William Penn in Runner-Up Spot for Heart Preseason Poll
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen men’s basketball team is slated to be in the mix for more league hardware as the 2026-2027 Heart of America Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll was announced Thursday.
WPU, which was 25-7 last year (16-4 Heart), is picked to finish second in the 16-team league with 237 points and seven first-place votes.
Grand View is just ahead of the navy and gold for the top position, garnering 239 points and seven top ballots.
Missouri Valley (204), Missouri Baptist (197), and Benedictine (183) round out the top five; Missouri Baptist earned the final two first-place votes.
Mount Mercy heads the rest of the conference with 180 points, while completing the poll is Central Methodist (159), MidAmerica Nazarene (136), Graceland (134), Peru State (121), Park (111), Baker (93), St. Ambrose (68), William Woods (46), Clarke (34), and Culver-Stockton (34).
William Penn opens the campaign on October 28 by hosting Central at 7 p.m.
2026-2027 Heart Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Grand View–239 (7)
2. William Penn–237 (7)
3. Missouri Valley–204
4. Missouri Baptist–197 (2)
5. Benedictine–183
6. Mount Mercy–180
7. Central Methodist–159
8. MidAmerica Nazarene–136
9. Graceland–134
10. Peru State–121
11. Park–111
12. Baker–93
13. St. Ambrose–68
14. William Woods–46
15. Clarke–34
15. Culver-Stockton–34
