KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) has released its preseason Division II Coaches Poll on Tuesday, October 27th with McKendree placed at No.20 in the nation. 

This is the first time in the program's NCAA-era history (since the 2012-13 season) that the Bearcats have appeared in the initial rankings prior to a season's start. During the most recent 2025-26 campaign, McKendree made their first-ever NABC poll statement twice at No.23 both times, as they received votes in nine other weeks throughout the season. 

No other Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) squads have made it into the first rankings, as reigning league champion William Jewell College received votes of 28 points. Two other teams in the Midwest Region come in ranked in the top 25: Walsh University (No.14) and Grand Valley State University (No.17), while five others had received votes.

McKendree returns 11 players from last season, as they will mesh with three new freshmen and a graduate transfer to round out. The team finished last year with a 22-8 record (most wins in its NCAA-era) and a 14-6 GLVC output (best conference mark) while advancing to the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament. 

This year's team will officially tip off at home for the annual and host-rotating GLVC/G-MAC Crossover challenge on Friday, November 13th at 7:30 PM CT against Tiffin University inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center in Lebanon, Illinois. 

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