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Oilers Picked as Favorite in the Great Midwest

Oilers Picked as Favorite in the Great Midwest

The University of Findlay men's basketball team was picked as the favorite to win the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) this year as the league office unveiled their preseason coaches poll on Oct. 18.

The Oilers, who reached the Sweet 16 last year and ended the 2016-17 campaign with a 25-7 record, received 121 points in the poll and a league-high 11 first place votes. They were followed in the poll by Kentucky Wesleyan, who received 108 points and one first place vote, and Hillsdale, who received 96 points in the poll.

Senior guard Martyce Kimbrough and senior forward Taren Sullivan are back to lead the squad. Kimbrough earned honorable mention all-American accolades for the Oilers last season and was also a first team all-conference and first team all-region pick. Sullivan meanwhile earned first team all-conference and second team all-region honors.

Kimbrough, a preseason all-American according to DII Bulletin, finished last season averaging 19.3 points per game. He set school records for most made three pointers (114) and most attempted triples (282) while shooting 40.4 percent from long range. His 617 points scored were also the eighth-highest total in school history.

Sullivan, a preseason all-American according to Street & Smith's, averaged 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He also shot a team-high 55.2 percent (233-of-422) from the floor and made a team-high 44.8 percent (64-of-143) of his three point tries.

The Oilers also return senior guards Elijah Kahlig and Austin Gardner to a roster that also features a lot of young talent. Kahlig averaged 10.9 points per game and shot 41.3 percent (76-of-184) from behind the three point line. Gardner meanwhile averaged 5.2 points and 6.3 assists per game before an injury cut his season short.

Great Midwest Preseason Poll

1. Findlay (11) – 121
2. Kentucky Wesleyan (1) – 108
3. Hillsdale – 96
4. Alderson Broaddus – 91
T5. Ohio Dominican – 77
T5. Walsh – 77
7. Malone – 53
8. Davis & Elkins – 51
9. Cedarville – 41
T10. Lake Erie – 33
T10. Trevecca Nazarene – 33
12. Ohio Valley – 12

You can get your first look at the Oilers this season on Oct. 21 when they hold their Orange and Black Scrimmage at 11am in Croy Gymnasium. The scrimmage is FREE and open to fans. Season ticket holders can also pick up their tickets at the scrimmage.