Complete Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Basketball: Lourdes opens its 14th season of intercollegiate basketball on Wednesday evening as the Gray Wolves host Wilberforce.  Lourdes remains home on Saturday afternoon, entertaining Olivet for Homecoming.  The Gray Wolves then have an exhibition game on Monday night on the road at NCAA Division I Illinois State.

Head Coach Dennis Hopson: In his fifth season on the Lourdes bench, Dennis Hopson is 75-34 (.688) with the Gray Wolves and as a men's collegiate head coach.  He is only the third head coach in Lourdes program's history.

Series Notes: Lourdes is 3-0 all-time against Wilberforce in a series that began Nov. 13, 2021.  The Gray Wolves won last  year's meeting against the Bulldogs 87-74 inside the Ebeid Rec Center.  Lourdes is 2-0 against Wilberforce at home.  Saturday will mark the first meeting ever between Lourdes and Olivet.  The Gray Wolves will also be facing Illinois State for the first time on Monday.

Wrapping Up Last Season: The Gray Wolves posted a 22-9 record overall and a 15-5 mark in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference in 2022-2023.  Lourdes finished in second place in the league during the regular season before falling to Madonna in the semifinals of the WHAC tournament.  The Gray Wolves earned an at-large bid to the NAIA National Championships, dropping their first round game at Georgetown (Ky.) 67-58. 

Scouting Wilberforce: The Bulldogs have opened the season with back-to-back victories over Great Lakes Christian (111-91) and Simmons (103-71).  Cali Davis leads Wilberforce in scoring, averaging 20.0 points per game.  Kyle Cardenas has added 15.5 points per night while Justin Kearney is scoring 15.0 points per game through two contests.

Scouting Olivet: The Comets are coming off a 12-15 season in 2022-2023, finishing 7-7 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play.  Noah Wiswary is Olivet's top returning scorer and rebounder from last season, averaging 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.  The game against Lourdes will be an exhibition for the Comets.

Scouting Illinois State: The NCAA Division I Redbirds posted an 11-21 record overall and a 6-14 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2022-2023.  Darius Burford was Illinois State's top scorer last season, averaging 12.9 points per game, and he returns for his senior season.  Kendall Lewis is the Redbirds top returning rebounder after pulling down 7.3 boards per contest.

Returning Award Winners: Joey Holifield was an Honorable Mention NAIA All-American and a First Team All-WHAC selection last season after leading the Gray Wolves averaging 17.1 points per game.  Holifield shot 53.4% from the floor and 79.2% from the free throw line while adding 53 steals.  Jackie Harris was also a First Team All-WHAC performer, tallying 16.9 points and a team-leading 7.1 rebounds per contest.  Harris shot 40.3% from three-point range, making 96 triples.  Stephen Coleman Jr. earned a spot on the WHAC All-Freshman Team after tallying 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during his rookie year.

Lourdes in Season Openers: Lourdes is 9-4 all-time in season openers.  The Gray Wolves have won seven of their last eight season openers after defeating Wilberforce on the road 87-74 to tip off the 2022-2023 season.  The Gray Wolves are 5-0 when opening the season at home.

Home Openers: Lourdes is 12-1 all-time in program history in home openers after defeating Adrian in the first game inside the Ebeid Rec Center in 2022-2023.  The Gray Wolves are a perfect 7-0 in their first game inside the Ebeid Rec Center since the building opened in 2016.

Lourdes Tabbed WHAC Preseason Favorite: The Gray Wolves were selected to win the WHAC regular season title this season in the preseason poll conducted of the league's head coaches.  Lourdes collected four first place votes and was picked just ahead of Rochester (Mich.) and Indiana Tech in the league balloting.  

Exhibition Action: The game against Illinois State will be an exhibition contest for Lourdes, however it will count in the regular season standings for the NCAA Division I Redbirds.  Lourdes has played two other game against NCAA Division I opponents, falling at Bowling Green 97-56 on Dec. 28, 2017 and at Toledo 103-88 last Dec. 29.  Stats from the Illinois State contest will not count for Lourdes players.

This and That: Lourdes is 204-180 all-time entering the program's 14th season ... last season was the Gray Wolves fourth NAIA National Championship appearance and second consecutive (along with 2012 and 2013) ... the Gray Wolves have not played an overtime contest since Feb. 5, 2020 against Michigan-Dearborn.