Men’s Basketball: MIAA preseason poll released

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has released the 2023-24 preseason men's basketball poll. The University of Olivet men were picked seventh with 38 points.

Defending MIAA regular season champion Calvin University was predicted to defend its title with seven points after collecting all seven possible first-place votes. Trine (Ind.) University received the other first-place vote to slot into second with 13 points, followed by defending MIAA tournament champion Hope College with 19 points. The remaining five schools were only separated by seven points. Alma College was fourth with 34 points, followed by Kalamazoo College in fifth (35 points), Albion College in sixth (37 points), Olivet (38 points) and Adrian College in eighth (41 points).

The Comets wrapped-up the 2022-23 season with a 12-15 overall record, including a split against MIAA competition for a 7-7 record. Olivet defeated Albion College in the MIAA Tournament first round before losing to Calvin in the semifinals.

"We lost 6 of our top 8 players from last year," said Olivet head coach Sam Hargraves. "We've got several new players who are going to have to contribute and grow up in a hurry. So, I'm not surprised we got picked seventh. Obviously, we're going to work every day trying to outperform the preseason expectations."

The Comets open their season Saturday and Sunday at the Earlham (Ind.) College Melissa Johnson / Hope Classic in Richmond, Indiana. The Comets face Capital (Ohio) University on Saturday at 2 p.m., and Carroll (Wis.) University on Sunday at 12 p.m. Olivet's home-opener is next Wednesday, November 15, when Defiance (Ohio) College visits the Cutler Event Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The Comets start MIAA play Thursday, January 4, 2024, at home against Hope College at 7:30 p.m.