FOREST, Va. – Off an improved 2025-26 in which the team qualified for the conference postseason tournament, 13th-year head man David Doino and the Averett University men's basketball team were voted to finish eighth in the 2026-27 ODAC men's basketball preseason poll, announced Wednesday.

Randolph-Macon College, the D3hoops.com preseason No. 7 team in the nation, took the number one spot with seven first-place voted. The Yellow Jackets were runners-up in the ODAC tournament last season, and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16.

Roanoke College, No. 15 in the preseason D3hoops.com poll, took the remaining five first-place votes in second place. The Maroons upset the aforementioned Yellow Jackets to take the conference title, and went to the NCAA second round. 

Hampden-Sydney College, receiving votes in the national polls, take third, while Batten University and Washington and Lee were voted fourth and fifth, respectively. The University of Lynchburg are in sixth, and right above the Cougars are Guilford College in seventh.

Averett returns 80-percent of their majority starters from 2025-26, led by junior guard/forward Mason Mitchell. Mitchell made the All-ODAC third team last season with an 11.6 points per game output, and ranked fifth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage at a .397 clip. 

The Cougars enter the 2026-27 chapter at the Grant Center versus Mary Baldwin University on Monday, Nov. 9. 

2026-27 ODAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
 

Rank	Institution (1st-Place Votes)	Pts.
1.	Randolph-Macon (7)	117
2.	Roanoke (5)^	115
3.	Hampden-Sydney	99
4.	Batten	84
5.	Washington and Lee	82
6.	Lynchburg	66
7.	Guilford	62
8.	Averett	56
9.	Shenandoah	40
10.	Eastern Mennonite	29
11.	Bridgewater	27
12.	Randolph	15

^Defending champion