DALLAS – Jax State was picked to finish eighth in CUSA by the league's head men's basketball coaches the league announced on Thursday. 
 
In the team's inaugural season as members of Conference USA, Jacksonville State placed eighth, turning in a 14-18 record (6-10 CUSA) before falling to FIU in the first round of the conference tournament. 
   
Louisiana Tech was selected to win the league while Western Kentucky and Sam Houston were selected to finish second and third, with each team being separated by just two voting points. Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston each received three first-place votes while WKU picked up two. 
 
Middle Tennessee and Liberty each had one first-place vote. 
 
Jax State will be led by returners Mason Nicholson and Marcellus Brigham Jr. while also expecting an immediate impact from several transfers, including Jaron Pierre Jr..
  
Louisiana Tech's Daniel Batcho was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year. Liberty, MTSU and WKU each had two members on the Preseason All-Conference Team while four other teams had one member. 
  
Preseason Poll (first-place votes)
1. LA Tech (3) – 87
2. WKU (2) – 85
3. Sam Houston (3) – 83
4. MTSU (1) – 69
T5. Liberty (1) – 62
T5. UTEP – 62
7. NM State – 39
8. Jax State – 29
T9. FIU – 17
T9. Kennesaw State – 17
  
Preseason Player of the Year
Daniel Batcho, F, LA Tech
  
Preseason All-Conference Team
Zach Cleveland, F, Liberty
Kaden Metheny, G, Liberty
Daniel Batcho, F, LA Tech
Jestin Porter, G, MTSU
Camryn Weston, G, MTSU
Christian Cook, G, NM State
Lamar Wilkerson, G, Sam Houston
Otis Frazier III, F, UTEP
Tyrone Marshall Jr., F, WKU
Don McHenry, G, WKU