SHAWNEE, Okla. (10-17-11) – Northwestern Oklahoma State University men’s basketball team is picked to finish in the same position they finished last season in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

On Monday, the league released the 2011 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches poll. The SAC coaches tabbed the Rangers as the fifth best squad in the conference.

Last season, Northwestern (22-11, 14-8) finished in a tie for fourth place with John Brown (Ark.), who ended up with the tie-breaker over the Rangers heading into the conference tournament. The Rangers finished the tournament with a tough loss to Southern Nazarene in the championship game.

Oklahoma Baptist was picked by the coaches to win the regular season title for the second consecutive season with six first place votes, while Rogers State was a close second with four votes. Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Christian are just ahead of Northwestern with a vote each.

The Rangers will begin their season on Nov. 1 at Perceful Fieldhouse as they host National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament team College of the Ozarks (Mo.), with conference action beginning Nov. 21 against Oklahoma Christian at home.