Troy University Athletics
Dowd Named to Preseason All-SBC First Team; Trojans Picked Fourth in Coaches Poll
10/20/2025 12:00:00 PM | Basketball (M)
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Sun Belt Conference announced its Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams on Monday, with Troy's Thomas Dowd landing on the First Team. The conference also revealed the results of the Preseason Coaches Poll, with the Trojans picked to finish fourth.
Dowd returns to Troy after a breakout sophomore season in which he averaged 9.6 points and led the Trojans in rebounding with 6.9 per contest.
The Dothan native also led Troy with 43 made threes and finished the season with three double-doubles.
"We are fired up for Thomas being selected First Team All-SBC," said head coach Scott Cross. "He deserves this honor because of the work he puts in every single day. He is a warrior, he is relentless, and we are thankful that he is a Troy Trojan!"
Dowd's selection to the First Team marks the junior's first preseason honor and second overall Sun Belt team recognition. He was named to the 2025 Sun Belt All-Tournament Team after helping the Trojans win the tournament and clinch an NCAA tournament appearance for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Troy's fourth-place finish in the preseason poll marks the second straight year the Trojans have been tabbed within the top five spots, following a third-place selection last season. It's also the first time since the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons that Troy has been in the top five in back-to-back years, when the Trojans were picked to finish third and tied for fourth, respectively. Troy received one first place vote in this year's poll.
James Madison was picked to win the league in this year's poll, with Arkansas State and South Alabama taking the second and third spots.
Troy will travel to Georgia to take on the Bulldogs in exhibition action on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. CT, before opening the regular season at Kent State as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. CT.
The Trojans will kick off the home schedule against Pensacola Christian inside Trojan Arena on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. Tickets for all home games can be purchased by visiting TroyTrojans.com/tickets or by calling 334-670-3681.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Robert Davis, Jr., Old Dominion [R-Jr. | G | Detroit, Mich.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Robert Davis, Jr., Old Dominion [R-Jr. | G | Detroit, Mich.]
Thomas Dowd, Troy [Jr. | F | Dothan, Ala.]
Tyren Moore, Georgia Southern [Gr. | G | Louisville, Ky.]
Jalen Speer, Marshall [Gr. | G | Gainesville, Fla.]
Bradley Douglas, James Madison [Gr. | G | Eustis, Fla.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Eren Banks, App State [Jr. | G | Eatonton, Ga.]
Mark Drone, Texas State [Sr. | G | Jackson, Miss.]
Jelani Hamilton, Georgia State [R-So. | G | Marietta, Ga.]
Chandler Jackson, Arkansas State [Jr. | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
RaSheed Jones, Coastal Carolina [Jr. | G | Marion, Ind.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Jordan Battle, Old Dominion [Sr. | G | Norfolk, Va.]
John Broom, South Alabama [R-So. | G | Jacksonville, Ala.]
Kaden Gumbs, Texas State [Jr. | G | San Marcos, Texas]
Matt Van Komen, Marshall [Gr. | C | Lehi, Utah]
Nakavieon White, Georgia Southern [R-Sr. | F | Odessa, Texas]
2025 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. James Madison (1) – 175
2. Arkansas State (3) – 154
3. South Alabama (4) – 152
4. Troy (1) – 148
5. Old Dominion (2) – 145
6. Marshall (1) – 128
7. App State (1) – 123
8. Texas State – 106
9. Louisiana (1) – 95
10. Georgia Southern – 66
11. Georgia State – 59
12. Southern Miss – 57
13. Coastal Carolina – 43
14. ULM – 19
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
