ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Railsplitters were selected to win their fourth consecutive South Atlantic Conference regular season title by the league's coaches, it was announced on Tuesday with the unveiling of the SAC preseason men's basketball poll. The league office also released the preseason All-SAC teams, with Luquon Choice (Laurens, S.C.) earning a spot on the first team and Gerel Simmons (Accokeek, Md.) picking up second-team distinctions. 

Lincoln Memorial received nine of a possible 11 first-place votes - teams are not allowed to vote for themselves - and 128 total points to take the top spot in the preseason poll, which is voted on by each of the SAC's 12 member head coaches. 

"It's flattering to have your peers recognize you. But the guys in our locker room are smart enough to know that the things we hope to accomplish have to be earned between the lines," Lincoln Memorial head basketball coach Josh Schertz said. "These polls are based on things that have happened in the past. I don't ever look at it like we're defending anything. Last season's championship banner is there forever. We don't lose it if we don't win the title this year. This team has to write its own story, its own chapter, and its own book. And we all start back at zero and have to prove ourselves again, and that includes me."

The Railsplitters became the first program in league history to win three straight SAC Championships last season, breaking the conference's single-season record for wins and winning percentage by going 30-3 overall and 21-1 in SAC play. Lincoln Memorial finished eight games ahead of Newberry, Queens and Carson-Newman, who all tied for second place in the SAC at 13-9. Despite finishing as runners-up in the SAC tournament, the Railsplitters were selected to host the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional for the first time in program history, but the season ended in disappointing fashion with a second-round loss to Mount Olive. It was the Railsplitters' fourth consecutive loss in the NCAA tournament's round of 32. 

SAC tournament champion Carson-Newman was selected second in the preseason poll with two first-place votes and 115 points, while Queens was picked third with 113 points and the final first-place tally. Wingate finished fourth was 97 points, and Catawba and Newberry rounded out the top six in a tie for fifth with 93 points. 
 
"The league is going to be outstanding this season," Schertz said. "You've got two teams in Carson-Newman and Queens that have no questions to answer with five starters back. They've also strengthened their depth with some solid recruiting. The top six is going to really stand out, but even the teams picked to finish in the bottom of the league are going to be vastly improved. From top to bottom, the league is going to be a monster. I told our guys that we are going to have to be better than we were last year to have a chance to be in the mix to win another SAC championship."

Backcourt mates Choice and Simmons were two of the 12 players chosen as preseason All-SAC selections, as Choice was named to the first team and Simmons made an appearance on the second team. 

Choice led the Railsplitters in scoring last season by averaging 14.9 points per game, earning All-SAC first team recognition as well as All-Southeast Region plaudits from both the NABC and Daktronics. The Laurens, S.C. native shot 44.1 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point territory while leading the SAC and breaking Lincoln Memorial's single-season record for three-pointers with 100. He also averaged 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while pacing the Railsplitters defensively with 37 steals. Choice posted a 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio, ranking seventh in the South Atlantic Conference in that category. 

Choice, who hit double-figure scoring in 23 of his 33 appearances as a sophomore, was tabbed as a preseason All-American by the Sporting News. 

In his first season in the Blue and Gray, Simmons, a transfer from Brevard, was the Railsplitters' third-leading scorer last season with 10.5 points per game. The Accokeek, Md. native shot 43.1 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from the three, pouring in 1.5 three-pointers per contest. In just 20.1 minutes per game, Simmons also contributed 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 80 percent from the charity stripe. He scored double-digit points 16 times last season, including a career-high 26 points with six three-pointers in a win at Wingate. 

He led the Railsplitters in scoring in their NCAA Southeast Regional loss to Mount Olive with 13 points despite being inhibited by a stomach virus. He also scored 16 points in LMU's win over North Greenville in the opening round of the NCAA tourney. Simmons tallied nine of the Railsplitters' last 11 points, including what proved to be the game-winning three, against Queens in the semifinals of the SAC Championship. 
 
"Both Luquon and Gerel were outstanding last season," Schertz said of his two preseason All-SAC selections. "Lou was in the mix with Lorenza Ross as the SAC Player of the Year last season. He worked hard this summer to diversify his game and he came back as a vastly improved player that can score in a variety of ways. Gerel was our sixth man last year, but he's going to transition into a starting role this season, and I expect him to have a really good year. He's tough and really competes every day, and he has the respect of all of his teammates. The way last season ended left a bad taste in both Luquon and Gerel's mouth, and they've worked hard to make sure that doesn't happen again."
 
The Railsplitters open the season on November 13 at King in the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge. Lincoln Memorial makes its Tex Turner Arena debut on November 19 when they host the Hiwassee Tigers. SAC play begins the following week when Carson-Newman comes calling on November 24.

South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Poll 

Team	Points (First-place votes)
1. Lincoln Memorial	128 (9)
2. Carson-Newman	115 (2)
3. Queens	113 (1)
4. Wingate	97
5. Newberry	93
5. Catawba	93
7. Coker	61
8. Anderson	60
9. Lenoir-Rhyne	57
10. Tusculum	51
11. Mars Hill	30
12. Brevard	27

Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference 
First Team
Carson Brooks, Carson-Newman
Luquon Choice, Lincoln Memorial
Rob Lewis, Queens
Sean Morgan, Queens
Chase Mounce, Tusculum
Charles Clark, Carson-Newman
 
Second Team
Jerrin Morrison, Catawba
Gerel Simmons, Lincoln Memorial
Donte Samuels, Coker
Miles Leathers, Brevard
Will Perry, Lenoir-Rhyne
Javon Price, Tusculum