Harrogate, TN -- The Lincoln Memorial men's basketball program has been voted second in the 2026-27 South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Railsplitters accumulated 111 total points and picked up five first place votes in the annual voting conducted by the league's head coaches. Lincoln Memorial finished just four points behind top-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne, which earned the leading spot with 115 points and five first place votes.
Behind the Railsplitters, Catawba earned third place with 103 points and one first place vote. Tusculum and Carson-Newman tied for fourth position with 80 points apiece, with Tusculum securing the remaining first place vote. Wingate claimed sixth place with 74 points, followed by UVA-Wise in seventh with 56 points, Emory & Henry in eighth with 44 points, and Newberry in ninth with 41 points. Coker rounded out the top ten with 36 points, while Mars Hill recorded 34 points for eleventh and Anderson placed twelfth with 18 points.
In addition to the team rankings, Lincoln Memorial saw two senior standouts named as SAC Players to Watch entering the upcoming campaign. Senior guard Trey Horton III, a six-foot-five native of Charlotte, North Carolina who attended Providence Day School and previously played at UTEP, was selected to the list. Joining him is senior guard and forward Kam Roberts, a six-foot-six South Boston, Virginia native out of Hargrave Military Academy who previously competed at UVA-Wise. Both players are expected to be key contributors for the Railsplitters as they navigate the 2026-27 conference schedule.
2026-27 SAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank School (First Place Votes) Score
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (5) 115
2. Lincoln Memorial (5) 111
3. Catawba (1) 103
4t. Tusculum (1) 80
4t. 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
