Basketball season is quickly approaching us, which means it’s time for preseason polls to start making their way around the country with projections for the 2018-19 season. The Sun Belt released its own version last week with its annual Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

The team coaches around the league picked to win the Sun Belt outright was the Eagles’ biggest rival, Georgia State. Receiving 12 first place votes and 144 points overall, the Panthers lead the way over teams tied for second place, Georgia Southern and Louisiana Lafayette.

Outside of the preseason rankings, the coaches also picked players from around the conference to be selected to first, second and third All-Sun Belt teams.

The Eagles had two players land the honor, seniors Tookie Brown and Ike Smith. Brown, who was a Lou Henson All-American last season, was selected to the All-Sun Belt First Team, but was not named the preseason player of the year. Smith finds himself on the All-Sun Belt Third Team heading into his final season as an Eagle.

The Preseason Player of the Year honor was awarded to GSU’s D’Marcus Simonds. Simonds was named a 2018 Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention, after averaging over 27 points per contest last season.

Ryan Pye, The George-Anne Sports Reporter, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu