DALLAS – UAB has been voted by the league’s 14 head coaches as the preseason favorite to win the 2021-22 Conference USA men’s basketball regular season championship, the league announced Thursday, Additionally, 11 student-athletes were named as C-USA Preseason All-Conference honorees, seven of which were on the 2021 All-Conference teams last season.
UAB collected eight first-place votes and finished with a total of 190 points. The Blazers, led by Andy Kennedy, return four starters from last year’s squad that finished second in the West Division with a 13-5 record. UAB will see Preseason All-Conference selection and junior
Tavin Lovan back on the court alongside graduate
Michael Ertel, junior Trey Jemison and
graduate Quan Jackson. Lovan averaged 12.2 points and 4.0 rebounds while posting a team-high 66 assists a year ago which helped him garner 2021 C-USA All-Conference second team honors. Additionally the Blazers welcome in eight talented transfers for the 2021-22 season.
Louisiana Tech earned the runner-up spot with six first-place votes to finish with 184 points. The Bulldogs feature a squad led by 2021 C-USA Freshman of the Year and 2021-22 C-USA Preseason All-Conference selection
Kenneth Lofton, Jr. Lofton, who was named to the 2022 Karl Malone Award Preseason Watch List, averaged 12.1 points and 7.5 rebounds last year, added nine double-doubles and posted 23 blocks and 33 steals. He’s joined on the court by fellow Preseason All-Conference honoree
Isaiah Crawford. The third-year sophomore forward was a first team All-Conference selection a year ago after averaging 11.8 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Ten of the league’s 14 teams were represented on the Preseason All-Conference honoree list including a pair of first team All-Conference selections a year ago in
Charlotte junior Jahmir Young and
Marshall senior Taevion Kinsey. Young averaged 18.0 points per night a year ago which ranked fourth in the league. Kinsey, who was named to the 2022 Jerry West Award Preseason Watch List, led Marshall with 19.5 points and 6.2 rebounds last season.
Joining Lovan, Lofton, Young, Kinsey and Crawford on the 11-player list are 2021 All-CUSA Third Team selections
Quincy Olivari (Rice) and redshirt junior guard
Souley Boum (UTEP) along with senior guard
Josh Anderson (WKU), junior forward
Tyler Stevenson (Southern Miss), senior forward
Thomas Bell (North Texas) and junior forward
Kalu Ezikpe (Old Dominion).
The 2021-22 campaign tips off Tuesday, Nov. 9, and culminates in the 2022 Conference USA Basketball Championships March 8-12 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The men’s final is scheduled for Saturday, March 12, to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
MBB Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. UAB (8) – 190 points
2. Louisiana Tech (6) – 184 points
3. WKU – 162 points
4. Marshall – 147 points
5. Old Dominion – 130 points
6. North Texas – 124 points
7. Charlotte – 110 points
8. Rice – 104 points
9. Florida Atlantic – 84 points
10. UTEP – 82 points
11. UTSA – 48 points
12. Southern Miss – 42 points
13. FIU – 36 points
14. Middle Tennessee – 28 points
MBB Preseason All-Conference Honorees
Jahmir Young, Charlotte, JR, G
Taevion Kinsey, Marshall, SR, G
Kenneth Lofton, Jr. LA Tech, FR, F
Josh Anderson, WKU, SR, G
Quincy Olivari, Rice, SO, G
Tyler Stevenson, Southern Miss, JR, F
Tavin Lovan, UAB, JR, G
Souley Boum, UTEP, R-JR, G
Thomas Bell, North Texas, SR, F
Kalu Ezikpe, Old Dominion, JR, F
Isaiah Crawford, LA Tech, SO, F