[Men's Basketball] MBB Falcons Chosen Third in KCAC Media Poll; Tied For Third in Coaches' Poll
WICHITA, Kan. – The Friends University Men's Basketball Falcons have been chosen to finish third in the KCAC Media Poll and tied for third in the Coaches' Poll, the league released today as part of KCAC Media Day at the Crestview Country Club.
The Falcons hovered near the top of the league for much of last season before settling in to wind up tied for fifth with a 13-9 conference record.
The Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles were picked to win the league in both polls after coming in second last season and winning the KCAC postseason tournament.
"We have a good crew of returners coming back," said Friends head coach Dale Faber, now in his 16th season at the helm.
"The transfers and frosh coming in have responded well to the guys who have been through it with us. Willingness to listen to their peers has been the thing I have been the most surprised by. Our trust of each other has not been tested yet and we will have to see when adversity strikes how we do."
A nice place to start is the return of the leading scorer in NAIA D-II, senior Jordan Murdock (SR/Wichita, Kan.).
Murdock, the 2017-18 KCAC Player of the Year and a first-team NAIA All-America performer, has displayed an unparalleled scoring prowess since arriving on the Friends University campus.
The nation's leading scorer (29.8 ppg), Murdock has scored in double-figures in all but one of his 61 career games at Friends, including every game this past season.
"Jordan's consistency in the numbers he put up night after night was remarkable, not only scoring but rebounding," Faber said.
The Falcons will begin the 2018-19 season in York, Neb. in the York Tip-Off Classic. The Falcons will square off with Hastings College (Neb.) on Oct. 26 before facing Bellevue University (Neb.) on Oct. 27.
The home opener inside the Garvey Center is set for Nov. 2, as the Falcons welcome in Briar Cliff University (Iowa).
Friends will kick off KCAC action on Nov. 14 at home against Sterling College.