OSHKOSH, Wis. -- With the 2025–26 season tipping off later this week, the Ripon College men's basketball team has been selected to finish fifth in the Midwest Conference, as announced Wednesday afternoon with the release of the MWC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Monmouth College, which reached last year's MWC Tournament title game, was picked as the preseason favorite after earning seven first-place votes, followed by Grinnell College and Illinois College, which each collected one first-place nod.
The Red Hawks return a strong core of contributors from a season ago, including Kolby Williams (New Orleans, La., Heights HS), CJ Brown (Minneapolis, Minn., Minneapolis North Area HS), and Seth Bunders (Wauzeka, Wis., Wauzeka-Steuben HS), while also welcoming a talented incoming group featuring 10 freshmen and three transfers.
Under third-year head coach Kenny Finco, Ripon looks to build on its momentum after finishing fifth in the league standings last winter.
Poll results were announced as follows:
2025-26 MWC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
1. Monmouth College (7) - 60 points
2. Grinnell College (1) - 56 points
3. Illinois College (1) - 52 points
4. Lake Forest College - 40 points
5. Ripon College - 33 points
6. Lawrence University - 27 points
7. Cornell College - 24 points
8. Beloit College - 22 points
9. Knox College - 10 points
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
The Red Hawks open the 2025–26 campaign on Friday, Nov 7, at home for a 7:30 pm matchup against UW-Whitewater inside the Willmore Center's Weiske Gymnasium. For full preseason poll release, visit https://midwestconference.org/.
