GREENVILLE, SC – Francis Marion University was selected eighth overall in the 2025-26 Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll that was released on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 30).

The Patriots tallied 133 total points in the rankings, which were voted on by the league's head coaches. The defending two-time league champion, UNC Pembroke, was tabbed the unanimous preseason favorite in the Conference Carolinas with 15 first-place votes (institution unable to vote for themselves) and totaling 225 points. Young Harris College received one first-place nod and was picked second overall with 199 points, while Emmanuel University (188) rounded out the top three in the preseason poll.

Chowan University (182) ranked fourth, followed by Barton College (156), King University (153), University of Mount Olive (143), Francis Marion University (133), Lees-McRae College (103), Converse University (101), Belmont Abbey College (95), North Greenville University (74), Southern Wesleyan University (57), Shorter University (44), Erskine College (40), and Ferrum College (27).

Francis Marion head coach Jake Zehnder enters his sixth season with the Patriots and is in his fourth year at the helm of the program. The Patriots feature a revamped roster ahead of the 2025-26 season with 15 newcomers and three returners. Last season, FMU posted a 10-19 overall record with an 8-12 mark in conference play while making an appearance in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.

Graduate student 6-3 guard Farid SaintCyr Jr. returns to the Patriots after missing the entire 2024-25 season due to injury. As a junior, he contributed 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game in 24 contests. Senior 6-5 guard Cole Deptula transfers to FMU after averaging 10.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in two seasons at Young Harris. Francis Marion welcomes back senior 6-1 guard Adonis Cole, who posted a double-double (12 pts, 13 rebs) in the season-opener but also suffered a season-ending injury. During his sophomore season, Cole averaged 5.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 28 games.

The 2025-26 roster includes 11 transfers and four freshmen.

Francis Marion will begin its season by hosting the Conference Crossover in the Smith University Center with its opener against Flagler College on Friday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. The following day, the Patriots face USC Beaufort to close out the season-opening weekend. FMU will play a 28-game schedule and host 15 contests at home.

The 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championships quarterfinals are set for March 6 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on the campus of Wofford College. The semifinals will be contested on March 7, while the finals are scheduled for March 8.