The 2009–10 Great West Conference men's basketball season marked the inaugural season of Great West Conference basketball.
In 2008–09, the Great West Conference began competition in basketball, although they were transitioning to Division I at the time.
On October 29, 2009, the Great West Conference held its first basketball media day.
The league's coaches voted South Dakota the inaugural preseason #1 and South Dakota senior forward Tyler Cain the preseason player of the year.
[1] First Team Second Team Honorable Mention: Mario Flaherty, Houston Baptist; Wendell Preadom, Houston Baptist; Gary Garris, NJIT; Nathan Hawkins, Texas Pan-American; Jon Montgomery, Chicago State; Ben Smith, Texas-Pan American Preseason Player of the Year As a new Division I conference, the Great West does not receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.