Kirksville, Mo. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) released its 2025-26 preseason basketball polls Tuesday, with both Truman State programs gearing up for the upcoming campaign under strong leadership and retooled rosters. The Bulldog women were selected seventh, while the men landed 12th in the annual vote of league coaches.

Men's Basketball

The Truman State Men's Basketball program opens a new era under first-year head coach Mike Worley, who was hired in May to lead the Bulldogs following 12 seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Troy University.

The Bulldogs were picked 12th in the GLVC preseason coaches' poll with 69 points after finishing last season 17-12 overall and 11-9 in league play. Missouri S&T was voted the preseason favorite with 14 first-place votes, followed by Lincoln and Missouri-St. Louis.

Worley brings an extensive basketball background to Kirksville, having helped Troy to five 20-win seasons, two NCAA Tournament appearances, and the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Championship. Known for his player development and defensive-minded approach, Worley looks to guide a roster built around returning contributors and an impressive group of newcomers.

That incoming class features seven additions, including senior transfers Julian Brown (Samford/Wagner) and Ja'Vion Byers (Northwest Missouri State), along with junior college standouts Ty Love, Sean Burress Jr., and Jahki Parrinello. Rounding out the group are Justin Duff (Missouri Southern) and freshman Darin Donalds of Naples, Florida.

Worley said his new-look roster reflects the direction he wants to take the program: competitive, team-oriented, and relentless. "Each player we've brought in fits the culture we're building. They're competitors who want to improve every day and represent Truman the right way," Worley said.

The Bulldogs will open their season in early November with a challenging non-conference slate before turning to GLVC play.

GLVC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll – Top 5

1. Missouri S&T (196 points, 14 first-place votes)

2. Lincoln (174 points, 1 first-place vote)

3. Missouri-St. Louis (161 points)

4. Rockhurst (141 points)

5. Drury (121 points)
   Truman State – 12th (69 points)

Women's Basketball

Under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Theo Dean, the Truman Women's Basketball team was picked seventh in the 2025-26 GLVC preseason poll with 108 points. Drury earned the top spot with 191 points and 10 first-place votes, followed by Maryville, Lewis, and Missouri-St. Louis.

The Bulldogs are coming off a season of significant progress, finishing 14-17 overall and 11-9 in GLVC play, doubling their win total from the previous year and earning a spot in the GLVC Tournament for the tenth time in program history. Truman ranked among the league's leaders in scoring, three-pointers made, and free throws made while developing a deep and balanced rotation.

Dean's 2025-26 roster blends returning experience with an infusion of new talent. The Bulldogs welcome a nine-player recruiting class that includes six transfers and three freshmen, each bringing athleticism and versatility to the roster.

The transfer class features:

• Mariann Blass (Quincy University) – A junior guard and proven scorer who averaged 11.3 points per game last season while helping Quincy win the GLVC Tournament.

• Maggie Chambers (Limestone University) – A physical forward who adds rebounding strength and interior presence.

• Emajin McCallop (Washburn University) – A steady, defensive-minded guard from Kansas City with high-level prep experience at Bishop Miege.

• Marta Perez Souza (Northern Oklahoma College) – A skilled forward from Spain who averaged 9.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field.

• Malia Rodgers (State Fair CC) – A sharpshooting guard from Missouri who led her team with 11.7 points per game and shot 42 percent from beyond the arc.

• Neylan Vila Delicado (Limestone University) – A versatile guard from Barcelona who brings international experience and a competitive edge.

Joining that group are incoming freshmen Avery Rausch, Kennedy Retherford, and Morgan Miller, all of whom add depth, size, and athleticism to a lineup that thrives on tempo and spacing.

Dean credited assistant coach Alexis Griffin and graduate assistant Trinitee Jackson and for assembling a class that aligns with Truman's program identity of being hardworking, team-first, and academically driven.

"The mix of returners and newcomers gives us exciting depth and flexibility," Dean said. "This group is hungry to compete and continue moving our program forward in the GLVC."

GLVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll – Top 5

1. Drury (191 points, 10 first-place votes)

2. Maryville (165 points)

3. Lewis (163 points, 4 first-place votes)

4. Missouri-St. Louis (158 points)

5. Missouri S&T (141 points, 1 first-place vote)
   Truman State – 7th (108 points)

Building Toward the Season

Both Bulldog programs enter 2025-26 with optimism and fresh energy. The men's team looks to establish its identity under Coach Worley's direction, while the women's program under Coach Dean continues to evolve with a blend of returning leadership and new contributors.

With strong recruiting classes, experienced coaching staffs, and high expectations, both teams will open the season in early November, aiming to make noise in one of Division II's most competitive basketball conferences.

#BulldogNation