ELON, N.C. – The Colonial Athletic Association announced its preseason poll on Thursday, Oct. 28, with Elon University men's basketball tabbed to finish sixth. The Phoenix had two student-athletes earn preseason all-conference honors in Hunter McIntosh (1^st Team) and Jerald Gillens-Butler (Honorable Mention).
 
Elon earned a total of 202 points in the poll, including one first-place vote. Delaware was chosen as the preseason favorite with 296 points and 19 first-place votes, followed by Northeastern with 246 points and seven first-place votes. Drexel (234 points; five first-place votes), James Madison (224 points, three first-place votes) and Hofstra (211 points; one first-place vote) rounded out the top five.
 
An All-CAA second team honoree last season, McIntosh started in all 19 games for the Phoenix, leading the team in scoring at 15.7 points per game. The Snellville, Ga. native finished the year top-3 in the conference in threes made per game (2.74) and three-point percentage (35.6). McIntosh also earned a spot on the CAA All-Tournament team for his performance during the 2020-21 CAA Championship Tournament.
 
Gillens-Butler enters this year following a season in which he averaged 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game prior to being injured in Elon's third game. Butler shot over 50 percent from the floor in his three appearances, while logging season-highs in points (19) and rebounds (9) against N.C. Wesleyan.
 
Elon opens its 2021-22 season on Nov. 9 with a big road matchup against Florida in Gainesville. That matchup is slated for an 8 p.m. tip and will be streamed live on SEC Network. Following that contest, the Phoenix is slated to take on Randolph College in its home opener on Nov. 12, at 7 p.m at Schar Center.
 
A reminder for Phoenix fans that season tickets for the upcoming year are on sale now. Courtside season tickets are on sale for $210, Combo tickets are available for $190 and Club-level seats can be purchased for $335. General season tickets are also on sale for $170 (men's). Fans can purchase season tickets by visiting ElonTickets.com. Premium parking spaces are also available on a season-long basis through the Elon Ticket Office. For men's basketball games, this includes Hunt A and Hunt B reserved parking lots with allocation being based on Phoenix Club priority points. For more information about how to obtain a season-long parking pass for the 2021-22 basketball season, contact the Elon Ticket Office at (336) 278-6750.
 
A full look at the 2021-22 preseason all-conference information is included below.
 
Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Delaware 296 (19)
2. Northeastern 246 (7)
3. Drexel 234 (5)
4. James Madison 224 (3)
5. Hofstra 211 (1)
6. Elon 202 (1)
7. Charleston 148
8. Towson 93
9. UNCW 64
10. William & Mary 62
 
Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Camren Wynter, Drexel
 
Men's Basketball Preseason All-CAA
First Team
James Butler, Drexel
Hunter McIntosh, Elon
Dylan Painter, Delaware
Jalen Ray, Hofstra
Camren Wynter, Drexel
 
Second Team
Ryan Allen, Delaware
Connor Kochera, William & Mary
Vado Morse, James Madison
Jahmyl Telfort, Northeastern
Shaquille Walters, Northeastern
 
Honorable Mention:
Kevin Anderson, Delaware; Kvonn Cramer, Hofstra; Jerald Gillens-Butler, Elon; John Meeks, Charleston; Takal Molson, James Madison; Jameer Nelson Jr., Delaware; Mike Okauru, UNCW; Jaylen Sims, UNCW