SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Yellowjacket men's basketball team has been slated to finish fourth according to this year's Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) preseason poll, the league announced Thursday morning.
 
Leading the poll voted by UMAC coaches was North Central, receiving five-of-seven first-place votes with 33 points. Northwestern and Bethany Lutheran followed, grabbing the final first-place nods with 30 and 27 points, respectively.
 
Superior returns a key trio from last season, including juniors Andrew Beers (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) and Rocco Paulson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East), alongside senior Evan Bennett (Superior, Wis./Superior). Beers accumulated 478 minutes last season, shooting 50.5 percent from the field and collecting 73 rebounds. Paulson grabbed 74 rebounds while seeing 252 minutes on the hardwood, scoring 87 points. Bennett garnered 161 minutes on the court while adding 24 rebounds and 46 points.
 
Garnering fifth place was Martin Luther with 17 points, closely followed by Minnesota Morris with 16 points. Crown rounds out the league with seven points.
 
UW-Superior returns to game action Saturday, Nov. 8, hosting the two-day NBC Tip-Off Classic. They will take on Marian at 5 p.m. inside Mertz Mortorelli Gym.