AMERICA SUN: Central Florida narrowly edged Stetson, Jacksonville and Georgia State in the preseason coaches' poll. All four teams received at least two first-place votes. Rounding out the poll were defending tournament champion Mercer in fifth place, Florida Atlantic, Campbell, Gardner-Webb and Belmont.
CAA: William & Mary, which has captured four of the past seven CAA championships, is favored to claim the title once again in 2002. The Tribe received five first-place votes and 75 total points in the coaches poll, while defending CAA champion James Madison was picked second with 66 points. Old Dominion and Virginia Commonwealth both received a pair of first-place votes and were selected third and fourth, respectively. CAA newcomer Towson, the 2002 America East champion, earned one first-place tally and was chosen fifth. Rounding out the poll were George Mason, Hofstra, Drexel, UNC Wilmington and Delaware.
CONFERENCE USA: UAB, which has made three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, has been selected to win the 2002 regular season title. UAB, welcomes back eight returning starters, including preseason All-conference selections Flavio Monteiro and Marin Pusek. Saint Louis, which has earned at least a share of the last four regular-season titles, was chosen second in the preseason poll. The complete preseason poll: 1. UAB, 2. Saint Louis, 3. South Florida, 4. Marquette, 5. Charlotte, 6. Cincinnati, 7. Louisville, 8. Memphis, 9. TCU, 10. East Carolina, 11. DePaul.
HORIZON: Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the 2001 regular-season champion, has been picked to finish first in the coaches' preseason poll. The Panthers received six first-place votes. Butler, the 2001 tournament champion, received two first-place votes. The preseason poll: 1. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2. Butler, 3. Illinois-Chicago 4. Wright State, 5. Detroit, 6. Loyola (Ill.), 7. Wisconsin-Green Bay, 8. Cleveland State.