Madonna finished last season with the WHAC tournament trophy. The conference coaches have put the Crusaders at the top of the preseason ballot, too.
Madonna leads the 2026–27 men’s basketball preseason coaches poll with 99 points, eight ahead of Indiana Tech at 91. Lawrence Tech is third with 66, followed by Cornerstone with 61 and Northwestern Ohio with 55.
The WHAC’s October 16 poll release puts a clear gap between the top two and the rest of the field. That gives Madonna and Indiana Tech the strongest starting positions in the coaches’ expectations, with Lawrence Tech leading the chase.
2026–27 preseason coaches poll
- Madonna
- Indiana Tech
- Lawrence Tech
- Cornerstone
- Northwestern Ohio
- Aquinas
- Cleary
- Rochester Christian
- Defiance
- UM-Dearborn
Aquinas received 48 points, Cleary 40, Rochester Christian 37, Defiance 35 and UM-Dearborn 18. There are no ties in the ten-team poll.
The middle of the ballot is worth watching. Just five points separate third-place Lawrence Tech and fourth-place Cornerstone, while Cleary, Rochester Christian and Defiance are also grouped within five points. Those margins leave plenty of room for the order to change once conference play begins.
Madonna’s title defense adds another layer to the race. The Crusaders beat Rochester Christian 77–76 in last season’s WHAC tournament final. Rochester Christian now starts eighth in the coaches’ poll, giving last year’s tournament runner-up a very different preseason position.
For Madonna, the challenge is turning that preseason backing into another championship run. For everyone chasing the Crusaders, the ballot supplies an early benchmark. The games will decide how much it means.
