The Rockhurst University men’s basketball team made history this season, capturing the program’s first Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season championship.

         The Hawks finished the regular season with a 23–5 overall record and 17–3 in conference play, securing the top seed in the GLVC Tournament. Rockhurst also enters postseason play on an 11-game winning streak and has won 15 of its last 16 games.

         For head coach Kyle Blackbourn, the championship represents the culmination of months of dedication from a group he described as special.

           “It means a lot! More than a few words can describe,” Blackbourn said. “I’m just so proud of the guys for the work they put in and the dedication and commitment to winning they showed this season. It’s one of the more special groups I’ve been around, and for it all to come together ending in a championship is a great accomplishment.”

          Blackbourn, now in his second season at Rockhurst, said the foundation for this year’s success began during the offseason as the program evaluated its first year under his leadership.

        “After our first season last year, you always look at the good things you did and try to improve upon those,” Blackbourn said. “But most importantly you measure where you came up short.”

        The coaching staff focused heavily on recruiting and player development, aiming to build a roster that combined returning players with impactful additions.

           “Recruiting is very important, so we wanted to add some high-impact players to the roster while retaining our returning players,” Blackbourn said. “The mix of returners and newcomers was fantastic, and we could tell early on this group had a chance to be special.”

           The Hawks also made a clear decision about their identity on the court.

         “We knew we wanted to score a lot of points,” Blackbourn said. “Finishing the season at 87 points per game and being one of the top offenses in the country was exactly what we wanted.”

          Rockhurst’s success down the stretch was shaped in part by difficult early-season losses that helped the team grow.

          “Early in the season we took some tough losses,” Blackbourn said. “I think we used different lessons from those games to make us stronger. When we’ve been in tough spots recently, we’ve leaned on each other and remained consistent winners.”

        Much of the team’s production has been led by standout guards Jaylen Wesley and Drenin Dinkins, two of the top players in NCAA Division II basketball.

          “We have a team full of winners, but those two guys specifically have developed into being two of the better players in all of Division II basketball,” Blackbourn said.

          Wesley was named GLVC Player of the Year after averaging over 21 points per game, while Dinkins led the conference in scoring at 22.5 points per game.

          Blackbourn said recruiting players willing to work hard and prioritize winning has been essential to the program’s rapid progress.

          “We wanted to recruit talented players who weren’t afraid of putting the work in,” Blackbourn said. “Their willingness and commitment to winning have shaped us into a championship-level team.”

          The Hawks are also receiving national attention. Rockhurst is currently ranked No. 18 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches NCAA Division II poll and is projected as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Regional.

       “Wherever the committee decides to seed us, we will bring the same energy and focus and try to compete at the highest level,” Blackbourn said.

        As the team prepares for the postseason, Blackbourn emphasized the importance of the Rockhurst community’s support throughout the season.

       “The students’ energy at our home games has been electric,” he said. “Our home court advantage has been great and led us to a 10–0 home conference record.”

       The Hawks now turn their attention to the GLVC Tournament, where they will face Drury in the quarterfinal round in St. Louis.

        If Rockhurst continues its strong postseason run, the team could potentially host NCAA Tournament games at Mason-Halpin Fieldhouse.

          “I hope we get the chance to play NCAA tournament games at home,” Blackbourn said. “I would love to see everyone there again.”