The UT Tyler men's basketball program was voted to finish 10th overall in the 2026-2027 men's basketball preseason poll, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon.
The Patriots received 399 points including one first place vote to land at No. 10 in the annual preseason rankings. Dallas Baptist University (DBU) was chosen as the preseason favorite after earning 841 total points and 35 first-place votes.
In addition to the team poll, Miles Gibson was named the 2026–26 LSC Preseason Player of the Year. Gibson headlined a list of 17 LSC Players to Watch for the upcoming season, which included Senior Guard Sean Emfinger representing UT Tyler.
UT Tyler finished the 2025–26 season with a 15–11 overall record and a 9–11 finish in conference play. The Patriots will head in the season led by first year head coach, Doug Karleskint, and a revamped roster that includes to 12 new names.
The Patriots open their 2026–2027 season on Nov. 13 in Denver, Colorado, taking on Regis. Lone Star Conference play tips off Dec. 3 when UT Tyler welcomes visits Texas A&M Kingsville to the Louise Herrington Patriot Center.
|
Rank
|
Team
|
1st
|
Total
|
|
1
|
DBU
|
35
|
841
|
|
2
|
Eastern New Mexico
|
6
|
751
|
|
3
|
Lubbock Christian
|
2
|
735
|
|
4
|
St. Edward's
|
1
|
670
|
|
5
|
Western New Mexico
|
4
|
657
|
|
6
|
St. Mary's
|
|
615
|
|
7
|
West Texas A&M
|
1
|
596
|
|
8
|
Angelo State
|
|
499
|
|
9
|
Texas A&M Kingsville
|
|
439
|
|
10
|
UT Tyler
|
1
|
399
|
|
11
|
Oklahoma Christian
|
|
333
|
|
12
|
UT Dallas
|
|
316
|
|
13
|
UT Permian Basin
|
|
294
|
|
14
|
Midwestern State
|
|
260
|
|
15
|
Texas A&M International
|
|
200
|
|
16
|
Cameron
|
|
125
|
|
17
|
Sul Ross State
|
|
73
|
Preseason Player of the Year
Miles Gibson, G, Sr., Oklahoma Christian
|
Name
|
School
|
Pos.
|
Cl.
|
Major
|
Hometown
|
|
Jhordan Ryan
|
Angelo State
|
F
|
Sr.
|
Kinesiology
|
St. John's, Montserrat
|
|
Xavier Harris
|
Cameron
|
G
|
Sr.
|
Business Management
|
Northglenn, Colorado
|
|
Bishop Jones
|
DBU
|
G
|
Sr.
|
Communication
|
Frisco, Texas
|
|
Maurice Austin
|
Eastern New Mexico
|
G
|
Jr.
|
Business Administration
|
Pueblo, Colo
|
|
Leo Nordberg
|
Lubbock Christian
|
G
|
Sr.
|
Finance
|
Helsinki, Finland
|
|
Aric Demings
|
Midwestern State
|
G
|
Sr.
|
Applied Arts & Sciences
|
DeSoto, Texas
|
|
Miles Gibson
|
Oklahoma Christian
|
G
|
Sr.
|
Finance
|
Allen, Texas
|
|
Sean Elkington
|
St. Edward's
|
G
|
Gr.
|
MBA
|
Crosby, Texas
|
|
Lawyer Jones
|
St. Mary's
|
G
|
Jr.
|
Exercise & Sport Science
|
Waco, Texas
|
|
Antwonne Holmes
|
Sul Ross State
|
G
|
Sr.
|
Business Administration
|
El Paso, Texas
|
|
Aaron Perez
|
Texas A&M International
|
G
|
Jr.
|
Business Administration
|
Houston, Texas
|
|
Bryce Smith
|
Texas A&M-Kingsville
|
G
|
Jr.
|
Business Management
|
Baytown, Texas
|
|
Jaden Jefferson
|
UT Dallas
|
G
|
Jr.
|
Healthcare Management
|
Forney, Texas
|
|
Tyler Hamilton
|
UT Permian Basin
|
G
|
Sr.
|
Marketing
|
Detroit, Mich
|
|
Sean Emfinger
|
UT Tyler
|
G
|
Sr.
|
Management
|
Philadelphia, Pa.
|
|
Jailyn Sledge
|
West Texas A&M
|
G
|
Jr.
|
Management
|
Amarillo, Texas
|
|
Andre Harris
|
Western New Mexico
|
F
|
Sr.
|
Sports Science
|
Mesa, Ariz.
|
