By 1808Delaware
OSU’s men’s basketball team will begin the 2026-27 season with something to prove after being picked to finish ninth in the North Coast Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The Battling Bishops received 20 points in voting by conference coaches, placing them just one point behind Oberlin and five behind Kenyon. With only nine points separating the bottom four teams in the rankings, the preseason predictions suggest that may be some parity in the conference standings.
At the other end of the poll, defending champion Denison University was selected as the overwhelming favorite to capture its third consecutive NCAC regular-season championship.
Ohio Wesleyan will have an opportunity to make an early statement when NCAC competition begins in December.
Denison Leads the Field
Denison enters the season as the conference favorite after receiving eight of nine first-place votes and accumulating 80 points. The Big Red are seeking a third consecutive NCAC regular-season championship, a feat no conference men’s basketball program has accomplished since 2017.
Under Head Coach Chris Sullivan, Denison finished last season with an 18-9 overall record and a 12-4 mark in conference play. The team led the conference in offensive rebounding and free-throw percentage while ranking among the league’s top performers in several defensive and offensive categories. Denison also returns two All-NCAC selections in senior guard Kellon Smith and junior forward Liam Taylor.
John Carroll, last season’s NCAC Tournament champion, received the remaining first-place vote and finished second in the poll with 72 points. DePauw, Wittenberg, and Wabash rounded out the top five.
How the Conference Stacks Up
The complete 2026-27 NCAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll is as follows:
| Rank | School | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denison (8 first-place votes) | 80 |
| 2 | John Carroll (1) | 72 |
| 3 | DePauw | 59 |
| 4 | Wittenberg | 52 |
| 5 | Wabash | 47 |
| 6 | Wooster | 29 |
| 7 | Kenyon | 25 |
| 8 | Oberlin | 21 |
| 9 | Ohio Wesleyan | 20 |
The Road Ahead for Ohio Wesleyan
The 2026-27 basketball season begins Friday, November 6, with conference competition opening Wednesday, December 2. Ohio Wesleyan will begin its NCAC schedule on the road at DePauw, the team selected to finish third in the preseason poll. That matchup will give the Bishops an immediate opportunity to measure themselves against one of the conference’s projected contenders.
The NCAC Tournament is scheduled to begin Tuesday, February 23, with semifinals on Friday, February 26, and the championship game on Saturday, February 27.
For Ohio Wesleyan, the preseason poll represents a starting point rather than a verdict. With several conference opponents separated by only a handful of votes, the Bishops have an opportunity to change the picture as the season unfolds. The coaches may have placed Ohio Wesleyan ninth, but the final standings will be decided on the court.
Source: NCAC
