CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) released the 2025-2026 men's basketball preseason coaches' poll on Tuesday afternoon. The University of Dubuque men's basketball team received seven place votes and was picked to repeat in the A-R-C this season.
After a phenomenal 2024-2025 season where the Spartans captured the regular season A-R-C championship en route to a 20-6 record, the Spartans look to repeat and make a deep run yet again.
Despite the losses of key contributors from last season, including A-R-C Most Valuable Player Jaylin McCants, the Spartans return last season's A-R-C Rookie of the Year and first-team all-conference, sophomore forward Jacob Williams. Joining Williams will be the duo of second-team all-conference guards in junior Grady Thompson and fifth-year senior Jalen Scott. Williams averaged 13.9 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game, while blocking 24 shots and tallying 20 steals. He also shot 53.2% from the field. All five statistical categories ranked in the top eleven among qualifying players in the A-R-C last season. Thompson averaged 13.8 points per game during his sophomore campaign, which ranked him in the top ten in the conference in scoring last season. Scott led the conference with 40 steals and a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio last season.
Senior forward Dylan Hibicke and sophomore guard Nick Kennedy look to take on increased roles this season. The Spartans also bring in numerous newcomers that will provide key minutes this season.
Head coach Robbie Sieverding enters his 19th season at the helm of the Spartans and will look to challenge for his fifth A-R-C regular season conference title. Scott Sorenson returns for his third season as assistant coach, and Nick Hawn returns for his second season as a graduate assistant coach.
"We are excited to compete and the conference should be a battle each night," Sieverding said. "Many teams graduated some very good players including our team. We hope to be playing our best basketball down the stretch."
The Spartans kick off their season at the Loras College Classic on November 7 at 7:00 p.m. with a neutral site game against DePauw University on the Duhawk's home court. The Spartans will play their home opener on Novermber 12 against Edgewood University inside the Stoltz Sports Center at 7:00 p.m. The Spartans will host 10 games at home this season with eight games slated as conference games. The first conference game will be held on December 3 as the first of two cross-town rivalry games will be played inside the Stoltz Sports Center at 7:30 p.m.
The Spartans will travel to Daytona Beach to compete in the Florida Sunshine Shootout against SUNY Cortland (Dec. 28) and Transylvania University (Dec. 29), which will round out the non-conference slate for the 2025-2026 season.
Key Dates
Saturday, January 17 – 2:00 p.m. (Alumni Day)
Saturday, February – 2:00 p.m. (National Girls & Women in Sports Day)
Saturday, February 21 – 2:00 p.m. (Senior Day)
The 2026 American Rivers Conference Men's Basketball tournament will be held on February 24 (First Round), February 26 (Semifinals), and February 28 (Championship Game). The winner of the tournament will earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament that will be held in March.
For more information regarding the University of Dubuque men's basketball team please visit https://udspartans.com/sports/mens-basketball for all the latest on news, schedules, rosters, etc.
A-R-C Men's Basketball Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. University of Dubuque - 63 (7)
2. Nebraska Wesleyan - 54
3. Loras - 53 (2)
4. Coe - 38
5. Central - 35
6. Wartburg - 30
7. Buena Vista - 24
8. Simpson - 15
9. Luther - 12
