Wolves picked sixth in preseason SAC men’s basketball poll
ROCK HILL (Newberry) – The Newberry College men’s basketball team has been picked sixth in the annual South Atlantic Conference Coaches’ Poll, as announced by the league office Thursday.
Newberry occupies the sixth spot in the preseason poll with 74 points, coming in behind Catawba in fifth with 82 points. Lincoln Memorial is picked first in the conference with 121 points and 11 first place votes after finishing the 2016 season NCAA Division II Runner-Up. Wingate and Queens tied for second with 100 points with Wingate receiving a first-place vote. Carson-Newman rounded out the top-four with 85 points.
The Wolves went 18-12 last season and advanced to the SAC Tournament semifinals. Head coach Dave Davis will have to make up for the departure of five seniors from last season. Newberry will be led by senior Gerald Evans and junior James Stepp. Evans averaged 9.7 points per game and 4.8 assists per game last season and is the team’s leading returning scorer. Stepp scored 9.5 points per game and 2.6 rebounds per game.
The Wolves kick off the season with an exhibition contest against South Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 6. The home schedule kicks off with the Newberry Invitational on November 18-19. The Wolves will welcome Coker, Paine and Southern Wesleyan to Eleazer Arena that weekend.
2016 SAC Men’s Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes) Points
1. Lincoln Memorial (11) 121
2. Wingate (1) 100
2. Queens 100
4. Carson-Newman 85
5. Catawba 82
6. Newberry 74
7. Lenoir-Rhyne 61
8. Tusculum 54
9. Anderson 50
10. Coker 31
11. Mars Hill 23
12 Brevard 11
Preseason First Team
Isiah Cureton, Wingate
Sawyer Williams, Carson-Newman
Luqon Choice, Lincoln Memorial
Mike Baez, Wingate
Charles Clark, Carson-Newman
Jameel Taylor, Catawba
Preseason Second Team
Randall Shaw, Anderson
KJ Arrington, Catawba
Daniel Camps, Queens
Donte Samuels, Coker
Todd Withers, Queens
Keith Griffin, Wingate
