KANSAS CITY, Mo. – UC's men's basketball team is coming off back-to-back MSC Regular Season titles and two straight trips to the NAIA Final Site Round of 16 and enter the 2025-26 season ranked 20th in the NAIA Preseason Top-25 Coaches' Poll, NAIA officials announced Wednesday afternoon.
This marks the second consecutive season that the Pats have been mentioned in the preseason poll, as they entered 24-25 ranked 18
th.
The Patriots return just three players that averaged over 10 minutes a game last season.
Anthony Harris is back for his first full season after missing the first half last year. The Aurora, CO native averaged 9.5 points in 20 games with 5.1 rebounds and 19 total blocks to earn a spot on the MSC Second Team.
Brady Bell returns for his senior season after giving UC 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds while nailing 51 triples a season ago.
Tanner Walton rounds out the trio after scoring 50 points and grabbing 58 boards last year and is looking to make an even bigger impact this season.
Cumberlands recruited five transfers that also look to make an immediate impact during 2025-26. Guards
Kyle Duke and
Andrew McConnell will highlight the newcomers in the backcourt while
Javecckio Thomas and
Abraham Ibezimakor will bring size and physicality down low.
A pair of MSC opponents enter the year ranked in the top-five as Georgetown is number three while Freed-Hardeman ranks fifth overall. Cumberlands rounds out the teams from the Mid-South with 155 points to rank 20
th.
The Pats will tip off their season this week as they host Simmons College of Kentucky. Gametime is set for this Friday the 25
th at 7:30 PM ET on Randy Vernon Court. Live video for the contest can be found
here with live stats
here.
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