IIAC Men's Basketball Coaches Tab Nebraska Wesleyan as Preseason Front-Runner

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Results of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (IIAC) Men's Basketball Preseason Poll (as voted on by the league's head coaches): 
 
2017-18 IIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank  School (1st place votes) Points 2016-17 Record 
1.   Nebraska Wesleyan (6) 62 18-8, 11-5 IIAC (Regular Season Co-Champion) 
2.   Loras (2) 57 18-8, 11-5 IIAC (Regular Season Co-Champion)  
3.   Wartburg (1)  51 21-10, 8-8 IIAC (IIAC Tournament Champion)  
4.   Dubuque 38 10-15, 7-9 IIAC  
5.   Simpson 31 16-10, 9-7 IIAC  
6.   Central 28 16-12, 8-8 IIAC  
7.   Buena Vista 26 14-12, 10-6 IIAC  
8.   Coe 23 10-15, 6-10 IIAC  
9.   Luther 8 4-19, 2-14 IIAC  

The league's 2016-17 regular season Co-Champion, Nebraska Wesleyan, is the preseason favorite to win the Iowa Conference championship again this season. In the Prairie Wolves first year as a member of the IIAC, they compiled an 11-5 conference record to earn the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. NWU Head Coach Dale Wellman was named the 2016-17 Coach of the Year. The Prairie Wolves also return conference MVP Cooper Cook this season. NWU earned 62 points in the poll, recording six of the nine first-place votes. Loras, the other half of the 2016-17 regular season Co-Champion, was second with 57 points and two first-place votes. Wartburg College earned 51 points and one first-place vote to come in third. A year ago, Wartburg won the Iowa Conference tournament as the No. 6 seed and represented the league in the NCAA Division III tournament. The Knights knocked off two top 10 teams in the NCAA tournament to advance to the Sweet Sixteen before bowing out.  

Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own teams. Capsules on all nine teams -- follow here:

New Coaches: No new coaches in 2017-18. 

The Schedule: The 2017-18 season kicks off on Wednesday, November 15 with Buena Vista, Central, Coe, Dubuque, Loras, Luther, Simpson, and Wartburg in non-conference action. Nebraska Wesleyan opens up their new season on Friday, November 17. The 2017-18 Iowa Conference schedule begins on Wednesday, November 29 with Dubuque hosting Wartburg, Central traveling to Luther, Simpson hosting Buena Vista, and Loras playing at Coe. Nebraska Wesleyan begins Iowa Conference play on Saturday, December 2, hosting Simpson. The IIAC season is a 16-game double round robin schedule finishing on Saturday February 17. The league's top six teams from the regular season standings qualify for the Iowa Conference Tournament. The IIAC Tournament is held Tuesday, February 20 (First Round), Thursday, February 22 (Semifinals), and Saturday February 24 (Championship). Game locations for the IIAC Tournament are at the higher seeded team's venue. The Iowa Conference Tournament champion receives the leagues' automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III tournament.  

 
1st
4787
 Nebraska Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Dale Wellman (4th Season)
2016-17 Record: 18-8, 11-5 IIAC (Regular Season Co-Champion) 
2016-17 IIAC Finish: T-1st
Returning All-IIAC:  Cooper Cooke (2016-17 MVP); Nate Schimonitz (2016-17 1st team); Deion Wells-Ross (2016-17 2nd team)
Starters Returning: 4
Starters Lost: 1
Dale Wellman - “This season in the IIAC should be like last, in that anyone can win on any given night. You can’t take a day off in the IIAC. There is just tremendous parity, which will make for another exciting season. Here at NWU we have some experience returning, but if we don’t improve on the defensive end of the court, it will be tough in this league.”
Players to Watch:
Cooper Cook - F (Jr.) 18.5-Ppg  //  6.8-Rpg  //  31-Steals  //  81-3PT FGs Made  //  44-Blocks
Nate Schimonitz - G (So.) 19.1-Ppg  //  4.9-Rpg  //  4.0-Apg  //  38-Steals 
Deion Wells-Ross - F (Sr.) 12.7-Ppg  //  7.0-Rpg  //  2.2-Apg // 30-Steals  // 30-Blocks
Dylan Dirks - F (So.) 5.2-Ppg  //  1.7-Rpg  // 21-Steals 
Jack Hiller - G (So.) 9.4-Ppg  // 4.5-Rpg  // 48-3PT FGs Made
 
 
2nd
5324
 Loras College
Head Coach: Chris Martin (2nd Season)
2016-17 Record: 18-8, 11-5 IIAC (Regular Season Co-Champion) 
2016-17 IIAC Finish: T-1st
Returning All-IIAC: Ryan DiCanio (2016-17 1st team); Demond George (2016-17 HM) 
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 2
Chris Martin - “We are extremely excited to start the 2017-18 season! Coming off of a Regular Season Conference Championship, the bar has been set high. However, the loss of three starters leaves a big gap to be filled by young players.  We are looking for some key freshman and transfers to help fill the void.

Last year, with the addition of NWU, the IIAC has asserted itself as one of the premier leagues in NCAA Division III.  This year should be no different and we are looking forward to competing against the best competition every night!”
Players to Watch:
Ryan DiCanio - G (Jr.) 15.5-Ppg  //  7.4-Rpg  //  3.6-Apg  //  39-3PT FGs Made //  35-Steals
Demond George - G (Jr.) 13.2-Ppg  //  3.0-Rpg  //  2.0-Apg  //  53-3PT FGs Made  // 45-Steals
Matt Dacy-Seijo - G (So.) 9.7-Ppg  //  1.9-Rpg  //  2.5-Apg  //  55-3PT FGs Made
Josh Ruggles -  G (Jr.) 9.6-Ppg  //  2.8-Rpg  //  1.8-Apg
 
 
3rd
4790
 Wartburg College
Head Coach: Dick Peth (21st Season)
2016-17 Record: 21-10, 8-8 IIAC (IIAC Tournament Champion) 
2016-17 IIAC Finish: T-5th
Returning All-IIAC:  Jaran Sabus (2016-17 HM); Nate Woeste (2016-17 HM, 2015-16 HM)
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 3
Dick Peth - “We are excited about the start of official practice as we return a great nucleus from last year’s team.  Our league was extremely competitive again last year and performed well during our non-conference seasons.  We expect the IIAC season to be as competitive as it’s ever been.”
Players to Watch:
Jaran Sabus - G (Jr.) 13.5-Ppg  // 4.1-Rpg  //  1.7-Apg  //  22-Steals  //  12-Blocks
Nate Woeste - G (Sr.) 11.8-Ppg  //  3.9-Rpg  //  1.5-Apg  //  31-Steals  //  11-Blocks
Sawyer Herman - G (Sr.) 7.7-Ppg  //  2.0-Rpg  //  13-Steals 
 
 
4th
4789
 University of Dubuque
Head Coach: Robbie Sieverding (7th Season)
2016-17 Record: 10-15, 7-9 IIAC 
2016-17 IIAC Finish: 7th
Returning All-IIAC:  Jamaree Atwater (2016-17 2nd team)
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 2
Robbie Sieverding - “Our league was very strong last year and I expect it to be once again this season.  We are looking forward to competing and hopefully continue to improve as we move through the season.”
Players to Watch:
TJ Lake - G (Sr.) 16.3-Ppg  //  2.9-Rpg  //  2.8-Apg  //  16-Steals
Jamaree Atwater - F (Sr.) 16.7-Ppg  //  5.4-Rpg  //  1.5-Apg  //  17-Steals  //  19-Blocks
Kyle Bauer - G (Sr.) 4.8-Ppg  //  3.0-Rpg  //  0.4-Apg
 
 
5th
4788
 Simpson College
Head Coach: Brad Bjorkgren (3rd Season)
2016-17 Record: 16-10, 9-7 IIAC 
2016-17 IIAC Finish: 4th
Returning All-IIAC:  Sam Amsbaugh (2016-17 1st team, 2015-16 1st team)
Starters Returning: 1
Starters Lost: 4
Brad Bjorkgren - "We are excited to build our newcomers and returners around Sam Amsbaugh. Sam has proven to be one of the best players in the league and we are fortunate to have him.  The Iowa Conference is a tough league where you must bring your A-GAME every night."
Players to Watch:
Sam Amsbaugh - F (Sr.) 18.5-Ppg  //  6.8-Rpg  //  1.7-Apg  // 32-3PT FGs Made  //  26-Steals
Ben Rajewski - G (Jr.) 3.1-Ppg  //  0.6-Rpg  //  8-Steals 
Conor Riordan - G (So.) 3.7-Rpg //  1.3-Rpg  //  0.9-Apg
 
 
6th
5291
 Central College
Head Coach: Craig Douma (6th Season)
2016-17 Record: 16-12, 8-8 IIAC 
2016-17 IIAC Finish: T-5th
Returning All-IIAC: Kyle Smith (2016-17 2nd team) 
Starters Returning: 1
Starters Lost: 4
Craig Douma - “We feel the league has a lot of parity again this year. Our coaches do a great job in this league and I feel our conference keeps getting better! We are excited about our team and like the guys that we have coming back!”
Players to Watch:
Kyle Smith - G (Sr.) 13.8-Ppg  //  3.2-Rpg  //  2.4-Apg  //  74-3PT FGs Made
Trashawn Boyd - G (Sr.) 10.1-Ppg  //  3.1-Rpg  //  3.5-Apg  //  40-3PT FGs Made
Jacob Hay - G (Sr.) 1.4-Ppg  //  22-Rebounds  //  19-Assists
Malik Wildermuth - F (Sr.) 5.1-Ppg  //  3.3-Rpg  //  1.8-Apg  //  20-Steals 
Nick Drucker - G (Sr.) 4.5-Ppg  //  2.5-Rpg  //  1.9-Apg  //  19-Steals
 
 
7th
 
4782
 Buena Vista University
Head Coach: Brian Van Haaften (22nd Season)
2016-17 Record: 14-12, 10-6 IIAC 
2016-17 IIAC Finish: 3rd
Returning All-IIAC: David Jeffries (2016-17 Defensive MVP, HM); Thomas Wisecup (2016-17 2nd team) 
Starters Returning: 2
Starters Lost: 3
Brian Van Haaften - “We are excited to get started and compete.  We have a great group of guys that will play well together.  Our conference will be very tough, top to bottom, and anyone can win any game at any time.  We look forward to the challenge.”
Players to Watch:
Thomas Wisecup - G (Sr.)  13.9-Ppg  //  3.0-Rpg  //  3.7-Apg  //  61-3PT FGs Made
David Jeffries - G (Sr.) 13.1-Ppg  //  4.6-Rpg  //  2.4-Apg  //  51-Steals
 
 
8th
4784
 
Coe College
Head Coach: Bryan Martin (6th Season)
2016-17 Record: 10-15, 6-10 IIAC 
2016-17 IIAC Finish: 8th
Returning All-IIAC:  None returning
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 2
Bryan Martin - "Last season proved to be one of the most balanced and competitive league races ever and I expect this year to be no different.  Each program has their share of talented players returning and each team is very well coached so you have to perform at a high level each night.  The Coe College Kohawks will rely heavily on the senior leadership of Matt Meyer, Nic Roth, and Spencer Williams."
Players to Watch:
Trevor Haaland -  9.5-Ppg  //  2.7-Rpg  //  4.4-Apg  //  10-Steals
Matt Meyer -  8.4-Ppg  //  3.0-Rpg  //  1.5-Apg  //  7-Steals
Nolan Timp -  8.6-Ppg  //  3.5-Rpg  //  0.7-Apg 
 
 
9th
4786
 Luther College
Head Coach: Mark Franzen (12th Season)
2016-17 Record: 4-19, 2-14 IIAC 
2016-17 IIAC Finish: 9th
Returning All-IIAC: None returning  
Starters Returning: 3
Starters Lost: 2
Mark Franzen - “Our league was outstanding in 2016-17. Our #6 seed advancing to the Sweet Sixteen is proof of that.”
Players to Watch:
Jared Nicolaisen -  11.6-Ppg  //  3.0-Rpg  //  0.9-Apg 
Christian Wright -  5.4-Ppg  //  5.3-Rpg  //  0.5-Apg
Ray Whitlock -  6.0-Ppg  //  4.3-Rpg  //  1.1-Apg  // 14-Steals
 
Don't forget to become a fan of the Iowa Conference on Facebook, follow the IIAC on Twitter at @iiacathletics and on Instagram at @iowaconference.

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