The Wheeling University men’s basketball program has once again been recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, earning the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award for the third straight year.
Academic Excellence Meets Athletic Ambition
To qualify, the team posted a collective grade point average of 3.0 or higher, a benchmark that placed them as the sole recipient from the Mountain East Conference (MEC) among the 400-plus programs honored in the 2025‑26 cycle.
NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson emphasized the importance of academic achievements among student‑athletes, noting that “student‑athletes who excel in the classroom bring the same intensity to the hardwood.”
On the competitive side, the Cardinals closed the 2025‑26 season with a 19‑9 overall record and secured the No. 3 seed in the MEC, marking their strongest finish since the 2017‑18 campaign.
Looking ahead, the squad is gearing up for the 2026‑27 season with the dual goals of defending their academic honor and contending for the conference championship, a pursuit that reflects the program’s growing culture of sustained excellence.