Men's Basketball | 10/14/20 | 10:20 AM

HELENA, Mont. -- The Carroll College Fighting Saints men's basketball team will begin the 2020-21 season ranked as the No. 21 team in the nation, according to the preseason Coaches' Poll. 

The Saints ended last season ranked No. 12 with their 24-9 record. They begin this season as No. 21 in a changed NAIA basketball landscape.

Making the Top 25 in NAIA is difficult this season, as 2020-21 will be played with merged divisions. Nine former NAIA D-II teams dotted the unified Top 25 to begin this season. 

The Saints were one of two Frontier Conference teams to open the season on the polls. Conference rival Providence also cracked the Top 25, beginning the season at No. 11.