Trojans Tabbed Eighth in Preseason South Atlantic Conference Coaches Poll

Posted: Nov 01, 2021

ROCK HILL, S.C. – After finishing ninth in the South Atlantic Conference standings during the COVID-shortened spring season, the Anderson University men's basketball team has been tabbed to finish eighth in the league this season in a vote by the league's coaches, as released by the conference office Monday morning.

The Trojans will be seeking their sixth consecutive appearance in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament and its 10th overall appearance since joining the league in 2010. AU battled through the tumultuous spring season – at one point playing nine games in a 17-day span in February – and captured its first South Atlantic Conference Tournament victory since 2014 with a 71-61 win over Coker at the Abney Athletic Center.

Seventh-year head coach Jeff Brookman's roster will feature 10 returning letterwinners from last season's squad, along with six newcomers.

Queens, which is ranked 16th in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Poll, captured seven first-place votes and outdistanced Carson-Newman for the top spot in the SAC Coaches' poll. The Royals will be looking for their third regular-season conference title in six seasons and first since winning the 2019 SAC Championship.

Carson-Newman, which will be seeking its fourth regular-season championship and its' first since 2003, captured five first-place votes and was picked to finish second after collecting 145 points. The Eagles finished the spring campaign with a flourish, winning 11 of their final 12 contests last season, including three in the conference tournament, while claiming their fourth overall SAC Tournament title and first since 2015. The Eagles were receiving votes in the Preseason NABC Poll.

Tusculum did not pick up a first-place vote, but collected 131 points and finished in the poll's third slot - just ahead of Lincoln Memorial. The Pioneers will be looking to build on their third NCAA postseason appearance a year ago, and its' first since 2009. TU wrapped up the 2020-21 season with a 14-6 record after falling to LMU in the semifinals of the NCAA Southeast Region semifinals.

Defending regular-season champion Lincoln Memorial, which was ranked 17th in the Preseason NABC Poll, was just behind the Pioneers in the fourth spot after having won or shared nine of the last 11 SAC regular-season titles and posting a 19-4 overall record last season, including a league-best 14-3 record.

Newberry landed in the No. 5 position after garnering 108 points, with Wingate earning the No. 6 spot with 93 points. Catawba came in at No. 7 with 88 points, while Anderson took the No. 8 spot with 85 points. Lenoir-Rhyne was No. 9 in the preseason poll after collecting 80 points from the head coaches. Coker came in at No. 10 with 50 points, followed by Limestone with 44 points at No. 11, and Mars Hill at No. 12 with 42 points. Rounding out the poll of 13 teams was the University of Virginia's College at Wise with 27 points.

"We don't put much emphasis on preseason rankings," said Brookman. "While it does ramp up the excitement of the start of the season being right around the corner, for the most part it is based off last season's accomplishments. We are excited for the beginning of another challenging schedule and look forward to a fun and exciting season of basketball."

The South Atlantic Conference also announced its preseason All-SAC Teams. Earning first team honors were Queens' Kenny Dye and Jamari Smith, Newberry's Quandaveon McCollum and TJ Brown, Wingate's Jarren Cottingham and Tusculum's Trenton Gibson.

The second team was comprised of Queens' Gavin Rains, Tusculum's James West IV, Lincoln Memorial's Jordan Guest and Carson-Newman's EJ Bush and Ren Dyer.

The 2021-22 season gets underway with non-conference games on November 12, with a full slate of league action starting on November 17.

Anderson is slated to open the season at home on Nov. 12, with the Trojans hosting just one of a number of two-day Conference Challenges. Southern Wesleyan will lead off the event by squaring off against Lander at 1 p.m. at the Abney Athletic Center, while the host Trojans and nationally second-ranked Flagler will tip-off at 3 p.m. on Annie Tribble Court.

Southern Wesleyan and Flagler will meet at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, with AU and Lander tipping off at 3 p.m. that afternoon.

South Atlantic Conference
2021-22 Men's Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes) Points
1 Queens (7) 150
2 Carson-Newman (5) 145
3 Tusculum 131
4 Lincoln Memorial (1) 128
5 Newberry 108
6 Wingate 93
7 Catawba 88
8 Anderson 85
9 Lenoir-Rhyne 80
10 Coker 50
11 Limestone 43
12 Mars Hill 42
13 UVA Wise 27

2021-22 SAC Men's Preseason All-Conference Teams
First Team
Trenton Gibson, Tusculum
Quandaveon McCollum, Newberry
Jarren Cottingham, Wingate
TJ Brown, Newberry
Kenny Dye, Queens
Jamari Smith, Queens