ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Anderson University men's basketball team has been selected to finish seventh in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coache's poll as released by the league on Wednesday, November 2.
The Trojans were able to capture 76 points in the voting while Lincoln Memorial topped the poll with 143 points and 11 first-place votes. Catawba is slated to take second with 134 points and two first-place votes. Newberry (107), Wingate (105), Tusculum (98) and Carson-Newman (89) round out the third through sixth places ahead of Anderson. Lenoir-Rhyne (55), Emory & Henry (53), Limestone (47), UVA Wise (45), Coker (34) and Mars Hill (28) finished out the rankings in the poll.
Overall, the Trojans finished last season 9-19 with a 6-12 clip in league action. Anderson finished last season in third in the conference in 3-point shooting percentage as well as third in defensive rebounding. They finished just off the pace last year, missing the conference tournament.
In addition to the preseason poll, the league also release the Preseason All-Conference team and senior guard Garrett Denbow (Ashland, Ohio) was selected to the Second-Team for his performance in the 2022-23 season. Denbow tied for tenth in points per game last season while leading the league with three-pointers made per game (3.5) and three-pointers attempted per game (8.2).
Anderson kicks off the 2023-24 campaign as they host the 2023 Southeast Region Challenge in the Abney Athletic Center on November 11-12. The Trojans will take on Flagler to open the season at 1:30 p.m. on the 11th before battling Clayton State on the 12th at 7:00 p.m.
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 South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference
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 Memoria
