WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University men's basketball team will begin the 2026-27 season ranked No. 4 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll, announced Tuesday.

The Hilltoppers received 283 points in the preseason rankings, climbing three spots from their final ranking of No. 7 last season. West Liberty also enters the season as the Mountain East Conference preseason favorite after being selected No. 1 in the league's preseason poll last week.

West Liberty is one of two MEC teams featured in the NABC preseason Top 25, joining Fairmont State at No. 24. Nova Southeastern claimed the top spot with 387 points and seven first-place votes, followed by Washburn with 362 points and defending national champion Gannon with 342. West Liberty finished fourth, just seven points ahead of fifth-ranked Dallas Baptist, which received 276 points.

The preseason recognition follows a successful 2025-26 campaign in which West Liberty finished 27-5 overall and 18-2 in MEC play, captured the MEC Championship and earned its 17th consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament appearance. The Hilltoppers advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Regional before falling to Virginia Union, 52-46, in the opening round.

West Liberty received 11 of 12 first-place votes and 121 points in last week's MEC preseason poll, establishing the Hilltoppers as the conference's top choice entering the new season.

Head coach Mike Lamberti and the Hilltoppers will look to build on last year's conference championship success and make another deep postseason run in 2026-27.

West Liberty opens the season Saturday, Nov. 7, against Florida Southern at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida. The tournament features a competitive field of NCAA Division II programs as the Hilltoppers begin their pursuit of another championship season.