Bolanga Voted to Preseason All-UAC Team - Abilene Christian Athletics

Abilene Christian guard Noah Bolanga was named to the 2026-27 Preseason All-United Athletic Conference Team, as voted on by the league's head coaches.

Bolanga spent last season playing against the Wildcats at former conference foe Utah Tech where he earned All-WAC 2nd Team honors. The junior from Poitiers, France led the Trailblazers with 12 points per game and added 6.0 rebounds on average. He scored a season-high 23 points against Tarleton State on Jan. 31, 2026.

Bolanga appeared in 33 games during his freshman season at St. Bonaventure. Before coming to the U.S., he played two seasons in the French second division.

ACU was voted 7th out of nine teams in the Preseason UAC Coaches Poll. The Western Athletic Conference rebranded to the UAC in July, with three WAC schools remaining (ACU, Tarleton State and UT Arlington). Six new members joined the conference from the ASUN (Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama and West Georgia), and one from the Ohio Valley Conference (Little Rock).

Under head coach Brette Tanner in 2025-26, the Wildcats once again featured one of the NCAA's top defenses. ACU's defense ranked 2nd in steals per game (9.7) and 3rd in turnovers forced per game (16.4). Three players landed in the Top 10 for most steals in a Division I season: Rich Smith, Bradyn Hubbard and Joseph Venzant.

This season, ACU has 11 newcomers, including five with Division I experience: Bolanga (Utah Tech), Gus Salem (Central Michigan), Timeo Pons (New Mexico) and Evan Boisdur (Grand Canyon).

The Wildcats' season opener is at 8 p.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 2 at Colorado in Boulder. Their second game brings them home to Moody Coliseum for a clash against Lamar on Saturday, Nov. 7 with a 1 p.m. tipoff.

Preseason Player of the Year: Rashaud Marshall, Austin Peay

Preseason All-UAC Team
Noah Bolanga, ACU
Zyree Collins, Austin Peay
Rashaud Marshall, Austin Peay
Tucker Anderson, Central Arkansas
Ty Robinson, Central Arkansas
Aaron Clark, Little Rock
Bradyn Hubbard, Little Rock
Jah'Likai King, Little Rock
Caleb Blackwell, Tarleton State
Chas Lewless, West Georgia

Preseason UAC Coaches Poll
1. Central Arkansas
2. Austin Peay
3. Little Rock
4. Tarleton State
5. UT Arlington
6. Eastern Kentucky
7. ACU
T8. North Alabama
T8. West Georgia

Players Mentioned

Evan Boisdur

Noah Bolanga

Bradyn Hubbard

Timeo Pons

Gus Salem

Rich Smith

Joseph Venzant

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