ROCK HILL, S.C. – The South Atlantic Conference released its preseason poll for the 2026-27 season on Friday, marking Anderson at No. 12.
Lenoir-Rhyne and Lincoln Memorial shared the top spot in the preseason poll, with each program receiving five first-place votes. Catawba followed in third with one first-place vote, while Tusculum was selected fourth and received the remaining first-place vote.
Carson-Newman rounded out the top five, followed by Wingate, UVA Wise, Emory & Henry, Newberry, Coker and Mars Hill. Anderson was picked to finish 12th in the league.
The Trojans enter the 2026-27 campaign under first-year head coach
Ben Thompson, who takes over an Anderson program coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Black and Gold finished the 2025-26 season with a 29-3 overall record and a 20-2 mark in SAC play, capturing its first SAC Tournament Championship and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Southeast Region.
Despite being picked 12th, the Trojans enter the upcoming campaign with a new coaching staff and a promising roster. The Black and Gold look to build upon last season's success as they begin a new chapter of Anderson Basketball.
In addition to the Coaches' Poll, graduate student brothers
Kory Davis and
Kendall Davis (Gastonia, N.C.) were both named to the SAC Preseason Players to Watch List. The pair will enter the 2026-27 season in Black and Gold after transferring to Anderson from fellow SAC program, bringing previous conference experience to Anderson's roster.
The Trojans kickstart the 2026-27 campaign at home in the Abney Athletic Center when they host nonconference opponent Morehouse on Monday, Nov. 9. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. following the women's contest.
The complete preseason coaches' poll and Players to Watch list are below.
2026-27 SAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank School Points
1 Lenoir-Rhyne (5) 115
2 Lincoln Memorial (5) 111
3 Catawba (1) 103
T4 Tusculum (1) 80
T4 Carson-Newman 80
6 Wingate 74
7 UVA Wise 56
8 Emory & Henry 44
9 Newberry 41
10 Coker 36
11 Mars Hill 34
12 Anderson 18
First-place votes in parentheses.
2026-27 SAC Men's Basketball Players to Watch
Anderson: Kendall Davis, Kory Davis
Carson-Newman: Matt Bilbrey, Sean Lindsay
Catawba: Carson Daniel, Chase Daniel
Coker: Khalil Green, Kenney Rogers
Emory & Henry: Melchior Hughes, Isaac Hymes
Lenoir-Rhyne: Deuce Benjamin, Jaylen Subject
Lincoln Memorial: Kam Roberts, Trey Horton III
Mars Hill: Keenan Wilkins, Ashton Troutman
Newberry: Kayzzin McDowell, Brett Dent
Tusculum: Jordan Attia, Amari Allen
UVA Wise: Cy Hardy, Anderson Cummins
Wingate: Jordan Miller, Chase McKey
