Noard Named Preseason All-SoCon; Samford Voted Fourth in Preseason Poll
10.7.26 | Men's Basketball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Samford men's basketball team was voted to finish fourth in the Southern Conference preseason poll, while fifth-year senior guard Cooper Noard was named on the Preseason All-SoCon team.
Noard joins the Bulldogs after a solid senior season at Cornell, where he led the Ivy League in scoring (18.2 ppg) and three-pointers made (80). Noard was efficient, shooting 50-percent from the floor and 37.6-percent from beyond the arc. Noard was named Second Team All-Ivy League and Second Team NABC Division One All-North Atlantic District.
Samford garnered 70 points to earn the No. 4-spot in the preseason poll, voted on by the league's coaches. Last season, Samford finished in a three-way tie for second in the league with an 11-7 record in SoCon play.
Furman earned the top spot with 100 points and ten of the 11 first-place votes. ETSU followed behind with 86 points and the one other first-place vote, while Wofford rounded out the top three with 78 points. Following Samford were Chattanooga (59), Tennessee Tech (57), Mercer (47), Western Carolina (41), VMI (32), The Citadel (21), and UNCG (14).
Samford opens the regular season in the Pete Hanna Center on Monday, Nov. 2, against Berry. The Bulldogs will also play in three exhibition contests, starting with the Ballin in Boutwell game against Alabama A&M on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
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2026-27 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Total
1. Furman (10)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 100
2. ETSU (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 86
3. Wofford                                 78
4. Samford                                 70
5. Chattanooga                         59
6. Tennessee Tech                  57
7. Mercer                                  47
8. Western Carolina                 41
9. VMIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 32
10. The Citadel                         21
11. UNCGÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14
2026-27 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year
Rickey Bradley Jr, Sr., G, VMI
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2026-27 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team
BJ Ward, Sr., G, ETSU
Marcus Kell, Gr., F, Furman
Charles Johnston, 5th, F, Furman
Brady Shoulders, Jr., G/F, Mercer
Cooper Noard, 5th, G, Samford
Tate Darner, So., G, Chattanooga
Rickey Bradley Jr, Sr., G, VMI
TJ Johnson, Sr., F, VMI
Cam Lowe, R-Jr., G, Wofford
Chace Watley, So., G, Wofford
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FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS
For the latest news and information on Samford men's basketball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordMBB (Twitter), and @SamfordMBB (Instagram).
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Noard joins the Bulldogs after a solid senior season at Cornell, where he led the Ivy League in scoring (18.2 ppg) and three-pointers made (80). Noard was efficient, shooting 50-percent from the floor and 37.6-percent from beyond the arc. Noard was named Second Team All-Ivy League and Second Team NABC Division One All-North Atlantic District.
Samford garnered 70 points to earn the No. 4-spot in the preseason poll, voted on by the league's coaches. Last season, Samford finished in a three-way tie for second in the league with an 11-7 record in SoCon play.
Furman earned the top spot with 100 points and ten of the 11 first-place votes. ETSU followed behind with 86 points and the one other first-place vote, while Wofford rounded out the top three with 78 points. Following Samford were Chattanooga (59), Tennessee Tech (57), Mercer (47), Western Carolina (41), VMI (32), The Citadel (21), and UNCG (14).
Samford opens the regular season in the Pete Hanna Center on Monday, Nov. 2, against Berry. The Bulldogs will also play in three exhibition contests, starting with the Ballin in Boutwell game against Alabama A&M on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
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2026-27 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Total
1. Furman (10)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 100
2. ETSU (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 86
3. Wofford                                 78
4. Samford                                 70
5. Chattanooga                         59
6. Tennessee Tech                  57
7. Mercer                                  47
8. Western Carolina                 41
9. VMIÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 32
10. The Citadel                         21
11. UNCGÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 14
2026-27 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year
Rickey Bradley Jr, Sr., G, VMI
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2026-27 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team
BJ Ward, Sr., G, ETSU
Marcus Kell, Gr., F, Furman
Charles Johnston, 5th, F, Furman
Brady Shoulders, Jr., G/F, Mercer
Cooper Noard, 5th, G, Samford
Tate Darner, So., G, Chattanooga
Rickey Bradley Jr, Sr., G, VMI
TJ Johnson, Sr., F, VMI
Cam Lowe, R-Jr., G, Wofford
Chace Watley, So., G, Wofford
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FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS
For the latest news and information on Samford men's basketball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordMBB (Twitter), and @SamfordMBB (Instagram).
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Players Mentioned
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