AMC Season Preview: 2025-26 Men's Basketball
October 21, 2025
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Columbia College Cougars have been picked to win the American Midwest Conference, earning five first-place votes in the preseason coaches' poll.
Central Baptist and Hannibal-LaGrange follow closely behind, with the Mustangs in second place and the Trojans in third. CBC received two first-place votes, while HLGU earned one.
The Cougars are aiming for their 12th tournament title and 14th regular-season championship, while Central Baptist is chasing its fourth title in both the tournament and regular season. Hannibal-LaGrange is seeking its second tournament crown, while Harris-Stowe is looking to secure its fourth.
2025-26 AMC Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll:
2024-25 NAIA Poll Tracker:
Top Returners:
New Coaches:
AMC Men's Basketball Tournament:
Beginning in 2026, the AMC Men's Basketball Tournament will be held at a single site and will be a joint championship with the Women's Basketball Tournament. The four-day event (February 26-28 and March 2), will be played at W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse on the campus of Mission University in Springfield, Mo. Thursday, Friday and Saturday will feature men's games at 2:15 pm and 7:30 pm, and the championship game on Monday will be at 7:00 pm. There will be women's contests before and after each 2:15 men's game and before the championship game.
Central Baptist and Hannibal-LaGrange follow closely behind, with the Mustangs in second place and the Trojans in third. CBC received two first-place votes, while HLGU earned one.
The Cougars are aiming for their 12th tournament title and 14th regular-season championship, while Central Baptist is chasing its fourth title in both the tournament and regular season. Hannibal-LaGrange is seeking its second tournament crown, while Harris-Stowe is looking to secure its fourth.
2025-26 AMC Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll:
| Rank | Team (1st place votes) | Points |
| 1 | Columbia (5) | 53 |
| 2 | Central Baptist (2) | 48 |
| 3 | Hannibal-LaGrange (1) | 46 |
| 4 | Mission | 38 |
| 5 | Crowley's Ridge | 29 |
| 6 | Williams Baptist | 27 |
| 7 | Harris-Stowe | 20 |
| 8 | Health Sciences & Pharmacy | 19 |
2024-25 NAIA Poll Tracker:
| Oct. 23 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 27 | Dec. 11 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 29 | Feb. 12 | Feb. 26 | |
| CBC | 14 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 18 | 15 |
| CC | RV | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| School | Name | Award |
| Columbia | Nate Brandt | AMC Freshman of the Year AMC All-Freshman Team |
| Hannibal-LaGrange | Josh Talton | AMC Newcomer of the Year AMC First Team |
| Health Sciences & Pharmacy | Bryant Odunayo | AMC All-Freshman Team |
| Williams Baptist | Amarion Wilson | AMC Honorable Mention |
New Coaches:
| School | Name |
| Central Baptist | Cody Henson |
| Harris-Stowe | Adam Hooker |
AMC Men's Basketball Tournament:
Beginning in 2026, the AMC Men's Basketball Tournament will be held at a single site and will be a joint championship with the Women's Basketball Tournament. The four-day event (February 26-28 and March 2), will be played at W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse on the campus of Mission University in Springfield, Mo. Thursday, Friday and Saturday will feature men's games at 2:15 pm and 7:30 pm, and the championship game on Monday will be at 7:00 pm. There will be women's contests before and after each 2:15 men's game and before the championship game.