SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Yellowjacket men's basketball team was tabbed to finish seventh in the 2026-27 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Preseason Poll, the league announced Thursday.
 
Leading the poll with four-of-seven first place votes was Bethany Lutheran, garnering 33 points. In second place with 31 points was Minnesota Morris, snagging a pair of first place nods. Crown placed third with 25 points, while North Central came in fourth place with 21 points, garnering the final first place vote.
 
The Yellowjackets return the sophomore duo of Gage Braiedy (Mora, Minn./Mora) and Nick Nordaune (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) to this year's squad, alongside senior Rocco Paulson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East). In 303 minutes as a freshman, Braiedy hit the hardwood in 25 games, logging 116 points, 38 rebounds, and 24 assists. Nordaune appeared in 24 games, scoring 134 points while obtaining 54 rebounds. Paulson's junior year featured 203 points, 97 rebounds, and 38 assists while starting in 17-of-25 games played.
 
Martin Luther ranked fifth with 20 points, while Northwestern took sixth place with nine points before the Yellowjackets rounded out the league with eight points.
 
UWS will begin the year at home, playing host to the NBC Tip-Off Classic. They take on St. Olaf Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. inside Mertz Mortorelli Gym.