SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference media has named Chattanooga the preseason favorite for the upcoming 2016-17 men’s basketball season. The Mocs, who were also picked first in the coaches poll, earned 26 of 30 first-place votes and finished with 296 points. ETSU was tabbed second (268) on the strength of the remaining four first-place votes.
Furman and Wofford tied for third with 213 points apiece. The Paladins and Terriers posted identical 11-7 records in league play a season ago. Mercer was slotted fifth with 194 points.
UNCG (142) was tabbed sixth. The Spartans went 10-8 in league play a season ago and advanced to the second round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Samford (113) narrowly edged Western Carolina (112) for seventh place. After going 10-8 in conference games last season, the Catamounts earned a bid to CBI. Samford enters its third season under head coach Scott Padgett.
The Citadel (53) and VMI (48) rounded out the poll. Both the Bulldogs and Keydets are under the direction of second-year coaches as Duggar Baucom and Dan Earl took over their respective programs during the spring of 2015.
Eight of the 10 Southern Conference teams will take the floor Nov. 11 to start the regular season. The 2017 Southern Conference Championship presented by General Shale will be held March 3-6 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 (26) 296
2. ETSU (4) 268
3. Furman 213
Wofford 213
5. Mercer 194
6. UNCG 142
7. Samford 113
8. Western Carolina 112
9. The Citadel 53
10. VMI 48