Wildcats Picked Third in Heart Preseason Poll

2023-24 Heart Preseason Poll
BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Coming off of an NAIA Tournament appearance last season, Baker men's basketball was picked to finish third in the conference this year as the 2023-24 Heart Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll was announced on Wednesday afternoon.

With 118 votes, Baker rounds out a top three that features projected frontrunner MidAmerica Nazarene (171) and William Penn (131). Sitting behind the Wildcats in the top-eight spots of the preseason poll are Peru State (111), Central Methodist (100), Benedictine (82), Clarke (73) and Graceland (61).

Entering his 12th year at the helm, head coach Sean Dooley and the Wildcats are looking to build on a historic 2022-23 campaign that saw them reach the NAIA Tournament for the fifth time in program history – and the first time since 2012. Finishing with a 22-9 overall record, BU collected its most wins in a season since at least 2004, while going 16-6 in conference play and advancing to the semifinals of the Heart Tournament.

Baker returns a pair of all-conference selections from last year in Quentin Harvey (Jr., Tulsa, Okla.) and Noah Rigatuso (Jr., Omaha, Neb.) with Harvey being named to the league's first team and Rigatuso earning second-team honors. Harvey also joined returning teammate Korey Jones (Jr., Dallas, Texas) on the 2023 Heart All-Defensive Team.

The Wildcats kick off the 2023-24 season on the road at Baptist Bible on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Springfield, Mo. They will make their home debut on Nov. 1 with a non-conference matchup against Ottawa starting at 7 p.m. inside Collins Gym.

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