LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Chaminade University men's basketball team is picked to finish fourth in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Friday.
The Silverswords received 124 points, just one more than Biola University which was picked fifth.
Point Loma was a near-unanimous choice to win its fifth straight conference title, receiving 12 of a possible 13 first-place votes.
The University of Hawai'i Hilo and Fresno Pacific University were tied for second with 128 points each with the Sunbirds getting the other first-place vote.
Concordia University Irvine was projected at sixth, which would represent the final spot in the six-team PacWest Tournament in March 2026.
Despite losing their three top scorers from a year ago, the Silverswords return three players who made 15 or more starts including
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS),
Fletcher MacDonald (Wollongong, Australia/Lubbock Christian Univ./Newington College HS) and
Kent King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy).
Kent's twin brother,
Kris King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy), got the starting nod 11 times last season, giving the 'Swords a quasi-fourth starter in the mix.
Eric Bovaird, who is in Year 15 with the program and 200 wins under his belt, brought in a slew of transfers including former Biola All-PacWest First Team guard
Nathan Medina (Long Beach, Calif./Biola University/Valley Christian HS), senior
Bruce Carpenter (Fayetteville, Ga./Gannon University/McIntosh HS) and
Pejan Slater (Lancaster, Calif./Citrus College/Santa Clarita Christian HS), who began his collegiate career at fellow Division II member Cal Poly Humboldt.
The Silverswords make their season debut on Sunday with an exhibition against the University of Hawai'i at the Bankoh Center at Stan Sheriff Center at 5 p.m. with free admission. The 'Swords make their home debut on Friday, Nov. 7 in an exhibition against Nobel University.
Their regular season opener is the PacWest/GNAC Challenge in Anchorage, Alaska against the University of Alaska.
PacWest Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Place |
Team (First Place Votes) |
Pts. |
| 1. |
Point Loma (12) |
163 |
| T2. |
Hawai'i Hilo |
128 |
| T2. |
Fresno Pacific (1) |
128 |
| 4. |
CHAMINADE |
124 |
| 5. |
Biola |
123 |
| 6. |
CUI |
105 |
| 7. |
Hawai'i Pacific |
97 |
| 8. |
Westmont |
86 |
| 9. |
Vanguard |
61 |
| 10. |
Jessup |
42 |
| 11. |
Dominican |
40 |
| 12. |
Azusa Pacific |
38 |
| 13. |
Menlo |
37 |
