Get ready for a basketball season that’s already sparking debates! The Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) has dropped its 2025-26 preseason coaches poll, and the rankings are anything but predictable. The Nanooks, despite their solid sixth-place finish last season, have been pegged to land in eighth place this year—a placement that’s sure to raise eyebrows among fans. But here’s where it gets controversial: Central Washington is favored to reclaim the GNAC championship title, snagging 90 points and six first-place votes. Meanwhile, Northwest Nazarene, last year’s runner-up, is expected to settle for second place again, though they managed to secure two first-place votes. And this is the part most people miss: Montana State Billings, tied for third last season, is projected to hold onto that spot, but Western Washington—who shared that third-place tie—is now tied for fourth with Saint Martin’s. Could this be the year the Saints make a surprising leap? Or will Western Washington prove the pollsters wrong? Speaking of surprises, Alaska Anchorage is predicted to jump from eighth to sixth place, while Seattle Pacific, last season’s GNAC Championship winner, is slotted in seventh—a head-scratching drop for a team that took home the trophy. The Nanooks, with 39 points, round out the top eight, followed by Simon Fraser and Western Oregon in ninth and tenth, respectively. The season tips off with the Nanooks’ Alumni Game on October 25 at 3 p.m., followed by two scrimmages against the Seattle Mountaineers before their regular season opener against Pacific Union on November 5-6. But here’s the real question: Do these preseason rankings reflect reality, or are they setting the stage for some major upsets? Let us know what you think in the comments—this season is shaping up to be one for the books! Follow the Nanooks’ journey on Instagram (@NanooksMBB), X (@NanooksMBB), and Facebook (Alaska Nanooks) to stay in the loop.
