Kansas Wesleyan Men's Basketball opens its 2023-24 campaign this weekend as the No. 16 ranked Coyotes head to Bellevue, Neb. to play in the Bellevue Chick-Fil-A Classic at the Gordon Lozier Activity Center, hosted by Bellevue University. 

FRIDAY'S GAME
Opponent: Dickinson State (N.D.)
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Bellevue, Neb.
 
SATURDAY'S GAME
Opponent: Bellevue
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Bellevue, Neb.
 
LIVE COVERAGE 

• The video stream and live stats of the games will be available online through Bellevue University at bubruins.com/sports
• The Dickinson State game Friday will be broadcast on Prime FM 94.5 and the Bellevue game Saturday on KINA, 910-AM.

RECORDS 

• Kansas Wesleyan 0-0
• Dickinson State 0-0
• Bellevue 0-0 (plays Chadron State on Friday)

THE SERIES 

• Friday's game against Dickinson State will be the first between the two schools.
• KWU is 2-5 all-time against Bellevue. The Coyotes defeated the Bruins 78-54 last November inside Mabee Arena. Bellevue won 91-85 in a game played in York, Neb., in November, 2013.

KANSAS WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE

• The Coyotes start the season ranked 16th in the NAIA coaches' preseason poll that was released Wednesday and were picked to finish second in the Kansas Conference by both the coaches and media.
• KWU finished 26-5, 19-3 in the KCAC last season that placed them second. The Coyotes received an at-large bid to the NAIA tournament and defeated Indiana University-Kokomo 82-63 in the first round in Wichita before losing to Morningside 87-80 in the second round.
• Coach Anthony Monson, who is in his eighth season, is expected to go with a starting lineup of Jun Murdock, Alex Littlejohn, Easton Hunter, Cory Kaplan and Thurbil Bile – the same starting five he employed a year ago. Monson was named the KCAC Coach of the Year, Littlejohn a unanimous First Team All-KCAC choice and an NAIA Third Team All-American. Murdock was a Second Team All-KCAC selection.

DICKINSON STATE AT A GLANCE

• The Blue Hawks were 15-15, 9-5 in the North Star conference a year ago.
• Dickinson State lost to Mayville State 80-63 in the North Star tournament championship game.
• Coach Derek Selvig is in his fourth season.

BELLEVUE AT A GLANCE

• Bruins were 15-14, 7-7 in the North Star conference last season.
• They lost to Valley City State 72-54 in the quarterfinals of the North Star tournament.
• Coach Lucas Gabriel is in his fifth season.