KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two-time defending national champion Oklahoma City University is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA Division I men’s basketball preseason poll.
OCU went 31-7 last season and is 1-0 this season after being Wiley (Texas) 91-75 on Saturday. The Stars have a new coach this season in Kevin Morrissey, who stepped in to replace Tommy Wade five days before the season opener.
Wade, who took a job at Oklahoma State, in April had replaced Ray Harper, who’s now an assistant at Western Kentucky.
Two of OCU’s Sooner Athletic Conference rivals also are ranked. Oklahoma Baptist of Shawnee is No. 7 after finishing 24-10 last season and Rogers State of Claremore is No. 20 after going 20-11.
Oklahoma Christian, Langston and Northwestern Oklahoma State also received votes in the poll.
