NEW ORLEANS — The defending Sun Belt Conference champion Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball team was picked to finish in a tie for second-place, while seniors JaKeenan Gant and Marcus Stroman each claimed early honors as the league office released its 2018-19 Preseason Poll on Thursday.

UL, which finished 27-7 last season and 16-2 in SBC play, received 125 points in a vote by the league’s head coaches and was picked to finish in a tie for second-place with Georgia Southern. Defending SBC Tournament champion Georgia State was picked to finish first in the preseason poll after earning all 12 first-place votes.