Photo by: Zachary Lucy
Bison Men’s Basketball Voted Summit League Preseason Favorite
10/6/2026 11:55:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota State is the favorite to win the 2026-27 Summit League men's basketball title, according to the annual preseason poll released Tuesday, Oct. 6.
The Bison received 13-of-32 first-place votes to top the poll with 418 points. St. Thomas was a close second with 11 first-place votes and 410 points, and South Dakota State came in third.
Bison point guard Andy Stefonowicz was named to the preseason All-Summit League first team. He earned honorable mention All-Summit League status last season, averaging 9.1 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 32 minutes per game. Stefonowicz led the league in assists, posting a pair of double-doubles with points and assists in conference play.
NDSU swept the 2026 Summit League regular season and tournament championships and earned its sixth NCAA Tournament berth since 2009. The Bison return one starter in Stefonowicz this season, and NDSU added 13 newcomers – seven transfers, five freshmen, and one international player.
Coming off a school record 27 wins in the 2025-26 season, the Bison now have six 20-win seasons in head coach David Richman's tenure.
NDSU Basketball season tickets, single-game tickets, and mini-plans are available now at GoBison.com/MBB-Tix.
2026-27 Summit League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
2026-27 Preseason Summit League Player of the Year
Joe Sayler, South Dakota State
Preseason All-Summit League First Team
Kendall Blue, St. Thomas
Carter Bjerke, St. Thomas
Connor Dow, Oral Roberts
Austin Herro, St. Thomas
Joe Sayler, South Dakota State
Andy Stefonowicz, North Dakota State
Preseason All-Summit League Second Team
Vince Buzelis, South Dakota
Kalen Garry, South Dakota State
Jaylen Smith, Kansas City
Grant Stubblefield, Omaha
Jesse Van Kalsbeek, South Dakota State
The Bison received 13-of-32 first-place votes to top the poll with 418 points. St. Thomas was a close second with 11 first-place votes and 410 points, and South Dakota State came in third.
Bison point guard Andy Stefonowicz was named to the preseason All-Summit League first team. He earned honorable mention All-Summit League status last season, averaging 9.1 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 32 minutes per game. Stefonowicz led the league in assists, posting a pair of double-doubles with points and assists in conference play.
NDSU swept the 2026 Summit League regular season and tournament championships and earned its sixth NCAA Tournament berth since 2009. The Bison return one starter in Stefonowicz this season, and NDSU added 13 newcomers – seven transfers, five freshmen, and one international player.
Coming off a school record 27 wins in the 2025-26 season, the Bison now have six 20-win seasons in head coach David Richman's tenure.
NDSU Basketball season tickets, single-game tickets, and mini-plans are available now at GoBison.com/MBB-Tix.
2026-27 Summit League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Rank | School | Points (1st) |
| 1. | North Dakota State | 418 (13) |
| 2. | St. Thomas | 410 (11) |
| 3. | South Dakota State | 396 (7) |
| 4. | Omaha | 296 (1) |
| 5. | South Dakota | 240 |
| 6. | North Dakota | 194 |
| 7. | Oral Roberts | 183 |
| 8. | Kansas City | 127 |
2026-27 Preseason Summit League Player of the Year
Joe Sayler, South Dakota State
Preseason All-Summit League First Team
Kendall Blue, St. Thomas
Carter Bjerke, St. Thomas
Connor Dow, Oral Roberts
Austin Herro, St. Thomas
Joe Sayler, South Dakota State
Andy Stefonowicz, North Dakota State
Preseason All-Summit League Second Team
Vince Buzelis, South Dakota
Kalen Garry, South Dakota State
Jaylen Smith, Kansas City
Grant Stubblefield, Omaha
Jesse Van Kalsbeek, South Dakota State
Players Mentioned
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