GRINNELL, Iowa – The Illinois College men's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the annual Midwest Conference preseason poll, the league announced on Wednesday.
The Blueboys are coming off a season that ended 12-14 overall and 9-7 in conference play. IC has reached the league's postseason tournament for five consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the MWC. First-year head coach
Dylan Dudley will lean on returning seniors
Seth Doss,
Jake Hoyt, and
Isayah Kloster to lead his initial IC team.
Following its first Midwest Conference title in 17 years, Grinnell was selected to defend its crown. The Pioneers received 80 points and eight first-place votes.
Monmouth has been picked to finish second. The Fighting Scots received 74 points and the remaining two first-place votes. Lawrence (59 points) finished just ahead of IC (57), while the top half of the poll was rounded out by Lake Forest (50). Luther (34), Cornell (32), Knox (28), Ripon (21), and Beloit (15) took sixth through tenth.
For the first time, the Midwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament features an expanded field of six teams that will compete for the tournament title and the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament. Quarterfinal action kicks off on Tuesday, February 23, while the semifinals and finals are scheduled for Friday and Saturday (February 26-27).
Full preseason poll results and quick facts for all 10 league teams can be found below.
2026-27 MWC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
1. Grinnell (8 first-place votes) - 80 points
2. Monmouth (2) - 74 points
3. Lawrence - 59 points
4. Illinois College - 57 points
5. Lake Forest - 50 points
6. Luther - 34 points
7. Cornell - 32 points
8. Knox - 28 points
9. Ripon - 21 points
10. Beloit - 15 points
