BUENA VISTA, VA - The USA South Athletic Conference has just unveiled its 2023-24 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, with Southern Virginia sitting in seventh position with a total of 16 points.
N.C. Wesleyan leads the rankings, coming off their tournament victory, closely followed by William Peace University and Mary Baldwin University. The top five is rounded out by Brevard College and Greensboro College.
Southern Virginia enters the new season after a 13-14 regular season, which secured them the sixth seed. They made a remarkable opening-round appearance in the USA South Men's Basketball Tournament, defeating the #3 seeded Mary Baldwin with a commanding 77-63 victory. However, they faced a close loss in the Conference Semi-finals to William Peace University, ending with a score of 68-75.
The Knights kick off the 2023-24 season with first-year head coach Trace Bevell, who brings a wealth of coaching experience from his time at Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah.
With six returning players, Coach Trace Bevell expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "Everything is new to us, but we're excited to start playing. Practice has been productive, and we look forward to assessing our progress and areas for improvement."
Southern Virginia boasts a roster featuring notable players such as the returning USA South Rookie of the Year, Koa Baker, Senior Malakai Olson, Junior Tyler Kartchner, Junior Sam Jex, Junior Alex Weiland, and Junior Jake Wilson.
The Knights begin their season on Wednesday, November 8th, when they face Eastern Mennonite University. In the nine previous matchups between the two teams, Southern Virginia currently holds the advantage at 5-4, with the Knights winning the last four games. Afterward, they prepare for a showdown against Averett University on Saturday, November 11th.
