ATLANTA – Defending champion Berry garnered five of a possible eight first-place votes to secure the top spot in the inaugural SAA men's basketball preseason poll. The Vikings earned 56 total points to best a second-place tie between Hendrix and Oglethorpe, both of whom earned a first-place vote, by 5 points in the ranking. Birmingham-Southern received the other No. 1 nod and rounded out the top half of the field with 46 points.

The league's men's basketball coaches voted on the poll, each predicting the season's eventual order of finish 1-8. A first-place vote garnered a team 8 points, a second-place vote netted them 7 points, a third-place vote 6, etc.

The 2021-22 men's basketball season kicks off this weekend.

The full 2021-22 SAA men's basketball preseason rankings are as follows:

1. Berry (5) 56 pts

2. Hendrix (1) 51

3. Oglethorpe (1) 51

4. Birmingham-Southern (1) 46

5. Centre 30

6. Rhodes 22

7. Millsaps 18

8. Sewanee 14

For more information on the Southern Athletic Association, please visit www.SAA-Sports.com