Ottawa returns seven players from its 2022-23 team that finished with an overall record of 12-17 and placed eighth in the KCAC with a mark of 9-13. OU’s top returner from a year ago is Deondre Buggage. He was an Third Team All-KCAC performer in 2022-23, leading the Braves in scoring (14.5) and assists (2.1).

OU has six newcomers to its varsity roster for 2023-24, one freshman and five transfers.  Freshman: Jackson Biggs (Lyndon, Kan.). Transfers: Payton Kaiser, Jr. (Colorado Springs, Colo./Clark College) | Angok Anyang RFr. (Adelaide, South Africa/Barton Community College) | Guido Klompenmaker, So. (Lelystad, Netherlands/Ellsworth Community College) | Jayden Hibbitt, Jr. (Woodbridge, Va./Washburn University) | Blake Ferguson, So. (Brighton, Colo./Sterling College).

In 29 games last season, the Braves averaged 79.8 points, 36.6 rebounds, and 11.8 assists per game. Ottawa shot 43.4 percent from the floor, 33.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.6 percent from the free throw line.

Ottawa ended the 2022-23 season ranked 23rd in the NAIA in field goal attempts per game (65.4), 58th in 3-pt field goals made per game (8.4), 48th in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (25.1), 52nd in free throws made per game (14.4), and 58th in free throws attempted per game (20.2).

The Ottawa University men’s basketball team was selected to finish sixth in the 2023-24 KCAC Coaches Poll and eighth in the 2023-24 KCAC Media Poll. The Braves received 97 points from the KCAC coaches and 77 points from the KCAC media.

Deondre Buggage was named to the 2023-24 KCAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Team. He started and played in 29 games as a redshirt sophomore for the Braves in 2022-23. Buggage averaged 14. 5 points, 2.4 rebounds, two assists and 0.9 steals per game. He was named KCAC Offensive Player of the Week once. Jaden Lietzke, OKWU | Cevin Clark SWC | Alex Littlejohn, KWU | Josh Pritchett, EU | Jun Murdock, KWU | Andrew O’Brien, SWC | Kaleb Stokes, OKWU | Derridk Talton, Jr., OKWU | Deondre Buggage, OU | Carmelo Yakuba, BC.

Friday is the fifth meeting between Ottawa University and Kansas Christian College. Ottawa leads the series, 4-0. OU defeated the Falcons 118-82 on Oct. 28, 2022 in Wilson Field House last season. The first meeting between the two teams happened on Nov. 9, 2019 in Wilson Field House. The Braves won the game 89-65.

Saturday’s game between Ottawa and Haskell Indian Nations University is the 64th meeting between the two teams. Ottawa leads the series, 49-14, and is on a five game winning streak against HINU. OU has won six straight games against Haskell in Wilson Field House. The last time OU fell to Haskell at home was on Nov. 15, 2011. HINU won the game, 90-79. Ottawa won the game last season in Wilson Field House, 82-74 on Oct. 29, 2022. The first meeting between the two teams happened on March 2, 1916 in Ottawa. The Braves won the game, 34-25.

Kansas Christian College finished the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 24-4, capturing the school’s first NCCAA Division II National Championship. The Falcons defeated Manhattan Christian College, 98-73, in the championship game.

In 2022-23, KCC set a new school record for wins in a single season with 24. The Falcons finished second in the country in offense, averaging 94 points per game. Individually, Noah Brooks led the nation in block shots at 2.7 Per game. The Falcons also had four guys in the top ten for steals per game – #1 Clark, 3.1 per game,#5 in the nation Boog lewis 2.5 per game, Jahreese Jordan and Jay Washington tied at tenth in the nation for 2.3 per game. Elazar Conley finished first in the nation for field goal percentage at 69 percent, and 5th in the nation for rebounding per game at 9.3

Haskell Indian Nations University finished the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 9-17 and had a conference mark of 4-5. The Indians have 14 upper classmen on their roster for 2023-24 and five freshmen and sophomores.

Haskell head coach Matthew Downing starts his ninth season as head coach of the HINU men’s basketball program.