WINTHROP, Mass. - Saint Joseph's College of Maine has been selected as the preseason favorite for the 2026-27 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's basketball season, according to a vote of the league's 13 head coaches. The defending GNAC champion Monks received 12 first-place votes and 168 points after advancing to the NCAA Tournament last winter. Led by sixth-year head coach Tyler Ackley, the Monks will have their eyes set on a three-peat of the GNAC championship.

Saint Joseph's returns the GNAC Player of the Year and 2026 D3hoops.com Preseason All-America Second Team selection, senior Remijo Wani (Portland, Maine). Wani averaged a team-high 22.9 points per game last season while shooting 49 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range, and 75 percent from the free-throw line. He also leads the team in rebounds among returning players after averaging 6.8 boards per game last season.

Alongside Wani, the Monks return last year's GNAC Rookie of the Year, sophomore Davis Mann (Falmouth, Maine). Mann averaged 13.7 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 86 percent from the free-throw line.

Following Saint Joseph's, the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) ranks second with 148 points, while Albertus Magnus College sits third with 142 points and one first-place vote. Lasell University follows in fourth with 133 points, and Emmanuel College rounds out the top five with 122 points.

The remainder of the poll includes Norwich University (86), Regis College (79), Dean College (79), Rivier University (73), Mitchell College (60), Elms College (46), New England College (26), and Colby-Sawyer College (21).

The 2026-27 season opens with non-conference action on November 6, with GNAC play beginning December 1. The conference schedule features five matchups on opening day, including Saint Joseph's conference opener against Colby-Sawyer College.

The GNAC postseason begins with the quarterfinals on Tuesday, February 23, followed by the semifinals on Thursday, February 25, and the championship on Saturday, February 27. The conference champion earned the GNAC's automatic bid to the 2027 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, which begins March 5.


2026-27 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll Results
1. Saint Joseph's (Maine) – 168 (12)
2. University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) – 148
3. Albertus Magnus – 142 (1)
4. Lasell – 133
5. Emmanuel – 122
6. Norwich – 86
7. Regis – 79 (tie)
8. Dean – 79 (tie)
9. Rivier – 73
10. Mitchell – 60
11. Elms – 46
12. New England College – 26
13. Colby-Sawyer – 21

First-place votes in parentheses.