The defending national champion University of Mary Washington men's basketball team has been picked as the top team in the country in the D3hoops.com preseason national poll, released on Thursday.

The Eagles coming off a 30-3 season and national title last year, welcomes back 13 players from last year's team, including four starters. Consensus All-America junior guard Kye Robinson leads the way, with NCAA championship all-tournament team seniors Kaden Bates and Jay Randall and junior guard Ulysses Young also returning as starters.

Other returnees include junior Colin Mitchell, who made the buzzer-beating, championship-winning shot a year ago, senior forward Cam Jones, juniors Scott Van Antwerp (G) and Owen Pottenburgh (F), and sophomores Josh Seworder (G), Anthony Lewis (G), Ben Lichter (G), Preston White (F), and Ethan Kacou (F).

Newcomers include transfer Shane Crissman (forward), as well as freshmen Max Lawson (guard), Colin Stemberger (guard), Hayden Collins (forward), and Jackson Wallace (guard).

Opponents on the UMW schedule that begin the season in the national rankings include Christopher Newport (#2), Hood College (#3), and Randolph-Macon (#7). The Eagles will open the season on November 6 against Marywood University at 7:30 pm at the University of Scranton.

The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly, starting Nov. 23, 2026. Points are awarded on a 25-24-23-22-etc. basis.
 
This is the 28th season that D3hoops.com has issued a Top 25 poll.

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