The Central Methodist University men’s basketball team was picked to finish fifth out of 13 teams in the 2023-24 Heart Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Eagles finished 17-12 overall and 14-8 in the Heart last year in head coach Matt Sherman’s head coaching debut.

Sherman is well acquainted with the Eagles. A Fayette native and former CMU star, he took over as head coach last year from his father, Jeff Sherman, who led the Eagles for 37 years.

During Heart Media Day last week, Coach Sherman said his team is excited to start the season. The Eagles return about half their players from a year ago, and Sherman said his new players have gelled with his veterans so far in practice.

“I think our returners set the tone for us early, what our expectations are for this year. It’s been a pretty smooth transition,” he said. “We had a good year last year, but it’s definitely not where we want to finish. So, I think there is some motivation there for the returners.”

One of the Eagles’ key returners is Everett Stubblefield, the second-leading scorer last year as a sophomore with 15.8 points per game.

Stubblefield was named second-team All-Conference last year, and Sherman said he is expecting bigger things out of his starting point guard this season. “He’s a gamer for us. He can do a lot of things on the floor to help you win. He’s probably one of the fasted and, pound for pound, one of the most athletic guys in the conference.”

Stubblefield said the team has great chemistry so far in preseason. “We’ve been getting after it in practice, and it’s been competitive. Our first couple of scrimmages, we played well as a team.”

Another key returning starter is Isaiah May, who averaged 7.6 points per game last year while shooting 48.9 percent from the field.

Also returning are senior Trent Lyles and junior Marcus Anthony, who each played around 12 minutes a game last season.

Sherman also said he likes how returning junior Charlie Bronakowski has played in practice so far. 

“Charlie Bronakowski is a forward who has played very well this preseason, and he’s seen some good minutes the past few years,” Sherman said.

Standout newcomers include junior TreVon Smith, who Sherman said he expects to come in and deliver significant production. He also named juniors Isaiah Williams and Trey Sinegal as skilled offensive players who will be able to produce in big ways.

Peter Turay, a senior who hails from London, England, will take over at the five spot for the Eagles this season. He will fill in for his friend and fellow Londoner Thomas Sowoolu, who is recovering from ACL surgery this year. “We got his friend to come in and take over his spot for a year,” Sherman said.

Sowoolu is expected to return to the court next season.

Christian Barbieri, a junior from Milan, Italy, is another forward who Sherman said will pick up some significant minutes on the court. “He’s able to play multiple positions for us and stretch the floor.”

Sherman and the Eagles open the season with four straight home games. The first is at 7 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday) against Friends University. On Wednesday, November 1, the Eagles host the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. Central plays William Woods at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 6, and concludes the home stand against area rival Columbia College at 7 p.m. on November 10.

The Eagles jump right into Heart action at Clark University at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15.

Midamerica Nazarene was picked to finish first in the Heart Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Under first-year head coach Adam Hepker, MNU went 20-10 overall and 15-7 in the Heart last season and advanced to the NAIA National Championship First Round.

Central will face the Pioneers on December 6 in Olathe, Kansas.

The Heart sent five teams to the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship 1st Round last season.

William Penn is the defending Heart regular season and tournament champion. The Statesmen have won four straight Heart regular season titles and four consecutive Heart Conference Tournament Championships.

MNU earned the most votes in the poll with 136 and six first-place votes, while William Penn earned 131 and six first-place votes. Baker earned the other first-place vote and had 118 votes to finish third in the Preseason Poll.