Southeastern edges out McNeese as favorites in Southland Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll

FRISCO, Texas – In a close vote, Southeastern narrowed out McNeese as the 2023-24 favorites in the Southland Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll announced by the league on Tuesday.

The Lions finished with 144 total points and six first place votes, just narrowly beating out McNeese with 142 total points and six first place votes.

New Orleans was slotted third with 132 total points and three first place votes, while two-time defending Southland Tournament Champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was fourth with 124 points and the remaining five first place votes.

Tournament runner-up Northwestern State was fifth with 84 points, while Nicholls was sixth with 71 points. Texas A&M-Commerce, HCU, Lamar, and UIW rounded out the remainder of the poll.

McNeese’s Christian Shumate and New Orleans’ Jordan Johnson highlighted the preseason all-conference team. Shumate was terrific in the post all season long last year, including a monster performance in the conference tournament, setting a new Southland tournament record for rebounds.

Meanwhile, Johnson is the returning statistical champion in 3-point percentage and comes off an impressive tournament showing of his own. The two stars helped lead McNeese and New Orleans to underdog runs to the semifinals a year ago.

Roger McFarlane of Southeastern, Bonke Maring of HCU, and newcomer Shahada Wells of McNeese join Shumate and Johnson on the first team.

Nick Caldwell of Southeastern, Tyson Jackson of New Orleans, Javohn Garcia of McNeese, Jerome Brewer Jr. of Texas A&M-Commerce, Micah Thomas of Nicholls, and Alec Woodard of Southeastern all earned spots on the second team.

Returning players from the 2023 All-Conference teams are automatically named to this year’s Preseason All-Conference teams at their same positions. Vacant positions are nominated and voted upon by the conference’s head coaches. Voting for one’s own player is not permitted.