The Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC) released its 2025–26 Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, and the reigning conference tournament champions from Arizona Christian have been tabbed as the early favorite to capture another GSAC crown. The Firestorm received seven of nine possible first-place votes and accumulated 63 total points, earning the top spot in what appears to be one of the deepest and most balanced preseason fields in recent years.
2025-26 GSAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Rank |
School |
1st |
Pts |
| 1 |
Arizona Christian |
7 |
63 |
| 2 |
The Master’s |
1 |
57 |
| 3 |
Hope International |
1 |
51 |
| 4 |
Embry-Riddle |
— |
41 |
| 5 |
OUAZ |
— |
35 |
| 6 |
Benedictine Mesa |
— |
32 |
| 7 |
Life Pacific |
— |
22 |
| 8 |
Park Gilbert |
— |
14 |
| 9 |
La Sierra |
— |
9 |
Right behind the Firestorm, The Master’s claimed one first-place vote and 57 points, while Hope International secured the final first-place nod and totaled 51 points, rounding out a clear top three that collectively dominated the 2024–25 campaign and all reached the NAIA National Tournament. Just as last year’s season ended with these three programs representing the GSAC on the national stage, the preseason poll projects that same trio to set the tone once again in 2025–26.
The gap between the upper echelon and the middle of the league remains narrow, highlighting the conference’s trademark competitiveness. Embry-Riddle finished fourth in the poll with 41 points, coming off a solid season of player development and returning much of its scoring core, while OUAZ placed fifth with 35 points, bolstered by an experienced group of returners. Benedictine Mesa (32 points) followed closely behind, earning sixth, with Life Pacific (22), Park Gilbert (14), and newcomer La Sierra (9) rounding out the preseason order.
The voting results mirror the parity that defined last season’s standings, when Arizona Christian and The Master’s shared the regular-season title with matching 12–2 conference records, followed closely by Hope International at 10–4. The Firestorm went on to capture the 2025 GSAC Tournament Championship, advancing to the NAIA Quarterfinals, while The Master’s and Hope also earned national bids, making it three GSAC programs in the national field. Each of those teams posted more than 20 overall wins—Arizona Christian at 30–5, The Master’s at 26–6, and Hope International at 22–8—underscoring the GSAC’s reputation as one of the most competitive conferences in the NAIA.