GREENVILLE, S.C. – Following a successful 2024-25 season that saw the UNC Pembroke men's basketball team reach the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history, the Braves have been picked as a preseason favorite for the 2025-26 Conference Carolinas title with the release of the Conference Carolinas Coaches Poll on Thursday. 
 
The Black & Gold picked up 15 first place votes and a total of 225 points in the release. Young Harris was picked to finish second with the only other team earning a first place vote and tallied 199 points, while Emmanuel rounded out the top-3 with 188 total points. 
 
Points are awarded on a 15-14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, and coaches are not permitted to vote for their own teams. 
 
The Braves won their second consecutive Conference Carolinas Championship last season and made a historic postseason run. UNCP is receiving votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches preseason poll. 
 
The Black & Gold finished last season ranked second in the nation for rebound margin averaging 10.3 more board over their opponents. 
 
UNC Pembroke will open the season on November 14 on the road at USC Aiken. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. 

Teams	Total (First Place Votes)
UNC Pembroke	225 (15)
Young Harris	199 (1)
Emmanuel	188
Chowan	182
Barton	156
King	153
Mount Olive	143
Francis Marion	133
Lees-McRae	103
Converse	101
Belmont Abbey	95
North Greenville	74
Southern Wesleyan	57
Shorter	44
Erskine	40
Ferrum	27