LAKE CHARLES – For the first time in McNeese Cowboys basketball program history, the Cowboys received votes in the Associate Press Preseason Top 25 poll, which was released on Monday.
 
McNeese, which finished 30-4 last season while winning the Southland Conference regular season and tournament championships and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament as a No. 12 seed, garnered 11 votes, the most of any mid-major on the list.
 
Topping the poll is Kansas while the Cowboys' Nov. 11 opponent, Alabama, is ranked No. 2.
 
The Cowboys return three starters and six lettermen from last year's record-setting team, including All-SLC and Defensive Player of the Year Christian Shumate to go along with Javohn Garcia, DJ Richards Jr., Mike Saunders and Omar Cooper.
 
In addition, McNeese added more size and fire-power to its roster with transfers such as Joe Charles (All-Sun Belt at ULL), Quadir Copeland (Syracuse), Sincere Parker (Saint Louis), Brandon Murray (Ole Miss), Bryant Selebangue (Arizona State), Jerome Brewer Jr. (A&M-Commerce), Alyn Breed (Providence) and Lamont Evans (Saint Louis).
 
McNeese is listed 12^th among the 30 schools garnering other votes. Also receiving votes is 2024-25 opponent Mississippi State and possible opponents Kansas State and UAB.
 
The Cowboys will open the season on Nov. 4 at South Dakota State in the Field of 68 Season Opener.
 
Season and single game tickets are on sale now at the McNeese ticket office, at McNeeseSports.com, or by calling 337-562-4678.
 
The Cowboys will open the home slate on Nov. 7 against College of Biblical Studies followed by a Nov. 18 home contest against the American Athletic Conference's North Texas Mean Green Eagles. McNeese will also host Santa Clara (Dec. 3) out of the powerful West Coast Conference.
 
McNeese will begin Southland Conference play on Dec. 28 at home against New Orleans.
 
2024-25 AP Preseason Top 25
1. Kansas
2. Alabama
3. UConn
4. Houston
5. Iowa State
6. Gonzaga, 1157 (1)
7. Duke, 1154
8. Baylor, 1109
9. North Carolina, 1037
10. Arizona, 905
11. Auburn, 901
12. Tennessee, 775
13. Texas A&M, 737
14. Purdue, 678
15. Creighton, 631
16. Arkansas, 625
17. Indiana, 492
18. Marquette, 484
19. Texas, 332
20. Cincinnati, 271
21. Florida, 249
22. UCLA, 210
23. Kentucky, 191
24. Ole Miss, 132
25. Rutgers, 102
 
Others Receiving Votes: Illinois 92, Xavier 73, Texas Tech 58, Wake Forest 37, Kansas State 30, Michigan State 29, Ohio State 29, Michigan 19, BYU 14, Oregon 12, McNeese 11, Miami 11, Boise State 9, Saint Louis 9, Clemson 9, Pr0vidence 9, Mississippi State 6, VCU 6, Wisconsin 5, Saint Mary's 5, Louisville 4, UAB 4, Ark Little Rock 3, Grand Canyon 3, Arizona State 2, San Diego State 2, Princeton 2, High Point 1, Maryland 1.