Basketball: Olivet picked third and eighth in MIAA preseason coaches’ polls

FREELAND, Mich. -- The Olivet College women’s and men’s basketball teams have been picked to finish third and eighth, respectively, in the 2014-15 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preseason Coaches’ Polls. Each coach was not allowed to vote for his/her own team. Defending league champions Hope College and Calvin College were picked as the women’s and men’s preseason favorites.

Under the leadership of head coach Nicole Burford, the women’s basketball team had its most successful season in school history last season, posting a 22-4 overall record, including a second-place finish in the league standings with a 14-2 record. The Comets return five letterwinners from that team and will be led by senior All-MIAA center Stefanie Lang. Last season, she was the conference scoring (21.0 ppg) and rebounding (13.9 rpg) champion, while tying for the lead among all NCAA DIII women’s basketball players with 23 double-doubles. The other returning letterwinners are seniors Carli Reid and Devan Thomas, junior Dallas Austin and sophomore Gabrielle Trudell.

Olivet opens the 2014-15 season Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16, with a weekend trip to Illinois. On Saturday afternoon, the Comets play a 3 p.m. game at North Park University, and on Sunday, they play a 2 p.m. game at Illinois Tech.

The men’s basketball team looks to bounce back from a 5-20 overall record last season. The Comets will be led by senior two-time All-MIAA guard Blake Krum, who was their leading scorer last season at 15.4 ppg. He enters his senior season with 750 career points. Other returning returning players include senior Jordan Union, and sophomores Eric Ewing, R.J. Haas, Adam Rayner, Aaron Washington and Kevin Woodson.

Olivet opens the 2014-15 season Wednesday, Nov. 19, when it hosts Manchester (Ind.) University. Tip-off from inside The Cutler Event Center is 7:30 p.m.