Men’s basketball picked sixth in IIAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Simpson men's basketball team has been picked sixth in the Iowa Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, as voted on by the league's nine head coaches. The Storm picked up 31 points in the poll.
The Storm were the surprise of the league in 2015-16 under first-year head coach Brad Bjorkgren, going 15-11 overall and 8-6 in the Iowa Conference to tie for second place in the league standings. Prior to Bjorkgren's arrival, the Storm had endured eight straight losing seasons.
Simpson returns 11 letterwinners and four starters from last year's team, including First Team All-Iowa Conference forward, Sam Amsbaugh. The season begins Wednesday, Nov. 16 when the Storm travel to Monmouth (Ill.).
IIAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Central—63 pts (7), 19-10 overall, 7-7 IIAC
2. Wartburg—52 pts, 16-11 overall, 8-6 IIAC
3. Dubuque—43 pts (2), 18-8 overall, 11-3 IIAC
4. Loras—36 pts, 13-13 overall, 8-6 IIAC
5. Coe—34 pts, 10-15 overall, 5-9 IIAC
6. Simpson—31 pts, 15-11 overall, 8-6 IIAC
7. Buena Vista—29 pts, 11-16 overall, 5-9 IIAC
8. Nebraska Wesleyan—28 pts, 22-8 overall, 15-5 GPAC
9. Luther—8 pts, 5-20 overall, 4-10 IIAC
*number in (parenthesis) indicates first-place votes
