Washburn men’s basketball looking for more after historic year

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSNT) – The Washburn Ichabods will have a target on its back entering the 2025-26 season. 

It’s no surprise, as Washburn is coming off one of its best seasons in program history. The Ichabods finished 30-4 with an MIAA regular season title, an NCAA Central Regional Championship and a Division II Final Four appearance a season ago.

Despite the success, the Ichabods know this year’s group will have to earn the respect. 

“We acknowledge last year’s team and understand why we had success as it gives us confidence but also what we did last year doesn’t really matter,” Washburn head coach Brent Ballard told 27 Sports. “This team needs to go create its own identity. I’ve been pleased with this group and I think this team could be special.”

Washburn has eight new faces, replacing four starters from the Final Four team.

“Fans will see how hard working we are and how fast we play,” sophomore forward Dillon Claussen said. “I feel like we’re ready to run already in preseason and get ready to go.”

Ballard was named the KBCA four-year Coach of the Year and was the MIAA Coach of the Year last season. 

The Ichabods were tabbed No. 1 in both the coaches and media polls released on Monday.

“I think we were hungry last year. Knowing this year the target has gotten even bigger I think will make us even hungrier,” senior forward Brady Christiansen noted. “It’ll make us compete harder and push us to compete for a national championship.”

Christiansen averaged seven points to go along with 5.6 rebounds last season. 

“We can’t have any off days and we can’t slack off because we know teams will be coming for us and if we slip up, we can get beat any given night,” junior guard Jack Bachelor noted. “We play in a very talented league in the MIAA and we can’t afford to have a night off.”

Bachelor, a Topeka native and Washburn Rural graduate, is the lone returning starter for the Ichabods. He averaged 13.6 points a night and earned NABC second-team all-district honors, first-team all-MIAA honors and was an all-MIAA defensive team pick.

Washburn will open the season in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida from Nov. 1-2. 

The Ichabods will play Augusta College on Nov. 1 followed by Dallas Baptist University on Nov. 2.

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