SEWARD, Neb. – A national quarterfinal finish last season has spring-boarded the Concordia University Women’s Basketball program into the top 10 of the 2021-22 NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. In the poll released on Wednesday (Oct. 27), the Bulldogs checked in at No. 9 with 398 points. As for the GPAC preseason poll announced last week, Concordia was placed second behind defending conference champion Morningside.
This marks the 14th-straight year that Head Coach Drew Olson’s program has garnered a national top 25 ranking in the preseason. Both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 squads started and ended their seasons with NAIA Division II No. 1 national rankings. Beginning with last season, the NAIA merged the two divisions into one. The Bulldogs finished last season at 22-9 overall. They were slotted at No. 11 nationally in the preseason and were ranked 17th heading into the national tournament. The NAIA did not produce a postseason women’s basketball poll.
Olson’s program has taken up residence in the NAIA national poll. Dating back to the start of the 2011-12 season, Concordia has appeared inside the top 25 in 102 of the past 103 NAIA coaches’ polls. During Olson’s tenure, the Bulldogs have appeared at No. 1 in 16 separate polls. Over the past four completed national tournaments, Concordia has reached at least the national quarterfinals each time with the highlight being the national title in 2019. Olson’s teams have advanced to the national semifinals a total of five times.
The 2021-22 squad will again lean upon the explosive scoring abilities of Taysha Rushton, who is joined by returning starters in Bailey Conrad, Mackenzie Koepke and Rylee Pauli. Concordia brings back 11 players from last season’s national tournament roster. The highlight of the campaign was the win over fifth-ranked Marian University (Ind.) in the NAIA national round of 16.
Based on the preseason poll, the Bulldogs will play seven regular season games against top 25 opponents: No. 2 Thomas Moore, No. 3 Campbellsville, No. 6 Morningside (twice), No. 8 Wayland Baptist, No. 13 Dakota State and No. 18 Sterling. GPAC foes Dordt and Northwestern are both listed as receiving votes.
Concordia will open the 2021-22 campaign next Monday (Nov. 1) by hosting Bellevue University at 7 p.m. CT. The Bruins received votes in the NAIA preseason poll.
Preseason rankings under Olson
2021-22: 9
2020-21: 11
2019-20: 1
2018-19: 1
2017-18: 3
2016-17: 14
2015-16: 4
2014-15: 9
2013-14: 5
2012-13: 1
2011-12: 22
2010-11: 11
2009-10: 22
2008-09: 7
2007-08: NR
2006-07: NR
Final end of season rankings under Olson
2020-21: 17
2019-20: 1
2018-19: 1
2017-18: 2
2016-17: 3
2015-16: 19
2014-15: 2
2013-14: 13
2012-13: 9
2011-12: 3
2010-11: NR
2009-10: NR
2008-09: 8
2007-08: 10
2006-07: NR
2021-22 NAIA Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University Men’s Basketball team will begin the 2021-22 season with some degree of national respect. The Bulldogs picked up eight points in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Wednesday (Oct. 27). That puts Concordia 16 spots out of the NAIA top 25 in the preseason. In the GPAC preseason poll announced last week, the Bulldogs landed at No. 3 behind Morningside and Jamestown.
Head Coach Ben Limback’s squad will have to earn its way into the top 25. Under Limback, Concordia finished both the 2016-17 and 2019-20 seasons as a team that received votes in the national poll. The program last cracked the top 25 in 2010-11 when it rose as high as No. 20. During the GPAC era (2000-present), the Bulldogs’ highest national ranking was No. 4 in 2004-05 when they advanced to the NAIA Division II national championship game.
Concordia hopes to return to the national tournament as it did in 2020 when it played the final NAIA Division II game ever (remainder of tournament was canceled due to COVID-19). In program history, the Bulldogs have made 10 national tournament appearances, including nine under former head coach Grant Schmidt. They last won a national tournament game in 2005.
Limback’s crew tied for third in the GPAC last season while equaling a program record for conference wins in a single season (14). The Bulldogs return all five starters (and their top seven scorers) from last season, including All-GPAC honorees in Carter Kent, Gage Smith and Justin Wiersema, in addition to super seniors in Ryan Holt and Sam Scarpelli. Wiersema rose to first team all-conference status while becoming one of the top backcourt players in the GPAC.
Based on the preseason poll, the Bulldogs will play five regular season games against top 25 opponents: No. 12 Morningside (twice), No. 18 Benedictine and No. 19 Jamestown (twice). Nonconference opponent Ottawa (Kan.) is receiving votes in the preseason.
Concordia will open the 2021-22 season this weekend at the Hastings Classic. The Bulldogs will take on Friends University (Kan.) at 3 p.m. CT on Friday before battling Presentation College (S.D.) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
