INDIANAPOLIS - To kick off the 2026-27 season with games coming soon, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference has released the Preseason Coaches Poll on Tuesday (Oct. 20).
The Panthers were voted to finish 12th by the head coaches of the schools in the conference. Ohio Dominican received 16 points in the voting.
2025-26 G-MAC regular season and tournament champion Walsh was voted as the preseason favorite with 108 points and five first-place votes with Lake Erie close behind in second place, garnering 106 points and five first-place votes as well. Ashland received one first-place vote in third place with Findlay and Kentucky Wesleyan behind them in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Hillsdale, Northwood and Thomas More were slated for the final three tournament spots. Cedarville, Malone, Tiffin and Ohio Dominican complete the poll in ninth through 12th place.
Ohio Dominican finished the 2025-26 season with a 19-10 record overall and was 13-7 in conference play, making the conference tournament and hosting a G-MAC Quarterfinal.
Reese Leone is in his first season as head coach, after becoming the Interim Head Coach in June. He returns six players from a season ago.
The season opens in just 20 days at home against Salem on November 9th. The first conference matchup is December 5th versus Cedarville.
2026-27 Great Midwest Men's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
| School |
Points (1st Place Votes) |
| 1. Walsh |
108 (5) |
| 2. Lake Erie |
106 (5) |
| 3. Ashland |
97 (1) |
| 4. Findlay |
93 |
| 5. Kentucky Wesleyan |
82 (1) |
| 6. Hillsdale |
76 |
| 7. Northwood |
63 |
| 8. Thomas More |
53 |
| 9. Cedarville |
50 |
| 10. Malone |
27 |
| 11. Tiffin |
21 |
| 12. Ohio Dominican |
16 |
