NAPERVILLE, Ill. - With the basketball season drawing near, the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin unveiled its Men's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll Thursday, Oct. 15. The Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team garnered 59 points, good for second in the nine-team ranking.
Elmhurst topped the poll with 62 points, aided by six first-place votes, to edge out the Titans (59). Wheaton (49), Carthage (43), and North Park (30) closed out the top-five. Carroll and Millikin tied for sixth with 24 points apiece. North Central (22) and Augustana (11) checked in in eighth and ninth, respectively.
Illinois Wesleyan kicks off the 2026-27 campaign as host to the Sikma Hall of Fame Invitational, Nov. 14-15, inside the Shirk Center. IWU will tangle with Yeshiva University at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in its season opener, while Trinity University (Texas) and Benedictine University will square off in the 6 p.m. contest. The winners will play in the weekend's title game, Nov. 15, following the conclusion of the consolation final.
2026-27 CCIW Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Elmhurst 62
2. Illinois Wesleyan 59
3. Wheaton 49
4. Carthage 43
5. North Park 30
T6. Carroll 24
T6. Millikin 24
8. North Central 22
9. Augustana 11
