Men's Basketball | November 04, 2021
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The University of South Carolina Aiken men's basketball team has been selected fourth in the PBC Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released Thursday.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
The Pacers registered 46 total points in the poll.
Flagler, with seven first-place votes, topped the rankings with 77 total points. Augusta was second with two first-place nods and 68 total points. Georgia Southwestern claimed the other first-place vote and was selected third with 66 total points.
Columbus State trailed head coach
Mark Vanderslice's team by a mere point (45 total points). Georgia College and Lander are tied for sixth with 43 total points. Clayton State (29 total points), North Georgia (20 total points) and Young Harris (13 total points) conclude the rankings.
The Pacers are coming off a 9-8 shortened season that saw the team go 8-6 in league play. The squad made the PBC Tournament semifinals before falling to top-seed Flagler.
USC Aiken returns an abundance of talent and has added a slew of newcomers including
Demitrios Dixon,
Caleb Furr,
Kameron Little,
Mason McMurray,
Samba Ndiaye,
Preston Parks and
David Strother.
Vanderslice's team opens the 2021-22 season in Morrow, Ga., for the PBC vs. SAC Conference Challenge. The squad takes on Tusculum on Nov. 12 at 4 p.m., before playing Lincoln Memorial on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. The Pacers open their home slate on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 3:30 p.m., against Allen.
Season Tickets are still available for purchase. Fans can call USC Aiken Athletics to purchase them at (803) 641-3486.
The PBC Preseason all-conference team is listed below.
Langston Gaither, Columbus State
Jaizec Lottie, Flagler
Hunter Preston, Columbus State
Dontevius Tatum, Georgia Southwestern
Jordan Thomas, Georgia College
Coaches Poll:
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
| 1. |
Flagler (7) |
77 |
| 2. |
Augusta (2) |
68 |
| 3. |
Georgia Southwestern (1) |
66 |
| 4. |
USC Aiken |
46 |
| 5. |
Columbus State |
45 |
| t6. |
Georgia College |
43 |
| t6. |
Lander |
43 |
| 8. |
Clayton State |
29 |
| 9. |
North Georgia |
20 |
| 10. |
Young Harris |
13 |
