DWU boasts two top-10 basketball teams in the NAIA

MITCHELL, S.D. – With the 2019-20 basketball season looming near, the Dakota Wesleyan University men's and women's basketball faithful are itching for the first game. Not only can fans be ecstatic for a new season, but they can also be elated to say something no other fan base in the NAIA can – the DWU men's and women's basketball teams are the only duo in the NAIA Division II to both be ranked in the top 10 in the country.

 The NAIA Division II Men's and Women's Basketball Coaches' Top-25 Preseason Poll was released yesterday. The men's team was tabbed sixth in the country, while the women's squad was picked seventh. The men skyrocketed up 10 spots from the final poll last season, while the women are coming off their second-consecutive trip to the national semifinals.

 Despite both being picked so high in the preseason polls, the road will not be easy, particularly inside the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

 Inside the conference alone, the women's team will play five top-25 teams twice throughout the season, while the men will play four top-25 or receiving votes teams twice. The women play No. 17 Saint Xavier at the Cruzin Classic in Florida on Dec. 19, as the men play No. 19 St. Francis (Ill.) at the St. Francis Thanksgiving Classic.

 The season kicks off for the women at 6 p.m. on Wednesday as they host Valley City State University in the Corn Palace. Both teams will battle in the NAIA Sanford Pentagon Classic on Nov. 2 and 3. DWU plays Dakota State University at 6 and 8 p.m. on Nov. 2 and will square off against Presentation College at 4 and 6 p.m. on Nov. 3.