INDIANAPOLIS – Missouri S&T was voted in the preseason coaches' poll as the choice to win the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) men's basketball championship, the league office announced on Tuesday.
The preseason poll is determined by the league's head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Missouri S&T
- Received 14 first-place votes and 196 total points.
- Earned the top seed in the GLVC Championship Tournament, advancing to the semifinals.
- Earned the top seed in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional, advancing to the Second Round.
- Coached by reigning GLVC Coach of the Year Bill Walker, who enters his seventh season after a 25-6 overall and 17-3 GLVC record in 2024-25.
- Return First Team All-GLVC selection Andrew Young as well as All-Defensive Team member Alex Benassi and All-Freshman honoree Zac Brown.
No. 2 Lincoln
- Received one first-place votes and 174 total points.
- Won first GLVC Championship this past year as the fourth seed, earning an automatic qualification spot in the NCAA Midwest Regional.
- Coached by Jimmy Drew, who enters his fourth campaign after a 23-9 overall and 12-8 GLVC record in 2024-25.
- Return Second Team All-GLVC selection Tyler Chapman.
No. 3 Missouri-St. Louis
- Received 161 total points.
- Lost in the GLVC Championship Final as the second seed.
- Reached the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament.
- Coached by Bob Sundvold, who enters his 13th season after a 21-12 overall and 15-5 GLVC record in 2024-25.
No. 4 Rockhurst
- Received 141 total points.
- Earned a spot in the GLVC Championship Tournament as the seventh seed last campaign.
- Coached by Kyle Blackbourn, who enters his second campaign after a 17-12 overall and 11-9 GLVC record in 2024-25.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through 15th was Drury (121), Indianapolis (115), Lewis (114), McKendree (109), Illinois Springfield (97), William Jewell (96), Upper Iowa (78), Truman State (69), Quincy (51), Maryville (33), Southwest Baptist (20).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-place votes) |
| 1. |
Missouri S&T |
196 (14) |
| 2. |
Lincoln |
174 (1) |
| 3. |
Missouri-St. Louis |
161 |
| 4. |
Rockhurst |
141 |
| 5. |
Drury |
121 |
| 6. |
Indianapolis |
115 |
| 7. |
Lewis |
114 |
| 8. |
McKendree |
109 |
| 9. |
Illinois Springfield |
97 |
| 10. |
William Jewell |
96 |
11.
12. |
Upper Iowa
Truman State |
78
69 |
| 13. |
Quincy |
51 |
| 14. |
Maryville |
33 |
| 15. |
Southwest Baptist |
20 |