Troy is picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference in men’s basketball this season, according to preseason voting by league coaches announced Monday.

The Trojans received one of 14 first-place votes and 155 poll points, placing them behind preseason favorite Arkansas State (12 first-place votes, 193 points) and defending league champion James Madison (1, 170). Troy finished 20-12 a year ago, its third straight 20-win season under coach Scott Cross.

Louisiana was picked fourth with 144 points, followed by Southern Miss (133), Appalachian State (122) and Texas State (89). Georgia Southern and Old Dominion tied for eighth in the preseason voting with 85 points, with Marshall (79), South Alabama (78), Georgia State (75), Coastal Carolina (34) and Louisiana-Monroe (28) rounding out the rankings.

Troy forward Myles Rigsby earned one of five spots on the preseason all-conference team, along with James Madison guard Mark Freeman, Arkansas State forward Kobe Julien (the preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year), Louisiana forward Hosana Kitenge and Marshall forward Nate Martin. Rigsby, a sophomore from Fort Worth, Texas, was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year last season after averaging 11.3 points per game.

Troy guard Tayton Conerway was picked for the preseason All-Sun Belt second team, along with Marshall forward Obinna Anochili-Killen, App State forward C.J. Huntley, Georgia State guard Toneari Lane and Arkansas State guard Taryn Todd. Conerway was Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24 after averaging 11.6 points per game.

The preseason All-Sun Belt third team was comprised of James Madison guard Xavier Brown, Southern Miss guard Andre Curbelo, Texas State forward Tyrel Morgan, Arkansas State forward Izaiyah Nelson and App State guard Myles Tate. Voting for preseason All-Sun Belt was conducted among the league’s coaches and select broadcasters.

Troy begins the 2023-24 season at home Nov. 4 vs. Toledo as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. South Alabama, 16-16 a year ago, hosts Central Michigan the same night.