ATLANTA, Ga. (November 3, 2023) – After running the table in the SAA a year ago, Berry was picked to win a fourth-straight title by the coaches, topping the 2023-24 men’s basketball preseason poll.  
 
The Vikings tallied 49 points and seven first place votes to top the poll for the third-straight season. Defending SAA Tournament champion Sewanee is second with 41 points and the remaining first place nod. Rhodes checked in at No. 3 with 35 votes while Birmingham-Southern and Oglethorpe tied for fourth with 27 points each.
 
SAA 2023-24 SAA Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Berry - 49 pts (7)
2. Sewanee - 41 pts (1)
3. Rhodes - 35 pts
T4. Birmingham-So. - 27 pts
T4. Oglethorpe - 27 pts
6. Hendrix - 24 pts
7. Centre - 14 pts
8. Millsaps - 7 pts
 
Berry went 25-3 overall last season and ran its conference winning streak to 25-straight, posting the league’s second 14-0 record (BSC 2015-16). SAA Coach of the Year Mick Hedgepeth returns the SAA Player of the Year Chase Ellis and SAA Defensive Player of the Year Braxton Benham to lead the Vikings into the season. Sewanee was third in the league last season after a 19-10 overall record and 9-5 SAA mark. The Tigers bring back All-SAA first teamer and last season’s returning scorer Russ Marr to lead the way. He was the SAA Tournament MVP, orchestrating last season’s championship run.
 
The SAA men’s basketball season starts Wednesday, November 8 with four schools in action. Hendrix hosts Ozarks while Birmingham-Southern, Rhodes, and Centre will be on the road. Sewanee hosts Bob Jones on Friday, November 10 and Oglethorpe goes west to play Pacific. Berry visits Belhaven and Millsaps travels to Huntington on Saturday, November 11 to get their season’s underway.
 
Fans can follow SAA hoops all season long with live links on SAA-Sports.com.