2024-25 NAIA Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll
SEWARD, Neb. – As another sign of the lofty expectations harbored by the Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball program, the Bulldogs landed at No. 11 in the 2024-25 NAIA Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. Concordia picked up 335 points in the poll released on Wednesday (Oct. 23) by the NAIA. The previous week, it was revealed by the GPAC that the Bulldogs were chosen as the league’s preseason favorite.
The No. 11 national ranking marks the program’s highest ranking since checking in at No. 6 in the 2005-06 NAIA Men’s Basketball Division II preseason poll. It is also the highest ranking for the program during the era of one division of NAIA basketball (which began in 2020-21). The 2021-22 GPAC championship squad entered the national tournament ranked 23rd before proceeding to reach the NAIA quarterfinals (there was no postseason poll). Under Head Coach Ben Limback, Concordia has appeared in the top 25 for the fourth-straight season. The 2023-24 team that shared the GPAC regular season title climbed as high as 20th in the NAIA poll.
The preseason ranking comes in response to the Bulldogs bringing back each of their top nine scorers from last season, including First Team All-GPAC honorees in Noah Schutte and Tristan Smith. Said Limback, “We want that (high expectations). We want to make sure we’re prepared for those moments. Our practices are very competitive right now. To prepare for that mindset where we’re going to be the hunted, it starts in practice. You’re looking across from you and you’re competing against someone who is really good and wants your job or wants a bigger role. I think that creates a lot of intensity and more of a purpose-filled practice.”
The 2024-25 season will officially tip off at the 25th Cattle Classic slated for Nov. 1-2. As part of the event, Concordia will take on NCAA Division III foes Central College (Iowa) and Nebraska Wesleyan University inside Friedrich Arena.
For a closer look at the 2024-25 Bulldogs, check out our season preview linked HERE.