The Francis Marion University men's basketball team has been picked to finish sixth according to the 2023-24 Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches' Poll.

UNC Pembroke, winner of the past two regular-season titles, was inserted as the preseason favorite, garnering 10 first-place votes and 166 total points.  Emmanuel University (Ga.) was second with the remaining four first-place votes and 160 total points.  Conference newcomer Young Harris College (132 points) was picked third, followed by Belmont Abbey College (120), Barton College (117), FMU (106), Converse University (98), Chowan University (93), Lees-McRae College (87), University of Mount Olive (55), King University (54), North Greenville University (38), Southern Wesleyan University (34), and Erskine College (14).

Second-year FMU head coach Jake Zehnder returns seven letterman, including three starters, from last season's 14-14 squad that placed seventh in the final regular season standings. The returning starters consist of All-Conference swingman Bryce Beamer (16.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg), senior guard Tionne Rollins (15.9 ppg, 4.3 apg) and part-time starters Farid SaintCyr Jr. (8.2 ppg 2.1 rpg) and Adonis Cole (3.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg).

Among the key newcomers are 6-4 junior swingman Ibrahim Wattara (Miami Dade College), 6-5 senior forward Marlow Gilmore Jr. (Western Carolina University), 6-6 junior forward Niko Noumeros (Santa Fe College), and freshman point guard Horaces Jacques Jr. (Orangeburg High School for Health Professions).

The Patriots open their season on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 5:30 p.m. when they face Emory & Henry College as part of the Conference Carolinas/South Atlantic Conference Challenge in Emory, Va.  FMU will play Lenoir-Rhyne University on Sunday at 5 p.m. to conclude the two-day event. 

Due to on-going renovations to the Smith University Center, Francis Marion will play its first 10 contests on the road before hosting Converse University on Monday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m.

The team's 2023-24 slate consists of 26 games, including nine home contests and an 18-game conference slate.

The 2024 Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championships will get underway on Sunday, March 3, and Monday, March 4, at on-campus sites.  The quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals are set for March 8, 9, and 10 at Wofford College's Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg.

The poll was voted on by the conference head coaches.
 
 
2023-24 Conference Carolinas
Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
 
No.  School (first-place votes)        Total
1.   UNC Pembroke (10)                166
2.   Emmanuel (4)                         160
3.   Young Harris                           132
4.   Belmont Abbey                       120
5.   Barton                                    117
6.   Francis Marion                        106
7.   Converse                                  98
8.   Chowan                                    93
9.   Lees-McRae                             87
10. Mount Olive                              55
11. King                                         54
12. North Greenville                        38
13. Southern Wesleyan                  34
14. Erskine                                    14