2026-27 GPAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
SEWARD, Neb. – An experienced Bulldog backcourt convinced league head coaches to peg Concordia University, Nebraska Men’s Basketball as the conference favorite heading into the 2026-27 season. The Bulldogs collected six first-place votes and 96 total points while landing atop the GPAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Monday (Oct. 12). First-place votes also went to Morningside (three) and Dordt (two), which were placed second and third, respectively, in the poll.
Head Coach Ben Limback will enter his 14th season at the helm of his alma mater. Concordia finished the 2025-26 season at 19-12 overall (11-9 GPAC) and in tie for fourth place in the GPAC standings. The Bulldogs return all-conference guards Brooks Kissinger (first team) and Dane Jacobsen (second team), as well as starting wing Jaxon Stueve (honorable mention).
The Bulldogs were also picked first in the GPAC to open the 2024-25 campaign. Under Limback, Concordia shared GPAC regular season championships in 2021-22 and 2023-24 and also captured GPAC tournament titles in 2020 and 2022. Limback has led the program to GPAC Championship Game appearances in four of the past seven seasons (including back-to-back). The Bulldogs were left out of the 2026 national tournament field but made national tourney appearances in each of the previous four years.
NAIA Hoops Report has also tabbed Concordia as the GPAC preseason favorite. The publication placed the Bulldogs at No. 19 nationally, named Kissinger the GPAC Preseason Player of the Year and chose Jacobsen to its Preseason All-GPAC Team. The NAIA Hoops Report preview can be found HERE.
Limback’s crew will officially tip off the ’26-27 season on Oct. 29 with a road game at Kansas Wesleyan University. The complete schedule can be found HERE.
2026-27 GPAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
--First-place votes in parentheses
1. Concordia – 96 (6)
2. Morningside – 91 (3)
3. Dordt – 84 (2)
4. Dakota Wesleyan – 64
5. Mount Marty – 62
6. Northwestern – 57
7. Briar Cliff – 52
8. Midland – 34
9. Doane – 33
10. Hastings – 21
11. Waldorf – 11