Photos by Lily Coleman
Coming off several successful seasons, the Ravens men’s basketball team will enter the 2026-27 season with high expectations and a goal of returning to the top of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) for a fifth-straight year.
Last year, the Ravens went 18-10 after a slow non-conference start to the year. In conference play, they went 14-4 and finished strong into the post-season, falling short in the HCAC Championship.
Winning has become more than a goal for Anderson University men’s basketball; it has become part of the program’s culture. The Ravens won the HCAC regular-season championship in 2026 and 2025, and in 2023 in 2024 they won the HCAC conference tournament, which gives an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Head coach Carter Collins believes this year’s roster is made up of high-character players who are committed. Even though the Ravens have a lot of new faces, Collins sees this group as competitive. “We want to push the tempo and play at a fast pace,” Collins said. “We need to use our energy and competitiveness to dictate the pace of games throughout the season.”
Senior guard Bryce Williams understands the importance of maintaining the standard the team has established, but he also believes the Ravens have an opportunity to push beyond what they have accomplished in previous seasons. “Our expectations are always high for us, we’ve set a standard now for the past couple of years. What am I and the team going to do to go past that standard? We expect to win nothing less,” Williams said.
Senior guard Rob Davidson added, ”One goal I would like to accomplish again is winning the HCAC tournament championship. That’s something we have missed out on in the past two years.” The Ravens came up short in the HCAC Championship against Transylvania last year, 91-79, and the year before against Franklin, 72-66.
After losing two standout seniors in Kenny Troutman and Elijah Mattingly the Ravens are looking deep into their returning roster. The Ravens are returning multiple players with experience and talent. Along with the senior leaders Williams and Davidson, the Ravens bring back juniors Nolan Swan, Will Jamiso. The Ravens also added some new additions to the team with transfers Randy Smith, Hayden Underwood, and Patrick Hardimon.
As the Ravens open their season on the road against Hope College on Friday,, they’ll have their first opportunity to put those expectations into action. The Ravens open at home on Monday, Nov. 16, against DePauw. The Ravens are looking to make another statement in the HCAC and win another title in 2027.