BRIGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the results of its 2026-27 Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll. The University of Olivet claimed the top spot with 46 points and six first place votes. The Trine University men's basketball team is tabbed second with 40 points and a first-place vote.
 
Calvin University and Hope College tied for third place with the Knights taking the final first place nod. Albion College, Alma College, Kalamazoo College, and Adrain College rounded out the poll.
 
The Thunder will begin their season at the Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck Tournament on November 6 against Oswego State. The Thunder then take on either the host Spartans or Kenyon.
 
Trine hosts the Trine Tip Off Classic the following weekend with games against Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Wisconsin-Oshkosh. They remain at home on November 18 for a match up with Anderson before traveling to Ohio Northern.
 
The non-conference slate wraps up with a home game against Wisconsin-Stevens Point before traveling to Stevens Point to take on Dubuque and Saint John's (Minn.). The Thunder then head to the Sin City for the inaugural NABC DIII Tournament. Trine takes on Redlands on December 21 and Emory or Elmhurst on December 22.
 
The conference slate is a double round robin format, Trine hosts Hope, Albion, and Olivet the first time around and Alma, Adrian, Calvin, and Kalamazoo the second time.
 
Elias Lewis is the lone returning starter for the Thunder, the sophomore started 22 games last season and scored 8.1 points per game while shooting 36.6% from the three point line. Sixth man Cade Brenner returns after scoring 10.2 points per game off the bench and connecting on 38% of his shots from downtown. Brenner was Trine's second leading rebounder last year with 153 and led the team in steals.
 
Despite the departure of four starters, Trine returns nearly all of their bench players from last season. Drew Panning returns after playing 14.1 minutes per game last year, the 6-9 athletic big man scored 5.0 points per game last year and shot 54.6% from the floor. Joining him in the frontcourt is Paxton Crane, the sophomore saw action toward the end of the season last year, including a 15-rebound effort against Calvin on February 14.
 
Elisha Jones and Trevon Rochester-Thomas return to the backcourt. Jones dished out 24 assists in 26 games last season.
 
Joining the fold this year are two familiar faces; Jayce Cusack returns to the Thunder and brings with him his experience from the Thunder's national championship run. Cusack started 21 of 26 games in 2024-25 and scored 7.3 points a night. The other is Darrius Welch, the senior forward transfers to Angola from Adrian College. Welch earned Second Team All-MIAA honors last season with Bulldogs, scoring 15.2 points per game and pulling down 6.3 rebounds.
 
The Thunder open the season on November 6 at the Bill Sudek Invitational against Oswego State.