Bellevue was picked third in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference basketball preseason coaches poll released on Sunday.

The Bruins return four letter winners and two starters from last season's squad that advanced to the NAIA Division II national quarterfinals, finishing with a 24-9 record and an 8-4 league mark.

Oklahoma Wesleyan has been picked as the favorite to win the 2009-10 MCAC title after capturing the NAIA Division II national title a year ago, posting a 35-2 record and an 11-1 mark in the MCAC.

College of the Ozarks, the 2008-09 NAIA Division II National runnerup after falling 60-53 to Oklahoma Wesleyan in the national championship game, was picked second by the league coaches this season after going 25-11 (8-4 MCAC).

Rounding out the poll are Haskell Indian Nations (4th), Central Christian
(5th), York (6th) and Peru State (7th).

The Bruins open the season at the Doane Basketball Classic in Crete, Nebraska against Morningside on November 6th.