IRVING, Texas – Following a 27-11 record and spirited NIT semifinal run in March, WKU was chosen the 2018-19 Conference USA men’s basketball preseason favorite in the league’s annual poll by the head coaches.



2018-19 MBB Preseason Poll WKU (9) Marshall (5) Old Dominion North Texas UTSA Louisiana Tech Southern Miss UAB Middle Tennessee FIU UTEP Florida Atlantic Charlotte Rice

2018-19 MBB Preseason Team

Jon Davis, Charlotte

Daquan Bracey, Louisiana Tech

Jon Elmore, Marshall

C.J. Burks, Marshall

Roosevelt Smart, North Texas

Ahmad Caver, Old Dominion

B.J. Stith, Old Dominion

Zack Bryant, UAB

Jhivvan Jackson, UTSA

Taveion Hollingsworth, WKU

Desean Murray, WKU

Jon Davis, CharlotteDaquan Bracey, Louisiana TechJon Elmore, MarshallC.J. Burks, MarshallRoosevelt Smart, North TexasAhmad Caver, Old DominionB.J. Stith, Old DominionZack Bryant, UABJhivvan Jackson, UTSATaveion Hollingsworth, WKUDesean Murray, WKU

The Hilltoppers improved by 12 wins in head coach Rick Stansbury’s second year at the helm, which included wins against the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 conferences. WKU was the only program outside the “Power 5” to accomplish that feat. Representing WKU on the league’s annual preseason team are sophomore standout Taveion Hollingsworth and Auburn graduate transfer Desean Murray.



Marshall placed second in the preseason poll with five first-place votes. Hot off a C-USA Championship crown and NCAA Tournament round-of-32 appearance, head coach Dan D’Antoni returns multiple key pieces from his record-setting 2017-18 squad, including outstanding senior guard Jon Elmore and his junior back-court running buddy C.J. Burks.



Rounding out the top three is Old Dominion. The Monarchs led the league in scoring defense (62.8), field goal percentage defense (.407) and scoring margin (+10.5) en route to a 25-7 (15-3, C-USA) record and a C-USA Championship semifinal appearance. ODU is represented on the preseason squad by dependable seniors Ahmad Caver and B.J. Stith.



C-USA will begin its 24th men’s basketball campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 6, and the season will culminate with The Air Force Reserve 2019 Conference USA Basketball Championships presented by Baylor Scott & White Sports Performance Center at The Star, March 13-16 in Frisco, Texas. C-USA will serve as host for the second year in a row with the league’s championship final set for Saturday, March 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network.