OFFICIAL ODAC ANNOUNCEMENT

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Hampden-Sydney College has been picked first in the 2023-24 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. It's the first time that the Tigers have been voted preseason number one in the ODAC since prior to the 2003-04 season. The Garnet & Grey earned 140 points, including eight first-place votes among the 13 conference schools. H-SC completed 2022-23 with a final record of 22-7, its finest season in 10 years, while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament—only its fourth 20-win season in 20 years.

"We are excited about returning so much of last year's team, but we certainly don't assume that our experience guarantees us anything," said fifth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough, also the reigning ODAC Coach of the Year. "We have a confidence and sense of urgency in our approach to practice, and we will continue to work to get the most out of this group. This will be a fun team to watch!"

H-SC is followed closely in the preseason poll by four-time defending ODAC Tournament Champion Randolph-Macon College in second place with 135 points, including the other five first-place votes. Guilford (NC) College was picked third with 122 points, followed by Virginia Wesleyan University (104), Washington and Lee University (102), Roanoke College (96), Bridgewater College (65), Shenandoah University (63), Averett University (51), Ferrum College (48), the University of Lynchburg (45), Eastern Mennonite University (23) and Randolph College (20).

The Tigers return 14 team members from last season, including all five starters, while adding seven newcomers for this year. Returning starters include fifth-year Ryan Clements (Conyers, GA), along with seniors Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC), Josiah Hardy (Ashburn), Davidson Hubbard (Charlotte, NC) and DJ Wright (Greensboro, GA). In addition, fifth-years Miles Harris (Virginia Beach) and Chase Turner (Virginia Beach), senior Alex Elliott (Marietta, GA) and junior Ayman McGowan (Memphis, TN) each played 10-plus minutes per game, while Elliott earned some starts, as well.

Hubbard, a 6-5 forward, started 28 games while averaging team-highs of 14.6 points and 9.0 rebounds—leading the ODAC in rebounding and double-doubles (14, 20th nationally). He was a First Team All-ODAC selection a year ago, as well as being named Second Team All-District 6 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Second Team All-Region 6 by D3hoops.com. Brazil, a 5-10 guard and a Second Team All-ODAC selection, started all 29 games while averaging 11.4 points and a team-best 3.3 assists, along with a team-best 61 three-point field goals and 41 steals. Clements, a 6-3 guard and a Third Team All-ODAC selection, also started all 29 games while averaging 11.4 points and 4.3 rebounds with 40 steals. Wright, another 5-10 guard, started 24 games while averaging 9.2 points with 41 three-pointers. Hardy, a 6-6 guard/forward, started all 29 games, as well, while averaging 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. Elliott, a 6-4 guard, started five games while averaging 6.9 points and 4.2 rebounds, while McGowan, another 6-4 guard, averaged 5.0 points with 35 three-pointers.

The 22 overall wins a year ago, and the 14 ODAC wins (14-2), are the most under Kimbrough since he took over prior to the 2019-20 season, and also the program's highest win totals since 2012-13 (23-5, 14-2)—the last previous season that H-SC had advanced to the NCAA Tournament, as well. Coach Kimbrough, also last year's NABC District 6 Coach of the Year, is aided once-again this season by fifth-year assistant coach Bryson Gibson and second-year assistant coach Carson Long.

H-SC will open the campaign at home in a highly-anticipated non-conference contest against defending Division III National Champion Christopher Newport University on Wednesday, November 8, at 7 p.m. in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House. The Tigers and Captains split two games last season with H-SC winning 85-70 on December 13, 2022 in Newport News, and CNU winning 72-59 on March 4 in Fleet Gym during the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

2023-24 ODAC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
(#) denotes first place votes received

1. Hampden-Sydney College (8)	140 pts.
2. Randolph-Macon College (5)	135 pts.
3. Guilford College	122 pts.
4. Virginia Wesleyan University	104 pts.
5. Washington and Lee University	102 pts.
6. Roanoke College	96 pts.
7. Bridgewater College	65 pts.
8. Shenandoah University	63 pts.
9. Averett University	51 pts.
10. Ferrum College	48 pts.
11. University of Lynchburg	45 pts.
12. Eastern Mennonite University	23 pts.
13. Randolph College	20 pts.