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RIPON, Wis. – After a third place finish last year and a trip to the conference postseason tournament St. Norbert is favored to capture another conference championship in the 2012-13 Midwest Conference (MWC) Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

The Green Knights earned eight of the 11 first place votes and finished with 98 points while the 2011-12 MWC Tournament champion, Carroll, finished second with 91 points while receiving the other three first place votes. Grinnell checked in at third with 84 points and 2011-12 MWC Champion Lake Forest rounded out the top-4 with 65 points. Both Illinois Col. and Lawrence tied for fifth place earning 49 points each while Ripon was only one point behind in seventh place with 48 points. Beloit and Monmouth each were picked to finish eighth with Cornell (24) and Knox (11) rounding out the preseason poll.

The conference welcomes back 11 All-MWC performers from a year ago led by All-MWC First Team award winners Griffin Lentsch (Grinnell), Brandon Gries (St. Norbert) and Taylor Koth (Ripon). Jeff Beck (Lake Forest), Alec Molter (Carroll) and Chris Siebert (Lawrence) return after second team nominations while Andrew Schwoerer (St. Norbert), Garrett Thorn (St. Norbert), Brandon Berry (Illinois Col.) Kevin Hurd (Carroll) and James Lazarcik (Beloit) were all Honorable Mention picks.

Cornell returns back to the MWC for the first time since the 1997-98 season after playing in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Rams last won a MWC Championship in the 1993-94 in which they also won the MWC Tournament.

Team Previews:

1. St. Norbert College Green Knights
2011-12 Record: 16-9, 12-6
Returning All-MWC: Brandon Gries (1st), Andrew Schwoerer (HM), Garrett Thorn (HM)

After losing the entire starting lineup from a 20 win team in the 2010-11 season St. Norbert reloaded and made an appearance in the MWC Tournament Championship game last season with hopes of a trip back to the NCAA Tournament. Head Coach Gary Grzesk lost only one senior from a 16 win team last season that included three All-MWC performers. Brandon Gries was an All-MWC First Team selection that led the team in scoring (14.5 ppg) while also chipping in 3.2 assists per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. Andrew Schwoerer and Garrett Thorn were both All-MWC Honorable Mention picks after Schwoerer led the Green Knights in rebounding (6.4 rpg) while Thorn shot 57% from the field and averaged 9.4 points per game. St. Norbert once against used a strong defensive effort to hold opponents to only 67.6 points per game (second in MWC) and post the third best scoring margin (+4.2) among the ten team league.

2. Carroll University Pioneers
2011-12 Record: 17-10, 10-8
Returning All-MWC: Alec Molter (2nd), Kevin Hurd (HM)

In the 2011-12 season Carroll became the first team to win the conference tournament as the number four seed since the conference moved to the current tournament format in the 1998-99 season. The Pioneers won a tiebreaker over Ripon in the regular season with a 10-8 league mark and was able to defeat Transylvania in the NCAA Tournament before bowing out to Wittenberg. All-MWC Second Team selection Alec Molter returns for Head Coach Dave Buchanan after leading the Pioneers with 13.9 points per game and 8.0 rebounds per game which ranked in the top-10 in both categories in the MWC. Molter also shot 58% from the field for a Carroll team that led the MWC in overall shooting (49%) and three point shooting (40%). Kevin Hurd finished second in scoring on the team with 11.9 points per game and led the team shooting from downtown (44%) by hitting 44 three’s. Jake Bast (9.8 ppg, 87% ft) and Dan Kratz (9.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 48% fg) also are back to round out a strong Pioneers team.

3. Grinnell College Pioneers
2011-12 Record: 18-5, 14-4
Returning All-MWC: Griffin Lentsch (1st)

David Arseneault is back at the helm for Grinnell and is in search of the Pioneers first MWC Championship since the 2008-09 season. Grinnell had another banner offensive year in 2011-12 as they again led the nation in scoring with more than 110 points per game, 18.3 three point field goals per game and 30.3 assists per game. Reigning MWC scoring champion Griffin Lentsch is back after scoring 26.2 points per game which includes an 89 point performance in a November 11 win over Principia. Lentsch led the nation averaging over four three pointers made per game and finished the season with 102 made three pointers. Patrick Maher was second in the conference with 115 assists (5.0 apg) and averaged 10.6 points per game also shooting 47% from the field. Jesse Ney knocked down 66  three’s en route to averaging 9.8 points per game in just under ten minutes per game. Transfer Jack Taylor will also play a big role on the team.

4. Lake Forest College Foresters
2011-12 Record: 20-4, 16-2
Returning All-MWC: Jeff Beck (2nd)

Lake Forest won a conference-best 20 overall games and posted a near perfect 16-2 conference mark to earn an MWC Championship for the first time since the 1999-00 season. Under 2011-12 MWC Coach of the Year Chris Conger the Foresters look for a repeat bid this season but will have to do so without 2011-12 MWC Player of the Year Travis Clark who was lost to graduation. Lake Forest used a suffocating defense last season that held opponents to a conference-low 62.8 points per game and held opposing shooters to 39% shooting. All-MWC Second Team performer Jeff Beck is coming off a season where he averaged 9.8 points per game and dished out 79 assists. The Foresters also ranked in the top three of the league in rebounding margin (2nd, +6.9), blocked shots per game (2nd, 3.6) and assist to turnover ratio (3rd, 1.2). 

t5. Illinois College Blueboys
2011-12 Record: 6-17, 4-14
Returning All-MWC: Brandon Berry (HM)

After finishing only two games back for the MWC Championship in the 2010-11 season with a 12-6 conference record Illinois Col. fell to 4-14 in MWC play last season and aim to get back into the MWC Tournament under Head Coach Mike Worrell . Despite the loss of All-MWC Second Team selection Craig Bals the Blueboys return the next seven leading scorers from a team that finished fourth in the league scoring nearly 74 points per game. Brandon Berry added 13.4 points per contest and shot nearly 53% from the field while hitting 85% of his free throws (third in MWC). Berry (4.9 rpg) teams up with Isaac Grapperhaus for a strong rebounding tandem after Grapperhaus’ 4.5 boards per game while chipping in nine points a contest. Zeke Light was the other Blueboy that averaged double-digit points (12.8 ppg) and also hit 47 three’s and 83% from the charity stripe.

t5. Lawrence University Vikings
2011-12 Record: 9-13, 8-10
Returning All-MWC: Chris Siebert (2nd)

Lawrence finished seventh in the MWC last season and Head Coach Joel DePagter aims for a trip back to the MWC Tournament for the first time since the 2008-09 season when the Vikings earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament. DePagter has an experienced team coming back as he lost only two players to graduation and welcomes back All-MWC Second Team selection Craig Siebert. Siebert finished sixth in the conference with 16.6 points per game, led the league in free throw shooting (88%) and knocked down 42% of his three point attempts. Davis DeWolfe is back after leading the team in rebounding a year ago with 5.7 rebounds per game while also finishing third in scoring with 10.4 points a contest. Conor Klusendorg was only one of three players to start in all 22 games and shot 57% from the field, averaged 9.8 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Vikings.

7. Ripon College Red Hawks
2011-12 Record: 14-9, 10-8
Returning All-MWC: Taylor Koth (1st)

For the first time in 32 years Ripon will be playing without iconic coach Bob Gillespie as he retired following the 2011-12 season. In his place will be Ryan Kane who aims to get the Red Hawks back to the MWC Tournament after just missing it last season. Despite losing Aris Wurtz, the conference’s second leading scorer, Kane welcomes back the league’s third top scorer from a year ago, Taylor Koth. Koth scored 22 points per game and shot better than 49% from the field for the MWC’s second highest scoring team (79.6 ppg). Joining Koth on the front line is Zach Meulemans who averaged 8.0 points per game and shot 47% from the field which included 19 three point baskets. Ripon also led the league in rebounding margin (+7.2) which was headlined by Koth who pulled down almost ten rebounds per game (9.5). Brad Brooks returns a year after scoring 4.8 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game to give the Red Hawks a formidable trio up front. As a team Ripon also finished in the top-3 of the conference in free throw percentage (1st, 77.5%), three point shooting (2nd, 38.5%) and steals per game (2nd, 7.0).

t8. Beloit College Buccaneers
2011-12 Record: 10-13, 9-9
Returning All-MWC: James Lazarcik (HM)

Beloit is coming off a year where they finished 9-9 in MWC play which was the first time the Buccaneers were .500 or better in conference play since the 2002-03 season when they finished 8-8. Head Coach Brian Vraney will replace the loss of his top two scorers but does welcome back All-MWC Second Team selection James Lazarcik. Lazarcik was one of four players to average double digit points (11.9 ppg) in under 22 minutes of action a night while leading the team in rebounding with 6.8 per night (sixth in MWC). Tyler Butke averaged 11.7 points per game in 23 games and also pulled down 5.2 rebounds per game. Ahmad Shamsid-Dean will complement Lazarcik and Butke from the guard position after averaging 4.2 points per game. Last season the Bucs were one of the best shooting teams in the conference as they hit nearly 47% of their shots which ranked second in the league. Lazarcik led the charge and was second in the conference with a 64% field goal percentage.

t8. Monmouth College Fighting Scots
2011-12 Record: 7-16, 5-13
Returning All-MWC: None

The Fighting Scots had a four game improvement last season and will push for more improvement this season under Head Coach Todd Skrivseth. Monmouth returns all five of their top scorers from a year ago, headlined by Kenny Foster who averaged more than 20 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He’s joined by Kendall Cox who averaged 11.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while hitting a team-best 28 three point baskets. Michael DeDecker led the team in assists with 81 while averaging almost 11 points in just over 31 minutes of action a game. Wes Dukeman will see more action this season after averaging 8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in eight games while Brent Burrows shot 44% from behind the arc. Monmouth also looks to continue to benefit from its strong offensive rebounding a year ago when they finished fourth in the league with 11.4 offensive rebounds a night.

10. Cornell College Rams
2011-12 Record: 3-22, 1-15 (IIAC)
Returning All-IIAC: Reggie Greenwald (1st), Alex Miller (HM)

Cornell competes for a MWC Championship for the first time since the 1997-98 season when they moved to the IIAC. The Rams finished ninth in the nine team IIAC with a 1-15 conference record and were 3-22 overall. Rams Head Coach Chad Murray brings back five of his six leading scores including All-IIAC First Team honoree Reggie Greenwood and Honorable Mention pick Alex Miller. Greenwood averaged 14.8 points per contest and 4.2 rebounds per game while Miller poured in 11.8 points per game and shot over 40% from behind the arc. Nick Bobb is the top returning rebounder after averaging 4.7 per game last season while scoring 5.8 points per game. Joey Guth scored 7.2 points per game in just over 20 minutes of action a night.

11. Knox College Prarie Fire
2011-12 Record: 3-20, 2-16
Returning All-MWC: None

First year Knox Head Coach Kevin Walden enters the 2012-13 season with the expectation of improving on last season’s 3-20 team and tries to get the Prairie Fire back into the MWC Tournament for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Walden has to replace his top two scorers from a year ago and will rely on Lukas Shaw to fill the void. Shaw is the top returning starter after averaging 11.5 points per game last year and also finished fifth in the league in rebounding (6.8 rpg). Shaw shot a team-best 56% from the field while Mitch Murphy averaged 5.5 points last year as a freshman and shot 82% from the free throw line. David Jones comes back after averaging 4.7 rebounds per game and averaged 5.3 points per game.