Fayetteville, N.C. - The USA South Athletic Conference has released its preseason coaches polls for men's and women's basketball.  North Carolina Wesleyan's men received a 4th-place billing among 11 league institutions, while the Bishop women were tabbed 8th in their respective poll.

In men's basketball, veteran head coach John Thompson enters his 20th season at the helm of Wesleyan's program. He returns a trio of starters and 12 letterwinners from last year's 13-13 squad that posted an 8-6 league mark, and he hopes his returners will compliment a talented crop of nine newcomers. Thompson's biggest task lies in replacing All-Conference performer Josh Morrison, who ranked third in the league in scoring at 19.0 points per game in 2013-2014. Also of note, the Bishops will also boast a new-look coaching staff this season thanks to the sideline additions of Nigel Thomas and former Bishop David Gurganus.

Topping the men's poll was Maryville College, who was tabbed the preseason favorite after collecting ten first place votes and 100 points overall. Averett University was second in the poll with 82 points, followed by Ferrum College and Wesleyan with 76 and 73 points, respectively.

On the women's side, head coach Artina Trader enters her sixth season with her alma mater. The 2014-2015 season features a roster that includes seven returners, two of which started last season, as well as nine newcomers. Leading her returners is last year’s USA South Rookie of the Year Kenyata Harris, who averaged 13 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a freshman.

Elsewhere around the league, Ferrum was picked to be the top team in the North Division, while Maryville headed up the South Division. In the overall voting, Maryville was tabbed the preseason favorite with eight first place votes and 140 overall points.

Both N.C. Wesleyan's men and women will kick off their 2014-2015 slate the weekend of November 14-16. The Bishop men travel to Division I East Carolina University on Friday, the 14th, for an exhibition with the Pirates slated to tip-off at 7:00pm. The Bishop women open the following day with their second annual Jean Edge Classic, which features their season opener versus Hollins at 7:30pm. Classic play concludes on Sunday with a 3:30pm match-up with Emory & Henry.

To view the complete USA South coaches poll in each sport, please visit www.usasouth.net.