LUBBOCK, Texas (October 19, 2026) - The Lubbock Christian University men's basketball team was picked to finish third in the 2026 Lone Star Conference preseason poll, which was announced on Monday, and senior guard Leo Nordberg was picked as one of the league's Players to Watch. 

Lubbock Christian drew 735 points in the poll and garnered two first place votes. This is the second-straight season that they have been picked to finish third.  The preseason poll is voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.

Reigning champion Dallas Baptist was picked to three-peat as LSC Champion with 841 points and 35 first place votes. Eastern New Mexico took second with 751 points and six first place votes. The only other team with multiple first place votes was Western New Mexico, which had four and occupied fifth place in the poll. The LSC Preseason Player of the Year is Miles Gibson from Oklahoma Christian. 

LSC Hoops Week is Oct. 19-23. Watch interviews from all 17 men's basketball teams and the preseason player of the year on the conference's YouTube page.

LCU will now play a 20-game league schedule, playing every team in the conference at least once. The Chaps will only play four teams twice – Angelo State, UT Permian Basin, Midwestern State and Cameron. The top eight teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the LSC Tournament March 4-7 at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas.

Lubbock Christian finished the 2025-26 season 27-6, matching the program record for wins that was set in 2022. The finished tied for second in the Lone Star Conference and made the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in program history and sixth-straight season.