The Hope College men’s basketball team will start its bid to repeat as MIAA champion as a unanimous preseason favorite in the league for the upcoming season.
The Flying Dutchmen claimed all seven possible first-place votes and topped the preseason poll with 14 points. Coaches could not vote for their own teams.
Led by head coach Greg Mitchell, Hope finished ahead of second-place Trine University (15 points, 1 first-place vote), Calvin University (17 points), Albion College (25), Olivet College (36), Adrian College (37), Kalamazoo College (38), and Alma College (49).
The Flying Dutchmen return five seniors from last season’s team that went 22-7 overall and was MIAA regular-season and tournament champions.
Guard Evan Thomas (Okemos, Michigan / Okemos HS) received D3hoops.com Preseason All-America honors last week. The 6-foot-4 Thomas averaged a career-high 19.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game during the 2021-22 season.
Thomas was named MIAA MVP for the first time in his career as a junior.
Hope also brings back three starters, including All-MIAA First Team guard Clayton Dykhouse (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) and sophomore forward Tanner Wiegerink (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) who started 23 games last season.
Senior forward TJ McKenzie Jr. (North Muskegon, Michigan / North Muskegon) and junior guard Eli Schoonveld (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian) are among key returning reserves.
The Flying Dutchmen tip off their season this weekend with two home games: Friday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. against the University of Wisconsin-Stout and Saturday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. against third-ranked University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
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