ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2025-26 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday with North Central being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
Complete poll
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
North Central (5) |
33 |
| 2 |
Northwestern (1) |
30 |
| 3 |
Bethany Lutheran (1) |
27 |
| 4 |
UW-Superior |
18 |
| 5 |
Martin Luther |
17 |
| 6 |
Minnesota Morris |
16 |
| 7 |
Crown |
7 |
#1 North Central: 33 points
The Rams received 33 points for the top spot on the poll and five first-place votes from their conference competitors. North Central was one of the regular season co-conference champions last year.
Head coach: Jeremy Becker | Fourth season|
Top Returners
- Carrington McNeal, Sr., G |First-team All-Conference, UMAC All-Defensive Team|14.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.0 stl/g |
- Carmello McNeal, Sr., G |Honorable Mention All-Conference|12.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2 ast/g|
- Remy Wedgeworth-Brown, Sr., G |Honorable Mention All-Conference |8.4 ppg, 3.5 ast/g, 40% 3 pt fg% |
#2 Northwestern: 30 points
The Eagles received 30 points to rank second in the poll and earned one first-place vote.
Head coach: Tim Grosz | 26th Season |
Top Returners
- Japheth Nyamari, Sr, G | 2024-25 First-team All-Conference | 2024-25 NCCAA First-team All-Region| 2024-25: 18.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4 games of 30+ points |
- AJ Greene, Jr, G | 2024-25 All-Conference Honorable Mention| 2024-25 NCCAA Second-team All-Region | 2024-25: 13.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.6 spg |
- Noah Frazell, So., G | 7.0 ppg, 88.1% FT | scored 10+ points 9x in freshman season
#3 Bethany Lutheran: 27 points
The Vikings earned 27 points to rank third in this poll and received the final first-place vote. Bethany Lutheran was the other co-champion in the regular season last year and later claimed the tournament for its third-straight crown and third-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach: Pat Garvin | Sixth season
Top Returners
- Jack Brockman, So., Guard/Forward | 8.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 49 assists, 32 blks
- Julias Hedricks, Jr., Guard/Forward | 2.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 10 assists
#4 UW-Superior: 18 points
The Yellowjackets tallied 18 points for the fourth spot in the poll.
Head coach: Greg Polkowski | Ninth Season |
Top Returners
- Andrew Beers, Jr., F | 5.2 ppg, 2.9 reb/g, 0.6 ast/g |
- Rocco Paulson, Jr. C | 4.0 ppg, 3.4 reb/g, 0.4 ast/g |
- Evan Bennett, Sr., G | 2.7 ppg, 1.4 reb/g, 0.5 ast/g |
#5 Martin Luther: 17 points
The Knights earned 17 points for the fifth spot.
Head coach: Greg Holzhueter | 10th season|
Top Returners
- Adam Loberger, So., F | UMAC Rookie of the Year, UMAC Honorable Mention| Finished 2nd in UMAC in PPG (20.3) | led MLC in 3-point FGs (62) and made FT’s (108), 2nd in Rebounds per game (5.9) and total assists (48).
- Ben Pearson, So., G | Defensive All-Conference Team |Finished 3rd in UMAC in total rebounds (188) | led MLC in assists (67), 2nd on MLC in ppg (12.4) and 3 FG (49).
- Tom Balge, Sr., G | 2023-24 Honorable Mention All-Conference | Finished sixth in UMAC in ppg (15.8) and assists (53) as a sophomore, 2nd in FG percentage (44.4) last season.
#6 Minnesota Morris: 16 points
The Cougars received 16 spots to rank sixth in the poll.
Head coach: Paul Grove | 24th season |
Top Returners
- Carvin Fish, So., C | 11.6ppg, 7.3 rpg , .9 bpg |
- Gus Gunderson, Sr., G | 7.5ppg , 4.1 rpg , 2.4 apg |
- Jase Nelson, Jr, G | 5.5ppg , 3.7 rpg |
#7 Crown: 7 points
The Polars earned seven points to round out the poll.
Head coach: Luke Herbert | 16th Season |
Top Returners
- Parker Behne, Sr., G | 9.6 ppg, 41.5% 3PT
- Anthony Knight, So., G |4.8 ppg
- Tristan Youngblood, Jr., G | 3.4 ppg