SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's basketball team has been selected to finish fifth in the 2026-27 River States Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced Tuesday.
The Pomeroys received 45 points in voting by the conference's 10 head coaches, placing them in the middle of a competitive 10-team field entering the new season.
Indiana University Kokomo earned the top spot with 79 points and seven first-place votes, followed by IU Southeast with 71 points and two first-place votes. Rio Grande rounded out the top three with 66 points and the remaining first-place vote, while Midway claimed fourth with 53 points.
SMWC finished ahead of WVU Tech (40), IU East (36), Brescia (25), Kentucky Christian (20) and IU Columbus (15).
The Pomeroys will open their 2026-27 campaign Saturday, Oct. 24, with a 5 p.m. road contest at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The early-season slate features several challenging nonconference matchups, including appearances in the Aquinas Drury Inn Classic in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the Chick-fil-A Classic in McKenzie, Tennessee.
SMWC will also have an opportunity to test itself against NCAA Division I competition, with exhibition games scheduled at the University of Southern Indiana on Nov. 4 and Southeast Missouri State University on Dec. 22.
The Pomeroys make their home debut and open River States Conference play Tuesday, Nov. 17, when they welcome IU East to the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center for a 5 p.m. tipoff. Additional home contests before the holiday break include Goshen College on Nov. 24, Spring Arbor University on Dec. 12 and conference rival Midway on Dec. 19.
A highlight of the upcoming campaign comes Tuesday, Dec. 29, when SMWC takes the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to face Grace College following an Indiana Pacers game. The contest, listed for 10:45 p.m., will provide the Pomeroys with a unique opportunity to compete on the home floor of the NBA's Indiana Pacers.
The special event is among the marquee dates on a schedule that features a combination of conference competition, challenging nonconference opponents and high-profile venues.
Following the holiday break, SMWC resumes conference action Jan. 5 at IU Columbus before traveling to Rio Grande on Jan. 9. The Pomeroys return home Jan. 12 against Brescia and will host WVU Tech on Jan. 21.
The February home schedule includes key RSC contests against Rio Grande on Feb. 6 and preseason favorite IU Kokomo on Feb. 9. SMWC will celebrate Senior Day on Feb. 13 against IU Columbus before concluding the regular season Feb. 20 at Midway.
The River States Conference Men's Basketball Tournament is scheduled to begin Feb. 24 with quarterfinal action. The top eight teams in the final regular-season standings qualify for the tournament, with the top four seeds hosting quarterfinal games. The semifinals are scheduled for Feb. 27, followed by the championship game March 2.
2026-27 River States Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
- IU Kokomo — 79 points (7 first-place votes)
- IU Southeast — 71 points (2)
- Rio Grande — 66 points (1)
- Midway — 53 points
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods — 45 points
- WVU Tech — 40 points
- IU East — 36 points
- Brescia — 25 points
- Kentucky Christian — 20 points
- IU Columbus — 15 points
Key Dates on the 2026-27 SMWC Men's Basketball Schedule
- Oct. 24: at Indiana Tech — Season Opener, 5 p.m.
- Nov. 4: at Southern Indiana — Exhibition, 7 p.m. CT
- Nov. 17: vs. IU East — Home/RSC Opener, 5 p.m.
- Dec. 3: at IU Kokomo — Preseason RSC Favorite, 6 p.m.
- Dec. 19: vs. Midway — RSC Home Contest, 1 p.m.
- Dec. 22: at Southeast Missouri State — Exhibition, 11 a.m. CT
- Dec. 29: vs. Grace College — Gainbridge Fieldhouse, following Indiana Pacers game, listed at 10:45 p.m.
- Feb. 6: vs. Rio Grande — RSC Home Contest, 1 p.m.
- Feb. 9: vs. IU Kokomo — RSC Home Contest, 6 p.m.
- Feb. 13: vs. IU Columbus — Senior Day, 1 p.m.
- Feb. 24: RSC Tournament Quarterfinals — TBD
For the complete 2026-27 schedule, visit
SMWCathletics.com.
