WEEK OF OCTOBER 18, 2026 • ISSUE 4

Four Days Until the Ball Goes Up

At last, the calendar turns from forecasts to basketball. The first NAIA men’s basketball coaches poll arrives Wednesday, October 21, countable competition opens Thursday, October 22, and a loaded Friday-Saturday slate will immediately start testing the country’s contenders.

Read the opening-weekend watch guide →

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The National Picture

The conference ballot is already crowded. Coaches have put Grace, Concordia (Neb.), Arizona Christian, IU Kokomo, Loyola (La.), Grand View, College of Idaho, Keiser and Madonna at the top of their leagues. Consensus is scarce, though: Grand View and William Penn are separated by two points in the Heart, the Cascade’s top three sit within eight points, and five GSAC programs received at least one first-place vote. Start with our conference-poll roundup, then watch for the first national coaches poll on October 21 to give the season its opening national order.

Games to Circle

• Taylor at Arizona Christian — Friday, October 23, 8 p.m. CT. The Crossroads League’s preseason No. 3 walks straight into a road test against the GSAC favorite. Watch link and schedule notes →
• Marian at Freed-Hardeman — Saturday, October 24, 2 p.m. CT. A Crossroads contender gets an immediate measuring stick against one of the country’s most established national-stage programs. Watch link and schedule notes →
• Lewis-Clark State at Arizona Christian — Saturday, October 24, 8 p.m. CT. The Cascade’s preseason No. 3 faces the GSAC favorite, giving both leagues an early résumé game. Watch link and schedule notes →

Stock Watch

↑ ON THE RISE: Arizona Christian — Five first-place votes and 61 points put the Firestorm first in the GSAC coaches poll. Back-to-back home games against Taylor and Lewis-Clark State now offer a fast chance to validate that preseason confidence.

↓ WATCH CLOSELY: Preseason certainty — Two points separate the Heart’s top two, eight points cover the Cascade’s top three and five GSAC teams drew first-place votes. Several league races look built for weekly movement once results replace projections.

Around the Association

• KCAC media day put all 14 programs on the mic — NAIA Hoops Report conducted the coach interviews released October 14 on Urban Edge Network.
• Frontier Conference media day: University of Providence — Watch the Argos’ 2026 men’s basketball media-day conversation and season preview on YouTube.
• Warner delivered an early NAIA-over-Division I moment — The Royals beat Florida A&M 59-44 in an October 13 exhibition; the result does not count in the regular-season standings.
• Washington Adventist added another NAIA-over-Division I result — The Shock beat Morgan State 74-68 in an open-door scrimmage/exhibition, according to NAIA Hoops Report sources.
• The GSAC returns to a six-team conference tournament — First-round games are February 24, semifinals February 27 and the championship March 2, with the higher seed hosting each round.

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Quick links: NAIA Hoops Report | Conference poll roundup | Opening-weekend watch guide

NAIA Hoops Report is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NAIA.