ASHEVILLE N.C. – Wofford seniors Messiah Jones and B.J. Mack were both selected to the 2022-23 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team on Wednesday. The announcement came at the 2022-23 Men's and Women's Basketball Media Day at Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, N.C. The conference team selections are voted on by the league's coaches. The Terriers were also selected to finish fifth in the SoCon in both the coaches and media polls.
 
Coaches are not allowed to select their own teams or student-athletes as part of the voting process.
 
"We have a highly motivated group that is looking forward to the start of the season in a few weeks," said head coach Jay McAuley. "No one has worked harder or prepared for that moment more than our two seniors, Messiah Jones and BJ Mack.  Not only are they highly respected in our locker room but also throughout our league and I couldn't think of two more deserving student-athletes to be recognized than these two."
 
Mack, an All-SoCon Second Team selection last season, started in all 32 games for the Terriers a season ago. He led the team averaging 16.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while finishing second in the SoCon in field goal percentage (53.6%) and fifth in scoring. Mack also led the team from 3-point range (44.8%) and shot 81.8% from the free-throw line.
 
Mack scored double figures in 29 contests, including the last 21 games, while recording six double-doubles. He tallied a career-high 28 points and 13 rebounds at Gardner-Webb and averaged 17.5 points and 10 rebounds in the 2022 SoCon Tournament, earning a selection to the SoCon All-Tournament Team.
 
Jones started in the opening five games last season before suffering a season-ending injury. He averaged 9.4 points and 3.8 rebounds while reaching double figures in three of those five contests, including a 16-point performance at Clemson. The 2020-21 season saw Jones average 10.3 points while leading the team in rebounding. He finished second in blocks (10) and field goal percentage (64.7%) in 2020-21. Jones was named to the 2019-20 All-SoCon Freshman Team.
 
"Messiah and BJ have played in a lot of big games and have impacted winning for quite some time," McAuley said. "They have each dealt with their own adversity that has only made them stronger leaders and competitors in a league filled with terrific talent.  This experience that they bring to the table will be essential for our newcomers to lean on."
 
The SoCon also announced the coaches and media polls for the upcoming season, with Wofford being selected fifth in both polls. The last time the Terriers were selected fifth in both polls was in the 2020-21 season, when Wofford went 12-5 in SoCon play finishing second in the standings only a half-game behind UNCG.
 
The Terriers finished 19-13 last season (10-8 SoCon), with the team reaching the SoCon Quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Chattanooga. Wofford opens the 2022-23 campaign on Monday, November 7 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium when the team hosts Bob Jones at 7:00 p.m.
 
 
 
Preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year
Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
 
Preseason All-Southern Conference team
Jordan King, Jr., G, ETSU
Mike Bothwell, 5th, G, Furman
Jalen Slawson, 5th, F, Furman
Logan Dye, Sr., F, Samford
Ques Glover, Jr., G, Samford
Jermaine Marshall, Jr., F            , Samford
Bubba Parham, Sr., G, Samford
Jake Stephens, Gr., C, Chattanooga
Messiah Jones, Sr., F, Wofford
B.J. Mack, Sr., F/C, Wofford
 
Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1^st-place votes)  Points
1. Furman (6)                78
2. Samford (4)               74
3. UNCG                      63
4. Chattanooga              60
5. Wofford                   41
6. ETSU                       40
7. Mercer                      39
8. Western Carolina       29
9. The Citadel               17
10. VMI                       9
 
Preseason Media Poll
Team (1^st-place votes)  Points
1. Furman (18)              263
2. Chattanooga (3)         231
3. Samford (5)               223
4. UNCG (1)                 201
5. Wofford                   168
6. ETSU                       138
7. Mercer (1)                 137
8. Western Carolina       79
9. The Citadel               57
10. VMI                       43