GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The 2026-27 season for Davenport men's basketball will begin at home on Monday, Nov. 9 with Kuyper College coming to the DU Student Center. The Cougars have already played five games this season as a member of the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). They enter with a record of 1-4 and last time out on Friday, Nov. 6 lost 108-32 against No. 5 NAIA powerhouse Indiana Wesleyan. The Panthers will then take what has become their yearly pilgrimage in the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover to face off with Rockhurst and William Jewell. This year's games will be played at Purdue Northwest in Hammond, Indiana. DU squares off with Rockhurst on Friday, Nov. 13 at 6 PM followed by Saturday's 2 PM tip-off against William Jewell.

The Panthers will be searching for a new identity this season after going 14-15 last year. There are four returners who saw action for Davenport last season including Curtis Jackson, Imran Deen, Marshaun Flakes, and Keane Hinkle. Jonas VanderWoude is also back after missing last year due to injury. That means that 11 newcomers join the roster for head coach Burt Paddock who is entering his 19th season on the bench for the Panthers. The hope is that early on this team will bring more athleticism and tough-nosed defense to the court. Coach Paddock is looking for more intensity on the defensive end of the floor, while doing some more pressing and trapping to cause turnovers and easier transition buckets.

Jackson is the lynchpin as he was named GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year. He is coming off a Second Team All-GLIAC season and also was named to the GLIAC All-Defensive Team. Jackson did a little bit of everything in 2025-26 including 12.2 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per contest. He led the GLIAC in assists (149) and that number was good for fourth in a season at Davenport. He scored in double figures 18 times and eclipsed 20-plus points five times. In addition, Jackson recorded the only triple-double in school history against Ferris State on Feb. 28 with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Scouting the Opponents
Kuyper
Kuyper kicked off their season on Tuesday, Oct. 27 with a 78-66 home loss against Cleary University. The Cougars dropped their first three games of the season before picking up an 86-74 victory on Wednesday, Nov. 4 versus Moody Bible. Kuyper led by a deuce at the halftime break and outscored the Archers, 52-42, in the second half. The Cougars were cold from behind the arc at 16.2 percent (6-of-37), but managed to shoot 59.6 percent inside the arc. Sam Dillard led the team with 31 points and snapped six boards. Antwann Woods recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Avonte Wiggins tied for the team lead with three steals and had 11 points off the bench.

Rockhurst
Rockhurst welcomes Todd Lorensen as its new head coach for the 2026-27 season. He inherits a very successful program that went 23-7 a year ago and breezed through the GLVC at 17-3. The Hawks claimed the regular season title by two games over William Jewell, but was bounced in the GLVC Tournament in the opening round against Drury (101-92). RU advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Walsh University, but a fellow GLIAC opponent in Northern Michigan ended their season with an 86-85 nail-biter on March 14. Rockhurst was picked ninth in this year's GLVC Preseason Poll. They must replace the two-headed monster of Drenin Dinkins (23.2 ppg) and Jaylen Wesley (21.6 ppg).

William Jewell
William Jewell had a great deal of success last season with a second-place finish in the GLVC regular season and then a tournament run that ended in their second championship in three years. The Cardinals benefitted from the lower seed winning each round ahead of them as they beat #7 Upper Iowa (79-67), #6 McKendree (77-66), and #8 Drury (67-48) in the finals. The tournament win allowed the Cardinals to make the NCAA Midwest Regional as the #8 seed and they fell 77-70 to #1 seed Walsh in the opening round. William Jewell is receiving votes in the NABC Division II Preseason Poll and were picked second in the GLVC Preseason Poll. It is their highest preseason pick since joining the league in 2011.

LIVE COVERAGE
Monday, Nov. 9 vs. Kuyper (7:00 PM) - Live Video (FloCollege - Fee) - Live Stats
Friday, Nov. 13 vs. Rockhurst (6:00 PM - Hammond, Ind.) - Live Video (FloCollege - Fee) - Live Stats
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. William Jewell (2:00 PM - Hammond, Ind.) - Live Video (FloCollege - Fee) - Live Stats