NEW ORLEANS – The Texas State men's basketball team was chosen to finish 10th in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the league office on Monday.
 
Overall, the Bobcats received 72 points to finish ahead of Georgia State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern and ULM, respectively. Finishing just ahead of TXST was Arkansas State (9th) and Troy (8th).
 
Texas State is coming off a 16-win campaign and ended last season with a run to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Tournament. Six players are back from the squad in fifth-year seniors Drue Drinnon and Tyrel Morgan, senior Dylan Dawson, junior Brandon Love and sophomores Jordan Maso and Davion Sykes.
 
Among the eight newcomers are Division I transfers Coleton Benson (Army West Point), Chris Nix (UT Martin) and Christian Turner. Also bringing D1 experience is Elijah Tate, who played a season at UAB, and Joshua O'Garro, who played a season at Oklahoma and San Jose State. Other new players on the roster are junior Dontae Horne and freshmen Ryan Bolton and Kaden Gumbs.
 
The Bobcats will open the regular season on Nov. 6 at Little Rock with tip set for 7 p.m. The home opener takes place Nov. 17 against I-35 rival UTSA. Get tickets at txst.com/tickets.
 
2023-24 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (7) – 176
2. App State (2) – 159
3. Old Dominion (1) – 154
4. Southern Miss – 148
5. Louisiana (2) – 136
6. South Alabama (2) – 129
7. Marshall – 119
8. Troy – 91
9. Arkansas State – 84
10. Texas State – 72
11. Georgia State – 69
12. Coastal Carolina – 59
13. Georgia Southern – 42
14. ULM – 32
 
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