.