OXFORD, Ohio. – Coming off a seventh consecutive 20-win season that featured a conference division championship and a return to the NAIA National Championship First Round, the Indiana University Kokomo men's basketball team has been selected as the favorite to capture the River States Conference title, as announced Tuesday with the release of the 2026–27 RSC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
IU Kokomo received seven of a possible 10 first-place votes and 79 total points to claim the top spot in the preseason rankings. Defending RSC Tournament champion IU Southeast earned two first-place votes to finish second with 71 points, while Rio Grande collected the remaining first-place vote and placed third with 66 points.
The Cougars and ninth-year head coach Eric Echelbarger enter the 2026–27 campaign looking to build on another strong season for the program. IU Kokomo captured the RSC West Division championship, advanced to the RSC Tournament championship game and earned an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
Leading the group of returners is senior post player Joseph Annan Jr., who earned First Team All-River States Conference honors following the 2025–26 season. Annan gives the Cougars an experienced presence as they prepare for another run at the conference championship.
Alongside their returning talent, the Cougars welcome a 10-member recruiting class consisting of seven freshmen and three transfers. The combination of experienced returners and incoming talent will look to keep IU Kokomo among the conference's top contenders as the program pursues another postseason appearance.
IU Kokomo is set to open its 2026–27 season at home Wednesday, Oct. 28, against Michigan-Dearborn.
2026–27 RSC PRESEASON MEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' POLL
- IU Kokomo (79 points, 7 first-place votes)
- IU Southeast (71 points, 2 first-place votes)
- Rio Grande (66 points, 1 first-place vote)
- Midway (53 points)
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (45 points)
- WVU Tech (40 points)
- IU East (36 points)
- Brescia (25 points)
- Kentucky Christian (20 points)
- IU Columbus (15 points)
For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
