Oklahoma City – After clashing in the conference tournament championship game last season, Nelson and Langston will begin the season tied for the top spot in the 2025-26 Sooner Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's coaches.
The Lions earned a tie for No. 1 with 113 points and six first-place votes after claiming the SAC regular season title with an overall record of 24-9 and a league mark of 19-5. Nelson advanced to the conference championship game and fell to Langston before moving on to the NAIA Tournament. The Lions advanced to the second round of the national tournament before falling to LSU Alexandria.
Langston claimed a part of the top spot in the preseason poll also having 113 points and five first-place nods with an overall mark of 26-7 and a league record of 17-7 which was good for a tie for second place. The Lions won the conference tournament before advancing to the NAIA Tournament and falling to College of Idaho in the quarterfinals.
Wayland Baptist secured the third position in the preseason poll with 96 points after finishing in a tie for fourth in the regular season last season with an overall record of 17-13 and a league mark of 16-8. The Pioneers advanced to the conference semifinals before falling to Nelson in the semifinals.
Mid-America Christian claimed the fourth slot in the poll with 90 points after finishing last season in a tie with Langston for second place in the regular season with an overall record of 22-9 and a league record of 17-7. The Evangels dropped their semifinal contest to Langston in the conference tournament before advancing to the NAIA Tournament and losing in the first round to Oklahoma Wesleyan.
2025 SAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Nelson 113 (6)
Langston 113 (5)
3. Wayland Baptist 96
4. Mid-America Christian 90
5. John Brown 85 (1)
6. Texas Wesleyan 74
7. Central Christian 66
8. Science & Arts 38
9. Oklahoma City 36
Panhandle State 36
11. College of the Ozarks 33
12. Southwestern Christian 12