WICHITA, Kan. – The Ottawa University men's basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the 2026-27 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon.
The Braves received 85 total points in the preseason poll, placing them ninth among the conference's 14 teams. Ottawa enters the 2026-27 season looking to improve upon last year's 10th-place KCAC finish.
Ottawa finished the 2025-26 season with an overall record of 10-18 and a 6-16 mark in KCAC play. The Braves return Honorable Mention All-KCAC selection
Micah Willis, who will look to help lead OU during the upcoming season.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving 169 total points and 13 of the 14 first-place votes. The Eagles enter the 2026-27 season as five-time defending KCAC regular-season champions and the reigning KCAC Tournament champions. Oklahoma Wesleyan has captured three conference tournament titles in the last five seasons.
McPherson College was picked second with 149 points, followed by Bethel College in third with 144 points and the remaining first-place vote. Southwestern College was selected fourth with 141 points, while Evangel University rounded out the top five with 113 points.
The second through fourth positions were separated by just eight points, highlighting the competition expected near the top of the conference standings.
The University of Saint Mary was selected sixth with 110 points, followed by Friends University and Kansas Wesleyan University, which tied for seventh with 89 points apiece. Ottawa was ninth with 85 points, five points behind the seventh-place tie.
Sterling College rounded out the top 10 with 45 points, followed by Avila University (42), Tabor College (37), York University (33), and Bethany College (28).
2026-27 KCAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
Institution |
Points |
First-Place Votes |
| 1 |
Oklahoma Wesleyan University |
169 |
13 |
| 2 |
McPherson College |
149 |
|
| 3 |
Bethel College |
144 |
1 |
| 4 |
Southwestern College |
141 |
|
| 5 |
Evangel University |
113 |
|
| 6 |
University of Saint Mary |
110 |
|
| T7 |
Friends University |
89 |
|
| T7 |
Kansas Wesleyan University |
89 |
|
| 9 |
Ottawa University |
85 |
|
| 10 |
Sterling College |
45 |
|
| 11 |
Avila University |
42 |
|
| 12 |
Tabor College |
37 |
|
| 13 |
York University |
33 |
|
| 14 |
Bethany College |
28 |
|
Braves Quick Hits
- Ottawa was picked ninth in the 2026-27 KCAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 85 points.
- The Braves finished the 2025-26 season with a 10-18 overall record.
- OU posted a 6-16 record in KCAC play, finishing 10th in the conference standings.
- Micah Willis returns after earning Honorable Mention All-KCAC honors in 2025-26.
- Ottawa was picked one spot higher than its finish in last season's conference standings.
- The Braves finished just four points behind Friends and Kansas Wesleyan, which tied for seventh in the preseason poll.
