Coaches eye Bethany Lutheran as men's basketball team to beat
ST. PAUL (Nov. 7, 2008) – Bethany Lutheran College was predicted to win the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) men’s basketball championship, according to the preseason coaches’ poll. The Vikings, who return three starters from last year’s squad that was part of a four-way tie for second in the conference, received 47 points and six first place votes. Bethany Lutheran returns senior Andy Wills and junior Tommy Saffert, both of whom were selected as UMAC First Team All-Conference honorees in 2007-08.
Northwestern College, last year’s conference champion, took second in the poll with 40 points, while Martin Luther College came in third, receiving 35 points. Both Northwestern and Martin Luther received one first place vote. The Eagles return only one starter from last year’s squad, while the Knights have three returning starters. Stephen Hanson (13.7 points, 7.3 rebounds per game in 2007-08) leads Northwestern, while Caleb Free (13.9 points, 5.8 rebounds per game) will pace Martin Luther.
The College of St. Scholastica and the University of Minnesota-Morris, who were also a part of the four-way tie for second place last year with Martin Luther and Bethany Lutheran, tied for fourth in the poll as both schools received 29 points. Presentation College (23 points), Northland College (13 points) and Crown College (eight points) rounded out the poll’s bottom three teams.
After several non-conference affairs, the UMAC basketball season will officially begin on Dec. 5.
School – Points (First Place Votes)
- Bethany Lutheran College – 47 (6)
- Northwestern College – 40 (1)
- Martin Luther College – 35 (1)
- College of St. Scholastica – 29
- University of Minnesota, Morris – 29
- Presentation College – 23
- Northland College – 13
- Crown College - 8