Both Dillard University and Xavier University (La.) were ranked among the top 25 schools in the NAIA Division I preseason men’s basketball poll released on Tuesday.
Dillard ranked tied for No. 11 in the poll, makes the list for the 3rd consecutive year.
The Bleu Devils return four letter winners from a team that finished last season 21-10 overall and ranked No. 18 in the final NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll. Dillard has won 20-plus games the past three seasons.
Being named to the list for the eighth time in the past nine seasons, Xavier ranked tied for No. 23.
The Gold Rush went 24-9 during the 2016-17 season and won the GCAC regular-season title.
Dillard will begin the regular season Tuesday at Loyola University, while the Gold Rush will tipoff the regular season against Keiser University in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Friday.
2018-19 NAIA Division I Men’s Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll
| Rank | Last Ranking | School | Record | Total Points |
| 1 | 1 | The Master’s (Calif.) [4] | 29-3 | 212 |
| 2 | 4 | William Penn (Iowa) [3] | 30-5 | 210 |
| 2 | 14 | LSU Alexandria (La.) [2] | 29-8 | 210 |
| 4 | 9 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 27-7 | 203 |
| 5 | 8 | Oklahoma City | 24-9 | 191 |
| 6 | 6 | Columbia (Mo.) | 27-4 | 182 |
| 7 | 3 | LSU Shreveport (La.) | 30-5 | 174 |
| 8 | 2 | Pikeville (Ky.) | 28-5 | 172 |
| 9 | 11 | Hope International (Calif.) | 25-6 | 150 |
| 10 | 10 | William Carey (Miss.) | 25-6 | 147 |
| 11 | 7 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 27-6 | 144 |
| 11 | 18 | Dillard (La.) | 21-10 | 144 |
| 11 | 15 | Texas Wesleyan | 22-11 | 144 |
| 14 | NR | Rocky Mountain (Mont.) | 18-14 | 140 |
| 15 | 16 | Dalton State (Ga.) | 25-9 | 118 |
| 16 | 17 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 21-10 | 106 |
| 17 | 20 | Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) | 23-10 | 104 |
| 18 | 22 | SAGU (Texas) | 24-10 | 96 |
| 19 | NR | MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) | 16-15 | 79 |
| 20 | RV | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | 25-10 | 73 |
| 21 | NR | Menlo (Calif.) | 20-11 | 68 |
| 22 | 5 | Carroll (Mont.) | 28-6 | 63 |
| 23 | 25 | Xavier (La.) | 24-9 | 57 |
| 23 | 13 | Westmont (Calif.) | 24-8 | 57 |
| 25 | RV | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 24-9 | 49 |
