Men's Basketball

2026-27 HCAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

Transylvania picked to remain on top of the league.

CARMEL, Ind - The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) has announced the results of its men’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll on Thursday afternoon with defending HCAC Tournament Champion Transylvania selected to repeat. The Pioneers earned 79 points in the poll and seven of a possible 10 first place votes.

Rose-Hulman ranked second in this year’s voting, collecting 66 points and two first place votes, barely beating out third ranked Anderson, which had 65 points in this year’s voting. Mount St. Joseph and Franklin closed out the top-five with 57 and 52 points, respectively. Hanover ranked sixth with 45 points and the final remaining first place vote.

Berea (32 points), Bluffton (23), Manchester (20), and Earlham closed out the poll.

The Pios return two All-Conference performers from last year including Hunter Barr (Hardinsburg, Ky.) who took home both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. He is joined by All-HCAC Second Teamer Drew Marshall (Nicholasville, Ky.). Additional players to watch are Luke Idlett (Bowling Green, Ky.), Ian Reesor (Lexington, Ky.), and Jaxon Smith (Stanford, Ky.).

Following the regular season, the 2027 HCAC Men’s Basketball Championship is scheduled to begin on Saturday, Feb. 20 with the final taking place on Saturday, Feb. 27. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season will qualify for the tournament with the winner earning the league’s automatic qualifier into the 2027 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship.

2026-27 HCAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll Results 
 
1. Transylvania 79 (7)
2. Rose-Hulman 66 (2)
3. Anderson 65
4. Mount St. Joseph 57
5. Franklin 53
6. Hanover 45 (1)
7. Berea 32
8. Bluffton 23
9. Manchester 20
10. Earlham 10
2026-27 Team-by-Team Capsules

Transylvania Pioneers (Lexington, Ky.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = First place with 79 poll points and seven first place votes.
Head Coach = Brian Lane (2025-26 Coach of the Year)
2025-26 Results = 20-9 Overall, 14-4 HCAC (Co-Regular-Season Champion, Tournament Champion)

Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 2
  • (1st Team) Hunter Barr, Senior Forward, Hardinsburg, Ky. (2025-26 Player of the Year, 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year)
  • (2nd Team) Drew Marshall, Senior Guard, Nicholasville, Ky.
Other Players to Watch =
  • Luke Idlett, Sophomore Guard, Bowling Green, Ky.
  • Ian Reesor, Junior Forward, Lexington, Ky.
  • Jaxon Smith, Senior Guard, Stanford, Ky.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin’ Engineers (Terre Haute, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Second place with 66 poll points and two first place votes.

Head Coach = Nick Sales
2025-26 Results = 17-10 Overall, 13-5 HCAC (3rd place)

Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 4
  • (1st Team) Cole Pride, Senior Forward, Osgood, Ind.
  • (1st Team) Joey Schmitz, Junior Guard, Bargersville, Ind.
  • (HM) Evan Gentile, Sophomore Guard, Kettering, Ohio, Guard (2025-26 Newcomer of the Year)
  • (HM) Daniel Savovic, Senior Guard, Bothell ,Wash.
Anderson University Ravens (Anderson, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Third place with 65 poll points.

Head Coach = Carter Collins
2025-26 Results = 18-10 Overall, 14-4 HCAC (Co-Regular Season Champion, No. 2 Tournament Seed)

Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 2
  • (2nd Team) Bryce Williams, Senior Guard, Fishers, Ind.
  • (HM) Nolan Swan, Junior Guard, Tipton, Ind.
Other Players to Watch =
  • Rob Davidson, Senior, Wing, Indianapolis, Ind.
Mount St. Joseph Lions (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Fourth place with 57 poll points.

Head Coach = Toby Carrigan
2025-26 Results = 14-12 Overall, 12-6 HCAC (4th place)

Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 2
  • (HM) Jason Lavender, Senior Guard, West Chester, Ohio
  • (HM) Cooper Ollis, Sophomore Guard, Fairfield Twp, Ohio
Other Players to Watch =
  • Joe Brand, Junior Guard, Dayton, Ohio
  • Collin Buck, Sophomore Forward, Hope, Ind.
  • Griffen Derry, Sophomore Guard, Villa Hills, Ky.
  • Michael Loftis, Junior Guard, Louisville, Ky.
Franklin College Grizzlies (Franklin, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Fifth place with 53 poll points.

Head Coach = Chris Hamilton
2025-26 Results = 16-11 Overall, 11-7 HCAC (5th place)

Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 2
  • (1st Team) Cooper Matthews, Senior Guard, Hamilton, Ohio
  • (HM) Justin Harrington, Junior Guard, Indianapolis, Ind.
Other Players to Watch =
  • LeBron Bennie-Powell, Senior Guard, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Dylan Beverly, Senior Forward, Greenwood, Ind.
  • Jesse Faires, Senior Forward, Indianapolis, Ind.
  • Rohan Pearson, Sophomore Guard, Avon, Ind.
Hanover College Panthers (Hanover, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Sixth place with 45 poll points and one first place vote.
Head Coach = Jon Miller
2025-26 Results = 13-13 Overall, 9-9 HCAC (6th place)

Returning HCAC All-Conference Players = 1
  • (HM) CJ Walls, Senior Forward, Louisville Ky.
Other Players to Watch =
  • William Herald, Senior Guard, Fort, Thomas, Ky.
  • Quentin Hesse, Junior Forward, Floyds Knobs, Ind.
  • Jack Miller, Senior Forward, Madison, Ind.

Berea College Mountaineers (Berea, Ky.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Seventh place with 32 poll points.
Head Coach = Austin Newton
2025-26 Results = 9-17 Overall, 5-13 HCAC (8th place)

Players to Watch =
  • Nathaniel Barrow, Senior Guard, Greenacres, Fla.
  • Zavian Douglas, Sophomore Center, Gainesville, Fla.
  • Jae'dyn Gist, Senior Guard, Harlan, Ky.
  • Casen Nobbe, Sophomore Guard, Berea, Ky.


Bluffton University Beavers (Bluffton, Ohio)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Eighth place with 23 poll points.
Head Coach = Seth Clark
2025-26 Results = 9-17 Overall, 7-11 HCAC (7th place)

Players to Watch =
  • Jaxon Foster, Sophomore Guard, Lima, Ohio
  • JD Stokes, Senior Forward, West Harrison, Ind.
  • Justice Thompson, Sophomore Guard, Ashland, Ohio

Manchester University Spartans (North Manchester, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Ninth place with 20 poll points.

Head Coach = Ryan Nowicki
2025-26 Results=  4-21 Overall, 4-14 HCAC (9th place)

Players to Watch =
  • Talan Boehler, Sophomore Guard, Terre Haute, Ind.
  • Chris Hardy, Sophomore Guard, Lafayette, Ind.
  • Ladarius Wallace, Senior Guard, Jeffersonville, Ind.

Earlham College Quakers (Richmond, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Tenth place with 10 poll points.
Head Coach = Daniel Ellis
2025-26 Results = 2-23 Overall, 1-17 HCAC (10th place)

Players to Watch =
  • Jake Kolbay, Senior Guard, Avon Ohio
  • Keegan Ladines, Freshman Guard, Sacramento Calif.
  • Chase Newton, Senior Guard, Indianapolis Ind.
  • Connor Smith, Senior Forward, Carlisle Ohio