SIOUX FALLS – Basketball Times has ranked the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team, which was 22-8 and won the NSIC South Division in 2019-20, 19^th in NCAA Division II in the publication's preseason poll for the 2020-21 season.

The Basketball Times, a monthly print publication which has covered college basketball for more than 40 years, ranked Northwest Missouri State (31-1 in 2019-20) No. 1 followed by West Texas A&M (32-1) and Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) (32-1) as the top three teams in the DII poll. Basketball Times ranked three NSIC teams in the top 20, including Sioux Falls.

This is the first time that USF Men's Basketball has been ranked nationally by the Basketball Times. Directed by NSIC Coach of the Year Chris Johnson (233-166 overall –  USF career wins leader with 217-151 mark), the Cougars finished 22-8 (best record at the DII level, since 2012) and won the NSIC South Division with a DII program best mark of 17-5 in 2019-20.

USF, which was seeded No. 2 in the conference tourney and reached as high as No. 8 in the regional rankings, returns five starters, which include first team all-conference junior guard Chase Grinde and second team all-league redshirt senior forward Teathloach Pal. Sophomore guard Jack Thompson (10.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.7 spg) also returns after earning NSIC All-Freshman Team honors. USF also welcomes back 6-9 senior forward Austin Slater (9.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) as well junior guard Troy Houghton (6.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and a group of talented newcomers.

The Cougars will feature significant experience with eight of the top nine players returning and a host of talented newcomers. USF led the NSIC in scoring defense at 66.2 ppg and was second in rebounding margin at 7.3 per game (35.7 to 28.4). The Cougars also blocked three shots per game and ranked fifth with 6.37 steals per game. Cougars advanced to the NSIC quarterfinals for the fifth straight year where they lost to Minnesota State, 60-59 and season ended. They were ranked as high as eighth in the central region rankings.