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MEDIA DAY PRESEASON POLL
- Western Kentucky
- UTSA
- Louisiana Tech
- Old Dominion (tied 4th)
- UTEP (tied 4th)
- UAB
- North Texas
- Middle Tennessee
- Florida Atlantic
- Florida International
- Marshall
- Charlotte
- Rice
- Southern Miss
PRESEASON MEDIA DAY ALL-CUSA TEAM
Devon Andrews – Florida International
Jailyn Ingram – Florida Atlantic
DaQuan Bracey – Louisiana Tech
Antonio Green – Middle Tennessee
Xavier Green – Old Dominion
Zack Bryant – UAB
Jhivvan Jackson – UTSA
Keaton Wallace – UTSA
Taveion Hollingsworth – Western Kentucky
Charles Bassey – Western Kentucky
COMMENTS FROM DAVID. C-USA is definitely a UTR conference, but last year ended a four-year streak where the managed to put a team into the Round of 32. So, it’s probably better than what it typically gets credit for.
Western Kentucky absolutely out-talented everyone else in the league last year, but an abundance of off-court distractions made it difficult for them to consistently play at a high level. With four starters back, they once again probably have the most talent in the conference, and truth be told they should be good enough to make a splash on the national scene if they can hold it together, but inconsistency seemed to be one of the motifs from last season, and that will have to change this year if the Toppers want to end up inside the bubble.
What head coach Steve Henson has done at UTSA has been nothing short of remarkable. This was a program that was routinely winning less than five games a year when he arrived. They managed a winning record last year, tied for second place in the conference, and have four starters coming back. They are no longer a doormat. In fact, they are quite fun to watch, and if WKU can’t hold it together it wouldn’t shock me if this team finished in first place.
I’m a little shocked there isn’t more love for North Texas. Those of you that follow UTR know that there was a point where they were 20-4, looked to be one of the best teams in the league, and there were even some rumblings of them landing on the bubble. Injuries hurt them late in the year, but with three starters back, this team should do A LOT better than what the coaches and media are predicting. Hell, if I had a vote, I’d have the Mean Green in THIRD place!!
LA Tech had a rather unspectacular season last year, but they did finish the season looking a lot better than they looked in November, and with four starters back they should be able to be one of the better teams in the conference last year.
Old Dominion won last year’s CUSA Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they fell to Purdue. They are in somewhat a rebuilding mode with just two starters back, but they should get some help from a key JUCO transfer, as well as from some guys who saw quality minutes last year.
UTEP has already played an exhibition game against Texas Tech…and won it! Now, the number one rule of exhibition games is to not take them into account, but still there is an indication that UTEP is no longer the dregs of the conference like they were in the final days of the Tim Floyd era. Four starters are back from last year’s team. The problem is they won just six D-1 games last season, so I’m a little surprised the media and coaches seem to like them as much as they do. Then again, they already beat Texas Tech, so…
UAB won 20 games for the fourth time in five years last year (albeit not all of them were against D-1 teams). But with just one starter back, the Blazers are kind of in rebuilding mode and may have trouble reaching that mark this year.
After a remarkable three-year run where Middle Tennessee made the Round of 32 twice, and cracked the top-25 late in the season in a third year, they won just 11 games a year ago and are seemingly a long way away from getting back to where they had it. They were playing a little bit better at the end of the year and have three starters back, along with a couple of key transfers.
Florida International got off to a great start last year, and actually ended up winning 20 games. With four starters back, I’m a little surprised they weren’t shown a little more love in the preseason polls.
Florida Atlantic has three starters back, but what they really need is an infusion of upgraded talent. They were plagued with injuries last year, so they should be better if they stay healthy.
Marshall also returns three starters from a team that won 23 games. Dan D’Antoni has done a fantastic job with this program and it wouldn’t shock me if they were once again playing at a high level down the stretch. He’s also the best dresser in the conference, and perhaps in all of college basketball!
Charlotte, Rice, and Southern Miss will likely be battling it out just to make the C-USA Tournament.