Jacksonville State’s men’s basketball team is picked to finish seventh in Conference USA, according to the preseason rankings voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches.
The preseason poll was announced on Wednesday, along with the preseason All-CUSA team.
Defending CUSA champion Liberty was picked to win the league with 11 of the possible 12 first-place votes. Kennesaw State was picked second and logged one first-place vote.
The Gamecocks finished last year as the CUSA tournament runner-up and made its first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament, but experience major roster turnover after the season ended.
Jax State will have 12 newcomers on its team joining returners Marcus Fitzgerald Jr., Jamar Franklin and Aidan Driggers; Fitzgerald missed all of last season with an injury and Franklin started 14 games before a season-ending injury.
Among notable newcomers for the Gamecocks include 6-foot-6 guard Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, who was selected to the preseason All-CUSA team.
The Louisiana transfer led the Ragin’ Cajuns of the Sun Belt Conference in scoring (14.5 points per game) and rebounding (5.2 rebounds per game) last season. He shot 46% from the field last season as he started 30 of his 33 games played.
Kennesaw State guard Simeon Cottle was chosen as the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year.
Jax State will open its season at home on Monday, Nov. 3, against NAIA Oakwood out of Huntsville.
CONFERENCE USA MEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Liberty (11) – 143 points
2. Kennesaw State (1) – 126 points
3. New Mexico State – 113 points
4. Middle Tennessee – 103 points
5. Louisiana Tech – 82 points
6. Western Kentucky – 79 points
7. Jacksonville State – 67 points
8. UTEP – 66 points
9. Sam Houston – 56 points
10. FIU – 36 points
11. Delaware – 35 points
12. Missouri State – 30 points
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