WAUKESHA, Wis. - Carroll University men's basketball understands that championship aspirations mean little without championship-level habits to support them.
That lesson was reinforced throughout last season as the Pioneers experienced the narrow margins that separate teams in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Carroll competed against one of the deepest collections of teams in NCAA Division III, gaining a better appreciation for how consistently it must prepare, practice and execute to take the next step as a program.
The experience did more than provide another season of games. It gave the Pioneers a clearer understanding of what their environment must look and feel like every day.
"You can't go after a championship without a championship-level environment," head coach Taylor Jannsen said.
Carroll's players took pride in their practices last season, establishing habits that have carried into the offseason and the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign. The Pioneers learned that they cannot simply rise to the level of their goals. Instead, their results will be determined by the standards and systems they follow every day.
That realization has helped produce a motivated and hungry group entering the new season. Jannsen has seen that commitment reflected in the weight room, on the court and through the way the players interact with one another. The Pioneers know what will be required of them, and they have demonstrated an eagerness to accept the work that comes with those expectations.
At the center of Carroll's approach is an identity summarized by four letters: DIRT.
Decisive. Impactful. Relentless. Tough.
It is more than a phrase for the Pioneers. Those four characteristics establish the framework for how Carroll wants to compete, prepare and respond throughout a demanding season. They apply to a possession on the court, a practice in the gym and the daily decisions that collectively shape a program.
For Jannsen, the goal is to create an approach that remains steady regardless of the circumstances. If an outside observer walked into Carroll's gym following a victory or a loss, the energy, effort and attention to detail should look the same. A previous result should not dictate the standard of the next practice.
That consistency will be especially important for a deep roster with numerous players capable of contributing.
Carroll could have difficult rotation decisions throughout the season, but Jannsen views that competition as a potential strength. The Pioneers have players with different skill sets and the flexibility to use several lineup combinations. Depending on the opponent or flow of a game, Carroll could play smaller, feature more size or lean on a completely different combination of players.
That depth could create opportunities, but it will also test the group's alignment.
One player might receive meaningful minutes in one matchup and see a reduced role in the next. Another lineup might be particularly effective against one opponent but less advantageous several days later. Players will need to remain prepared even when their individual circumstances change.
The challenge is ensuring that everyone understands the larger mission.
"Hopefully, we are at a point in the program where everyone understands that the mission is to win," Jannsen said.
That means being prepared to contribute whether the opportunity lasts two minutes, 12 minutes or an entire game. It also means responding appropriately when a player does not receive the role or result he wants. Carroll's depth will only become an advantage if the players continue placing the team's success ahead of individual outcomes.
The Pioneers will lean on seniors Lucas Parker and Dennis Estepp to help set the tone, while returning captain Jimmy Tarjan provides another experienced voice within the group. Together, the trio will be counted on to provide stability and leadership for a Carroll roster that will feature plenty of youth throughout the rotation.
That experience is complemented by a returning group that Jannsen believes has taken significant steps forward. Michael McNabb returns after leading the Pioneers in scoring and establishing himself as one of the CCIW's top offensive threats last season, while Peyton McKenna gives Carroll another dangerous option from the perimeter. Tarjan, Estepp and Parker will also look to take on expanded roles as part of a deeper roster, with several returners who were outside the primary rotation a year ago now pushing for meaningful minutes.
The returners who gained substantial experience have also benefited from competing in close games and seeing the different ways a contest can be decided. The CCIW offers few opportunities to recover from a poor approach, and last season allowed Carroll's younger players to experience close victories, difficult losses and everything between.
That experience is invaluable in a conference without an easy night.
The returning group has also played an important role in helping Carroll's newcomers adjust. The incoming players have brought energy and distinct personalities while acclimating seamlessly to the program. The veterans have introduced them to the team's standards and helped establish what it means to represent Carroll basketball.
In turn, the newcomers' youthful energy has become contagious.
Together, the two groups have developed the kind of connection Jannsen wants behind the scenes. The players care about one another, respect one another and are willing to be challenged. They have worked hard in the weight room and developed relationships that extend beyond basketball.
Those qualities may not always be immediately visible on game day, but they provide the foundation Carroll believes it will need when adversity arrives.
On the court, one of the Pioneers' clearest areas for improvement is finishing defensive possessions.
Carroll led the CCIW in opponent turnover percentage last season, reflecting the aggressive and disruptive style the program wants to maintain. The Pioneers pressured the ball and created mistakes, but their work was too often offset by struggles on the defensive glass. Carroll finished last in the conference in defensive rebounding percentage, allowing opponents additional possessions after the initial stop.
That contrast has made rebounding one of the program's primary points of emphasis.
The Pioneers still plan to press on every possession, pressure the basketball and play with an aggressive defensive mentality. They do not want to lose the disruptive characteristics that made them effective at forcing turnovers. The next step is pairing that pressure with the discipline and physicality required to complete a stop.
"If we're going to be a high-turnover-percentage team, it cancels out if we can't defensive rebound," Jannsen said.
Winning the possession battle will be essential. Carroll wants to prevent opponents from receiving extra chances while creating additional opportunities through its own defensive pressure. A deflection or forced miss only becomes meaningful when the Pioneers secure the basketball and transition to offense.
That is when Carroll's preferred style can begin to take shape.
The Pioneers finished second in the CCIW in pace last season and again want to push the basketball when opportunities are available. Carroll will look to rebound, advance the ball and attack before the opposing defense becomes organized. The objective is not simply to play fast, however. The Pioneers want to play quickly with purpose.
If a quality shot presents itself early in the possession, Carroll wants its players to recognize and take it. If that initial opportunity is unavailable, the Pioneers must remain composed and execute within their half-court offense.
Ball movement and unselfish play will remain central to that approach. Jannsen wants his players to understand how to play off one another, read different situations and consistently make the right decision. The coaching staff will work to place players in positions that complement their strengths, but the players will also have the freedom to react to what they see.
When Carroll is at its best, Jannsen expects the game to have a natural flow.
A missed shot becomes a defensive rebound. The rebound starts the transition attack. Players fill the correct spaces, understand how the defense is reacting and make the next play without requiring constant instructions from the sideline.
"It's going to look like a player's game," Jannsen said. "Fun to play, fun to watch."
The Pioneers could also present more of a perimeter threat this season. Jannsen anticipates the possibility of increased outside shooting volume, giving Carroll another dimension within its offense. That shooting, combined with the roster's depth and lineup flexibility, could create several different ways for the Pioneers to attack opponents.
Carroll must still improve its execution in close games, particularly during late possessions. The Pioneers want to maintain their offensive freedom and pace while recognizing when the situation requires patience and precision. Finding that balance could prove critical in a conference where games are often decided by only a handful of possessions.
Carroll will receive an immediate opportunity to measure itself against strong competition.
The Pioneers begin their schedule against defending WIAC champion UW-Whitewater and will also face a UW-La Crosse team expected to receive preseason national attention. Before Thanksgiving, Carroll will travel to Minnesota for back-to-back games against Loras and Bethel, followed shortly by the beginning of CCIW competition.
The schedule does not ease after the holiday. Carroll will travel to Florida for additional nonconference competition, including a matchup with Wittenberg.
It is another challenging slate by design. Facing accomplished teams early will force the Pioneers to test their habits, rotations and ability to respond under pressure. It will also prepare them for a CCIW schedule Jannsen expects to be as competitive as ever.
The strength of the conference leaves little room for inconsistency. The teams near the top of the standings are often capable of earning national recognition, while every opponent can punish lapses in preparation or execution. Competing successfully will require Carroll to rebound, disrupt opponents, share the basketball and consistently generate quality shots.
More importantly, it will require the Pioneers to honor their standards every day.
Carroll's success will not be measured only by individual performances or a single result. Jannsen wants the Pioneers to establish an environment that gives them the best opportunity to succeed over the course of the season. If they remain decisive, impactful, relentless and tough, they can live with the eventual results knowing they respected the process.
There are still questions to answer. Roles must be established, lineup combinations must develop and the Pioneers must prove they can turn defensive pressure into complete possessions. But Jannsen believes this group possesses the depth, connection and commitment necessary to represent the program at a high level.
The Pioneers care about one another, and they care about Carroll basketball. They are willing to work, willing to be challenged and increasingly aware of what competing in the CCIW demands.
Last season taught Carroll how small the margin can be. This season is about building habits strong enough to close it.
The Pioneers know where they want to go. Their focus now is ensuring the environment, standards and daily work point them in that direction.
DIRT provides the identity. Consistency will determine how far it can take them.
