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D2 Basketball Conference Races That Could Define The 2026-27 Season

D2 Basketball Conference Races That Could Define The 2026-27 Season

Who will rule Division II basketball this season? Washburn, Gannon, Winston-Salem and more headline the conference races worth watching in 2026-27.

Oct 31, 2026 by Allen Catour
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Replay: Winston-Salem vs NC A&T | Nov 16 @ 2 PM2:02:36

The road to a Division II basketball championship runs through the conference races. 

The 2026-27 season features defending champions, nationally ranked favorites and several close preseason votes on both the men’s and women’s sides.

Here are some of the Division II men's and women's basketball conference races to watch this season.

CONCLUDED

2026 New Mexico Highlands vs Angelo - Women's

Fri, Oct 30 · 7:15 PM UTC

WATCH REPLAY

Men's Basketball Conference Races To Watch

MIAA: Washburn Looks To Stay On Top

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association could once again be among Division II men's basketball's most competitive conferences, with Washburn Men's Basketball entering the season as the team to beat.

The Ichabods were selected as the favorite in the MIAA media preseason poll and received 12 first-place votes in the coaches poll. Washburn finished 31-2 last season, captured its second consecutive regular-season championship and won the 2026 MIAA tournament.

Central Missouri, Missouri Western and Missouri Southern State are among the teams looking to challenge Washburn. Central Missouri was picked second in the coaches poll, while Missouri Western and Missouri Southern also received first-place votes.

Mountain East Conference: West Liberty Leads The Way

West Liberty Men's Basketball enters the season with championship expectations after another successful campaign in 2025-26.

The Hilltoppers were selected as the Mountain East Conference preseason favorite, receiving 11 of 12 possible first-place votes. West Liberty went 27-5 overall and 18-2 in conference play last season, winning the MEC championship and extending its NCAA Division II tournament appearance streak to 17 consecutive seasons.

The Hilltoppers also enter the season ranked No. 4 in the NABC preseason national poll.

Fairmont State is another team to watch after being ranked No. 24 in the NABC preseason poll. The Falcons give the conference another nationally ranked contender.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference: Black Hills State Defends Its Crown

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has another compelling race ahead, with Black Hills State Men's Basketball entering the season as the preseason favorite.

The Yellow Jackets are coming off a dominant 2025-26 campaign in which they won the regular-season and tournament championships, captured the South Central Regional title and advanced to the Elite Eight.

Black Hills State received 12 first-place votes in the RMAC preseason coaches poll. Colorado State-Pueblo was selected second, while Colorado School of Mines landed third.

Black Hills State also begins the season ranked No. 7 in the FloCollege preseason rankings, with CSU Pueblo and Colorado School of Mines receiving votes.

PSAC: Gannon Begins Its National Championship Defense

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has one of the most intriguing storylines in Division II men's basketball: defending national champion Gannon Men's Basketball begins its title defense as the Western Division favorite.

Gannon was picked first in the PSAC West preseason poll after finishing 34-3 and capturing the first national championship in program history. The Golden Knights also enter the season ranked No. 3 in the NABC preseason poll.

Indiana (PA) was picked second in the Western Division, followed by California (PA), Slippery Rock and Seton Hill.

The Eastern Division has its own competitive outlook, with West Chester selected as the preseason favorite. East Stroudsburg and Shepherd were picked second and third, respectively.

Women's Basketball Conference Races To Watch

CIAA: Winston-Salem State Looks To Repeat

Winston-Salem State Women's Basketball enters the 2026-27 season looking to defend its CIAA championship.

The Rams were selected as the conference's preseason favorite after winning the title last season. Winston-Salem State also enters the year ranked No. 8 in the WBCA preseason poll after finishing 28-4 in 2025-26.

California Collegiate Athletic Association: Cal Poly Pomona And Cal State LA Set For Another Battle

The California Collegiate Athletic Association could feature one of the closest conference races in Division II women's basketball.

Cal Poly Pomona Women's Basketball was selected as the preseason favorite after advancing to the Elite Eight last season. The Broncos received 190 points and eight first-place votes in the conference coaches poll.

Cal State LA was close behind with 186 points and the other six first-place votes. The Golden Eagles captured the CCAA tournament championship last season and will look to carry that success into another postseason run.

Chico State, Cal Poly Humboldt and Cal State Dominguez Hills round out the top five in the preseason poll.

With just four points separating the top two teams in the preseason voting, the matchups between Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State LA could have a major impact on the conference standings.

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference: Minnesota State Leads The Pack

Minnesota State Women's Basketball enters the season as the team to beat in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

The Mavericks were selected as the overall preseason favorite and the South Division favorite in the conference coaches poll, receiving 215 points and six first-place votes.

Concordia-St. Paul and Sioux Falls were picked second and third overall, respectively. University of Mary was selected as the North Division favorite.

Minnesota State also enters the season ranked No. 7 in the WBCA preseason national poll after finishing 29-3 last season.

MIAA: Central Missouri Looks To Stay In Front

Central Missouri enters the women's MIAA race as the preseason favorite after a strong 2025-26 season.

The Jennies were selected first in both the coaches and media preseason polls. Central Missouri finished 26-7 overall and 17-2 in conference play last season before advancing to the NCAA tournament's regional semifinals.

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