NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Carthage men's basketball was picked to finish fourth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) preseason coaches' poll as the Firebirds prepare for the 2026-27 season.

Elmhurst led the preseason poll with 62 points and six first-place votes, followed by Illinois Wesleyan with 59 points and three first-place votes. Wheaton (Ill.) was picked third with 49 points, while Carthage followed in fourth with 43 points and four third-place votes.

North Park was picked fifth with 30 points, followed by Carroll and Millikin, who tied for sixth with 24 points each. North Central (Ill.) was eighth with 22 points, while Augustana rounded out the poll with 11 points.

Carthage opens the 2026-27 season at Tarble Arena on Nov. 6, hosting a neutral-site matchup between Thiel and UW-Platteville at 7 p.m. The Firebirds will then host Thiel on Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. before traveling to Lake Forest on Nov. 11.

The Firebirds return home to face the University of Wisconsin-Stout on Nov. 14, followed by Lawrence on Nov. 18 and Concordia Chicago on Nov. 21. Carthage closes its November home schedule against Calvin on Nov. 24.

Carthage begins December with three consecutive CCIW road games, traveling to Augustana on Dec. 5, North Park on Dec. 9 and Elmhurst on Dec. 12. The Firebirds will then return to Tarble Arena to host Saint Mary's University of Minnesota on Dec. 19, Whitworth on Dec. 22 and Spalding University on Dec. 29.

The Firebirds open the new year at home against North Central (Ill.) on Jan. 6, followed by a home matchup against Millikin on Jan. 9. Carthage then travels to Wheaton (Ill.) on Jan. 13 and Illinois Wesleyan on Jan. 16 before facing Carroll on the road Jan. 20.

Carthage returns home to host Carroll on Jan. 27 and Elmhurst on Jan. 30, closing January with a pair of important conference matchups. The Firebirds will then travel to North Central (Ill.) on Feb. 3 before hosting Augustana on Feb. 6 and North Park on Feb. 10.

The final stretch of the regular season features home games against Illinois Wesleyan on Feb. 13 and Wheaton (Ill.) on Feb. 17. Carthage closes the regular season on the road against Millikin on Feb. 20.