By Ken Irving, Senior Reporter
Last year, the Rangers were 14-15 and lost in the first round of the GAC Tournament. Redshirt, sophomore point guard, Max Alexander, played a major role in the Rangers’ success. During the 2024-2025 season, Alexander averaged 20 points, four assists and three rebounds per game. He was selected to the All-GAC second team.
“I think Max Alexander is considered the leader of the team,” said head men’s basketball coach Robbie Harman. “He was an all-conference player here last year and we haven’t named a captain, but he’s kind of just taken the role of it. The guys know that.”
Alexander isn’t the only Ranger from last year’s team to return. NWOSU brought back 11 players this year, which is a high number of returners for college basketball.
“We brought back 11 returners,” Harman said. “That is an insanely high amount of returners, especially in today’s college basketball. Usually, you bring back one or two, so 11 is really high. We’re excited about that and they’re excited about playing.”
Not only did NWOSU retain a lot of their core from last year, but they have also added to it with high star power from the portal.
“We got guys that have played at highly competitive levels,” Harman said. “We got guys that have a thousand points in their career, guys that have played at division one and high tournament level.”
Harman says fans should be excited for the style of play that this years squad will perform at. He says that they will play a fast, high scoring style of basketball while pressuring their opponents on defense.
Not only did the Ranger men’s basketball team revamp their roster, but the women’s basketball team did as well.
“I think we were looking for the pieces that we needed,” said head women’s basketball coach Tasha Diesellhorst. “The transfers that we brought in had specific skill sets or played a specific position that we felt like would fit in to what we were doing. I feel like they have done really well with their roles and they will continue to fit in to what we do.”
In addition to bringing in transfers, the Lady Rangers returned most of their players that played last season. Team leaders such as Kira Bass and Jaida Shipp are set to be a cornerstone for this years squad.
“We have kids that have experience,” Diesselhorst said. “Jaida Shipp, Kira Bass, Summya Adigun and Kennedy Hight all played for us last year. We have two transfers that played in the conference last year so it won’t be surprising for them.”
The Lady Rangers completed their exhibition games this past weekend. Coach Diesselhorst says that the scrimmage games are exciting, and their first non-conference games should really show what the Lady Rangers are made of.
On Wednesday, the Lady Rangers are flying to Minnesota to play the University of Minnesota Duluth and Winona State University. Their home opener is against a tough Pittsburg State team on Nov. 14.
Last Saturday the Ranger men’s basketball team opened their season against Division 1 opponent Missouri State University. The Rangers lost 57-106 to the Tigers. Max Alexander had 17 points for the Rangers.