McNeese Basketball Tops Southland Preseason Poll

Frisco, Texas - In a little less than a month, crossover season will be in effect. The McNeese Cowboys are set for another high-expectation season of hoops in Lake Charles. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the Southland Conference for the fourth year in a row.

League coaches and sports information directors released the preseason poll Tuesday and voted on it.

Southland Conference Releases 26-27 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

McNeese received 11 of the 12 first-place votes. The Cowboys were not allowed to vote for themselves. Stephen F. Austin finished second in the poll, followed by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Lamar.

2026-27 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

1. McNeese 121 (11)
2. SFA 109
3. A&M-Corpus Christi 98 (1)
4. Lamar 91
5. UTRGV 78
6. LSU New Orleans 68
7. HCU 47
8. Northwestern State 45
9. Southeastern 38
10. Nicholls 37
11. UIW 36
12. East Texas A&M 24

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McNeese Looking To Keep Success Rolling in 2026-27

The "Bayou Bandits" have been one of the most successful teams in college basketball over the past three seasons. McNeese has gone 86-17 during that stretch, including a 55-5 record in conference play. The Cowboys have also been especially tough at home, posting a 48-1 record at Townsley Law Arena over those three seasons. Their 86 wins tie Purdue for the seventh-most among all Division I programs during that span.

Last season, McNeese finished with a 28-6 record and went 19-3 in conference play. The Cowboys then beat Stephen F. Austin 76-59 in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game to win their third straight title and earn another trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Now, McNeese has a chance to make more history.

The Cowboys are trying to become only the second team in Southland Conference history to win four straight tournament titles. Louisiana-Monroe was the last team to do it, winning four in a row from 1990 through 1993.

To keep the winning ways going, it helps when you're able to bring back the Conference's best player from last season. McNeese is bringing back Southland Freshman of the Year, Larry Johnson, who made history last season by scoring 592 points, setting a new McNeese freshman scoring record. That broke a record held by former NBA star Joe Dumars for 44 years.

The Cowboys will also return Jerrell Colbert and Carl Cherenfant, who played regular roles on last year's team.

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McNeese Basketball Newcomers

Along with returning talent, McNeese has added several new players who could make an impact this season.

Armstrong brings a loaded roster into this season, highlighted by the return of Freshman of the Year Larry Johnson and six high-major transfers: Dellquan Warren (Mississippi State), Elijah ‘Choppa’ Moore (Utah), Corey Chest (Ole Miss), Christian Nitu (Washington), Jaylen Dean-Vines (Vanderbilt), and Ailer Maluk (Florida State).

McNeese will begin the season on the road against UAB on Tuesday, November 2nd.