The Crossroads League coaches are starting the new season with a familiar program at the top: Grace.
The Lancers lead the 2026–27 men’s basketball preseason coaches poll with 81 points. Indiana Wesleyan follows with 71, Taylor is third with 64 and Huntington is fourth with 59. Marian rounds out the top five at 43.
Grace enters after a 31–4 season and a 15–3 conference finish. The Lancers swept the league’s regular-season and tournament championships for a fourth consecutive year.
2026–27 preseason coaches poll
- Grace
- Indiana Wesleyan
- Taylor
- Huntington
- Marian
- Mount Vernon Nazarene
- Saint Francis
- Bethel
- Goshen
- Spring Arbor
Mount Vernon Nazarene received 38 points, Saint Francis 34, Bethel 33, Goshen 14 and Spring Arbor 13.
Grace also placed four players on the preseason All-Crossroads League team: Ian Raasch, Gage Sefton, Gavin Betten and Tyler Raasch. That gives the preseason favorite another significant presence in the coaches’ selections.
The gap at the top gives Grace a clear starting position. Behind the Lancers, Indiana Wesleyan, Taylor and Huntington make up the next group, while Saint Francis and Bethel are separated by a single point farther down the ballot.
The league announcement lists October 23 as the season-opening date and November 18 for the first conference games. That is when the preseason debate begins giving way to results.
