Contact: Lou Groce, Director of Media and Information, 920-229-8157

GRINNELL, Iowa – The St. Nobert College men’s basketball team is in the midst of a 64-game winning streak against Midwest Conference (MWC) competition, so it should come as no surprise that the league coaches have picked the Green Knights to win their fifth straight conference title in the annual preseason coaches’ poll. 

St. Norbert earned all nine possible first place votes in the poll for a perfect total of 81.  League coaches are not allowed to vote for their own squads.  With the return of All-American Ty Sabin, Ripon College is expected to be the Green Knights’ top challenger.  The Red Hawks earned the final first-place tally and earned 72 points.  Lake Forest College was selected third with 66 points, and did not earn a vote lower than third place.  Cornell College, who hasn’t made the four-team MWC Tournament since rejoining the conference, was picked fourth (48), just ahead of Monmouth College (47). 

Grinnell is expected to finish sixth (44), while Illinois College was picked seventh (34).  Lawrence University (29), Beloit College (20) and Knox College (9) complete the poll.