ORLANDO, Fla. – After back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances, Florida Southern men's basketball was picked to finish the 2025-26 season second in the Sunshine State Conference, announced by the league on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
The Moccasins finished second a year ago in the league standings with a 14-6 record, falling to the Nova Southeastern University Sharks in the conference championship. Nova Southeastern, which went on to win the NCAA national championship, was tabbed first with 100 total points and 10 first-place votes, while Florida Southern was second with 85 total points.
"We are excited about this year's team," said head coach
Mike Donnelly to preview the upcoming season. "Despite replacing our entire starting five from last year's team, we have had a great preseason and are eager to officially start the season next weekend."
The Moccasins finished the 2024-25 campaign in the SSC championship and with a 26-9 overall record, with a conference title game appearance and, later, a second consecutive NCAA postseason appearance. In the NCAA South Regional, the Mocs opened play against the sixth-seeded Montevallo Falcons, winning 86-83. Florida Southern then battled a tough No. 3/two-seed UAH Chargers team, falling 97-86 in the second round.
Donnelly enters his 11
th season at the helm with a record of 187-105 and retaining two assistants, while adding
Kenu Louissaint to the sideline. Also returning for his 11
th year of service to the Moccasins is Associate Head Coach
Mike Makubika, while
Ryan Kardok will be back on the sideline and help to improve Florida Southern once again for his third season.
The Moccasins welcome seven new student-athletes to the program, all of whom are transfers, joining the nine returners for the 2025-26 campaign.
"We will be relying on our transfers to make an immediate impact," said Donnelly on the additions to the 2025-26 roster. "I have been very pleased with the development of our newcomers and how they have been able to adjust well to our program's philosophy and system."
"This year's team is built differently from our previous teams," continued Donnelly. "I really like our speed and versatility and even though we have a lot of new faces, our connectivity both on and off the floor has been terrific."
For the fourth consecutive season, Florida Southern will open the campaign playing host to the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, which will take place inside the George W. Jenkins Field House on the campus of Florida Southern, Nov. 2-3. The weekend tips off with the induction ceremony on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 p.m. at Branscomb Auditorium. The two days of basketball will feature 10 of the top NCAA Division II basketball programs from across the country, including Washburn, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Dallas Baptist, who were Elite Eight participants, and another four as NCAA regional selections.
Florida Southern tips off the season on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 5:45 p.m. versus Alaska Anchorage, before taking on a UVA Wise team on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 5:45 p.m. The matchup against the Seawolves on Saturday will be the second meeting in history as the Mocs won 80-68 in Anchorage on Nov. 29, 1990. The meeting on Sunday will serve as the first-ever meeting between the Cavaliers and Moccasins.
The SCB National Hall of Fame Classic Tournament Page can be located HERE.
2025-26 SSC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
| Rank |
School |
Total Votes |
| 1 |
Nova Southeastern |
100 (10) |
| 2 |
Florida Southern |
85 |
| 3 |
Tampa |
75 |
| 4 |
Lynn |
70 |
| 5 |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
58 (1) |
| 6 |
Rollins |
51 |
| 7 |
Embry-Riddle |
50 |
| 8 |
Barry |
49 |
| 9 |
Saint Leo |
35 |
| 10 |
Eckerd |
21 |
| 11 |
Florida Tech |
11 |
