BURNSVILLE, MINN. – Following a semifinals appearance in the conference tournament just a season ago, the Augustana men's basketball team was picked to finish sixth both in the South Division and overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, league officials announced Friday.
 
The poll saw the Vikings sitting sixth in the South Division with 22 points and one first-place vote while St. Cloud State and Minnesota State tied with 45 points and four and three first-place votes, respectively. In the conference as a whole, Augustana again finished sixth with a first-place vote, this time tied with Winona State alongside 144 points. Minnesota State led the complete preseason standings with 216 total points and eight total first-place votes.
 
"I am excited about our newness and versatility," said Augustana head coach Cody Schilling. "We have a healthy amount of returners back but also mixed in eight new players through freshmen and transfers. Having Bennett Fried, Markus Talley, Amari Westmoreland-Vendiola, Conner Kraft and Jack Hastreiter returning with NSIC experience, along with four talented transfers allows us to stay old and compete in a loaded and extremely talented NSIC."
 
The 2025-26 season saw the Vikings finish with a 19-10 overall record alongside a 16-6 conference showing, finishing second in the South Division and second overall in the NSIC. In just his second season manning the sidelines, Schilling helped guide Augustana to a third-straight Sanford Pentagon appearance for the conference tournament. AU earned itself the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in its most recent run, eventually falling in overtime in the tourney semifinals.  
 
In the same release, Bennett Fried was honored as the Vikings' Preseason Player to Watch. The senior averaged 8.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game during his average of 21.7 minutes on the court in the 2025-26 season. He collected a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double on the road against St. Cloud State in the Dec. 11, 2025 matchup, which were both season highs for the forward.
 
"Over the past two years Bennett has started 39 games for us here at Augustana," said Schilling. "He has totaled 461 points, 249 rebounds and shot 61.6% from the field. Bennett scored in double figures 12 times in '25-26 including a season high 20 points and 12 rebounds vs St Cloud State. We look for Bennett to take a major step on both ends of the floor this season."
 
Competition for the 2026-27 men's basketball squad will officially kick off at the NSIC/GAC Challenge in Little Rock, Ark., as the Vikings take on Arkansas-Monticello on Friday, November 13 and Ouachita Baptist on Saturday, November 14.