Wednesday, November 2, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – The defending GNAC regular season champions are beginning the season on the nation’s watch list as Saint Martin’s is among teams receiving votes in the National Basketball Coaches Association’s (NABC) Division II Preseason Rankings.

The only conference team to be mentioned in the preseason poll, Saint Martin’s received 14 points to rank among 32 teams receiving votes. The Saints are among six West Region teams listed in the rankings.

The narrow favorite in the GNAC Men’s Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll, Saint Martin’s won the 2021-22 regular season championship with an 11-6 conference record and an 18-9 overall record. One of the top three-point shooting teams in Division II last year, the Saints saw their season come to an end with a loss to Western Oregon in the GNAC Championships quarterfinals on a buzzer-beater.

The Saints return nine overall players and three starters from last year’s team. The returners include junior guard Kyle Greeley, who was a Second Team All-GNAC selection, sophomore guard Jaden Nielsen-Skinner, an Honorable Mention All-GNAC selection, and junior guard Tyke Thompson.

Defending champion Northwest Missouri State is the preseason No. 1, collecting 12 of 16 first-place votes and 386 points. Cal State San Bernardino is the top-ranked West Region team at No. 9.

Saint Martin’s opens its 2022-23 season on Fri., Nov. 11, hosting Cal State San Marcos in the SMU Conference Challenge in Lacey, Washington. The Cougars enter the season ranked No. 13.