AMERICUS, Ga. — Georgia Southwestern State University received 37 points and was picked ninth of 11 schools in the 2026-27 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball preseason coaches poll released Tuesday afternoon.
The Hurricanes enter their second season under head coach
Kevin O'Connor after finishing 16-13 overall and seventh in the PBC with a 9-11 conference record last year.
Senior guard
Markel Freeman and junior forward
Abrahm Driver return from that team. Freeman started all 29 games last season, averaging 9.7 points and 4.0 rebounds while making 43 3-pointers. Driver appeared in 14 games.
Marcus Black was also on the roster last season, but was unable to play due to injury. This year's 15-player roster features 12 newcomers.
Defending conference regular-season champion Lander led the poll with 99 points and nine first-place votes. Columbus State was second with 86 points, followed by Flagler with 74 and North Georgia with 69.
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Lander (9) |
99 |
| 2 |
Columbus State (1) |
86 |
| 3 |
Flagler |
74 |
| 4 |
North Georgia |
69 |
| 5 |
USC Beaufort |
63 |
| 6 |
USC Aiken (1) |
60 |
| 7 |
Augusta |
43 |
| 8 |
GCSU |
42 |
| 9 |
Georgia Southwestern |
37 |
| 10 |
Middle Georgia |
20 |
| 11 |
Clayton State |
12 |
( ) First-place votes
