William Jewell earned 28 votes in the NABC Division II preseason poll, marking the Cardinals’ third consecutive appearance and their first preseason recognition in the NCAA era. Led by All-GLVC guard Justice Sutton, Jewell will face several ranked teams, including No. 2 Washburn and No. 19 Central Missouri.

By the Numbers
  • 28 preseason votes for William Jewell.
  • 19.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game for Justice Sutton last season.
  • 3 GLVC teams received votes or were ranked: McKendree (No. 20), Jewell (28 votes) and Rockhurst (4 votes).
Yes, But

Jewell received votes but did not crack the poll’s top 25. McKendree, picked ahead of the Cardinals in the GLVC preseason poll, is the conference’s only ranked team.

What's Next

The Cardinals open the 2026-27 season with a schedule that includes nonconference matchups against No. 2 Washburn, No. 19 Central Missouri and vote-getter Fort Hays.

Bottom Line

Jewell enters the season with growing national recognition and an experienced star in Sutton—but its matchups against ranked opponents will offer an early test of whether the Cardinals can turn preseason votes into a top-25 spot.