Winona State Men’s Basketball Looks to Turn Experience Into Success in 2026-27

The Winona State men’s basketball team enters the 2026-27 season with experience, added depth and a clear goal: return to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Head coach Todd Eisner believes the Warriors have the pieces to compete near the top of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), but reaching that level will require consistent preparation, improved shooting and a renewed commitment to defense.

Winona State opens the season Oct. 30 against Lake Erie College at the Hoops in Hawaii Classic in Honolulu. The Warriors will face an early test against a team that won 23 games last season and reached the NCAA Tournament, setting the tone for a nonconference schedule that features several postseason opponents.

Eisner enters the season encouraged by the experience returning to his roster and the opportunities ahead. The Warriors have 14 players, including 11 returners and three newcomers, giving the coaching staff a veteran foundation to build around.

“We’re excited about the experience that we have back,” Eisner said. “We had some challenges last year with injuries, but the positive was that a lot of young players got a lot of experience. We hope that carries over into the 2026-27 season.”

The injuries also created opportunities for players who will take on larger roles this season. If the Warriors can maintain their health, Eisner expects the roster to provide more depth in the frontcourt, particularly at the three, four and five positions.

Gavyn Hurley is among the returning players looking to make the most of a healthier roster. Hurley enters the new campaign excited about the team's potential and the opportunity to compete alongside a deeper group. He believes the Warriors can make significant strides if they continue to push one another and maintain their connection through the challenges of a long season.

“It's nice having Luke back, and it's nice having everyone healthy right now,” Hurley said. “I think staying healthy is obviously a big part of it. Staying close to the team and continuing to push each other every day is really going to help us out.”

One of the team's most important additions is the return of Luke Haertle, who previously played for the Warriors before transferring to South Dakota State. Haertle earned first-team All-NSIC recognition during his earlier tenure at Winona State, and Eisner believes his return gives the program another proven player who can help lead the team.

“Getting Luke back certainly gives us some optimism,” Eisner said. “He was a first-team all-league guy, and we hope he can come back and bring us the same or similar production that he had when he was with us in 2024-25.”

Haertle joins a group of experienced players that includes second-team All-NSIC selection Tyler Mason. Eisner also sees significant potential in Hurley, who showed the ability to perform at an all-conference level before his ankle injury disrupted his season. Ryan Heise and other returning contributors give the Warriors additional options as they work to establish their rotation.

Hurley believes the team's depth will be one of its biggest strengths as it pursues a return to the postseason. With more players available to contribute, the Warriors can challenge one another in practice, maintain energy throughout games and rely on a wider group of players when adversity strikes.

“I think we have a lot of potential out on the court right now, and I think we're in for a pretty exciting year,” Hurley said.

While experience gives Winona State a foundation, Eisner knows the Warriors must improve in key areas to compete for a postseason berth. The team struggled from the 3-point line last season, a concern for a program that relies on perimeter shooting to create offensive opportunities. Improving that efficiency will help the Warriors stretch opposing defenses and create better scoring chances.

Winona State also must become more difficult to play against defensively. Eisner wants the team to establish a consistent identity built on effort, toughness and accountability, giving the Warriors a better chance to compete when their shots are not falling.

"We've got to shoot the ball better,” Eisner said. “Defensively, we need to put ourselves in a position to be consistent from an effort and toughness standpoint and make it hard on our opponents.”

The Warriors will not have much time to ease into the season. Winona State opens its campaign in Hawaii against Lake Erie College, which went 23-9 last season and earned an NCAA Tournament appearance. Eisner expects the opening matchup to challenge his team immediately, particularly against a Lake Erie squad that applies full-court pressure throughout games.

The Hoops in Hawaii Classic also gives Winona State a valuable opportunity to test itself against unfamiliar competition early in the season. The Warriors will use the trip to evaluate their progress before returning to the Midwest for another demanding stretch of nonconference games.

“It's a unique opportunity to go to Hawaii to start the year,” Eisner said. “We don't get an easy one to begin with. We get Lake Erie College in the first round, and they play a really unique style. We'll get tested on day one and find out a little bit about ourselves really early.”

After the Hawaii trip, Winona State heads to Wisconsin Dells for matchups against Michigan Tech on Nov. 13 and Northern Michigan on Nov. 14. Both programs reached the NCAA Tournament last season, adding two more challenging opponents to the Warriors' early schedule.

The Warriors then return home to face Upper Iowa on Nov. 18 in their home opener before traveling to Michigan Tech on Nov. 28 for a return game. The early schedule will provide Eisner's team with several opportunities to measure itself against established Division II programs before the NSIC schedule takes center stage.

Hurley is eager to get the season underway, particularly with the Hawaii opener against Lake Erie approaching. The early competition will give the Warriors an opportunity to see how their offseason preparation translates to game situations and begin building momentum for the conference schedule.

With multiple NCAA Tournament teams on the nonconference slate, Winona State will have little room for error as it works to establish its identity. Eisner views those matchups as an opportunity to identify strengths, address weaknesses and prepare for the demands of conference play.

The NSIC once again presents a significant challenge, with 22 conference games testing each team's consistency, depth and ability to handle the demands of a long season. Winona State hopes to put itself in position to compete for a top finish and earn another opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament.

The Warriors know how narrow the margin can be in one of Division II's most competitive conferences. Eisner pointed to the 2024-25 season, when Winona State entered the final weekend tied for first place before dropping both road games and finishing seventh in the league standings.

That experience reinforces the importance of preparation and consistency throughout the season. The Warriors cannot rely solely on talent or individual performances to reach their goals. Instead, Eisner wants his team to establish daily habits that translate into success on game day.

“We should have high expectations, but with that comes great responsibility and accountability to be there every day,” Eisner said. “We've got to put in the work on a daily basis to give ourselves the best chance possible.”

Hurley echoed that message, emphasizing the importance of maintaining team chemistry when games become difficult. He knows the Warriors will face adversity throughout the season, whether through tough road environments, challenging opponents or stretches when shots do not fall. Remaining connected during those moments will be critical to the team's success.

“Staying connected has been one of our big messages,” Hurley said. “We know not everything is going to go our way every single play or every single game, so staying connected through those tough moments is going to be a necessity to get us where we want to go.”

Eisner believes the Warriors have the talent and experience to compete with the league's top teams, but he also recognizes that several programs enter the season with similar aspirations. Handling the travel, maintaining focus and responding to the challenges of conference play will help determine where Winona State finishes.

The team will continue to develop its rotation and build chemistry as it moves through the early portion of the schedule. The first few games will offer valuable insight into how the Warriors perform against outside competition and what adjustments they need to make before the conference season intensifies.

Winona State's path back to the NCAA Tournament begins with the combination of returning talent, improved health and a commitment to becoming a more complete team. Haertle's return, Mason's proven production and Hurley's potential give Eisner reasons for optimism, while the team's depth could help it withstand the physical demands of the NSIC season.

The Warriors also understand that expectations alone will not produce results. Their ability to improve their shooting, defend consistently and maintain the same level of preparation throughout the season will determine whether they can turn their potential into postseason success.

Hurley is excited about the opportunity to compete with his teammates and believes the group's potential can translate into an exciting season. For him, the focus remains on staying healthy, continuing to improve and maintaining the connections that will help the Warriors navigate difficult stretches.

Eisner remains confident in what his team can accomplish, but he knows the Warriors must earn that opportunity through their daily work and performance against a demanding schedule.

“I think we should have high expectations,” Eisner said. “There's always a fine line between first place and fifth, sixth or seventh place, and it's usually the work you're doing, not on game day. It's the preparation to get ready for game day.”

With a veteran core, a key returning player and a schedule that will test the team from the opening weekend, Winona State enters the 2026-27 season ready to pursue its postseason goals.

The Warriors begin that pursuit Oct. 30 in Hawaii, where they will get their first opportunity to show how far the team can go.