ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Men's Basketball Team has been picked to finish 13th in the South Atlantic Conference this year by the league's head coaches. The poll was released by the SAC office on Tuesday.
RELATED – SAC Preseason Poll & Preseason All-Conference Teams
Last year, Emory & Henry posted a record of 16-10 during the first year of the program's transition into Division II. The Wasps roster includes 11 returning players and four freshmen that will look to get the program off on the right foot in SAC competition.
Lincoln Memorial University is first in the poll, receiving 11 first-place votes and 143 total points. Wingate University earned the No. 2 position in the poll with one first-place vote and 121 total points. Earning the No. 3 spot in the preseason poll were Carson-Newman University and Tusculum University with 116 points each. Newberry College rounded out the top five positions with 105 points.
Lenoir-Rhyne University received 84 points, landing in the No. 6 position and Catawba College earned the No. 7 spot with 82 points. Anderson (S.C.) University and Limestone University came in at a tie for No. 8 with 65 points each and one first-place vote for Anderson, while Coker University and Mars Hill University tied at the No. 10 spot with 35 points each.
Rounding out the poll is the University of Virginia's College at Wise and Emory & Henry at No. 12 and No. 13, respectively. Wise earned 24 points and Emory & Henry garnered 23 points.
Additionally, the SAC has announced its Preseason All-Conference Teams with E&H sophomore guard/forward Gabe Brown (Clintwood, Va.) earning a third-team selection.
Emory & Henry will open the season on Wednesday when it visits the University of North Carolina - Wilmington in an exhibition. Tipoff between the Wasps and Seahawks is set for 7:00 p.m.
—E&H—
2022-23 SAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Rank | School (FPV) | Points | ||
| 1. | Lincoln Memorial (11) | 143 | ||
| 2. | Wingate (1) | 121 | ||
| T-3. | Carson-Newman | 116 | ||
| T-3. | Tusculum | 116 | ||
| 5. | Newberry | 105 | ||
| 6. | Lenoir-Rhyne | 84 | ||
| 7. | Catawba | 82 | ||
| T-8. | Anderson (1) | 65 | ||
| T-8. | Limestone | 65 | ||
| T-10. | Coker | 35 | ||
| T-10. | Mars Hill | 35 | ||
| 12. | UVA Wise | 24 | ||
| 13. | Emory & Henry | 23 |
2022-23 Preseason All-SAC Men's Basketball Teams
First Team
Jarren Cottingham, Wingate
Chase Rankin, Lincoln Memorial
Jordan Guest, Lincoln Memorial
Mekell Burries, Lincoln Memorial
Ben Gahlert, Limestone
T.J. Nesmith, Lenoir-Rhyne
Second Team
T.J. Brown, Newberry
Luke Brenegan, Carson-Newman
Kadyn Dawkins, Mars Hill
Donell Nixon II, Wingate
Quandaveon McCollum, Newberry
Bryant Thomas, Carson-Newman
Third Team
Sean Elmore, Wingate
Inady Legiste, Tusculum
Kris Robinson, Catawba
Andreas Wilson, Wingate
Gabe Brown, Emory & Henry
Joel Pettiford, UVA Wise