2026–27 Southland Men's Basketball Preview: McNeese Sets the Standard, but the Chase Has Depth

2026-10-23

The Southland has a clear measuring stick and a less settled chase. McNeese brings back Larry Johnson, adds a collection of high-major transfers and enters as the three-time defending conference tournament champion. Stephen F. Austin won last season's regular-season title, while Texas A&M–Corpus Christi has assembled a roster with several different ways to score. The most interesting question is how quickly the rebuilt teams behind them become functional units.

All 12 programs return to a 22-game conference schedule, with every team playing the other 11 at home and away. League play opens December 3 and runs through March 1. New Orleans now competes as LSU New Orleans, retaining the Privateers nickname and Southland membership. That naming change is reflected below, although MMH's existing team page still displays New Orleans. Conference schedule announcement · Official naming note

MMH projected order

The official column is the October 20, 2026 institutional preseason poll: each school's head coach and sports information director submit one combined ballot, without ranking their own team. It is not a coaches-only poll. McNeese received 11 first-place votes; Corpus Christi received the other one. Blue Ribbon's order comes from the supplied 2026–27 yearbook, printed page 357. MMH's order and records are independent editorial projections, separate from the site's game-prediction model. The records balance at 132 wins and 132 losses. Official poll and voting method

1. McNeese — 19–3

Johnson gives McNeese something many rivals must discover: a player who has already carried a substantial scoring load against Division I opponents. He averaged 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in 34 games, and his ability to attack a shifting defense should make the Cowboys dangerous before their newcomers have mastered every detail. Corey Chest supplies a different kind of value. His rebounding and finishing can help McNeese win possessions without requiring another high-usage scorer.

Dellquan Warren projects as the lead guard, with Elijah “Choppa” Moore providing shooting beside Johnson. The distinction in Moore's résumé matters: he played only one Utah game in 2025–26, so his earlier Syracuse production is background, not last season's statistical line. Jerrell Colbert supplies established interior minutes, while Alier Maluk, Christian Nitu and Jaylon Dean-Vines give Bill Armstrong lineup options. Carl Cherenfant's recovery from shoulder surgery is a health item to watch. McNeese has the best blend of a proven primary scorer, size and plausible replacement options; turning that depth into dependable guard play is the remaining task. Roster · Final 2025–26 statistics

2. Texas A&M–Corpus Christi — 17–5

The Islanders are our first challenger because their additions address distinct needs. Sebastian Robinson averaged 14.8 points at NJIT and gives Jim Shaw a scorer who can manufacture a shot when the first action stalls. Jordan Mizell brings Division I starting experience and defensive activity from Tarleton State. Bin Basil offers physical rebounding after averaging 6.1 boards at Wagner, while returning wing Daniel Michelini-Jackson supplies familiarity with the program.

The ceiling depends partly on how well the newcomers from other levels translate. Dan Mukuna averaged 17.0 points and 7.6 rebounds at Division II Fort Hays State; those numbers establish his prior role, not an expected Southland average. Desmond Kent Jr., CJ Worsham and Damarion Winston add productive junior-college backgrounds, with Winston offering another route to creation. We project Mukuna and Basil together initially, with Worsham an important frontcourt alternative. Corpus Christi can vary its guard combinations and attack inside or outside. The concern is whether all those scoring options produce cleaner decisions rather than competing for the same possessions. Roster · Robinson biography · Mukuna biography

3. Stephen F. Austin — 16–6

SFA's 20–2 conference championship season demonstrates what Matt Braeuer can build, but it does not automatically transfer to a different starting lineup. Our projection puts Courterius Scott and MJ Russell in leading backcourt roles, with Narit Chotikavanic remaining a major scoring reserve and closing-lineup candidate. Chotikavanic's 9.6 points per game and 87 made threes provide a proven shooting foundation. Russell averaged 15.3 points at ULM, giving the Jacks an experienced scorer to pair with Scott's junior-college production and playmaking.

The frontcourt is more about complementary jobs than one dominant scorer. Edwin Daniel can protect the rim, Kobi Pearson adds athletic cutting and rebounding, and Gediminas Alisas provides efficient finishing and familiarity with the offense. Amari Reed adds another physical option. Erik Makke's professional experience in Estonia supplies a different backcourt profile, while freshman Manu Manciel projects into the wing mix. SFA belongs in the title conversation. We place the Jacks slightly behind Corpus Christi because replacing the previous starting group's creation is a larger unresolved job than returning-champion language might suggest. Roster · Final 2025–26 statistics

4. Lamar — 14–8

Jordan Fee has assembled a roster that can support aggressive, fast basketball, but the most valuable addition may be the player who helps control it. Niccolo “Nico” Moretti averaged 3.3 assists at Florida Atlantic and follows Fee to Beaumont. His passing should make it easier to turn pressure-generated chances into organized offense. Quante Berry brings high-major experience and the tools for an expanded scoring role after averaging 6.1 points in 18.2 minutes at Memphis.

Filip Radakovic gives Lamar another decision-maker on the wing. Caden Hinker's shooting and rebounding at Division II Augustana create an attractive pick-and-pop possibility, while Matt Reed and Marko Ljubicic offer different center combinations. Jeremiah Jones adds defensive disruption after a productive Division II season at Washburn; Dominic Eason and Lamont Hartfield supply athletic scoring depth. The fit is appealing, but an entirely new rotation still must establish rebounding responsibilities and defensive communication. Fourth reflects confidence in the combination of Moretti's organization and Fee's pressure approach, with room to climb if the frontcourt holds up against the league's best teams. Roster · Moretti biography

5. Northwestern State — 13–9

The Demons are MMH's clearest departure from the official poll. Izzy Miles returns after averaging 10.5 points and shooting 39.7 percent from three, giving Rick Cabrera an established Southland guard around whom to construct the new group. Arne Osojnik adds Division I wing experience, and Dionjahe Thomas gives the frontcourt a physical rebounder. That foundation is easier to evaluate than a roster built entirely on unfamiliar personnel.

The upside comes from Kai Simpson and Nathan Ojukwu. Simpson averaged 18.8 points and 4.4 assists at Division II Thomas More; Ojukwu averaged 16.9 points and 7.2 rebounds at NAIA Dakota State. Their ability to handle, pass and score could diversify an offense that needs more reliable creators. The jump in competition is a substantial condition on this projection. Isaiah Vick, Cam Kelly and Jayden Nesbitt add size and different defensive tools, while CJ Larry and Kordrick Turner provide returning options. We see enough complementary skill and depth to project a winning league record, provided the newcomers can preserve their decision-making against Division I pressure. Roster · Official newcomer profiles · Final returning-player statistics

6. LSU New Orleans — 12–10

Nick Jones and Kahlil Singleton give the Privateers a straightforward starting point: one guard who can create and pressure the ball, another who can punish defenses from three. Jones averaged 14.9 points at Wagner. Singleton averaged 13.9 points at Canisius and made 87 threes at a 38.5 percent rate. Those are established Division I roles, and they should reduce the burden on Stacy Hollowell to manufacture every good shot through scheme.

Enzo Boudouma and Kedrick Osby return in the frontcourt, while Walter Campbell offers spacing after a Division II season at Lincoln Memorial. Cham Okey's junior-college scoring, rebounding and passing make him an especially interesting reserve; Yohandry Ortiz brings another wing scoring option. Our hesitation is defensive balance. The Privateers need a dependable combination of interior resistance and rebounding behind the guards. Solomon Ominu, Kyran Ratliff and Jonathan Pace offer different answers, but no single alignment is an obvious solution to every matchup. The backcourt should keep this team competitive; the frontcourt determines whether sixth is too cautious. Roster · Wagner final statistics · Canisius final statistics

7. Southeastern Louisiana — 10–12

Southeastern's new perimeter group gives David Kiefer several ways to improve the offense. Tyler Rolison brings three seasons of Nevada experience and can organize the initial action. Tybo Bailey provides another scoring guard, Jackson Furman adds shooting after making 60 threes at Army, and JJ Massaquoi offers a strong-bodied scoring option at forward. The Lions should have more flexibility when a particular matchup takes away their preferred action.

Quincy Allen is the largest swing factor. His 9.8 points and 4.3 rebounds at Bryant came in an injury-limited 16-game season, and his athletic versatility could matter on both ends if available consistently. Ashley Sims II brings rebounding and passing, while Yanis Ndjonga supplies a different, higher-energy frontcourt profile. Logan Suber returns from an injury redshirt, and Daniel Akoue's availability also deserves attention after a disrupted Bryant season. Seventh is a balance between useful skill and unresolved health. With steady availability and sufficient interior defense, this roster has a plausible route into the upper half. Roster · Allen biography · Bryant final statistics

8. UTRGV — 10–12

The official poll places UTRGV fifth; we are more cautious about how quickly Brandon Chambers' new roster becomes cohesive. Jace Posey and Devon Pryor bring high-major experience and positional flexibility, while returning guard Always Wright supplies some continuity. Caden Bell, Chris Uwayo and Darius Carr give Chambers a group of junior-college guards who have already handled meaningful offensive responsibility. The combination could become much better than an eighth-place team.

The uncertainty is how that talent organizes into a dependable half-court offense and a settled defensive frontcourt. We project Bell and Carr initially, with Uwayo a serious candidate for major guard minutes. Bobby Crawford Jr. arrives from Lander's Division II program as a finishing and defensive option; Josiah Hill and Terrell Wright add interior length. Pryor's recovery from a season-ending Oregon injury is another item to monitor. UTRGV has the athletic ingredients for an active defense, but athleticism alone does not establish rotations, rebounding coverage or late-clock creation. This is one of the widest ranges of outcomes in the league. Roster · Caden Bell biography · Lander final statistics

9. Houston Christian — 8–14

HCU's path upward starts with better shot creation. Max Alexander averaged 22.6 points at Division II Northwestern Oklahoma State and now must translate that scoring to a different level. Returning guard D'Aundre Samuels can ease that transition after averaging 8.6 points and 2.0 assists. Chris Mubiru knows the conference from Northwestern State, while Jonas Nichols and Esyah Pippa-White provide additional scoring and passing options off the bench.

Shawn Simmons II and Mambourou Mara give Craig Doty mobile shot-blocking options, but both are listed at 6-6. HCU's ability to rebound against larger lineups will influence how often those two can play together. Ibrahima Sacko offers a stronger frontcourt body after a Division II season at New Mexico Highlands, and Aiden Miller provides another rebounding option. Mara's reported wrist surgery is a health item rather than a reason to assume full clearance. We like the improved perimeter choices, but the Huskies still must prove that the added scoring can survive the level change and support enough stops to move beyond the lower half. Roster · Final returning-player statistics · Alexander's prior-school statistics

10. Incarnate Word — 6–16

Mekhi Conner gives UIW a credible organizing strength. He averaged 6.3 assists at Sacred Heart, and his passing should help Shane Heirman evaluate which scoring combinations work around him. Brandon McCreesh supplies shooting, D'Arrae Goodwin adds a physical forward option, and Godswill Erheriene offers interior size. Those are sensible pieces for a team trying to establish a different identity.

There is more potential than the projected record suggests, but several conditions must be satisfied. McCreesh's previous season ended after eight games, and Erheriene played only 10; dependable availability matters as much as the names on the roster. Jayden Thomas averaged 25.6 points at Division III DeSales, an impressive record that should not be treated as a forecast against Division I defenses. Maximo Garcia-Plata and DJ Cason add backcourt alternatives, with Kaleb Spencer and David Emetu providing frontcourt depth. If Conner connects the group and the returning-from-injury players hold up, UIW could outperform this placement. For now, the uncertainty surrounding scoring translation and health keeps the Cardinals tenth. Roster · Conner's official Sacred Heart profile · DeSales final statistics

11. East Texas A&M — 4–18

East Texas A&M has enough unfamiliar talent that last place should not be treated as inevitable. The difficulty is projecting how the pieces translate together. Gašper Škorjanc brings professional guard experience from Slovenia. Mohamed Diakite offers length and experience with Ulm, while Jaxson Ford provides a more familiar Division I rebounding and defensive profile from Sam Houston. Those backgrounds can complement one another, but they are not directly comparable statistical samples.

Kollin Tolbert and Chris Adlam both missed 2025–26, and Bo Aldridge enrolled during that season and redshirted. Their earlier production is excluded from the current statistical lines. We project Tolbert and Aldridge in significant roles, conditional on availability, while Evan Phelps supplies returning guard depth. Codrut-Alexander Dinu, Maxime Carrio and Marko Markovic expand the international options, although several complete prior-season lines remain unverified. This is a projection with substantial uncertainty: health, eligibility and the speed of adjustment could change it sharply. We favor the established league creators above the Lions until those questions receive on-court answers. Roster · Tolbert biography · Final returning-player statistics

12. Nicholls — 3–19

Darion Brown has useful backcourt pieces for his first season. Doyel Cockrill III averaged 11.8 points at Chicago State, Christian Winborne returns after making 54 threes, and Sheridan Sharp can organize the offense. That combination gives Nicholls a starting point that should not be dismissed simply because the roster has changed. Jah-Mel Bruce adds a productive junior-college background, though his 20.6 points came at the NJCAA Division III level and must be evaluated accordingly.

The larger concern is the frontcourt. AJ Dent's two-game Tarleton season was interrupted by injury, Junior Sileu played limited minutes at Western Michigan, and Arop Arop had a small role at Memphis. Cameron Simpson and Jordan Matthews also have injury-disrupted recent histories. Nicholls needs several players to become dependable contributors simultaneously, particularly as rebounders and defenders. We project the Colonels last because the proven interior workload is thinner than that of the teams immediately above them. Brown can beat that forecast if the guards create efficient offense and the frontcourt stays available, but the current evidence calls for patience. Roster · Final returning-player statistics · Chicago State final statistics

What could change this order?

McNeese remains the strongest starting point because Johnson's established scoring is surrounded by multiple frontcourt and perimeter options. Corpus Christi and SFA are close enough that the first dependable lead-guard combination could decide which becomes the most serious regular-season challenger. Lamar's pressure defense can disrupt that hierarchy if its new roster protects the glass.

The middle is less settled. Northwestern State has the clearest MMH case for exceeding the official poll, but that case relies on lower-division newcomers preserving their skill against better athletes. Southeastern and UIW have enough potential improvement to watch closely, with health central to both. UTRGV's athleticism gives it a much higher ceiling than eighth. A 22-game double round robin should reward teams that solve those problems consistently rather than those that simply assemble the most intriguing October roster.

Research note: The supplied Blue Ribbon yearbook provided the scouting baseline; official current rosters, individual biographies and available final 2025–26 cumulative statistics were used to update it. Starting groups and records are MMH judgments. Detailed 10-player rotations, direct evidence and unresolved fields are maintained separately for team-page installation. Two existing MMH standings links failed the displayed-team check and are deliberately omitted here.