Troy University Athletics
Men's Basketball Picked Third in Sun Belt Preseason Poll; Hutchinson Earns All-League Honors
10/19/2026 12:00:00 PM | Basketball (M)
NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt announced its preseason awards and coaches' poll Monday afternoon, with Troy picked to finish third in the league and Jacoi Hutchinson earning Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team honors.
Troy's third-place selection in the preseason poll marks the program's third consecutive top-five finish in the preseason rankings. The Trojans were picked to finish fourth last season before ultimately winning their second consecutive Sun Belt regular-season and tournament titles.
Hutchinson, a fourth-year guard, enters his first season at Troy after transferring from Longwood. He averaged 12.3 points, 3.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game last season.
The Laurel, Md., native led the Big South Conference in free throw percentage, converting 86.2 percent of his attempts (100-of-116), which ranked 67th nationally.
"We're excited to see Jacoi recognized as a preseason all-conference selection," head coach Adam Howard said. "His competitiveness, toughness and commitment to winning embody what we want Troy basketball to be about. We expect Jacoi to have a very big impact this season and can't wait for our fans to see his passion for the game."
Hutchinson began his collegiate career with two seasons at George Washington. Across three collegiate seasons, he has totaled 828 points, 250 assists and 123 steals.
The Trojans will take the court for a preseason exhibition against Stillman College on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. before opening the regular season at home against UMass on Nov. 2, also at 6 p.m. Season tickets are available at TroyTrojans.com/tickets or by calling 877-878-9467.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:
Isaac Taveras, Southern Miss [4th Yr. | G | Santo Domingo, D.R.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Adante' Holiman, Old Dominion [4th Yr. | G | McAlester, Okla.]
Peyton Law, South Alabama [5th Yr. | F | Calhoun, Ga.]
Jacob Meyer, Georgia State [4th Yr. | G | Covington, Ky.]
Noah Otshudi, Marshall [5th Yr. | G | Hamilton, Ontario, Can.]
Isaac Taveras, Southern Miss [4th Yr. | G | Santo Domingo, D.R.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Tameron Ferguson, Arkansas State [3rd Yr. | G | St. Cloud, Minn.]
Preston Fowler, James Madison [2nd Yr. | F | Vernon, Conn.]
Dallas Gardner, Georgia Southern [4th Yr. | G | Charlotte, N.C.]
Gage Lattimore, James Madison [3rd Yr. | G | Greensboro, N.C.]
Layne Taylor, Arkansas State [3rd Yr. | G | Farmington, Ark.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Jacoi Hutchinson, Troy [4th Yr. | G | Laurel, Md.]
Jamyron Keller, Louisiana [4th Yr. | G | St. Matthews, S.C.]
Jalen Langsy, South Alabama [3rd Yr. | G | Shakopee, Minn.]
Kyran Tilley, Louisiana Tech [3rd Yr. | G | Louisville, Ky.]
K.J. Windham, James Madison [3rd Yr. | G | Indianapolis, Ind.]
2026 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Arkansas State (3) – 182
2. James Madison (9) – 176
3. Troy – 143
4. South Alabama – 136
5. Marshall – 125
6. Louisiana – 117
7. Southern Miss (2) – 109
8. App State – 105
9. Georgia Southern – 85
10. Georgia State – 79
11. Old Dominion – 76
12. Louisiana Tech – 64
13. Coastal Carolina – 58
14. ULM – 15
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
