SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Spring Arbor University will begin the 2025-26 campaign receiving votes in the NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Wednesday.
 
The Cougars are one of four teams from the Crossroads League ranked or receiving votes in the poll joining Indiana Wesleyan University (No. 6), Grace College (No. 7) and Bethel University (No. 16).
 
Spring Arbor, led by Ryan Cottingham in his 27th season as head coach, earned its sixth appearance at the NAIA national tournament a year ago and the program's first since 2019-20. The Cougars owned a 20-11 overall record and finished fourth in the Crossroads League regular season standings with a mark of 11-7.
 
The Cougars were picked to finish fourth in the Crossroads League preseason poll. The team returns three starters, including all-league selection Travis Grayson. Grayson was named Second Team All-League following an outstanding junior campaign where he averaged 15.4 points and 5.3 assists per game – both career-bests. His 5.3 assists per game ranked third in the league. The Valparaiso, Indiana native scored more than 20 points in six games, including a career-high 33 in the matchup against Cornerstone in the first round of the national tournament.
 
Spring Arbor opens the season at the Crossroads League/WHAC Challenge, hosted by Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids. The Cougars play Indiana Tech on Friday, Oct. 31 at 5:30 p.m. and will play Cornerstone on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m.