KANSAS CITY – The Crossroads League placed five teams in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Preseason Top-25 Poll, with defending league champion, Saint Francis, opening at No. 1, defending NAIA Champion, Indiana Wesleyan starting at No. 2, Bethel earning a No. 16 rating and Mount Vernon and Marian each receiving votes.

No. 1 Saint Francis swept the regular season and tournament championships in the Crossroads League during the 2015-2016 campaign and finished at 33-5 overall with a loss to IWU in the NAIA National Tournament Championship game. The Cougars return Preseason All-Crossroads League selections Bryce Lienhoop, Kegan Comer, Evan Henry and Kyle Sovine, along with Preseason All-Freshmen Team addition Vijay Blackmon. USF is set to open at home on October 28 against RV Cincinnati Christian.

Indiana Wesleyan finished the 2015-2016 season at 33-5 and with its second NAIA National Championship in three seasons. The Wildcats will be led by Crossroads League Preseason Player of the Year, Lane Mahurin, as well as fellow Preseason All-Leaguers Bob Peters and Jacob Johnson. IWU opens on October 28 and 29 against Aquinas and No. 8 Cornerstone in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Bethel went 24-10 last season and returns Clay Yeo, Gage Ott and Caleb Oetjen, who all were named to the Preseason All-Crossroads League Team. The Pilots will open their 2016-2017 campaign at Andrews on November 2.

Mount Vernon Nazarene received votes in the preseason ratings after posting a 14-16 overall mark one year ago. The Cougars return Preseason All-Crossroads League selection Josh Ashwill and will open at the Marian Tournament on October 28 and 29.

Marian also garnered votes in the poll on the heels of a 19-12 effort in 2015-2016. The Knights will be led by Preseason All-Crossroads League standout Wesley Stowers and Preseason All-Freshman Team addition Derek Hawthorne. MU will host Midway and Calumet Saint Joseph on October 28 and 29.

The NAIA Top-25 Poll is voted on by a panel of head coaches from around the nation. The first regular season men’s basketball Top-25 Poll will be announced on November 28.