St. Cloud State Basketball Ranked Second in Preseason Poll

The Huskies earned 211 points and six first-place votes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason ranking.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Basketball

St. Cloud State Basketball Ranked Second in Preseason Poll

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St. Cloud State University begins the upcoming campaign ranked second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference preseason coaches poll. The Huskies finished with 211 total points, trailing only Minnesota State-Mankato.

Why it matters

The ranking reflects high expectations for the team as they look to build on a successful 26-7 overall record from last season. The squad is bolstered by the return of four of their top five scorers from the previous year.

St. Cloud State University received six first-place votes in the poll, while Minnesota State-Mankato secured eight. Wyatt Hawks enters the season with 128 career blocks and 684 career rebounds.

The players

Wyatt Hawks

He is a standout player for St. Cloud State University who was recognized as the South Division Pre-Season Player of the Year.

St. Cloud State University

The institution is a public university located in Saint Cloud that competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Minnesota State-Mankato

This university is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and topped the preseason coaches poll.

Luke Winkel

He is a former team member who transferred to the University of North Dakota.

The details

Wyatt Hawks was named the South Division Pre-Season Player of the Year as the team prepares to navigate a new schedule following the departure of Luke Winkel to the University of North Dakota. The program aims to repeat their success after qualifying for the NCAA Regional Tournament last year.

October 9, 2026: Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference released preseason coaches poll.
October 29, 2026: Opening exhibition game at St. John's University.
November 9, 2026: Regular season opener at University of Minnesota-Crookston.
November 24, 2026: Home opener at Halenbeck Hall.

Season Trajectory

This preseason ranking positions the team as a primary contender to build upon their previous appearance in the 2025-2026 NCAA Regional Tournament. A strong start is critical to securing a high seed in the upcoming postseason bracket.

Fans in Saint Cloud can prepare for the home opener on November 24th at Halenbeck Hall to see the team in action. Wyatt Hawks will be a key player to monitor for fantasy and performance metrics given his established career rebound and block totals.

The takeaway

The team enters the season with significant momentum following a 26-win performance last year. Returning the majority of their core scoring lineup provides a stable foundation for a potential deep postseason run.