WESTERVILLE, Ohio - Ohio Athletic Conference coaches cast their votes for the 2025-26 men's basketball preseason poll, and The University of Mount Union claimed the top spot in the preseason projections.
The Purple Raiders paced the preseason poll with 64 points and received the maximum eight of nine first-place votes, as head coaches do not vote for their own teams. Marietta College claimed the other first-place nod and placed second with 53 points. Just three points separated Muskingum University (47 points) and Otterbein University (44 points) in third and fourth, respectively. The same margin separated Baldwin Wallace University (34 points) and Capital University (31 points), who slotted into fifth and sixth, respectively. Heidelberg University ranked eighth with 22 points, while Ohio Northern University (19 points) and Wilmington College (10 points) rounded out the nine-team projections.
Mount Union heads into the 2025-26 campaign looking for its first conference title since the 2022-23 season, when the Purple Raiders tied for the regular-season title before winning the OAC Tournament Championship and finishing as the national runners-up in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. Last season, Mount Union posted an 18-9 overall record that included a 14-4 mark in conference contests. Heading into his 15th season leading the Purple Raiders, Head Coach Mike Fuline's squad enters the winter just outside of D3hoops.com's preseason top-25, with Mount Union receiving votes in the national DIII poll. The Purple Raiders will start their season on the road on Saturday, November 8, against Penn State Harrisburg at 4 p.m. in Middletown, Pennsylvania.
2025-26 OAC Men's Basketball
Coaches Poll |
| Rank |
School (1st Place Votes) |
Pts. |
| 1 |
Mount Union (8) |
64 |
| 2 |
Marietta (1) |
53 |
| 3 |
Muskingum |
47 |
| 4 |
Otterbein |
44 |
| 5 |
Baldwin Wallace |
34 |
| 6 |
Capital |
31 |
| 7 |
Heidelberg |
22 |
| 8 |
Ohio Northern |
19 |
| 9 |
Wilmington |
10 |