ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Catawba College men's basketball team was elected to finish fifth in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll released on Thursday morning. Nick Walker earned a position on the Preseason All-SAC First Team and Ibra Athie was highlighted as a player to watch.
The Catawba Indians are coming off their third straight NCAA Regional appearance and the fifth in Head Coach Rob Perron's tenure. The blue and white posted an 18-13 record with a 14-10 clip in SAC play, bowing out of the conference tournament in the semifinal round against eventual NCAA Elite Eight contender Lenoir-Rhyne.
The Bears lead the poll with eight first-place votes, followed by Anderson (two top nods) and Lincoln Memorial who each have a share of the runner-up position. Carson-Newman garnered a No. 1 vote while slotted in fourth, just seven points ahead of fifth-place Catawba.
Walker was named one of seven Preseason All-SAC honorees after putting up numbers solid enough to warrant Third Team All-SAC laurels in 2024-25. The Hattiesburg, Miss., native posted the eighth-most efficient campaign in Catawba history with a 61.8% shooting percentage, ranking 14th nationally, while averaging 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per tilt.
Alongside fellow first-year Catawba Indian in the post, Athie was the squad's most prolific rebounder with 7.4 boards per game including a league-high 3.1 on offense. The Cincinnati product was also productive on the scoring end with 10.0 points per game to log seven double-double performances.
The Catawba Indians travel to Division I George Mason on Tuesday, Nov. 11, for an exhibition matchup in Fairfax, Va., three days before the regular-season opener at Lander.
SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (128, 8 FPV)
T-2. Anderson (109, 3 FPV)
T-2. Lincoln Memorial (109)
4. Carson-Newman (104, 1 FPV)
5. Catawba (97)
6. UVA Wise (86)
7. Wingate (70)
8. Newberry (60)
9. Tusculum (54)
10. Coker (50)
11. Emory & Henry (31)
12. Mars Hill (26)
SAC Preseason All-Conference First Team
Ian Blue, Anderson
Jack Browder, Carson-Newman
Bryce Jackson, Tusculum
Conrad Luczynski, Lenoir-Rhyne
Evan Ramsey, UVA Wise
Nick Walker, Catawba
AJ Wright, Jr., Anderson
