LEBANON, Ill. — The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced on Tuesday, October 21st, its 2025-26 preseason poll for men's basketball, as McKendree was picked to finish 8th with 109 total points.
The preseason poll is determined by the league's head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team. Missouri S&T claimed the top spot with 196 points and 14 of the 15 first-place votes. Following the Miners in the ranks was the defending GLVC champions in Lincoln University (Mo.) with 174 points and the lone other first-place tally, as the University of Missouri-St. Louis (161) and Rockhurst University (141) rounded out the top four.
The eight-spot matches where the Bearcats finished last year in both the regular season standings and the conference's point rating system, which allowed McKendree to make their fifth-straight GLVC Championship Tournament appearance after the program was picked to finish just outside at 9th.
Head Coach George Suggs, in his fifth year leading the McKendree program, brings back 10 players from last season to this year's squad, with quite a few upperclassmen to showcase the team's experience on the court. A few talented transfers and newcoming freshmen complete the roster in the eyes of another successful season.
2025-26 GLVC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Missouri S&T – 196 points (14 first-place votes)
2. Lincoln University (Mo.) – 174 (1)
3. University of Missouri-St. Louis – 161
4. Rockhurst University – 141
5. Drury University – 121
6. University of Indianapolis –115
7. Lewis University – 114
8. McKendree University – 109
9. University of Illinois Springfield – 97
10. William Jewell College – 96
11. Upper Iowa University – 78
12. Truman State University – 69
13. Quincy University – 51
14. Maryville University – 33
15. Southwest Baptist University – 20
UP NEXT
The team will look to get their season rolling with an exhibition match at NCAA Division I member Southern Illinois University on Monday, November 3rd at 7:00 PM in Carbondale, Illinois with information on how to tune in coming soon.
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