Oklahoma Wesleyan University will open the 2025 KCAC men’s basketball season as the team to beat, earning the No. 1 ranking in both the preseason coaches’ and media polls released Thursday by the conference office.
The Eagles, who captured last year’s regular-season title and advanced to the NAIA national championship game, collected 162 total points and seven first-place votes in the coaches’ poll. Friends University was close behind with 156 points and six first-place votes. Bethel College and the University of Saint Mary tied for third with 139 points each, with Bethel claiming the final first-place vote. Southwestern College rounded out the top five at 128 points.
McPherson College earned the No. 7 spot in the coaches’ poll, while Sterling College was ranked 11th as both teams look to move up after competitive showings last season.
In the media poll, Oklahoma Wesleyan again edged Friends for the top spot by a single point — 159 to 158. The University of Saint Mary followed in third with 137 points and one first-place vote, while Southwestern (126) and Bethel (122) completed the top five.
McPherson was picked ninth by the media, and Sterling landed at No. 11.