RIPON, Wis. – Last season St. Norbert claimed the Midwest Conference Championship for the third time in the last four season and they are picked to do so again in the 2013-14 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. St. Norbert earned 10 first place votes and 100 points to headline the 11 team field and looks to play in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last five years.
Carroll finished third in the league last year and is projected second this season with 87 points. Beloit is tabbed for a MWC Tournament appearance for the first time since the 2000-01 season with a third place designation with 78 points while Grinnell and their high-powered offense earned the other first place vote with 73 points that has them projected in fourth place. Lawrence sits in fifth with 63 points while Cornell is projected sixth with 56 points. Illinois Col. sits in seventh place with 44 points followed by Lake Forest and Ripon in eighth and ninth, respectively, with 34 and 33 points. Monmouth finished with 27 points for a 10th place finish while Knox rounds out the field with 10 points.
The conference returns a lot of talent in the 2013-14 season as eight of the 12 All-MWC award winners are back. St. Norbert guard Brandon Gries and Beloit forward James Lazarcik headline the field as First Team award winners that come back while all five Second Team honorees come back. Carroll returns a pair of Second Team performers in guard Kevin Hurd and forward Alec Molter and are joined by Illinois Col. guard Nate Kohler, Lawrence guard Chris Siebert, and St. Norbert forward Andrew Schwoerer as members of last year’s All-MWC Second Team. Rounding out the All-MWC returnees are Cornell guard Reggie Greenwood and Beloit guard Steen McAfee who were Honorable Mention selections.
There is only one new face in the coaching realm this season as Paul Combs takes over at Carroll. Combs comes into the league after spending the last four years as the coach of the Wayne State College Wildcats.
|
Place |
Team (First Place Votes |
Points |
|
1 |
St. Norbert (10) |
100 |
|
2 |
Carroll |
87 |
|
3 |
Beloit |
78 |
|
4 |
Grinnell (1) |
73 |
|
5 |
Lawrence |
63 |
|
6 |
Cornell |
56 |
|
7 |
Illinois Col. |
44 |
|
8 |
Lake Forest |
34 |
|
9 |
Ripon |
33 |
|
10 |
Monmouth |
27 |
|
11 |
Knox |
10 |
This season the preview is going to be in video format. During the preview we break down each team and have a one-on-one interview with each coach to talk about the upcoming season. To view the video starting from a specific team please click one of the links found below the video.
To have the video start at a specific teams preview please click on the school link:
[Beloit College]
[Carroll University]
[Cornell College]
[Grinnell College]
[Illinois College]
[Knox College]
[Lake Forest College]
[Lawrence University]
[Monmouth College]
[Ripon College]
[St. Norbert College]
Team-By-Team Breakdown
Beloit Buccaneers
Head Coach: Brian Vraney (7th season) 47-91 overall at Beloit
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/2
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-MWC: James Lazarcik (F, 1st Team), Steve McAfee (G, Honorable Mention)
Carroll Pioneers
Head Coach: Paul Combs (1st Season) 0-0 overall at Carroll
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/4
Starters Returning/Lost: Returning: 2/3
Returning All-MWC: Kevin Hurd (G, 2nd Team), Alec Molter (C, 2nd Team)
Cornell Rams
Head Coach: Chad Murray (5th Season) 34-65 overall at Cornell
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/6
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Returning All-MWC: Reggie Greenwood (G, Honorable Mention)
Grinnell Pioneers
Head Coach: David Arseneault (25th Season) 300-236 overall at Grinnell
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/9
Starters Returning/Lost: Returning 2/Lost 3
Returning All-MWC: None
Illinois Col. Blueboys
Head Coach: Mike Worrell (18th season) 169-224 overall at Illinois Col.
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/5
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Returning All-MWC: Nate Kohler (G, 2nd team)
Knox Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Kevin Walden (2nd season) 1-22 overall at Knox
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/5
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-MWC: None
Lake Forest Foresters
Head Coach: Chris Conger (18th season) 193-201 overall at Lake Forest
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 10/4
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-MWC: None
Lawrence Vikings
Head Coach: Joel DePagter (7th season) 85-57 overall at Lawrence
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/2
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Returning All-MWC: Chris Siebert (G, 2nd team)
Monmouth Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Todd Skrivseth (3rd Season) 14-32 overall at Monmouth
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 13/2
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Returning All-MWC: None
Ripon Red Hawks
Head Coach: Ryan Kane (2nd season) 13-11 overall at Ripon
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/5
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Returning All-MWC: None
St. Norbert Green Knights
Head Coach: Gary Grzesk (8th Season) 120-54 overall at St. Norbert
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14-8
Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Returning All-MWC: Brandon Gries (G, 1st Team), Andrew Schwoerer (F, 2nd Team)