ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Columbia College Cougars have been picked to win the American Midwest Conference, earning five first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Central Baptist and Hannibal-LaGrange follow closely behind, with the Mustangs in second place and the Trojans in third. CBC received two first-place votes, while HLGU earned one.
The Cougars are aiming for their 12
th tournament title and 14
th regular-season championship, while Central Baptist is chasing its fourth title in both the tournament and regular season. Hannibal-LaGrange is seeking its second tournament crown, while Harris-Stowe is looking to secure its fourth.
2025-26 AMC Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll:
| Rank |
Team (1st place votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Columbia (5) |
53 |
| 2 |
Central Baptist (2) |
48 |
| 3 |
Hannibal-LaGrange (1) |
46 |
| 4 |
Mission |
38 |
| 5 |
Crowley’s Ridge |
29 |
| 6 |
Williams Baptist |
27 |
| 7 |
Harris-Stowe |
20 |
| 8 |
Health Sciences & Pharmacy |
19 |
2024-25 NAIA Poll Tracker:
|
Oct. 23 |
Nov. 13 |
Nov. 27 |
Dec. 11 |
Jan. 15 |
Jan. 29 |
Feb. 12 |
Feb. 26 |
| CBC |
14 |
11 |
10 |
13 |
17 |
20 |
18 |
15 |
| CC |
RV |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Top Returners:
| School |
Name |
Award |
| Columbia |
Nate Brandt |
AMC Freshman of the Year
AMC All-Freshman Team |
| Hannibal-LaGrange |
Josh Talton |
AMC Newcomer of the Year
AMC First Team |
| Health Sciences & Pharmacy |
Bryant Odunayo |
AMC All-Freshman Team |
| Williams Baptist |
Amarion Wilson |
AMC Honorable Mention |
New Coaches:
| School |
Name |
| Central Baptist |
Cody Henson |
| Harris-Stowe |
Adam Hooker |
AMC Men’s Basketball Tournament:
Beginning in 2026, the AMC Men’s Basketball Tournament will be held at a single site and will be a joint championship with the Women’s Basketball Tournament. The four-day event (February 26-28 and March 2), will be played at W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse on the campus of Mission University in Springfield, Mo. Thursday, Friday and Saturday will feature men’s games at 2:15 pm and 7:30 pm, and the championship game on Monday will be at 7:00 pm. There will be women’s contests before and after each 2:15 men’s game and before the championship game.