FRISCO, Texas – Defending Southland Champion McNeese will tip off its title defense as the conference's preseason favorite for the men's basketball, the league announced Thursday. Head coach Will Wade and the Cowboys received 21 first-place votes and 242 total points, taking the spot.
The Cowboys charged to the Southland Conference title with a program 30 wins, advancing to the First Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
2024 Southland Championship game finalist Nicholls claimed the three remaining first-place votes.
SFA was picked second with 208 points with the Colonels taking 205 points in third. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi reeled in 191 points in fourth while Lamar rounded out the top five with 143 and Southeastern earned 121.
UIW slotted in behind the Lions at 117 with Southland newcomer UTRGV securing 112 and Northwestern State had 90. Both Texas A&M-Commerce and New Orleans finished with 54 and HCU rounded out the final spot.
On the preseason all-conference side, McNeese led the way with five selections and Nicholls had two. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, SFA and UIW all earned one selection.
The Southland Conference preseason poll is voted on by each head coach and men's basketball sports information director. Each voter ranks their predicted order of regular season finish, not including their own team.
PRESEASON POLL
| Place |
Team (First-Place Votes) |
Total |
| 1 |
McNeese (21) |
242 |
| 2 |
SFA |
208 |
| 3 |
Nicholls (3) |
205 |
| 4 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
191 |
| 5 |
Lamar |
143 |
| 6 |
Southeastern |
121 |
| 7 |
UIW |
117 |
| 8 |
UTRGV |
112 |
| 9 |
Northwestern State |
90 |
| T-10 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
54 |
| T-10 |
New Orleans |
54 |
| 12 |
HCU |
48 |
FIRST TEAM
| Name |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown |
| Christian Shumate |
McNeese |
Sr. |
F |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Garry Clark |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Sr. |
F |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Jamal West Jr. |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
F |
Baltimore, Md. |
| Quadir Copeland |
McNeese |
Jr. |
G |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Joe Charles |
McNeese |
Sr. |
F |
Carencro, La. |
SECOND TEAM
| Name |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown |
| Javohn Garcia |
McNeese |
Sr. |
G |
Columbus, Ohio |
| Keon Thompson |
SFA |
Jr. |
G |
Merriville, Ind. |
| Robert Brown III |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
G |
Albany, N.Y. |
| Jalin Anderson |
UIW |
Gr. |
G |
Jackson, Tenn. |
| Brandon Murray |
McNeese |
Sr. |
G |
Germantown, Md. |