KANSAS CITY, MO – After advancing to the NAIA National Championship Final Site for the third consecutive season, the University of the Cumberlands men's basketball team enters the 2026-27 campaign ranked No. 10 in the NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, national officials announced Wednesday afternoon. The Patriots are one of three Mid-South Conference teams ranked inside the top 10 as they prepare to begin another season under Head Coach Matt Daniel.
 
Cumberlands is coming off a 25-8 campaign that saw the Patriots earn an at-large bid to the NAIA National Championship and host the First and Second Rounds for the third straight year. UC defeated Indiana Tech and William Carey in Williamsburg before falling to top-seeded Grace in the Round of 16 in Kansas City. The Patriots averaged 85.6 points per game last season while shooting 46.0% from the field and connecting on 333 three-pointers.
 
Despite losing NAIA Second-Team All-American Kyle Duke and First-Team All-MSC selection Andrew McConnell, the Patriots return several key contributors from last year's postseason run. Brant Smithers leads the returning group after averaging 11.8 points per game and knocking down a team-high 85 three-pointers at a 39.7% clip. The Second-Team All-MSC selection also delivered one of the Patriots' most memorable performances of the season, scoring 31 points and connecting on eight three-pointers in UC's NAIA Second Round victory over William Carey.
 
Javecckio Thomas also returns after averaging 11.2 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds while shooting 50.2% from the field. The redshirt senior added 43 steals and 34 blocks, providing a versatile presence on both ends of the floor. Malachi Robinson looks to build on an impressive freshman campaign that saw him start 27 games and record a team-high 36 blocks and 42 steals. Tanner Walton rounds out the returning core after contributing 77 assists and 120 rebounds while shooting 54.8% from the field and 48.6% from three last season.
 
Cumberlands also welcomes an experienced group of newcomers, highlighted by the return of two-time MSC Defensive Player of the Year Tajahri Cave. The senior guard returns to Williamsburg after helping Langston advance to the NAIA National Championship game last season. Kedar Bodie, Trey Johnson, Iago Stanback, and Jhamien Smith join the Patriots as transfers, giving UC additional experience and depth heading into the season.
 
The Mid-South Conference is well represented in the preseason rankings, with defending national champion Freed-Hardeman coming in at No. 2 and Georgetown earning the No. 7 spot. Cumberlands follows at No. 10, giving the conference three teams ranked among the nation's top 10. The Patriots will face both programs twice during MSC play, beginning with a home matchup against Freed-Hardeman on January 7.
UC's nonconference schedule also features several nationally ranked opponents, including No. 11 Keiser, No. 18 Georgia Gwinnett, and No. 21 Pikeville. The Patriots will host Pikeville on November 3 before traveling to Georgia Gwinnett on December 3 and Keiser on December 17. Grace, who defeated Cumberlands in last season's Round of 16, occupies the top spot in the preseason poll, followed by Freed-Hardeman, Arizona Christian, Rocky Mountain, and Indiana Wesleyan to round out the top five.
 
The Patriots officially open the 2026-27 season on Friday, October 23, when they host Simmons College of Kentucky inside the O. Wayne Rollins Center and Randy Vernon Court. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM in Williamsburg.
 
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