COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) released its 2026-27 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday afternoon, with Western Colorado being selected 13th. Black Hills State claimed the top spot, followed by CSU Pueblo at No. 2 and Colorado School of Mines at No. 3.

• The Mountaineers enter the upcoming season looking to build on last year's campaign, in which they finished with an overall record of 10-18 and went 8-12 in RMAC play. With a mix of returning experience and new talent, Western looks to take another step forward and compete in one of Division II basketball's toughest conferences.
• Western returns five players from last season's roster while welcoming nine new faces to the program. The combination of veteran leadership and fresh talent will be key as the Mountaineers prepare for the 2026-27 season.
• Jordan Kuac headlines the returning group after leading the Mountaineers in scoring last season. Kuac averaged 10.4 points per game and will look to build on that production in his return. Quincy Scott also brings valuable experience to the roster, averaging 8.1 points per game a season ago. Both players will be important pieces as Western looks to establish its identity and help lead the team throughout the season.
• "Although it is good to get people thinking about the upcoming basketball season, I can't say that we put any stock into the preseason rankings," said Head Coach Zac Claus. "With the constant movement in the game, all of us coaches are guessing at best to stack up the teams before we see one another. We will be more than excited to start RMAC play in December.
• "Our returning guys have done a nice job in the early going of helping to incorporate nine new players on the roster. They are productive both in the weight room and on the court. Our staff looks forward to watching these guys compete against one another to vie for minutes and, at the same time, raise the level of our team."
• The Mountaineers will open their 2026-27 campaign on Friday, Nov. 13, welcoming Texas Permian Basin to Paul Wright Gym for the season and home opener. Tip-off is scheduled for noon as Western begins its pursuit of a successful season.