McNeese Selected First in Southland Preseason Poll

The Cowboys received 11 of 12 first-place votes following a strong 28-6 campaign last season.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball

McNeese Selected First in Southland Preseason Poll

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Southland Conference coaches and sports information directors have voted McNeese as the top team in the 2026-27 men's basketball preseason poll. The Cowboys enter the year following a 28-6 finish in the 2025-26 season.

Why it matters

The poll results underscore the program's recent dominance, as the team looks to build on its momentum after securing a conference tournament championship win last year.

McNeese holds a dominant 86-17 record over the last three seasons and an elite 48-1 record at Townsley Law Arena during that span. Last season, the team secured the conference title with a 76-59 victory over Stephen F. Austin.

The players

McNeese Cowboys

The McNeese men's basketball team represents McNeese State University in Lake Charles and competes in the Southland Conference.

Larry Johnson

A standout basketball player for McNeese who established a new freshman scoring record for the program during the 2025-26 season.

Stephen F. Austin

A rival institution within the Southland Conference that finished second in the recent preseason basketball poll.

The details

The program has bolstered its lineup by adding six transfers from high-major programs to complement an experienced core. Star player Larry Johnson, who set a freshman scoring record with 592 points last season, returns to lead the roster in Lake Charles.

October 20, 2026: Preseason poll results were released.
November 2, 2026: McNeese begins the season against UAB.

Season Trajectory

McNeese is attempting to cement a legacy of dominance in the Southland Conference that rivals historical benchmarks like the 1990-1993 Louisiana-Monroe tournament title streak. A strong start this year is vital to maintaining the program's top-seed positioning for postseason play.

The high number of first-place votes establishes McNeese as the team to beat in conference championship projections. With the roster expansion featuring six high-major transfers, fans should watch for shifts in the team's primary scoring distribution compared to last year's performance.

The takeaway

The preseason ranking highlights the high expectations surrounding the Cowboys as they transition into the new season. Implementing the new transfer additions effectively will be key to matching or exceeding last year's 28-win performance.