CARMEL, Ind. – The Hanover Panthers were picked the favorite to win the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference as part of the 2022-23 preseason poll.
 
Hanover earned the top slot with 80 points overall and eight first place nods. Transylvania claimed second in the preseason poll with two first place votes and 73 points. The Fightin' Engineers of Rose-Hulman took third with 61 points followed by Franklin in fourth with 49 points and Anderson in fifth with 43 points.
 
The Panthers landed three members on the preseason athletes to watch list in junior Max Greenamoyer (Zionsville, Ind.), senior Ty Houston (Union, Ky.) and junior Matt Munoz (Indianapolis, Ind.).
 
As a unit in 2021-22, the Blue and Red led the HCAC in points per game (76.3), scoring margin (10.1), field goal percentage (49.5), and three-point accuracy (41.1).
 
Hanover claimed the top spot last season winning the regular season title and advancing to the HCAC Tournament Championship. The 2021-22 first place finish marks the fourth HCAC regular season crown in the past six seasons.
 
The Panthers open the 2022-23 season on Wednesday, Nov. 9 with a trip to non-conference opponent Spalding. Tipp-off is set for 7:00 PM.