Lindy’s predicts Lamar to win Southland in men’s hoops, picks Weisbrod preseason player of year
Published 2:32 pm Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Lamar sports information
BEAUMONT – It is less than a week before the official start of basketball practice but the Lamar men’s basketball team is already gaining recognition for the 2017-18 season. The Cardinals have been selected as the preseason favorite in the Southland Conference according to Lindy’s Magazine. In addition to the poll, senior forward Colton Weisbrod of Nederland has been named the preseason Southland Player of the Year.
The Cardinals were selected just ahead of Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern Louisiana in the poll.
Big Red returns seven letterwinners and four starters from last season’s 19-win campaign that saw the Red and White advance to the Southland Conference tournament and earn a spot in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. For the Cardinals, it was the team’s first trip to the postseason since the 2012 NCAA tournament run.
“I don’t put much stock in what prognosticators say about teams during the preseason,” said LU head coach Tic Price. “The game is still played on the court and that is where we will have to prove ourselves every day. Our guys don’t have championship experience to fall back on at this level, so whether we’re picked first or last we are still going to have to go out and prove ourselves.”
Weisbrod returns from a junior campaign that saw him earn first-team All-Southland honors after finishing the season ranked among the league leaders in points (15.1 ppg) and rebounds (8.1 rpg). Weisbrod became the team’s first first-team selection since the 2012 season (Mike James).
“Colton has earned a lot of respect around the conference based on what he did a year ago,” said Price. “His consistency will have to remain the same this season. It’s an honor when people give him that kind of respect but he is going to have to go out and earn it again this season.”
In addition to Weisbrod, the Cardinals also return the heart of their roster from last season. The Red and White return 73 percent of its scoring, 63 percent of its rebounds, 79 percent of its assists and 76 percent of its steals from last season’s 19-win campaign. The other three starters returning with Weisbrod include seniors Joey Frenchwood (guard) and Zjori Bosha (guard) and junior Josh Nzeakor (center).
“Our focus right now is to limit the distractions and focus on what needs to be done to have a great year,” said Price. “Our preparation has to be in place moving forward to build a winning culture and doing things the right way. We’re going to stay strong together.”
In addition to being named preseason player of the year, Lindy’s also named Weisbrod as the league’s best rebounder and most versatile player, while bestowing best playmaker honors on Frenchwood.