ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Men's Basketball Team has been picked to finish ninth in the South Atlantic Conference this year by the league's head coaches. The poll was released by the SAC office on Thursday.
RELATED – SAC Preseason Poll & Preseason All-Conference Teams
Last year, Emory & Henry posted a record of 15-13, 6-12 SAC during the program's first year in the South Atlantic Conference. The Wasps' roster boasts 12 returning players, including two moved up from the developmental squad, two freshmen and two transfers that will look to help the team improve on its T-9th place finish a year ago.
Lincoln Memorial University is first in the poll, receiving 11 first-place votes and 143 total points. Catawba College earned the No. 2 position in the poll with two first-place votes and 134 total points. Earning the No. 3 spot in the preseason poll was Newberry College with 107 points and Wingate University was fourth with 105 points . Tusculum University rounded out the top five positions with 98 points.
Carson-Newman University received 89 points, landing in the No. 6 position and Anderson (S.C.) University earned the No. 7 spot with 76 points. Lenoir-Rhyne University came in at No. 8 with 55 while Emory & Henry was tabbed in the No. 9 spot with 53 points. Limestone University was named tenth with 47 points and the University of Virginia's College at Wise landed 11th with 45 points.
Rounding out the poll is Coker University and Mars Hill University at No. 12 and No. 13, respectively. Coker earned 34 points and Mars Hill garnered 28 points.
Additionally, the SAC has announced its Preseason All-Conference Teams with E&H junior guard/forward Gabe Brown (Clintwood, Va.) earning a first-team selection and junior forward Jake Moynihan (Muncie, Ind.) being named to the third-team.
Emory & Henry will open the season on Saturday, November 11 when it plays host to the Patriots of Francis Marion University for the South Atlantic Conference/Conference Carolinas Challenge. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. from the John Rutledge King Center.
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2023-24 SAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
Rank School (First Place Votes) Points
1 Lincoln Memorial (11) 143
2 Catawba (2) 134
3 Newberry 107
4 Wingate 105
5 Tusculum 98
6 Carson-Newman 89
7 Anderson 76
8 Lenoir-Rhyne 55
9 Emory & Henry 53
10 Limestone 47
11 UVA Wise 45
12 Coker 34
13 Mars Hill 28
2023-24 Preseason All-SAC Men's Basketball Teams
First Team
Gabe Brown, Emory & Henry
Me'Kell Burries, Lincoln Memorial
Kory Davis, Mars Hill
DeAngelo Epps, Catawba
Javeon Jones, Catawba
Chase Rankin, Lincoln Memorial
Second Team
Mahmoud Bangura, Coker
Martez Brown, Lincoln Memorial
Garrett Denbow, Anderson
Connor Jordan, Tusculum
Donell Nixon II, Wingate
Jordan Walters, Lincoln Memorial
Third Team
Nick Brenegan, Carson-Newman
Kendall Davis, Mars Hill
Kadyn Dawkins, Mars Hill
Peyton Gerald, Catawba
Jake Moynihan, Emory & Henry
Matthew Sells, Lincoln Memorial