SEGUIN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran has been picked seventh in the SCAC Preseason Poll which was announced Thursday and reflects the votes of the league's head coaches. The Bulldogs finished seventh in the conference standings after going 5-11 in SCAC play in 2022-23.
St. Thomas, who enters the season receiving votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, received six first place votes and totaled 62 points to edge out Trinity - who received two first place votes, for the top spot in the 2023-24 preseason poll. Colorado College was picked third with 48 points, Schreiner - last year's SCAC Tournament champion - was picked fourth while receiving the final first place vote - followed by Centenary, Southwestern and TLU. Dallas and Austin College rounded out the remainder of the poll.
Texas Lutheran was picked sixth in the 2022-23 preseason poll.
Three starters and right lettermen return from the Bulldogs' 2022-23 team, which posted a 10-15 overall record. Returners include All-SCAC standouts Xavier Phillips (Austin/Dripping Springs), Isaac Orozco (Helotes/O'Connor), and Mason Wallace (San Antonio/Judson). Austin Falke and his staff added eight freshmen, including local prospect Carter Lewis (New Braunfels/New Braunfels), and junior transfer Semaj Edwards (Lanham, MD/Oak Hill/Friends University) over the offseason.
Phillips played in 23 games (22 starts) this season - leading the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) and ranking second in steals (33) and third in rebounds (4.0 rpg). Phillips reached double figures in scoring 18 times throughout the 2022-23 season.
Orozco played in all 25 games with 21 starts and led the SCAC in assists (3.3 apg), led the Bulldogs in minutes (27.8 mpg), and steals (43). He registered a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio (82 assists, 48 turnovers) finishing fourth in the SCAC in the category.
Wallace played in all 25 games (five starts) and ranks second on the team in blocks (0.4), third in minutes (26.8 mpg), fourth in scoring (8.6 ppg) and rebounds (3.1 rpg). Wallace reached double figures eight times as a freshman including a career-high 24 points against Centenary.
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Preseason Coaches Poll
1. St. Thomas – 62 (6)
2. Trinity – 53 (2)
3. Colorado College – 48
4. Schreiner – 44 (1)
5. Centenary – 40
6. Southwestern – 27
7. Texas Lutheran – 24
8. Dallas – 17
9. Austin College - 9
