SFA Preseason SLC Favorites

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FRISCO, Texas – Defending Southland Conference regular-season and tournament champion Stephen F. Austin has been named the preseason favorite to repeat in a vote by the league’s coaches and sports information directors, the conference office announced Wednesday.
 
The Lumberjacks are coming off a program-best 32-3 record, including a perfect 18-0 mark in conference play. Stephen F. Austin, which advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament, returns three starters including reigning conference player of the year Jacob Parker. The Lumberjacks earned the No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament and defeated No. 5 VCU before falling to No. 4 UCLA. SFA received 11 first-place votes from the coaches for 143 total points while picking up 10 first-place nods from the SIDs and 144 total points.
 
Northwestern State was picked second in each poll with 129 total points from both the coaches’ and SIDs. The Demons received one first-place vote from the coaches and the final three first-place votes from the SIDs. The Demons are led by junior guard Jalan West, a preseason first-team all-conference selection, and Zeek Woodley, the league’s top freshman last season.
 
Sam Houston State was slotted third followed by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the coaches’ poll with 118 and 115 points, respectively, while the Bearkats and Islanders tied for third in the SID poll with 114 points. A&M-Corpus Christi received the coaches’ remaining first-place vote.
 
Five through 10 in the two polls are identical with McNeese State followed by UIW, Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls, New Orleans and Lamar. Abilene Christian is 11th in the coaches’ poll with Central Arkansas 12th and Houston Baptist 13th. In the SID balloting, UCA is 11th while ACU and HBU tied for the 12th position.
 
Since both Abilene Christian and UIW are their second year of transition into Division I, they will not be eligible for postseason play until 2017-18.
 
The 2014-15 season begins Friday, Nov. 14 with conference play starting up Jan. 3. The 2015 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament will be held March 11-14, at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas, and will feature an eight-team single-elimination format.
   
 

2014-15 Men’s Basketball Preseason Polls
Coaches’ Poll
Place	Team (first place votes)	Total
1.	Stephen F. Austin (11)	143
2.	Northwestern State (1)	129
3.	Sam Houston State	118
4.	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1)	115
5.	McNeese State	96
6.	UIW	76
7.	Southeastern Louisiana	71
8.	Nicholls	68
9.	New Orleans	61
10.	Lamar	50
11.	Abilene Christian	31
12.	Central Arkansas	29
13.	Houston Baptist	27
SID Poll
Place	Team (first place votes)	Total
1.	Stephen F. Austin (10)	144
2.	Northwestern State (3)	129
T3.	Sam Houston State	114
T3.	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	114
5.	McNeese State	98
6.	UIW	78
7.	Southeastern Louisiana	75
8.	Nicholls	64
9.	New Orleans	60
10.	Lamar	47
11.	Central Arkansas	41
T12.	Abilene Christian	26
T12.	Houston Baptist	26

 

 

 

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