The USA South Athletic Conference's men's basketball coaches have released their 2026-27 preseason poll. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.
N.C. Wesleyan was placed atop the rankings thanks to receiving 49 total points and seven of the possible eight first place votes. The Battling Bishops are the defending USA South Tournament champions, capturing the program's six title last winter. N.C. Wesleyan finished second during the regular season with a League record of 11-3. Greensboro placed second in the poll with 38 points and the final first place vote. Methodist was right behind in third with 36 points as the defending USA South Regular Season champions, Pfeiffer, rounded out the top-four of the poll with 32 points.
The 2027 USA South Men's Basketball Tournament will once again be conducted exclusively on campus sites. The top-six seeded teams will advance to postseason play which will begin with first round action on Tuesday, February 23. The semifinals will take place Thursday, February 25 with the finals occurring on Saturday, February 27. The higher-seeded team in each contest will serve as the host of that particular game. In last season's tournament final, second-seeded N.C. Wesleyan defeated top-seeded Pfeiffer, 84-79.
| 2026-27 USA South Coaches Preseason Men's Basketball Poll |
| Rank |
Institution (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
N.C. Wesleyan^ (7) |
49 |
| 2. |
Greensboro (1) |
38 |
| 3. |
Methodist |
36 |
| 4. |
Pfeiffer* |
32 |
| 5. |
Southern Virginia |
28 |
| 6. |
Mary Baldwin |
17 |
| 7. |
Brevard |
14 |
| 8. |
William Peace |
10 |
*Defending Regular Season Champion
^Defending Tournament Champion |
All-Time Men's Basketball Conference Records
(listed by wins of current Conference members) |
| Team |
Seasons |
Record |
Pct. |
Conference Championships
(Reg. Season / Tournament) |
| N.C. Wesleyan |
63 |
432-384 |
.529 |
10 / 6 |
| Methodist |
63 |
414-401* |
.508 |
11 / 8 |
| Greensboro |
60 |
360-426 |
.458 |
3 / 3 |
| William Peace |
13 |
80-106 |
.430 |
0 / 0 |
| Pfeiffer |
8 |
66-48 |
.579 |
2 / 2 |
| Mary Baldwin |
5 |
39-31 |
.557 |
1 / 1 |
| Brevard |
8 |
37-73 |
.336 |
0 / 0 |
| Southern Virginia |
5 |
35-35 |
.500 |
0 / 0 |
| *Methodist (and Averett) played one-fewer conference game during the 1976-77 season. |