McNeese MBB Picked to Finish Second in Southland Preseason Poll, Three Players Named to Preseason Teams

KINDER, La. (KPLC) - The McNeese Men’s Basketball team enters the 2023-24 season with higher expectations than they’ve had in years with the addition of Head Coach Will Wade, and several players through the transfer portal as well. However, despite their impressive offseason the Pokes were picked to finish second in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll, behind only the Southeastern Louisiana Lions.

Southland Conference Preseason Poll:

Team	First Place Votes	Total Points
1. Southeastern Louisiana Lions	6	144
2. McNeese Cowboys	6	142
3. New Orleans Privateers	3	132
4. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi	5	124
5. Northwestern State	0	84
6. Nicholls Colonels	0	71
7. Texas A&M - Commerce Lions	0	66
8. Houston Christian Huskies	0	50
9. Lamar Cardinals	0	45
10. Incarnate Word Cardinals	0	42

The Preseason All-Conference teams were released on Tuesday as well as the Pokes had two players named to the first team, and another player named to the second team.

Southland Conference Preseason First Team:

Position	Name	School	Class
Forward	Christian Shumate	McNeese	Jr.
Guard	Jordan Johnson	New Orleans	Sr.
Guard	Roger McFarlane	Southeastern	Jr.
Center	Bonke Maring	Houston Christian	Sr.
Guard	Shahada Wells	McNeese	Gr.

Southland Conference Preseason Second Team:

Position	Name	School	Class
Guard/Forward	Nick Caldwell	Southeastern	Sr.
Forward	Tyson Jackson	New Orleans	Sr.
Guard	Javohn Garcia	McNeese	Jr.
Forward	Jerome Brewer Jr.	Texas A&M - Commerce	So.
Guard	Micah Thomas	Nicholls	Sr.
Guard	Alec Woodard	Southeastern	Gr.