KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On the heels of an NAIA Final Site berth last season, the Red Raider men’s basketball team has been ranked No. 15 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Raiders had a successful campaign in 2023-24, claiming a share of the GPAC regular season title and earning a host bid for the NAIA First and Second Rounds. Returning Second Team All-American Alex Van Kalsbeek led the way with 20.6 points, also adding 6.3 rebounds per game. They also bring back starters in Zach LaFave and Kaleb Booth, with Conner Geddes and Marcus Kelderman returning as key contributors. Northwestern ended the season with a No. 13 ranking.
Last season’s runners-up, Langston (Okla.), was picked to the top spot with 13 first-place votes. College of Idaho and Indiana Wesleyan followed, while defending national champion Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) was picked fourth. Oklahoma Wesleyan rounded out the top five.
Northwestern is one of three GPAC teams represented in the poll. Both the Raiders and Concordia were ranked in the top 15, with Concordia at Number 11. Dordt is receiving votes.
| RANK | INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] | 2023-24 RECORD | FINAL POINTS |
| 1 | Langston (Okla.) [13] | 35-2 | 533 |
| 2 | College of Idaho [5] | 32-4 | 525 |
| 3 | Indiana Wesleyan | 29-6 | 483 |
| 4 | Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) [2] | 32-4 | 478 |
| 5 | Oklahoma Wesleyan | 31-3 | 456 |
| 6 | Arizona Christian | 25-8 | 451 |
| 7 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 24-8 | 427 |
| 8 | Grace (Ind.) | 34-2 | 415 |
| 9 | Montana Tech | 27-5 | 355 |
| 10 | The Master’s (Calif.) | 24-9 | 350 |
| 11 | Concordia (Neb.) | 24-8 | 335 |
| 12 | LSU Alexandria (La.) | 24-7 | 333 |
| 13 | LSU Shreveport (La.) | 24-9 | 293 |
| 14 | Central Baptist (Ark.) | 28-7 | 275 |
| 15 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 25-8 | 259 |
| 16 | Oregon Tech | 27-6 | 255 |
| 17 | Ave Maria (Fla.) | 22-10 | 246 |
| 18 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 28-5 | 244 |
| 19 | Huntington (Ind.) | 22-10 | 214 |
| 19 | Baker (Kan.) | 23-10 | 214 |
| 21 | Madonna (Mich.) | 27-7 | 185 |
| 22 | Florida Memorial | 23-7 | 151 |
| 23 | Nelson (Texas) | 20-10 | 116 |
| 24 | Kansas Wesleyan | 23-9 | 110 |
| 25 | Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) | 24-9 | 95 |
Receiving Votes: Life (Ga.) 89, Columbia (Mo.) 84, Keiser (Fla.) 50, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 46, Pikeville (Ky.) 40, Indiana Tech 34, Dordt (Iowa) 24, IU Northwest (Ind.) 21, Hope International (Calif.) 19, Spring Arbor (Mich.) 13, Xavier (La.) 9, Peru State (Neb.) 9, Mobile (Ala.) 8, St. Thomas (Fla.) 3, Cornerstone (Mich.) 3, Southwestern (Kan.) 3, Wayland Baptist (Texas) 2
Northwestern tips off its season on Friday, November 1, hosting Tabor (Kan.) in the Bultman Center.
