SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The North Dakota State men's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in The Summit League this season, according to the annual preseason poll of league head coaches, sports information directors and media.
 
NDSU junior Grant Nelson was voted to the preseason All-Summit League first team. The Devils Lake, N.D., native is the top returning scorer for the Bison at 11.6 points per game. Nelson shot 43 percent from three-point range in league play and was named to the All-Tournament Team in March.
 
Oral Roberts topped the preseason poll with 28 of the 40 first-place votes. South Dakota State came in second, South Dakota was third, and the Bison were fourth.
 
The Bison have played in four consecutive Summit League Tournament championship games from 2019-22, winning the title in 2019 and 2020. Over the past three seasons, NDSU ranks 50th out of 358 Division I schools in winning percentage.
 
NDSU will open the 2022-23 season with a home exhibition game against Minnesota Crookston on Nov. 2 inside the Scheels Center.
 
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
 
First Team
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
Luke Appel, South Dakota State
Frankie Fidler, Omaha
Trenton Massner, Western Illinois
Zeke Mayo, South Dakota State
Grant Nelson, North Dakota State
 
Second Team
Mason Archambault, South Dakota
Issac McBride, Oral Roberts
Kruz Perrott-Hunt, South Dakota
A.J. Plitzuweit, South Dakota
Tevin Smith, Denver

Poll (1^st)                                 Total Points
1.   Oral Roberts (28)              731
2.   South Dakota State (11)    668
3.   South Dakota (1)               602
4.   North Dakota State            549
5.   Denver                               432
6.   Kansas City                        310
7.   Western Illinois                   294
8.   St. Thomas                         289
9.   Omaha                                279
10. North Dakota                      174