SEWANEE, Tenn. – Sewanee men's basketball was picked sixth in the Southern Athletic Association Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office Thursday.
First-year head coach Will Merrell returns just one starter, junior
Fletcher Bigham, and one other player who saw significant playing time, junior
Reid Carrier.
Bigham earned Second Team All-SAA honors last season, averaging 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 27 games with 26 starts. He scored in double figures 23 times and registered six 20-plus point outings with six double-doubles and 12 total contests with nine or more boards.
Carrier played in all 27 games with four starts, netting double-digits in nine contests while shooting 27 percent from 3-point range. He made 37 triples during the year, third-most on the club.
The Tigers return only four other letterwinners – sophomores Phillip Ryan and
Ethan Kline and juniors
JD Gardner and
Aidan Treacy. Gardner saw action in 13 games and averaged 3.7 minutes per contest. The other three played a combined total of 24 minutes for the season.
Centre College received two first-place votes and 50 total points for first place in the coaches' poll, just ahead of Trinity University, who picked up three first-place votes and 49 points. Berry College netted two first-place votes and tied for third with Rhodes College, which also earned one first-place vote, both with 42 points.
Oglethorpe University ranked fifth with 28 points and Sewanee and Millsaps College tied for sixth with 26 points. Southwestern University was eighth with 17 points.
Sewanee plays an exhibition game at Trevecca Nazarene this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and opens the regular season Tuesday at home versus Maryville College at 7 p.m. at Juhan Gymnasium.
2025-26 SAA Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Centre College – 50 (2)
2. Trinity University – 49 (3)
t3. Berry College – 42 (2)
t3. Rhodes College – 42 (1)
5. Oglethorpe University – 28
t6. Millsaps College – 26
t6. Sewanee – 26
8. Southwestern University – 17
