Jan. 25, 2011

click here for coaches' preseason All-Southland team

Two-time defending regular-season champion Texas State is again the favorite in the Southland Conference, in voting by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors, as released by the conference office.

The Bobcats received nine first-place votes and 118 points by the coaches and eight first-place votes and 112 points by the SIDs. Texas State returns 20 letter-winners, including six position starters and 12 pitchers. The Bobcats were 23-10 in league play in 2010 and 38-22 overall.

Southeastern Louisiana was second in both polls, earning two first-place votes from the SIDs and one from the coaches. The Lions were the only Southland team to reach 40 wins a season ago.

Defending tournament champion Lamar was third in the coaches’ poll and fourth in the SID poll. The Cardinals were 35-26 overall in 2010, but just 16-17 in conference play.

Northwestern State was voted third by the SIDs and fourth by the coaches. The Demons finished second in the Southland a season ago at 22-10, with a mark of 36-21 overall.

Stephen F. Austin was picked fifth in the coaches’ poll, followed by McNeese State, Sam Houston State, UTSA, UT Arlington, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Nicholls and Central Arkansas.

The 2011 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 18. The first weekend of conference competition is March 4-6, as Texas State visits Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a three-game series. All 12 teams will have conference sets the following weekend. The 2011 Southland Conference Tournament will be hosted by Texas State on May 25-28 at the Bobcat Baseball Stadium in San Marcos, Texas.

Southland Preseason Poll - Coaches

Team, Points (First Place) (2010 Southland, Overall Records)

1. Texas State, 118 (9) (23-10, 38-22)

2. Southeastern Louisiana, 99 (1) (21-12, 40-19)

3. Lamar, 96 (1) (16-17, 35-26)

4. Northwestern State, 91 (1) (22-10, 36-21)

5. Stephen F. Austin, 82 (20-12, 34-20)

6. McNeese State, 69 (16-17, 31-27)

7. Sam Houston State, 61 (11-22, 19-36)

8. UTSA, 56 (13-20, 22-28)

9. UT Arlington, 53 (19-14, 29-31)

10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 27 (10-22-1, 20-33-1)

11. Nicholls, 21 (15-18, 27-29)

12. Central Arkansas, 19 (10-22-1, 19-35-1)

Southland Preseason Poll – Sports Information Directors

Team, Points (First Place) (2010 Southland, Overall Records)

1. Texas State, 112 (8) (23-10, 38-22)

2. Southeastern Louisiana, 103 (2) (21-12, 40-19)

3 Northwestern State, 97 (2) (22-10, 36-21)

4 Lamar, 92 (16-17, 35-26)

5. Stephen F. Austin, 81 (20-12, 34-20)

6. McNeese State, 64 (16-17, 31-27)

6. UTSA, 64 (13-20, 22-28)

8. Sam Houston State, 58 (11-22, 19-36)

9. UT Arlington, 53 (19-14, 29-31)

10. Nicholls, 25 (15-18, 27-29)

10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 25 (10-22-1, 20-33-1)

12. Central Arkansas, 18 (10-22-1, 19-35-1)