LA Tech picked third in C-USA Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team proved the coaches wrong last season, being picked seventh and finishing second.

The Bulldogs will look to do the same this season as they were tabbed third in the 14-team Conference USA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, announced by the league office on Friday.

LA Tech received two first-place votes and were picked behind only Middle Tennessee and UAB, two teams the Dunkin’ Dogs will face off against twice this upcoming season.

The Bulldogs overcame two season-ending injuries to seniors during non-conference play last year to go 14-4 in league play, finishing second in the standings, and ultimately advancing to the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament.

They have finished in the top three in C-USA each of the four years of being in the league, the only team to do so.

LA Tech returns eight letterwinners, including three starters – senior Jacobi Boykins, sophomore DaQuan Bracey and junior Derric Jean, from last year’s roster. Boykins and Bracey were two of the 10 players selected to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team.

The Bulldogs will have six newcomers in the fold, including redshirt freshman JaColby Pemberton, junior college transfers Harrison Curry and Kyle McKinley and three true freshmen in Amorie Archibald, Exavian Christon and Anthony Duruji.

Middle Tennessee got eight first-place votes while UAB received four. Behind LA Tech in the preseason poll are (in order) Old Dominion, UTEP, WKU, Marshall, Charlotte, UTSA, Southern Miss, North Texas, Florida Atlantic, Rice and FIU.

LA Tech opens up the 2017-18 schedule on Friday, Nov. 10 at home against UT Tyler. It is one of 16 games set to be played inside the Thomas Assembly Center.

Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at 318-257-3631 or emailing techtickets@latech.edu.

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