OVERLAND PARK – Benedictine Men's Basketball has been selected to finish in fifth place this season the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

The Ravens earned 183 points on Thursday as the Heart released the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll. They return All-Heart selection Deaglan Sullivan, who started all 29 games for the Ravens last year. Other top returners include Drew Purdy, Larry Parker III, Harrison Kisling, Aiden Sullivan, Bence Duka and Gabe Sydzyik.

Grand View enters the season as the preseason favorite after finishing 20-9 overall and 14-6 in conference play last season. The Vikings earned the No. 3 seed in the 2025-26 Heart Conference Tournament and return to the top of the preseason poll as they look to contend for the conference championship. 

William Penn was selected second after finishing 25-7 overall and 16-4 in conference play last season. The Statesmen captured the Heart Conference Tournament championship after defeating Graceland 95-90, before advancing to the NAIA National Tournament, where they fell to College of Idaho in the opening round. Missouri Valley, which finished 18-11 overall and 12-8 in conference play, was selected third after earning the No. 6 seed in last season's Heart Conference Tournament. Missouri Baptist follows in fourth after posting a 19-10 overall record and a 13-7 mark in conference play, earning the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. Benedictine rounds out the top five after finishing 15-14 overall and 11-9 in conference play and earning the No. 7 seed in last season's tournament.

2026-27 Heart Men's Basketball 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

    Culver-Stockton – 34 

The 2027 Heart Men's Basketball Conference Tournament is scheduled for Feb. 23, 26, and March 2, with games hosted by the higher seeds. Teams will compete for the Heart tournament title and an opportunity to advance to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship, with the first and second rounds set for March 12–13 at campus sites and the final site scheduled for March 18–23 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. 

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