RUSTON – Louisiana Tech was one of only two teams to have multiple players named Preseason All-Conference as guard Alex Hamilton and forward Erik McCree were selected to the 10-person Conference USA team, voted on by the league coaches.
Both players started all 36 games last season for LA Tech, helping the Bulldogs earn the outright C-USA regular season title and an appearance in the NIT quarterfinals.
Hamilton, the only repeat preseason selection, earned second team All-Conference USA and second team NABC All-District 11 honors in 2014.
A three-time C-USA Player of the Week recipient, the Chipley, Florida native ended up averaging 14.7 points per game, finishing with the 10th best scoring average in the league.
The senior produced eight 20+ scoring performances, including five with at least 27 points which was the most in the conference. He also registered 62 steals which tied for the fourth most in a single season in school history.
After sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, McCree finished third on the team in scoring with an average of 11.4 points per game. The redshirt junior was the team’s leading scorer in eight games, including a career-high 26 versus UAB.
The Orlando, Florida native was also second in rebounds for the ‘Dogs with 5.6 boards per game and ended up posting three double-doubles.
LA Tech was picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll behind UAB, Old Dominion, Middle Tennessee and UTEP.
The 2015-16 season tips off on Nov. 13 when the Bulldogs play host to Millsaps College. The season will culminate with the 2016 Conference USA Basketball Championship, March 8-12 in Birmingham, Alabama.
2015-16 C-USA Preseason Poll (#) first-place votes
2015-16 C-USA Preseason Team
Adrian Diaz, FIU, Sr.
Alex Hamilton, LA Tech, Sr.
Erik McCree, LA Tech, Jr.
Ryan Taylor, Marshall, Jr.
Reggie Upshaw, Middle Tennessee, Jr.
Trey Freeman, Old Dominion, Sr.
Marcus Jackson, Rice, Jr.
Robert Brown, UAB, Sr.
William Lee, UAB, So.
Earvin Morris, UTEP, Sr.
Both players started all 36 games last season for LA Tech, helping the Bulldogs earn the outright C-USA regular season title and an appearance in the NIT quarterfinals.
Hamilton, the only repeat preseason selection, earned second team All-Conference USA and second team NABC All-District 11 honors in 2014.
A three-time C-USA Player of the Week recipient, the Chipley, Florida native ended up averaging 14.7 points per game, finishing with the 10th best scoring average in the league.
The senior produced eight 20+ scoring performances, including five with at least 27 points which was the most in the conference. He also registered 62 steals which tied for the fourth most in a single season in school history.
After sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, McCree finished third on the team in scoring with an average of 11.4 points per game. The redshirt junior was the team’s leading scorer in eight games, including a career-high 26 versus UAB.
The Orlando, Florida native was also second in rebounds for the ‘Dogs with 5.6 boards per game and ended up posting three double-doubles.
LA Tech was picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll behind UAB, Old Dominion, Middle Tennessee and UTEP.
The 2015-16 season tips off on Nov. 13 when the Bulldogs play host to Millsaps College. The season will culminate with the 2016 Conference USA Basketball Championship, March 8-12 in Birmingham, Alabama.
2015-16 C-USA Preseason Poll (#) first-place votes
- UAB (11)
- Old Dominion (3)
- Middle Tennessee
- UTEP
- Louisiana Tech
- WKU
- Rice
- North Texas
- Marshall
- FIU
- Charlotte
- Florida Atlantic
- UTSA
- Southern Miss
2015-16 C-USA Preseason Team
Adrian Diaz, FIU, Sr.
Alex Hamilton, LA Tech, Sr.
Erik McCree, LA Tech, Jr.
Ryan Taylor, Marshall, Jr.
Reggie Upshaw, Middle Tennessee, Jr.
Trey Freeman, Old Dominion, Sr.
Marcus Jackson, Rice, Jr.
Robert Brown, UAB, Sr.
William Lee, UAB, So.
Earvin Morris, UTEP, Sr.
