Men's Basketball | 10/7/2015 1:31:00 PM
WACO, Texas – The Newman men's basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the 2015-16 Heartland Conference men's basketball preseason poll. The poll was determined by the Heartland Conference head basketball coaches and sports information directors.
The Jets received 136 total votes, including one first place vote, to finish seventh.
NU returns two starters from a season ago. Senior guard
Cortrael Colbert and senior forward
James Pegues are back. Key newcomers this year are
Gavin Thurman,
Jalen Love,
Jarvis Williams,
Taylor Schieber,
Andrew Berry,
Daniel Nwosu and
Travis Matthews.
Kevin Bryant will see action this season after sitting out his freshman season in 2014-15.
UA Fort Smith got 14 of the 22 first-place votes to take the top spot in the poll with 218 votes. St. Mary's, which won the conference last season, received 194 votes and three first-place. In third in the poll was Lubbock Christian with 181 votes and one first place vote. St. Edward's totaled 180 votes and one first place for fourth in the poll. In the fifth spot was Rogers State with 154 votes and two first place votes. Texas-Permian Basin got 138 votes for sixth.
Behind the Jets was Dallas Baptist at 99 votes in eighth place. Texas A&M International received 75 votes for ninth. Oklahoma Christian was picked 10th with 55 votes. Oklahoma Panhandle State totaled 22 votes for 11th in the poll.
The 2015-16 year marks the first year the Heartland Conference Tournament will be in Tulsa, Okla. The eight-team tournament is at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center from March 4-6.
The Jets start the 2015-16 season at the Oklahoma Christian Classic on Nov. 13-14. NU plays Cameron on Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City. They continue the start to the season on Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m.
