CALDWELL, Idaho – The national champions are once again the team to beat. The College of Idaho men's basketball program has been voted No. 1 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Preseason Top-25 Coaches Poll, receiving 11 first-place votes.
Head coach Colby Blaine's Yotes are coming off a dominant 2024–25 campaign in which they captured their third NAIA national title in program history and extended their win streak to 25 straight games. The championship game featured a 93-65 romp over Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Kansas City, Mo., where the Yotes shot 55.7 % from the field and 53.3 % (16-of-30) from three-point range.
Senior guard Samaje Morgan collected first-team All-American honors and was named the national tournament Most Valuable Player. With Morgan leading the way, the Yotes aim to build on their past success and continue their climb.
The team opens the season with an exhibition at University of Wyoming on Saturday, then begins official play November 1 on the road at Carroll College (Mont.) and November 3 at University of Montana Western.
With high expectations, veteran leadership and fresh talent, the Yotes once again enter the season as the benchmark in NAIA men's basketball.
