Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org

GRINNELL, Iowa – The Ripon College Red Hawks have been tabbed favorites to win the Midwest Conference (MWC) men’s basketball championship for the 2022-23 season.
 
Ripon received eight first-place votes and 64 points to top the poll for the second year in a row. Last season, the Red Hawks snapped a twenty-two-year drought to win their 13^th league crown.
 
The Blueboys of Illinois College picked up 56 points for a second-place poll finish, followed by Cornell College in third with 47 points. The Blueboys finished last season in fourth place in the league’s standings, while the Rams finished second. Cornell defeated the Red Hawks in a double-overtime thriller to win the MWC Tournament title, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994.
 
The Grinnell College Pioneers garnered 43 points and the remaining first-place vote to secure fourth place.
 
One point separated fifth and sixth place with Lawrence University (33) just ahead of Lake Forest College (32).
 
The poll rounds out with Knox College (19) in seventh, while Beloit College and Monmouth College tie for eighth place, both receiving 15 points.
 
The 2022-23 campaign tips off next Tuesday, November 8, with five league teams in non- conference actions. Lake Forest will host Grinnell on Saturday, November 19, for the first Conference game of the season. League play opens for the remaining teams the weekend of November 29-30.
 
The 2023 MWC Men’s Basketball Tournament will be held Friday, February 24, through Saturday, February 25. The top seed at the conclusion of the regular season will host as the top- four league teams compete for the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Full preseason poll results and quick facts for all nine league teams can be found below:

2022-23 MWC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Ripon College (8) – 64 points
2. Illinois College – 56 points
3. Cornell College – 47 points
4. Grinnell College (1) – 43 points
5. Lawrence University – 33 points
6. Lake Forest College – 32 points
7. Knox College – 19 points
T8. Beloit College – 15 points
T8. Monmouth College – 15 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Josh Hinz (4^th Season)
2021-22: 6-19 (overall); 3-13 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A

Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Dave Schlabaugh (6^th Season)
2021-22: 19-8 (overall); 12-4 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Jordan Magnani (Fifth Year)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: David Arseneault Jr. (5^th Season)
2021-22: 16-9 (overall); 10-6 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Illinois College Blue Boys
Head Coach: Steve Schweer (5^th Season)
2021-22: 14-11 (overall); 10-6 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Jake Mazrimas (Sr), Tre Rogers (Sr)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Ben Davis (4^th Season)
2021-22: 8-16 (overall); 4-12 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Ryan Davis (2^nd Season)
2021-22: 10-15 (overall); 9-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Johnny Roeser (Sr - 2021-22 MWC Newcomer of the Year)

Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Casey Korn (2^nd Season)
2021-22: 12-13 (overall); 9-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Todd Skrivseth (12^th Season)
2021-22: 3-21 (overall); 2-14 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Jordan Metcalf (Fifth Year)

Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Ryan Kane (11^th Season)
2021-22: 18-8 (overall); 13-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: David Devalk (Sr), Ryan Steffes (Sr)