The Braves are 58-58 in known season openers since 1901. Ottawa has a record of 59-57 in home openers.

Ottawa is 5-3 in home openers and season openers under head coach Aaron Siebenthall.

Seven varsity returners from 2021-22 are suiting up for the Braves Booster Classic. They are Ian Moore, Tristen Hull, Ty Bland, Ryan Torrey, Gavin Hooper, Elijah Mason, and Tyler Trogstad. Jaxon Pope was a member of the OU junior varsity program last season but has made the move to the varsity roster.

The Braves have seven newcomers suiting up on Friday and Saturday. They are Dondre Buggage, Ricardo Zambrano, Chamaje Barideaux, Cody Fredrickson, Kamren Woods, Amil Fields, and Curtis Scott. Scott is the lone freshman on the roster. He is from Adelaide, Australia.

Ottawa was picked by both the conference coaches and media to finish fifth in the KCAC at the annual KCAC Media Day. OU received 98 points from the coaches and 166 points from the media.

OU is looking for its fifth straight winning season. The Braves won a school record 28 games in 2019-20 along with a KCAC Championship and had a record of 21-11 in 2021-22 to have two 20 win seasons in the last three years.

The last time OU had four straight winning seasons was under head coach Bill Frear from 1956-57 to 1959-60. 1956-57 (12-12), 1957-58 (19-6), 1958-59 (17-8), 1959-60 (17-8). The longest streak is eight seasons from 1945-46 to 1952-53.

Ottawa University and Kansas Christian College have met three times with OU leading the series, 3-0. The Braves won the last meeting between the two teams on Nov. 3, 2021 in Wilson Field House, 99-69. Saturday's game against Haskell Indian Nations University is the 63rd meeting between the two teams. Ottawa leads the series 48-14 and is on a four game winning streak against the Indians. OU won the match up last season in Wilson Field House on Oct. 28, 2021, 99-62.

Kansas Christian College is 1-0 to start the season and enters Friday night's game coming off a 107-98 loss to MidAmerica Christian University in an exhibition game. The Falcons shot 43.7 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 66.7 percent from the free throw line.

In the loss to MACU, Kansas Christian was led in scoring by Jamal Clark with 40 points on 15-for-25 shooting from the floor. He also led the team in rebounding with nine. Jahreese Jordan led the team in assists with four and steals with three.

Haskell Indian Nations University is 0-1 to open the 2022-23 season after falling in its season opener to Baptist Bible College on Thursday night in Lawrence. The Indians shot 42.1 percent from the floor, 31.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.4 percent from the free throw line. Ta'te Bear led HINU with 24 points and Bansi King finished with 21 points. Ira Blackbear had a team high five rebounds while Bryan Strom came off the bench to lead the team in assists with eight.