RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.  -  Henderson State's men's basketball team checked in at No. 9 in the 2024-25 GAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll released on Thursday.

The Reddies earned their ranking by receiving 54 total votes.

Arkansas Tech was picked as the conference favorite after tallying 114 votes and seven of the 12 available first-place votes. Oklahoma Baptist took second with 100 votes and three-first place nods. With 91 total votes, Southeastern Oklahoma State claimed third. No. 4 Northwestern Oklahoma State (80 votes) and No. 5 Harding (76 votes) each received one of the remaining first-place votes. No. 6 Southern Nazarene (67 votes), No. 7 East Central (64 votes), and No. 8 Southern Arkansas (59 votes) were the only other teams to receive at least 50 votes in the poll.

Jimmy Elgas enters his tenth season at the helm of the HSU basketball program after compiling a combined record of 133-119 in his first nine campaigns with the program. He is joined by assistant coaches Maurice Heade, Jayce Cravens, and Charles Daniel, with additional support from character coach Greg Latham.

Seniors Tim McDonald and Chase Farmer join junior Kristian Spencer and sophomore Rece Hipp to form a returning core for this year's Henderson squad, which features a mix of fresh and familiar faces.

The Reddies' season tips off next month at the MIAA/NSIC Challenge in Kansas City, Missouri. HSU's first game against Minnesota State-Moorhead is set for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8.

2024-25 GAC PRESEASON POLL