Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, Preseason All-Heartland Team announced 10/26/2016 10:00:00 AM WACO, Texas - UA Fort Smith was picked to win their first Heartland title in three years in a preseason vote by league coaches and sports information directors the conference announced on Wednesday. Oklahoma Christian senior John Moon was the lone unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Heartland Team headlining a group of four seniors and a junior. UAFS received 15 of 20 first-place votes and 190 total points as the Lions' veteran backcourt looks to bring home the conference title in 2016-17 after finishing second last season. Lubbock Christian narrowly edged out defending Heartland Tournament Champion Dallas Baptist for second place earning 160 points. The Chaps pulled one of the great upsets last season toppling No. 7 Midwestern State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament as an eight seed. DBU was picked to finish third receiving four first-place votes and 158 total points. The Patriots, led by last year’s tournament MVP Patrick Burke, look to claim their first regular-season title after claiming their first tournament championship in 2015-16. All three teams represented the Heartland Conference in the South Central Regional Tournament in 2015-16. Defending regular-season champion Rogers State was picked to finish fourth and received one first-place vote as the Hillcats must replace last year’s Heartland Player of the Year in JC Hartzler. St. Edward’s was picked to finish fifth with 111 points followed by St. Mary’s (108), Texas A&M International (91), Newman (76), Oklahoma Christian (51) and Oklahoma Panhandle St. (22). Oklahoma Christian senior John Moon headlined the conference’s first Preseason All-Heartland Team garnering unanimous support after obtaining All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-American status last season. A pair of UA Fort Smith guards joined Moon on the team in seniors Alex Cooper, a first team All-Heartland selection last season, and Seth Youngblood as well as a pair of Patriots in junior Patrick Burke and senior Myles Johnson. Johnson, like Moon was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American last season. 2016-17 Preseason All-Heartland Men’s Basketball Team Player School Pos. Yr. Hometown/High School Patrick Burke Dallas Baptist Forward Jr. Arlington, Texas/Arlington Martin Alex Cooper UA Fort Smith Guard Sr. Dallas, Texas/Mesquite Myles Johnson Dallas Baptist Guard Sr. Arlington, Texas/Arlington Martin John Moon* Oklahoma Christian Center Sr. Crescent, Okla./Crescent Seth Youngblood UA Fort Smith Guard Sr. Roland, Okla./Roland * Unanimous Preseason All-Heartland Selection Related News