FOREST, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg men's basketball team checks in as the fifth-ranked team in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, announced by the conference office on Wednesday.

Randolph-Macon headlines this year's preseason poll with 121 points and 11 first place selections. Meanwhile, the race for second was separated by one point. Virginia Wesleyan notched 104 to narrowly edge Roanoke's 103, despite the Maroons receiving the sole remaining first place nod. Hampden-Sydney rounded out the top four with 96 total points.

Lynchburg slots in the ODAC preseason poll as the highest ranked team outside of the national rankings with 81 points. The first top-25 ranking, released by D3hoops.com, placed Randolph-Macon atop the ODAC school's at No. 2, followed by No. 10 Roanoke, No. 14 Virginia Wesleyan, and No. 17 Hampden-Sydney. 

The Hornets enter the 2025-26 season after recording 14 wins and ultimately falling in OT of the ODAC semifinal last year. Lynchburg returns 78% of their total scoring offense from a season ago, lead by All-ODAC guard Michael Gray. Hilliary Scott and company bring in seven newcomers, five freshman, one transfer, and DeAndre Ross after a season hiatus. 

The 2025-26 season unofficially begins tonight, Nov. 5, in an exhibition on the road against Queens. Meanwhile, the first regular season game is set for Friday, Nov. 7, against Catholic at the Hood College Tournament.

    MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL

1. Randolph-Macon College (11)    121 pts.
2. Virginia Wesleyan University    104 pts.
3. Roanoke College (1)    103 pts.
4. Hampden-Sydney College    96 pts.
5. University of Lynchburg    81 pts.
6. Shenandoah University    64 pts.
7. Guilford College    58 pts.
8. Washington and Lee University    58 pts.
9. Averett University    34 pts.
10. Bridgewater College    33 pts.
11. Randolph College    26 pts.
12.  Eastern Mennonite University    14 pts.

Visit Lynchburg athletics' home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network.

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