SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference media has named Chattanooga the preseason favorite for the upcoming 2015-16 men’s basketball season. The Mocs, who were also picked first in the coaches poll, earned 18 of 28 first-place votes and finished with 266 points. The Wofford Terriers were chosen second and earned 250 points and nine first-place votes.
Mercer edged ETSU for third place. The Bears earned 194 points, while the Buccaneers finished with 186. Bob Hoffman guided the Bears to a 12-6 record in league play during Mercer’s inaugural season in the league. Steve Forbes takes over at ETSU after previously serving as an assistant at Wichita State.
Furman (167) was picked fifth and earned the final first-place vote. The Paladins finished last season with a 5-13 mark in league play but made a run to the tournament title game last spring. Western Carolina (157) followed in sixth place as head coach Larry Hunter enters his 11th season on the bench in Cullowhee, N.C.
Samford (114) was slotted seventh. Scott Padgett enters his second season with the Bulldogs after taking over the program during the summer of 2014.
UNCG (98) came in eighth place. Head coach Wes Miller begins his fourth full season as head coach of the Spartans, while Duggar Baucom moved from VMI to The Citadel in the offseason. The Bulldogs (56) were picked ninth, while the Keydets finished the balloting with 54 points. Dan Earl takes over at VMI after spending the last four seasons as an assistant at Navy.
The 2015-16 season begins Nov. 13 when six Southern Conference teams take the floor. The 2016 Southern Conference Championship presented by General Shale will be held March 4-7 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C.
SoCon Men’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish – Media Poll
Team (1st-Place Votes) Total
1. Chattanooga (18) 266
2. Wofford (9) 250
3. Mercer 194
4. ETSU 186
5. Furman (1) 167
6. Western Carolina 157
7. Samford 114
8. UNCG 98
9. The Citadel 56
10. VMI 54