GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - As the Davenport Men's Basketball team gears up for the 2026-27 season, they look to build on last year's 14-15 overall record, which included an 8-12 finish in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). With a significant roster overhaul, including the addition of 11 new players, the team is focused on integrating fresh talent and enhancing team chemistry to navigate the competitive landscape of the GLIAC.
Returning to lead the Panthers is
Curtis Jackson, a redshirt senior guard who earned Second Team All-GLIAC and GLIAC All-Defensive Team honors last season. Jackson's defensive prowess and experience will be crucial as the team aims to improve its athleticism and turnover creation. He is the team's leading returning scorer at 12.2 points per game and led the GLIAC in assists per game during conference contests. Jackson scored in double figures 18 times and had 20-plus points in five games last season. He also had 10-plus assists four times and recorded the first triple-double in DU history against Ferris State on Feb. 28 with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Alongside Jackson, key returners include sophomore guard
Keane Hinkle and redshirt juniors
Marshaun Flakes and
Imran Deen, who will play pivotal roles in the team's strategy. Flakes averaged 6.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game and made seven starts. Deen is an elite rim protector who led the team with 34 blocks and also contributed 4.7 points and 2.7 boards per contest. Hinkle averaged 15.3 minutes per game as a freshman getting integrated into the lineup and shot 35.9 percent from the floor, including 20-of-64 from behind the arc.
Head Coach
Burt Paddock emphasizes the importance of chemistry with the new roster, highlighting the positive support among players. He notes, "Every season, the battle is to make sure that the chemistry is good and that everyone is on the same page. To this point, that has been the least of our worries, so that is very exciting to me."
The upcoming season presents a challenging yet exciting slate for Davenport. The team must replace 74 percent of last year's scoring, an endeavor that will test the integration of new players and the development of returning talent. Coach Paddock's emphasis on a defense-first approach aims to capitalize on increased athleticism, enabling the team to pressure and create turnovers, leading to easier scoring opportunities.
"We didn't have a great deal of size last year and athleticism wasn't where it always needed to be. We want our defense to be our calling card, so our staff went out and got some athletic guys that can cover more space. The team will be more equipped to trap and press and hopefully create turnovers and easier baskets on the other end," said Paddock.
Davenport's schedule includes high-profile, early-season matchups that will test their mettle. They will participate in the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover in Hammond, Indiana, facing Rockhurst on November 13 and William Jewell on November 14. Later in the month, the team will travel to Fairbanks, Alaska, for the Mt. McKinley Bank Arctic Crossover, taking on Alaska Fairbanks on November 27 and Alaska Anchorage on November 28. The GLIAC season kicks off at home against Lake Superior State on December 3.
Paddock said, "The GLIAC is a very tough conference and in order to compete you have to bring energy and effort every game. It's a long season and so we ask our guys, "can you bring a competitive edge that puts you over the top?"
As the 2026-27 campaign gets underway, Davenport Men's Basketball is centered on building team cohesion to meet the demands of the GLIAC. The Panthers were picked to finish 10th in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, but coach Paddock believes that this team has the talent and drive to surprise people and make a name for themselves.
