The Griffins experience should help them this season as they return all five starters and nine players from last year's squad that went 14-12 overall, finishing tied for 2nd in the conference with a 12-6 record. Anthony Jones exploded as a sophomore last year, with a team leading 18.2 points per game. While Jones makes his name on the offensive end his teammate Caden Clark does it on the defensive end; earning All-Defensive team honors last year. A trio of forwards in Elijah Rice, Noah Coddington, and Gus Kleekamp round out the Griffins starting lineup. Rice and Coddington both averaged at least nine points last season, while Kleekamp shot 52-percent from the field. The trio also finshed as the top three rebounders on the team. Head Coach Lance Thornhill is excited about the potential of newcomers Dalton Fox and Brent Wagner.

The Blue Jays came in second on the poll with 38 total points, receiving two first-place votes. It will be an interesting team makeup for head coach Matt Mitchell, with a roster that features just three seniors; one of which is new to the program. He does however have a core of junior players that will determine the success of the team. Heading up the junior class is All-Conference guard Landon Harrison. In his first season with the team last year, Harrison averaged 17.9 points per game led the team with 75 assists. His backcourt partner, Ethan Thompson is one of the league's top outside threats, knocking down 88 triples and averaging 15.9 points per game. Forward Jaxon Althaus gives the team an inside presence, averaging 17.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last year. Emil Spriggs, a senior, averaged 9.4 points per game and was second on the team in steals. Top newcomers include Ian Smith and freshmen Braedon Wetrich and Tre Kempker.

Greenville received 36 points and two-first place votes, tying for 3rd on the preseason poll. The Panthers will have a new look this year after losing nearly 90-percent of their scoring from last season. Head Coach George Barber returns six players from last year's team that finished 14-13 overall. Guard Henry Johnson is the team's leading returning scorer, averaging 13.9 points per game last season. Kam Vinsel was third on the team last year with 71 three-pointers, averaging 9.8 points per game. Dustin Bankowski played in all 27 games for the Panthers last season and finished with a near 2-1 assist to turnover ratio while adding 46 steals. Among the group of newcomers that will work into the rotation are Melo Ball, KC Cooley, and Ralph Jalnaiz.

Defending champion Webster picked up 36 points, tying for 3rd on this year's poll. The Gorloks graduated a pair of All-Conference performers but will turn to forward Rodson Etienne and guard Wynne Brown Jr. to fill those roles. Etienne, a Second Team All-Conference pick last year, averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 63-percent from the field. Brown Jr. averaged 13.2 points per game last year to earn SLIAC Newcomer of the Year but took his game up a notch even further in the postseason, earning SLIAC Tournament MVP honors. Also back are Ethan Hughes and Javane Nugent. Some of the new players that head coach Chris Bunch will count on are Mark Moore, a high school conference Player of the Year, as well as Jason Coleman and Markus Becton.

Blackburn came in at #5 on the poll with 24 total points. The Beavers have made three straight trips to the postseason but will have to do it now without one of the program's all-time players; Karson Hayes. Chanz Aldridge, the league's 6th Man of the Year, will look to increase his scoring from 12.0 points per game last season. Swing man Cristian Wagner averaged 8.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season while guards Bryson Kirby and Javon Stovall both averaged over 9.0 points per game. David Lopez gives head coach Austin Kirby yet another perimeter scoring option. Jarrius Burnett arrives on campus after being named All-Region during his last two years of high school ball while Payton Krager and transfer Mystikal Suggs should figure into key roles as well.

After narrowly missing last year's conference tournament, Eureka is 6th on the poll with 22 total points. Head Coach Chip Wilde brings back three starters but the two losses are All-Conference forwards Dakota Bennington and Jordan Dehm. Ian Milsteadt is the team's top returning scorer, putting up 11.3 points per game last season. Guard Chris Daniels averaged 7.5 points per game last season while Jalen Hosea averaged 6.2 points per game and dished out 63 assists. Jaedon Banks, a 6'9" center, will look to use that size to his advantage. Top newcomers are Jordan Brooks, Charlie McKinty, and Lane Thompson.

Iowa Wesleyan totaled 13 points, finishing 7th on the poll. The Tigers have one of the top players in the league to build around in forward Jarryd Fernandes. Fernandes averaged 14.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last year, leading the league in both rebounding an field goal percentage (.699). He earned Third Team All-Conference honors last season and along with forward Alex Dentlinger gives the Tigers two of the top inside players in the SLIAC. Dentlinger averaged 12.9 points per game and hit on 61 three-pointers last season. Kaleb Cresswell and Marvin Saintolien will operate the guard positions. Jared Arellano, a junior transfer, and freshman Shawn Lafrance will be counted on during the year to provide quality minutes.

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