Defending UAA champion Washington University and NCAA quarterfinalist Emory University are ranked in the D3hoops.com Preseason Poll.
The Bears, who did not drop a UAA contest last season, are ranked ninth. The Bears return two starters and 17 letterwinners from last year's team, which posted a 24-3 overall record. The Bears won the UAA championship for the third straight season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year.
The Eagles are ranked 15th in the preseason poll. The Eagles enter the upcoming campaign with an experienced cast that features 11 returning letterwinners, including three starters, back in the fold from last year's squad that finished with an overall record of 19-9, which included the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament Round of Eight. Emory posted a 9-5 mark in conference encounters, good for second place.
The University of Chicago, NYU, and Brandeis University all received votes.