ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Men's Basketball Team has been picked to finish 11th 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 6-23, 4-20 SAC during the program's third year in the South Atlantic Conference. The Wasps' roster includes seven returning players, three freshmen and nine transfers that will look to help the team reach the SAC Tournament.
Lenoir-Rhyne University was picked as the favorite to win the league with 128 points and eight first-place votes. Anderson (S.C.) University and Lincoln Memorial University are tied for second in the poll, with the Trojans receiving three first-place votes and each of the squads earning 109 total points. Carson-Newman University earned the No. 4 position in the poll with one first-place vote and 104 total points. Catawba College was fifth with 97 points and the University of Virginia's College at Wise was sixth with 86 points. Wingate University is seventh with 70 points.
Newberry College received 60 points, landing in the No. 8 position and Tusculum University earned the No. 9 spot with 54 points. Coker University came in at No. 10 with 50 points while Emory & Henry was tabbed in the No. 11 spot with 31 points. Mars Hill University was selected 12th with 26 points to round out the poll.
Additionally, the SAC has announced its Players to Watch, with E&H junior guard Jackson Crawford (Daleville, Va.) and sophomore guard Korbin Dixon (Milton, Ontario, CANADA) earning the nod for the Wasps.
Emory & Henry will open the season on Friday, November 14 when it travels to Florence, South Carolina to take on the Sand Sharks of USC Beaufort for the Southeast Region Crossover Tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. from Smith University Center.
--E&H--
2025-26 SAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
|
Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Score |
|
1. |
Lenoir-Rhyne (8) |
128 |
|
T-2. |
Anderson (S.C.) (3) |
109 |
|
T-2. |
Lincoln Memorial |
109 |
|
4. |
Carson-Newman (1) |
104 |
|
5. |
Catawba |
97 |
|
6. |
UVA Wise |
86 |
|
7. |
Wingate |
70 |
|
8. |
Newberry |
60 |
|
9. |
Tusculum |
54 |
|
10. |
Coker |
50 |
|
11. |
Emory & Henry |
31 |
|
12. |
Mars Hill |
26 |
2025-26 SAC Preseason All-Conference
First Team
Jack Browder, Carson-Newman
Evan Ramsey, UVA Wise
Conrad Luczynski, Lenoir-Rhyne
Nick Walker, Catawba
Bryce Jackson, Tusculum
AJ Wright Jr., Anderson
Ian Blue, Anderson
Players to Watch
Carson-Newman – Braden Ilic
Catawba – Ibra Athie
Coker – Isayah Owens, Aaron Hall
Emory & Henry – Jackson Crawford, Korbin Dixon
Lenoir-Rhyne – Julian Dozier
Lincoln Memorial – Nate Mims, Yassin Hussein
Mars Hill – Aljaz Vidmar, Jaheim Taylor
Newberry – Drake Downs, Malakhi Stremlow
Tusculum – TJ Printup
UVA Wise – Patrick Shelley
Wingate – Jordan Miller, Corbin Pack