LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The men's basketball preseason poll has arrived for the Pacific West Conference, and the Vanguard Lions were voted to finish fifth in 2026-27.  The Blue and Gold received 53 points in the voting process and landed behind Jessup (64 points, fourth) and ahead of CUI (49 points, one first-place vote, sixth).  However, Vanguard is accustomed to busting predictions, as VU has finished higher than their preseason placements both years in the league.  The Lions were picked to place 13th in year one and finished 12th, while a ninth-place vision was exceeded with a fifth-place showing and a trip to the PacWest Tournament last school year.

Point Loma picked up eight of the 10 first-place votes and 98 points to take the provisional poll in the conference, with Westmont in second with one first-place vote and 88 points.  Hawaii Pacific ended in third place with 65 points.  VU begins the campaign with a November 9 clash against CSU San Marcos before games against CSU Dominguez Hills and San Bernardino on November 13-14.