COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Chadron State men's basketball has been picked to finish 14
th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, based on a vote of the league's head coaches. The No. 14 position matches CSC's finish in last year's conference standings.
Black Hills State, the reigning RMAC champions fresh off advancing to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament, were the runaway pick to win the league again in 2026-27. The Yellow Jackets received 12 of 15 first-place votes and finished with 192 points in the poll.
Behind BHSU, CSU Pueblo and Colorado School of Mines were picked second and third, tallying one first-place vote each. The ThunderWolves received nine second-place votes, most of any team, and finished with 178 points while the Orediggers garnered a league-high seven third-place votes plus three second-place votes and finished with 153 points.
Fort Lewis, MSU Denver and Colorado Mesa were next, with CMU grabbing the final first-place vote. Fort Lewis got two second-place votes, while MSU Denver had two third-place votes. Colorado Christian and UCCS tied for seventh and eighth with 111 to grab the final two preseason RMAC placings.
After the top eight, the poll is rounded out by Adams State, New Mexico Highlands, South Dakota Mines, Westminster and Western Colorado ahead of CSC. Regis is picked 15
th and last.
In addition, the RMAC released its Preseason All-Conference team, made of the top 10 returning players from last season's All-Conference voting. Black Hills State leads with three selections to that team, while CSU Pueblo, Colorado School of Mines and South Dakota Mines have two apiece.
There is some precedent for Chadron State to surprise under
Chris Francis, who begins his third season leading the Eagle men's basketball program. During Francis's first season in charge, the Eagles were picked 15
th in preseason, but made the RMAC conference tournament.
The Eagles will have a new look as players who return to Chadron State only combined to start five games for Chadron State last year. Key reserves coming back include
Jackson Schauer (.342 3PT) and
Collin Nick (.458 FG).
West Point, Nebraska's
Konnor Kralik, who started the first two games of the season as a true freshman before missing the rest of the season due to injury, as well as
Patric Prince and
Caleb Hannah, who missed 2025-26 with offseason injury concerns, are expected back and healthy to contribute to this year's roster.
Beyond the returners, there are 10 new additions to the CSC roster, including two with Division I experience in
Patrick Punch (Mississippi Valley State) and Kelton Johnson (University of Louisana Monroe), a Lone Star Conference transfer in
Zyon Little (Angelo State and Texas A&M Kingsville) and a Great Northwest Athletic Conference transfer in
Ronyo Obou (Saint Martin's).
Chadron State opens its 2026-27 schedule with a road game at Northern State on November 9. Their first home game is against Nebraska-Kearney on November 18 while their RMAC opener is on December 3 against Colorado Mesa at home.
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
2026-27 Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll |
| PL |
Team |
1sts |
2nds |
3rds |
Points |
| 1. |
Black Hills State |
12 |
1 |
|
192 |
| 2. |
CSU Pueblo |
1 |
9 |
3 |
178 |
| 3. |
Colorado School of Mines |
1 |
3 |
7 |
153 |
| 4. |
Fort Lewis College |
|
2 |
1 |
138 |
| 5. |
MSU Denver |
|
|
2 |
125 |
| 6. |
Colorado Mesa |
1 |
|
|
116 |
| 7. |
Colorado Christian |
|
|
|
111 |
|
UCCS |
|
|
|
111 |
| 9. |
Adams State |
|
|
|
94 |
| 10. |
New Mexico Highlands |
|
|
1 |
90 |
| 11. |
South Dakota Mines |
|
|
1 |
85 |
| 12. |
Westminster |
|
|
|
65 |
| 13. |
Western Colorado |
|
|
|
52 |
| 14. |
Chadron State |
|
|
|
36 |
| 15. |
Regis |
|
|
|
29 |
Notes:
Head coaches were not permitted to vote for their team.
14 points for a 1st-place vote, 13 for 2nd, etc.
196 points maximum in men's basketball. |
2026-27 Preseason All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference: Men's Basketball
|
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| F |
Marzouq Abdur-Razaaq (2) |
CSU Pueblo |
Sr. |
Aurora, Colo. |
| G |
Jaeton Hackley (1) |
Black Hills State |
Sr. |
Colorado Springs, Colo. |
| F |
Alex Romack (1) |
Colorado School of Mines |
Sr. |
Westfield, Ind. |
| G |
Jason Lee II (2) |
South Dakota Mines |
Sr. |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
| F |
Jonathan Moore (2) |
Colorado School of Mines |
Sr. |
Lithia, Fla. |
| G |
Jaxon Smith |
Black Hills State |
Sr. |
Bountiful, Utah |
| G |
Jaden Kennis |
CSU Pueblo |
5th |
Windsor, Colo. |
| F |
Brody Hull |
UCCS |
So. |
Melbourne, Australia |
| G |
Ben Henderson |
Black Hills State |
Sr. |
Ames, Iowa |
| G |
Ryan Sweeney |
South Dakota Mines |
5th |
Green Bay, Wis. |
| Symbols in parentheses are 2025 All-RMAC Recognitions: 1 -was a First Team All-RMAC selection; 2 - was a Second Team All-RMAC selection. |
