The Covenant men's basketball team will enter the 2019-20 season as the preseason favorite in the USA South West Division, as the conference unveiled its annual preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday.
Each divisional preseason poll only includes votes from coaches within that particular division-only. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.
Coming off a historic season last year, Covenant picked up six of the seven first place votes in the West Division and totaled 36 points in the poll.
The Scots return four starters, including the reigning USA South Player of the Year in junior forward Will Crumly, for a squad that went 18-9 overall and claimed a regular season division title with a 16-2 USA South record.
Berea, LaGrange, and defending tournament champion Maryville all tied for second in the poll with 25 points. Berea garnered the final first place vote. Piedmont, Huntingdon, and Brevard rounded out the rankings.
In the East Division, Methodist was tabbed as the favorite with 23 points and three first place votes. N.C. Wesleyan received two first place votes and 20 points, while Averett picked up a first place tally and had 19 points.
Covenant plays in an exhibition at Chattanooga on Saturday at 2 p.m. The regular season begins on Nov. 8.