The Bethel University men’s basketball team is set to kick off its 25-game schedule for the 2022-23 season Wednesday, Nov. 9 traveling to Wisconsin Eau-Claire for a 7 p.m. tipoff. BU is coming off 12-13 year where they were 8-10 in the MIAC finishing seventh. 

Bethel returns nine players, three starters, and welcomes eight newcomers in its freshman class. Two of the nine returning come in the form of the Royals top two scorers in Zach Doely (15.4 ppg) and Tommy Jensen (12.2 ppg).

As a squad, BU had the MIAC's best field goal percentage defense having its opponents shoot 42.8 percent. Behind the arc, opponents shot 32.3 percent which was second-lowest in the conference. The Royals averaged 69.1 points per game in 2022-23, ranking sixth in the MIAC. Their opponents held a 68.6 points per game mark that ranked fifth.

The Royals schedule this year boasts 12 home games with the home opener scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 16 hosting Carleton in the MIAC opener. Since the 1961-62 season BU is 438-287 (.604) in front of its home crowd.

Bethel kicks off the season with a two-game road trip at Eau-Claire followed by a short trip to Northwestern. The matchup with the Eagles will be the first since the 2015-16 season. Other non-conference games include traveling to Crown (Dec. 16) and then hosting Wisconsin-La Crosse (Dec. 31).

It's the 77th season of Bethel under the NCAA umbrella going all the way back to 1946. in that stretch BU is 933-871 (.517) all-time. Since joining the MIAC in 1977 the Royals hold a 452-416 (.521) conference record. 

KEY RETURNERS

In the key returner department, Zach Doely returns as Bethel's leading scorer last season at 15.4 points per game that ranked seventh in the MIAC. He was the MIAC leader in field goal percentage at 61.7, fourth best single-season mark in program history, that also ranked 16th nationally. The Second Team All-MIAC honoree also led the MIAC with 36 blocks while his eight double-doubles was the second most in the conference. 

Tommy Jensen was one of the main point mans for the BU offense second in scoring at 12.2 points per game. Bethel will be without Joey Kidder for the beginning of the season due to football. He was the leading assister with 58, the 3.1 per game mark ranked third in the MIAC.