VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Following a 20-win campaign and a narrow miss of the NCAA tournament, Carson-Newman has been picked to finish third in the preseason South Atlantic Conference Coaches Poll, the league office announced Tuesday morning.
The preseason poll takes the form of the old league alignment with the teams ranked one through 13. This season Carson-Newman will compete in the Mountain Division with Lincoln Memorial, Tusculum, Limestone, Mars Hill, UVA Wise and Emory & Henry.
"I'm going to say what I say every year," Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "This means absolutely nothing. I appreciate that we have a preseason poll, and thank you I guess. We just want to get to November 11 and play, then find out what happens in February and March."
Carson-Newman was picked to finish in a tie for third with Tusculum. The Eagles and Pioneers both accrued 116 votes. Lincoln Memorial was picked to bring home the title unanimously.
The Railsplitters snagged 143 points and 11 first-place votes. Wingate grabbed the other first-place vote and had 121 points. The Bulldogs are the highest-ranked Piedmont team.
The Mountain Division occupies three of the top-four spots in the preseason rankings. That division also features the bottom three teams in Mars Hill, UVA Wise and Emory & Henry.
Wingate, Carson-Newman and Tusculum all finished just out of reach of the NCAA tournament last season.
SAC tournament semifinalist Newberry clocks in in fifth with 105 points.
After the Wolves, a fairly wide gulf opens of 21 points. Lenoir-Rhyne sits in sixth with 84 points. The Bears took out Louisville in an exhibition on Oct. 30. Catawba follows two points behind with 82 points.
Mountain Division mate Limestone is tied with Anderson for eighth with 65 points.
Coker is the lowest-ranked Piedmont team, checking in in a tie for 10th with Mars Hill.
Carson-Newman opens the season Nov. 11 against Lees-McRae at 5 p.m. in Bristol, Tenn. Coverage will be available on the Eagle Sports Network at cneagles.com/live.
1. Lincoln Memorial (11) 143
2. Wingate (1) 121
T-3. Carson-Newman 116
T-3. Tusculum 116
5. Newberry 105
6. Lenoir-Rhyne 84
7. Catawba 82
T-8. Anderson 65
T-8. Limestone 65
T-10. Coker 35
T-10. Mars Hill 35
12. UVA Wise 24
13. Emory & Henry 23
