SEWARD, Neb. – Following a sixth-place GPAC finish in 2017-18, the Concordia University men’s basketball team has been pegged to slide back a few spots. In the GPAC men’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll released on Monday (Oct. 22), the Bulldogs checked in 10th out of the 11 teams with 17 points.
The low ranking likely has to do with the fact that Concordia returns only sharpshooter Tanner Shuck from its 2017-18 starting lineup. A 6-foot-4 wing from Grand Island, Neb., Shuck averaged 13.0 points last season for a Bulldog squad that finished at 17-13 overall (8-10 GPAC). Head coach Ben Limback’s program also welcomes back juniors Brevin Sloup and Riley Tegtmeier. It will be reliant upon a large group of transfers and freshmen to fill in the gaps.
With Jamestown added to the GPAC this season, the league schedule will expand from 18 to 20 games this winter. Twenty conference games had been the norm prior to the subtraction of Nebraska Wesleyan from the league. Over the past four years, Limback has led Concordia to at least eight GPAC victories each season. The high-water mark for overall wins during that stretch was 21 in 2016-17. The program’s most recent conference championship was a tournament title in 2005.
The season will officially open up next Monday (Oct. 29) with Kansas Wesleyan University paying a visit to Walz Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT.
2018-19 GPAC Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Morningside – 100 (10)
2. Briar Cliff – 90 (1)
3. Dakota Wesleyan – 83
4. Doane – 69
5. Dordt – 56
T6. Northwestern – 46
T6. Hastings – 46
T6. Midland – 46
9. Jamestown – 40
10. Concordia – 17
11. Mount Marty – 12