GREENVILLE, SC – Francis Marion University was selected seventh overall in the 2026-27 Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll that was released on Thursday morning (Oct. 29).
The Patriots totaled 129 total points in the rankings, which were voted on by the conference head coaches. UNC Pembroke, who captured the East Division in each of the last three seasons, was selected as the preseason favorite in the Conference Carolinas with nine first-place votes (institutions unable to vote for themselves) and tallied 219 points. Fellow divisional foe Chowan University (201) was slotted second overall and garnered four first-place nods. Young Harris College collected the final three-place votes and 197 points to round out the top three in the preseason poll.
Emmanuel University (172) ranked fourth, followed by North Greenville University (158), Barton College (150), Francis Marion University (129), University of Mount Olive (115), Southern Wesleyan University (103), Belmont Abbey College (102), King University (99), Converse University (95), Ferrum College (61), Lees-McRae College (53), Shorter University (51), and Erskine College (15).
Francis Marion head coach
Jake Zehnder enters his seventh season with the Patriots and is in his fifth year at the helm of the program. The Patriots welcome back nine returnees of the 2025-26 roster, while introducing nine newcomers (six transfers, three freshmen). Last season, FMU posted a 7-22 overall record with a 7-13 mark in conference play while making an appearance in the First Round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
Senior guard
Kennard Davis returns for the Patriots after averaging 12.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 3.2 rebounds, while converting 87.8 percent (72-of-82) from the free-throw line. The Maryland native did miss a portion of last season due to injury but competed in 16 games with 14 starts. Redshirt senior 6-foot-1 forward
Adonis Cole is one of the most experienced collegiate players on the roster after playing 73 games for the program. In 2025-26, he averaged 9.1 ppg and 6.1 rpg, while boasting a .482 field percentage in 28 contests. Junior forward
Clyde Mauldin also returns to the lineup; he averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg after making 28 appearances with 17 starts.
Newcomers included three freshmen and six transfers – including the sophomore guard duo of
Camryn Pacheco (3.5 ppg, 1.5 apg, 1.4 rpg) and
Da'Ron Dunbar (3.9 ppg, 1,4 rpg), who both transferred from Augusta University. Also, joining the Patriots this season is 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman guard
TJ Lewis, who transfers in from USC Upstate.
The Patriots open their season on Monday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. when they host Morris College in a non-conference contest in the Smith University Center.
The team's 2026-27 schedule consists of 28 games, including 16 home contests and a 20-game conference slate.
The 2027 Conference Carolinas Men's and Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinals are set for Friday, March 5, at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The semifinals will be contested on Saturday, March 6, while the men's and women's basketball finals are scheduled for Sunday, March 7.
