Two points. That is all that separates Grand View and William Penn at the top of the Heart’s preseason coaches poll.
Grand View leads the 2026–27 men’s basketball ballot with 239 points, just ahead of William Penn’s 237. Each received seven first-place votes. Missouri Valley is third with 204, while Missouri Baptist is fourth at 197 with the remaining two first-place votes.
Benedictine rounds out the top five with 183 points, followed by Mount Mercy at 180.
2026–27 preseason coaches poll
- Grand View
- William Penn
- Missouri Valley
- Missouri Baptist
- Benedictine
- Mount Mercy
- Central Methodist
- MidAmerica Nazarene
- Graceland
- Peru State
- Park
- Baker
- St. Ambrose
- William Woods
- Clarke / Culver-Stockton
Clarke and Culver-Stockton are tied for 15th with 34 points apiece. Central Methodist received 159, MidAmerica Nazarene 136, Graceland 134, Peru State 121, Park 111, Baker 93, St. Ambrose 68 and William Woods 46.
Grand View went 20–9 overall and 14–6 in conference play last season. William Penn finished 25–7 and won the conference tournament, while Graceland took the regular-season title. The defending regular-season champion is picked ninth, giving the Yellowjackets a very different preseason starting point.
With equal first-place support for the top two and Missouri Baptist also drawing championship votes, the Heart opens with a tight race on paper. The conference tournament is scheduled for February 23, February 26 and March 2, with the higher seeds hosting.
