University of Chicago Men's Basketball Chases Division III National Title

Maroons ranked #1 in nation, return core group and add star transfers in pursuit of championship

Feb. 28, 2026 at 12:03am

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The University of Chicago men's basketball team is having a historic season, reaching the #1 ranking in Division III for the second time in program history. Led by veteran head coach Mike McGrath and a core group of returning players, the Maroons have their sights set on winning the Division III national championship, bolstered by the addition of a pair of preseason All-American graduate transfers.

Why it matters

The University of Chicago is a prestigious academic institution, but its men's basketball team has struggled to achieve national prominence in recent decades. This season's success and championship aspirations represent a rare opportunity for the school to gain recognition and attention for its athletic program, which could help with recruiting, alumni engagement, and overall school pride.

The details

The Maroons returned six of their top eight players from last year's team that made the Division III NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years. They added graduate transfers Nick Roper and Shane Regan, both preseason All-Americans, to create what head coach Mike McGrath calls "a pretty special group." The team recently took a foreign trip to China, which McGrath believes has helped the players bond and grow closer as a team.

  • The Maroons reached the #1 national ranking in Division III for the second time in program history this season.
  • The Division III national championship game will be played in Indianapolis in April.

The players

Mike McGrath

In his 27th season as head coach of the University of Chicago men's basketball team.

Eamonn Kenah

Senior guard and team captain for the University of Chicago Maroons.

Nick Roper

Graduate transfer and preseason All-American addition to the University of Chicago roster.

Shane Regan

Graduate transfer and preseason All-American addition to the University of Chicago roster.

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What they’re saying

“We came together before the season with one lofty goal – a national championship.”

— Eamonn Kenah, Senior guard (cbsnews.com)

“We have a dream that we want to accomplish. We talk about accomplishing that dream, but we have to zoom in at times. Sometimes you have to think about the big picture, and sometimes you have to really focus on what's right in front of you.”

— Mike McGrath, Head coach (cbsnews.com)

“We had a really good returning group, and we were lucky enough to be able to add a couple guys to that. And, honestly, I gave it a lot of thought and was very intentional about how we did some things, but in the end it's been pretty easy.”

— Mike McGrath, Head coach (cbsnews.com)

“We felt like we could do a lot, and when we heard we were adding those two guys, it was like, 'oh man, it's going to get real'.”

— Eamonn Kenah, Senior guard (cbsnews.com)

“We have guys like Joe and Eamonn who have been here for four years. They're our senior captains. And then you combine that with Nick and I, who are grad students, we've won at a high level as well.”

— Shane Regan, Graduate transfer (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Maroons will continue their quest for a Division III national championship, with the title game scheduled to be played in Indianapolis in April.

The takeaway

The University of Chicago men's basketball team's historic season and national championship aspirations represent a rare opportunity for the prestigious academic institution to gain recognition and attention for its athletic program, which could have lasting impacts on recruiting, alumni engagement, and overall school pride.