RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the 2023-24 Great American Conference Coaches' Poll, the league announced Thursday.
OBU garnered 61 votes around the conference's coaches, a year after being voted third in the 2022-23 preseason poll. Southeastern Oklahoma State topped the 12-team field with 116 votes, including nine first-place nods.
Arkansas Tech (103), Southern Arkansas (101), Henderson State (82), and East Central rounded out the top five programs.
The Bison posted a 13-16 record a year ago, including a 10-12 tally in the GAC that finished seventh. OBU made the conference tournament for the fifth straight season but bowed out following a 71-67 loss to No. 2-seeded Muleriders of Southern Arkansas.
Head coach Jason Eaker enters his sixth season on Bison Hill, boasting an overall record of 87-54 (.617). He has finished above .500 in all but one season and led OBU to two NCAA tournament appearances.
Plagued with injuries a season ago, the Bison look to turn the tide with a multitude of talent returning. Namely, senior guard Ricky Brown, who averaged 10.1 ppg and knocked down the second most three-pointers (52) on the team last year.
Additionally, Ethan Scott and Joshua Udoumoh return with a combined 57 games of experience. Scott led the Bison in threes (55), while Udoumoh reached double figures in points seven times.
Oklahoma Baptist starts its 2023-24 campaign with an exhibition at Oklahoma State on Nov. 1 before hosting the GAC/NSIC Conference Challenge on Nov. 10-11. OBU will face Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota Crookston that weekend.
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2023-24 GAC Preseason Men's Basketball Poll
1. Southeastern Oklahoma State - 116 (9)
2. Arkansas Tech - 103 (1)
3
. Southern Arkansas - 101 (1)
4. Henderson State - 82 (1)
5. East Central - 72
6. Ouachita Baptist - 70
7.
Oklahoma Baptist - 61
8. Southern Nazarene - 49
9. Northwestern Oklahoma State - 46
10. Arkansas-Monticello - 43
11. Southwestern Oklahoma State - 28
12. Harding - 21
For more information on Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter (
@OBU_MBB) and Instagram (
OBU_MBB).
