Oklahoma City, Okla. -- The Mid-America Christian Evangels have been picked to finish eighth in the Sooner Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll, the league announced today.
The Evangels return 14 veterans that accounted for 60 percent of their scoring and 85 percent of their assist total last season.
Oklahoma Baptist and USAO, who finished first and second last season, are the co-favorites for the league crown this year.
OBU received six first-place tallies, with USAO getting four first-place nods and each school finishing with 94 points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Oklahoma City came in third and got the other first-place vote.
Rogers State and John Brown rounded out the top five.
The Evangels' 2011 season opener is set for next Wednesday (Aug. 24) at Southwestern Assemblies of God at 1 p.m. in Waxahachie, Texas.
MACU and SAGU met twice last season, with SAGU taking the season opener 3-1 but the Evangels taking the rematch 6-0 at the NCCAA Central Regional Tournament.
