The Macalester College men’s basketball team received votes in the national preseason poll conducted by D3hoops.com. In other words, expectations are high for the 2023-2024 Scots.

Carleton, the defending MIAC champs, received 14 votes, while Macalester received seven.

The Scots return multiple starters from last year’s squad that finished 15-11 overall and 11-9 in the MIAC. Unfortunately, big man Badou Ba will be out for the year after sustaining a knee injury.

But back and healthy is a dominant backcourt. Junior guards Caleb Williams, Coby Gold, and Tom Andreae return to captain this year’s team.

Williams averaged 21.5 points per game to earn All-Region and All-MIAC honors, with Gold also included on the All-MIAC team after averaging 14.0 points per contest last season.

With so many good players back, the Scots have their eyes on a MIAC title.

KSTP Sports stopped by practice on Friday and spoke with 6th-year head coach Abe Woldeslassie and Williams.

***Click the video box above to watch those interviews***

Macalester will play an exhibition game at the University of Minnesota next Thursday at Williams Arena. The regular season gets underway on Nov. 8 at home against UW-Superior.