Central Oklahoma is projected to win the North Division, while Tarleton State is the choice in the South Division in the annual Lone Star Conference men's basketball preseason polls announced on Wednesday.
UCO finished second in the North Division last season, while Tarleton ended up third in the South Division.
The LSC has 14 teams set to compete this season and the league race should be as close as ever. The season begins on November 15.
Here's a closer look at what the voters had to say about LSC men's basketball in 2007-08:
NORTH DIVISION
Central Oklahoma is the Lone Star Conference North Division preseason favorite after recording a 20-8 overall and 9-3 league mark last season, according to the league's annual men's basketball preseason polls.
The Bronchos have two starters, including All-LSC North first team selection Sam Belt, and five other lettermen back.
UCO collected 16 of 20 first-place votes to finish with 136 total points in the balloting of LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives.
Texas A&M-Commerce was picked second in the poll with a first-place nod and 98 points, followed by Southwestern Oklahoma in third with 90, defending LSC North champion Southeastern Oklahoma in fourth with 85, Northeastern State fifth with 77, Cameron sixth with 40 and East Central seventh with 34.
SOUTH DIVISION
Tarleton State is the Lone Star Conference South Division preseason pick, according to the annual preseason polls.
The Texans finished the 2006-07 season 18-10 overall and 7-5 in the division to advance to the program's sixth straight LSC Postseason Tournament. Reigning LSC South Freshman of the Year Dan Eichel returns in addition to three Division I tranfers.
Tarleton received 12 first-place votes out of the 20 ballots cast by LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives. The Texans tallied 131 total points to finish in front of last year's co-South Champion West Texas A&M.
WTAMU was second in the poll with five first-place votes for 114 total points, while defending LSC Tournament and co-South Division champion Midwestern State was third with three first-place tallies and 98 overall points, followed by Angelo State in fourth with 71, Texas A&M-Kingsville fifth with 64, Eastern New Mexico sixth with 52 and Abilene Christian seventh with 30.
| NORTH DIVISON | 1st | Total | |
| 1 | Central Oklahoma | 16 | 136 |
| 2 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 1 | 98 |
| 3 | Southwestern Oklahoma |
| 90 |
| 4 | Southeastern Oklahoma | 3 | 85 |
| 5 | Northeastern State |
| 77 |
| 6 | Cameron |
| 40 |
| 7 | East Central |
| 34 |
| SOUTH DIVISION | 1st | Total | |
| 1 | Tarleton State | 12 | 131 |
| 2 | West Texas A&M | 5 | 114 |
| 3 | Midwestern State | 3 | 98 |
| 4 | Angelo State |
| 71 |
| 5 | Texas A&M-Kingsville |
| 64 |
| 6 | Eastern New Mexico |
| 52 |
| 7 | Abilene Christian |
| 30 |
7 comments:
Is ACU really going to be that bad?
Chad Simpson
ACU is ALWAYS that bad.
Corbin English
Tarleton sure has a lot of D1 transfers. They must have gotten kicked off their teams or flunked out. I bet they are thugs.
Don Carthel
Don't even think about it Don
Either thugs or white trash hillbillies
Chad Simpson
Since this is basketball, probably not white trash hillbillies
Chad
Last year's senior crop was probably the best ever. Anthony Brown, Eric Babers, Jason Stampley, Lamar Searight, Remi Yusuf, John Davis, Damien Lolar, Eric Dawson, Chad Rickett, Tristian Largent, etc.
This year looks look a crap shoot out of the gate with UCO getting the nod in the North, largely with the return of Sam Belt, and Tarleton in the South, b/c of the transfers and the fact that they are usually at the top.
Not sure if the talent level is as good as last year, but it will be interesting to see how it sorts out. First power poll, and weekly predictions once conference games start.
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