University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville Men's Basketball Picked Fifth in Big South Preseason Poll
10.14.2026 | Men's Basketball
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team has been selected to finish fifth in the 2026-27 Big South Conference Preseason Poll, as announced by the league Wednesday (Oct. 14) during Big South Basketball Media Day at The Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City, Tennessee.
The Bulldogs received 43 points in the preseason voting, including two fourth-place votes, four fifth-place votes, two sixth-place votes and one seventh-place vote.
High Point was selected as the preseason favorite, earning seven of the nine first-place votes and 79 total points. Presbyterian followed in second with the remaining two first-place votes and 69 points, while Winthrop (57) and Longwood (54) rounded out the top four.
UNC Asheville was picked fifth, followed by Radford (34), Charleston Southern (33), USC Upstate (21) and Gardner-Webb (15).
The Bulldogs will open Big South Conference play on Friday, Jan. 1, on the road against USC Upstate before returning to Kimmel Arena for their conference home opener against Winthrop on Sunday, Jan. 3.
2026-27 Big South Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
| 1 | High Point (7) | 79 |
| 2 | Presbyterian (2) | 69 |
| 3 | Winthrop | 57 |
| 4 | Longwood | 54 |
| 5 | UNC Asheville | 43 |
| 6 | Radford | 34 |
| 7 | Charleston Southern | 33 |
| 8 | USC Upstate | 21 |
| 9 | Gardner-Webb | 15 |
First-place votes in parentheses.
UNC Asheville will begin its 2026-27 campaign on Monday, Nov. 2, with a road contest at Richmond before returning to Kimmel Arena for its home opener against Erskine on Wednesday, Nov. 4, as part of the Bulldogs' After School Basketball Doubleheader. Tickets for the Nov. 4 home opener are $5 for K-12 students and $11 for adults. All UNC Asheville students, faculty and staff receive free admission.
Fans can also get an early look at this year's Bulldogs during the Bulldog Block Party on Friday, Oct. 16, from 5–8 p.m. at Reed Plaza on the UNC Asheville campus. The free, family-friendly event will feature opportunities to meet the men's and women's basketball teams, live music, games, giveaways and more as the Bulldogs gear up for the 2026-27 season.
To purchase tickets for the season, click here.
