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Men's Basketball
Men's Basketball Tied for Second in MIAC Preseason Poll
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) recently announced the 2017-18 MIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and slotted in a two-way tie among all 11 teams in the preseason poll was Bethel. The Royals finished the 2016-17 campaign as co-champions in the regular season and champions in the conference playoffs.
BU begins the 2017-18 season in Wakesha, Wisconsin, where they'll take part in the Carroll College Tournament. The Royals take on Simpson College in the season opener on Friday, November 17 at 5 p.m. and then Friday's outcome will determine Bethel's opponent and time on Saturday.
The Royals then take on Martin Luther and UW-La Crosse before beginning the league schedule at home against Augsburg on Wednesday, November 29. Bethel will travel to Collegeville on December 2 to take on Saint John's in a rematch of last year's MIAC championship game.
BU will play all conference opponents in a double round robin throughout the season and their only other nonconference foe is a road matchup against UW-Superior on Saturday, December 30.
Complete 2017 Preseason Coaches' Poll
Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (10 for first, 9 for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of highest point total to lowest with vote totals listed and first-place votes shown in parentheses.
| 2017-18 MIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Rank |
Institution |
Total |
| 1. |
Saint John's (7) |
97 |
| T2. |
Bethel (2) |
87 |
| T2. |
St. Thomas (2) |
87 |
| 4. |
Augsburg |
66 |
| T5. |
Carleton |
62 |
| T5. |
Hamline |
62 |
| 7. |
St. Olaf |
45 |
| 8. |
Gustavus |
37 |
| 9. |
Concordia |
32 |
| T10. |
Macalester |
15 |
| T10. |
Saint Mary's |
15 |
2018 MIAC Men's Basketball Playoffs
The
2018 MIAC Men's Basketball Playoffs will feature the top six teams in the Conference standings playing in a high-seed-host, single-elimination postseason tournament. The two top seeds will receive a bye to the semifinal round, while the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seeds during the quarterfinals, which will be held Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. The top remaining seed will play at the No. 2 seed and the lowest remaining seed will play at the No. 1 seed during the semifinals, which are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23. The Championship game is set for Sunday, Feb. 25, with the two semifinal winners meeting on the home court of the top remaining seed. The winner will receive the MIAC's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.
