INDIANAPOLIS – Drury men's basketball has been tabbed for the No. 5 spot in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) 2025-26 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Tuesday (Oct. 21).
Drury received 121 points in the poll, finishing behind preseason favorite Missouri S&T (196) -- which received 14 first-place votes -- as well as Lincoln (174), UMSL (161) and Rockhurst (141). Rounding out the poll was Indianapolis (115), Lewis (114), McKendree (109), Illinois Springfield (97), William Jewell (96), Upper Iowa (78), Truman State (69), Quincy (51), Maryville (33) and Southwest Baptist (20).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
No. School - Points (first-place votes)
1. Missouri S&T - 196 (14)
2. Lincoln - 174 (1)
3. UMSL - 161
4. Rockhurst - 141
5. Drury - 121
6. Indianapolis - 115
7. Lewis - 114
8. McKendree - 109
9. Illinois Springfield - 97
10. William Jewell - 96
11. Upper Iowa - 78
12. Truman State - 69
13. Quincy - 51
14. Maryville - 33
15. Southwest Baptist - 20
The Panthers are coming off a 14-13 season under head coach Chris Foster, who enters his fifth year as Drury's head coach. DU returns six letterwinners, including a pair of starters in junior Zach Howell and sophomore Colin Hardrick. In his first season as a Panther, Howell averaged 13.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while knocking down a team-best 72 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. Hardrick turned in a solid season as well, earning GLVC All-Defensive and All-Freshman Team honors after posting 10.2 points per outing and leading the Panthers in rebounding (6.7), assists (2.7), and steals (2.0).
The Panthers open the 2025-26 campaign Nov. 14 against Ohio Dominican in the first of two games at the GLVC/G-MAC Challenge in Elsah, Ill. Drury will return to Springfield to kick off its home slate against Ecclesia on Nov. 19.
Drury men's basketball 2025-26 season tickets are on sale now through the DU Athletics ticket office. Contact Ed Beach with any questions via email at ebeach@drury.edu or phone at (417) 873-4097.
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