WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University men's basketball program will begin the 2025–26 season ranked No. 11 nationally in the first NABC/Division II Coaches Poll, announced Tuesday by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The Hilltoppers, who finished 30–5 last season and reached the Atlantic Region Championship game, are once again among the nation's elite as they prepare to open a new era on the Hilltop.
This season marks the start of a new chapter for the program, as Michael Lamberti takes over as head coach following an impressive tenure as both a Hilltopper assistant and the head coach at Coker University.
A former standout player and longtime assistant under Ben Howlett, Lamberti helped guide West Liberty to a 135–21 record during his previous time on staff — a stretch highlighted by multiple Mountain East Conference championships and a national championship appearance in 2023.
Lamberti returns to lead the program he helped shape, bringing with him head coaching experience and a high-octane offensive system that produced 100.1 points per game at Coker last season — ranking third nationally.
Three programs that reached last year's NCAA Division II national semifinals headline the preseason rankings — defending national champion Nova Southeastern, followed by Washburn and DBU (Dallas Baptist University). Daemen and Mountain East Conference rival Fairmont State round out the top five.
West Liberty checks in at No. 11, marking the program's 15th consecutive appearance in the NABC national rankings. The Hilltoppers are coming off their 14th straight 20-win season and another top finish in the MEC standings, maintaining their reputation for up-tempo offense, depth, and relentless defensive pressure — all trademarks of one of the most consistent programs in NCAA Division II basketball.
The Hilltoppers are one of two Mountain East Conference programs ranked in the preseason top 25, with Fairmont State debuting at No. 5. Across the poll, 63 schools from 23 Division II conferences received votes.
West Liberty opens the season on November 14, hosting Clarion University inside the ASRC.
