ATLANTA, GA (November 8, 2023) – Maryville College's men's basketball team has been unanimously selected as the preseason favorite with 36 points to claim the 2023-24 Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Men's Basketball Championship. After a stellar 2022-23 season finishing with a 18-8 overall record and a commanding 10-2 conference mark, the Scots were predicted to finish first as voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Maryville Scots made history by securing the inaugural CCS men's basketball championship, celebrating their first-ever title. Despite a mixed start with a 6-6 non-conference record and 2-2 in the CCS, the Scots finished the season with an 8-0 streak and clinched the conference championship with consecutive home victories, concluding the season with an 18-8 overall record and 10-2 in league play.
The Belhaven Men's Basketball team's tournament journey concluded last season with an appearance in the CCS Championship Game. Despite being the lower seed in the tournament, they were narrowly defeated by the inaugural champions, Maryville College, with an 84-74 score. Belhaven finished last season with a 15-12 overall record and a 7-5 performance in conference regular season play. Remarkably, the Blazers defied last season’s preseason expectations that had them finishing last, earning the No. 2 seed in the tournament, and securing impressive victories over conference opponents to reach the tournament final.
LaGrange, boasting an impressive 24 points, secured the third position in the preseason poll. The Panthers secured a notable 62-54 victory over Covenant during the inaugural CCS tournament and closed out the 2022-23 campaign with a 16-11 overall record and a 7-5 mark in league play that was good for third in the CCS.
Berea’s men's basketball program had a successful 2022-23 season, finishing with a 15-11 record, including a 7-5 mark in league play, earning the team a tie for fourth in this year's preseason poll. The Mountaineers achieved significant recognition with two All-Conference First Team selections, including returner Trey Minter, and their new head coach, Austin Newton, was named the 2022 CCS Coach of the Year. Coach Newton made an impressive collegiate coaching debut, more than doubling the team's win total from the previous season and leading them to their first winning season since 2016-17. The team excelled in various statistical categories, ranking second in steals, second in free throw percentage, and fourth in scoring defense in conference contests, with Minter leading in scoring and assists, averaging 20.0 points and 3.0 assists per game.
The Piedmont Lions completed the 2022-23 season with a 13-14 overall record, including a 5-7 mark in the conference and have been voted to finish tied for fourth this year. Last season, they had an impressive run in the CCS tournament, advancing to the semifinals with a thrilling double-overtime victory over Berea. Their season ended in the semifinals at the hands of eventual CCS Champions, Maryville. Senior Ryan Jolly received All-CCS First Team honors for leading the league in assists and being a key contributor in various statistical categories, while Devin Dean and Noah Reardon both earned Second Team CCS All-Conference recognition.
Huntingdon locks in the sixth position after last season concluded with a close matchup in the first round of the CCS Tournament, where they faced Belhaven. The game was tightly contested, ending with a one-possession score of 72-69 in favor of the Blazers, resulting in the Hawks' exit from the tournament.
In a journey of resurgence, Covenant rounds off this year's preseason poll at the esteemed seventh position.
Conference play kicks off on Tuesday, January 2, with several conference teams taking to the court. Follow all the CCS basketball action with updated scores, schedules at standings at
www.collegiateconferenceofthesouth.com.
The 2023-24 CCS Men’s Basketball Championship opens on Tuesday, February 20 and is capped by the championship game on Saturday, February 24, hosted by the highest seeded team.
A look at the 2023-24 CCS Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll:
2023-24 CCS Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| 1. |
Maryville |
36 points (6) |
| 2. |
Belhaven |
30 points (1) |
| 3. |
LaGrange |
24 points |
| 4. |
Piedmont |
20 points |
| 5. |
Berea |
19 points |
| 6. |
Huntingdon |
10 points |
| 7. |
Covenant |
8 points |
Note: First place points in parentheses.
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH (CCS)
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Berea College, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
Follow all things #CCSMBB and #CCSWBB on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram at @ccofsouth for all the latest news around the league.