BURNSVILLE, MN (NorthernSun.org) – The defending NCAA Division II National Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite in the NSIC for the 2024-25 season. The Mavericks received 186 points, garnering eight first places votes to sit three points ahead of second place MSU Moorhead. The Dragons had 183 points and six first-place votes. Minnesota Duluth was third with 172 points and the other first place vote.

NSIC coaches rank each team from 1 to 14 with a first-place vote receiving 14 points, second place 13, third place 12, etc. Coaches do not rank their own team or vote for their own players in the preseason poll.

The NSIC regular season championship will be based on the 22-game schedule. Each team will play eight  teams twice and another six teams once. An NSIC Champion will be awarded to the team with the highest win percentage in the 22 games played.

The 2024-25 men’s basketball season gets underway in early November with non-conference action, while NSIC play begins Tuesday, November 26.

The 12-team NSIC Men’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championships are set to take place March 1-4 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The top four seeds will receive a first-round bye. First round games will be played on campus on Wednesday, February 26.

1st: MSU-Mankato (8) first place votes

2nd) MSU-Moorhead (6) first place votes

3rd) MN-Duluth (1) first place vote

4th) SMSU

5th) Bemidji State

6th) Augustana

7th) USF

8th) CSP

9th) St. Cloud State

10th) Minot State

11th) Winona State

12th) Wayne State

13th) Northern State

14th) MN-Crookston

15th) U-Mary