BEARS PICKED FIFTH IN SLC PRESEASON POLL
https://ucasports.com/news/2019/10/10/mens-basketball-bears-picked-fifth-in-slc-preseason-poll.aspxWow......really? Who gave 1st place ballots? We have not seen that kind of BB love in a long time...Go Bears!!
CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears were picked fifth in the Southland Conference preseason men's basketball poll released Thursday by the league office.
The Bears received four first-place votes, for the first time since joining the SLC, and 180 total votes. Five teams received at least one first-place vote, including top pick New Orleans (13), No. 2 Sam Houston State (7), No. 4 Stephen F. Austin (1) and No. 6 Lamar (1). New Orleans was picked first with 270 votes, followed by last year's regular-season champion SHSU (251) and last year's SLC Tournament champion Abilene Christian (220). SFA was fourth, followed by UCA, Lamar, McNeese, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Houston Baptist, Southeastern Louisiana, Nicholls, Northwestern State and Incarnate Word.
The Bears are coming off their third consecutive trip to the Southland Conference Tournament and return four of their top five scorers from last season. That includes preseason All-SLC selections DeAndre Jones, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Boise, Idaho, and Hayden Koval, a 7-foot center from Prosper, Texas.
Sophomore forwards Eddy Kayouloud and Khaleem Bennett also return as UCA's No. 4 and 5 scorers from a year ago, along with senior Aaron Weidenaar, juniors Jared Chatham and Brandon Vanover, sophomore SK Shittu and redshirt freshman Jaxson Baker. Newcomers include guards Rylan Bergersen _ a transfer from BYU _ Collin Cooper, Lewis McDaniel and Masai Olowokere, along with center Jonas Munson.
UCA opens the regular season on Nov. 5 at Baylor in Waco, Texas. The Bears' first home game at the Farris Center is set for Nov. 7 against Hendrix College.
SLC PRESEASON POLL
School (First-place votes) Total
1. New Orleans (13) 270
2. Sam Houston State (7) 251
3. Abilene Christian 220
4. Stephen F. Austin (1) 214
5. Central Arkansas (4) 1806. Lamar (1) 163
7. McNeese 158
8. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 147
9. Houston Baptist 129
10. Southeastern La. 113
11. Nicholls 101
12. Northwestern State 46
13. Incarnate Word 36