SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference men's basketball honors were announced today, with Wofford picked to finish third by the league's 11 head coaches. Chace Watley and Cam Lowe were selected to the Preseason All-SoCon Team.
 
"I'm really excited to get the season underway here soon," said head coach Kevin Giltner. "We have a long way to go, but we love the effort and attitude this group brings day in and day out. Any recognition we get in the preseason is much appreciated; however, we know it doesn't mean a whole lot until we prove it. I'm proud of Chace and Cam, but they too know this is just a testament to what they have done in the past and that there is work to be done this year! This league is full of great players, great coaches, and great schools and we are so thrilled to get the ball in the air and compete."
 
Chace Watley, a sophomore guard out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, picks up the nod after appearing in all 32 games with 15 starts last season. Watley totaled 309 points in his freshman campaign to place fourth on the team. He leads all returners from last year's team in points, assists (43) and steals (18). Watley finished the year with 79 made free throws – the most by a freshman since Jackson Paveletzke made 117 during the 2022-23 season. He scored a career-high 19 points against ETSU. Watley reached double-digit scoring totals 16 times last season.
 
A redshirt-junior out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Cam Lowe spent the last two seasons at Division II Black Hills State. In 2025-26, Lowe averaged 17.4 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting with a 39.5 percent mark from three-point territory. Lowe also averaged 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The 6-6 guard was named an NABC Division II All-American after leading his team to a 30-5 record and an Elite Eight appearance. Lowe posted 28 double-digit scoring performances, including 15 games with 20 or more points. He scored a career-high 31 points on 12-of-15 shooting against Colorado Mesa. Lowe ranked 20^th in all of Division II last season with 92 total three-pointers.
 
Wofford will open the 2026-27 season with a Homecoming Exhibition against Virginia Tech on Friday, October 16, at 5:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.
 
The regular season begins with road games against both Tennessee and North Carolina on Tuesday, November 3, and Friday, November 6, respectively. The 2026-27 home opener is set for Sunday, November 8, against Division II Allen University.
 
2026-27 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)              Total
1.           Furman (10)                      100
2.           ETSU (1)                              86
3.           Wofford                               78
4.           Samford                              70
5.           Chattanooga                    59
6.           Tennessee Tech               57
7.           Mercer                                47
8.           Western Carolina           41
9.           VMI                                      32
10.         The Citadel                       21
11.         UNCG                                 14
 
2026-27 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year
Rickey Bradley Jr, Sr., G, VMI
 
2026-27 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team
BJ Ward, Sr., G, ETSU
Marcus Kell, Gr., F, Furman
Charles Johnston, 5th, F, Furman
Brady Shoulders, Jr., G/F, Mercer
Cooper Noard, 5th, G, Samford
Tate Darner, So., G, Chattanooga
Rickey Bradley Jr, Sr., G, VMI
TJ Johnson, Sr., F, VMI
Cam Lowe, R-Jr., G, Wofford
Chace Watley, So., G, Wofford