FRISCO, Texas – After being picked near the bottom of the Southland Conference standings entering the previous two seasons, expectations have been raised in Beaumont. Due in large part to the nation's 11^th-largest turnaround last season in head coach Tic Price's first full season, the Lamar University Cardinals have been picked fifth in 2015 Southland Conference Preseason Head Coaches' Poll. The league media relations directors picked the Cardinals sixth.
 
"I've never really paid too much attention to the polls," said Price. "I just look at each opportunity as it presents itself. When we get into conference play I want to make sure that we are in the right mindset and that we capture that moment. The polls will take care of themselves as we go through the season. The team that can handle adversity the best is normally the team that will come out on top."
 
LU received 85 points in the head coaches' poll, while getting 79 points from the media relations directors. The top four teams were the same in both polls with Stephen F. Austin picked to win its third-straight title followed by Northwestern State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sam Houston State. The only change among the top six was LU and Incarnate Word flipping places in the two polls.
 
In Price's first season with the Red and White, the Cardinals posted a 15-15 overall record, and finished the year in the middle of the Southland standings with a 9-9 mark. LU more than doubled its overall and conference win totals from the previous two seasons combined.
 
The Cardinals return two starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad that won 15 games, and finished sixth in the Southland Conference race. Senior Dontavious Sears is the team's top returning scorer averaging better than seven points per game, while junior Marcus Owens is the squad's top returning rebounder.
 
The Red and White has some key holes it will have to fill due to attrition which includes the team's top three scorers and top two rebounders from last season. Anthony Holliday led the team averaging nearly 15 points per game and nearly 20 in league play, while Tyran de Lattibeaudiere averaged better than 13 points and nearly eight rebounds per game. He was also a shot blocking presence in the paint with 63 deflections on the season.
 
The Cardinals tip off the 2015-16 season Friday, Nov. 13^th against Austin College in the Montagne Center. The game against the Roos will be LU's lone home game before opening the BD Global Event which will have the Cards on the road to face Fresno State, Delaware State and Rice.
 
 
 
-LU CARDINALS-