KANSAS CITY, Mo. (October 27, 2026) – Coming off one of its most successful seasons in nearly three decades, the Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team received 20 votes in the 2026-27 Preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Coaches Poll that was released Tuesday afternoon.
The ThunderWolves, who are led by head coach Zach Ruebesam, are coming off a 2025-26 campaign that saw the Pack post a 22-8 overall record and a 15-5 mark in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), finishing tied for second in the league standings. The 22 victories marked the program's first 20-win season since 1997-98 and just the seventh 20-win campaign in school history dating back to the 1962-63 season.
CSU Pueblo's appearance in the preseason poll marks the first time the ThunderWolves have received votes in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll since earning seven votes in the fourth regular-season poll of the 2024-25 campaign, which was released on Dec. 10, 2024.
In this season's preseason poll, the Pack received 20 votes to rank 10th among the schools outside the Top 25 receiving votes. CSU Pueblo is one of two RMAC programs recognized in the national preseason rankings, joining Black Hills State, which opens the season ranked No. 6 nationally after posting a 30-5 record last season and advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
The ThunderWolves were also picked to finish second in the 2026-27 Preseason RMAC Coaches Poll released last week. CSU Pueblo collected 178 points and one first-place vote in the league's preseason poll, while Black Hills State was selected as the conference favorite after receiving 192 points and 12 first-place votes.
Along with the two RMAC programs recognized in the NABC preseason poll, four schools from the Lone Star Conference, which joins the RMAC in comprising the NCAA Division II South Central Region, were either ranked or received votes. Dallas Baptist opens the season ranked No. 5 nationally, while Eastern New Mexico is ranked No. 16 and Lubbock Christian is ranked No. 23. St. Edward's also received recognition in the preseason poll with 10 votes.
Nova Southeastern, which has advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in each of the last six seasons, opens the 2026-27 campaign as the nation's top-ranked team. The Sharks received 387 points and seven first-place votes to claim the No. 1 ranking, while Washburn is ranked second after collecting 362 points and three first-place votes.
Defending NCAA Division II national champion Gannon (Pa.) rounds out the top three after receiving 342 points and six first-place votes.
The ThunderWolves, who return two starters and seven players overall from last season's 22-win squad, will open the 2026-27 season with back-to-back home games at Massari Arena. CSU Pueblo begins its campaign on Friday, Nov. 13 with a 6 p.m. contest against Midwestern State, before hosting Cameron on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.
Both contests will be part of the Pack's opening weekend of non-conference action as CSU Pueblo looks to build on last season's success and compete for an RMAC championship in 2026-27.
