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2026 Whitman vs Chapman - Men's

5 Things To Know About Northwest Conference Men's Basketball Before The 2026-27 Season

5 Things To Know About Northwest Conference Men's Basketball Before The 2026-27 Season

Get ready for 2026-27 Northwest Conference men's basketball with five things to know, including Whitworth's title run, top teams and conference awards.

Oct 21, 2026 by Allen Catour
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Replay: Puget Sound vs Whitman | Feb 27 @ 5 PM2:15:56

The road to the Northwest Conference men's basketball title runs through Whitworth Men's Basketball after the Pirates swept the regular-season and tournament championships in 2025-26. 

However, with Puget Sound, Willamette and Lewis & Clark Men's Basketball also making their mark last season, the race for conference supremacy could bring plenty of competition in 2026-27.

Whitworth will aim to stay on top, while the rest of the nine-team conference looks to make a run at the crown and secure a path to the NCAA Division III tournament. 

Here are five things to know about Northwest Conference men's basketball heading into the new season.

1. Whitworth Is The Team To Beat

Whitworth established itself as the Northwest Conference's top program in 2025-26, finishing 14-2 in league play and 22-6 overall. The Pirates earned the regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament for the third consecutive season.

The Pirates carried that momentum into the postseason, defeating Lewis & Clark 76-60 in the semifinals before beating Willamette 97-87 in the championship game. Whitworth secured the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament.

2. Willamette Is Coming Off A Strong Finish

Willamette finished third in the 2025-26 conference standings with a 10-6 record and advanced to the NWC tournament championship game. The Bearcats defeated Puget Sound 80-75 in the semifinals before falling to Whitworth in the title game.

Tanner Overby led Willamette's individual honors, earning NWC Player of the Year recognition. He also earned a spot on the All-NWC first team after a productive season for the Bearcats.

3. Puget Sound Will Look To Take The Next Step

Puget Sound finished second in the NWC standings in 2025-26, posting a 12-4 conference record and a 17-9 overall mark. The Loggers earned the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament but fell to Willamette in the semifinals.

After finishing among the conference's top two teams during the regular season, Puget Sound will aim to turn that consistency into a championship run in 2026-27.

4. The Conference Recognized Standout Individual Performances

The NWC announced its 2025-26 men's basketball all-conference awards in February, recognizing players and coaches who made an impact throughout the season.

The major award winners included:

  • Player of the Year: Tanner Overby, Willamette
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Nyquist, Whitworth
  • Rookie of the Year: Sydney Natche, George Fox
  • Coach of the Year: Damion Jablonski, Whitworth

Nyquist earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Jablonski was recognized for leading Whitworth through its championship season. These awards offer a snapshot of the talent and coaching that helped shape the conference's recent campaign.

5. Nine Teams Will Compete For The NWC Title

The Northwest Conference features nine men's basketball programs in 2026-27:

  • George Fox
  • Lewis & Clark
  • Linfield
  • Pacific
  • Pacific Lutheran
  • Puget Sound
  • Whitman
  • Whitworth
  • Willamette

The conference tournament provides a path to the NCAA Division III men's basketball championship, with the NWC's automatic bid on the line. 

In 2026, Whitworth made the most of that opportunity by winning the tournament on its home court.

As the new season gets underway, Whitworth will look to remain at the top, while Puget Sound, Willamette and the rest of the conference pursue a chance to take its place.

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