RICHARDSON, Texas – West Texas A&M is predicted to win the 2021 Lone Star Conference men's basketball championship in preseason voting by the league's coaches, sports information and local media. Junior guard Qua Grant was also named the league's preseason Player of the Year.
The Buffs are the preseason favorites for the second straight year after going 32-1 in 2019-20 including a program record 23 straight wins before the season was canceled due to COVID-19 days before the regional tournament. WT also holds the nation's longest home win streak at 44 games.
WT is the unanimous pick to win their fourth straight title after receiving all 40 first-place votes followed by Angelo State, Lubbock Christian, St. Edward's and DBU in the top five.
Texas A&M-Kingsville was picked sixth, followed by Texas A&M-Commerce, UT Permian Basin, UAFS and Midwestern State. St. Mary's was picked 11th, while Oklahoma Christian, Cameron, UT Tyler and Texas A&M International rounded out the voting.
WT's Grant was named the Preseason Player of the Year after recording one of the best offensive seasons in program history as a sophomore en route to helping the Buffs win their third straight conference title. The reigning LSC and D2CCA Regional Player of the Year averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 2019-20 while shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, 33.5 percent from 3-point range and 71.6 percent from the free throw line.
His 682 points as a sophomore were the second-most in a single season in program history, 50 points shy of David Chavlovich's record set back in 2017-18. For his career, his 1,250 points are the seventh most in program history. He also ranks fifth in career steals with 131.
WT opens the season on Dec. 11 at home against No. 18 St. Edward's. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the First United Bank Center. Ticket information will be released later on this afternoon.
LSC Player of the Year
Qua Grant, West Texas A&M
Preseason Poll
1. West Texas A&M (40), 600
2. Angelo State, 482
3. Lubbock Christian, 463
4. St. Edward's, 463
5. DBU, 458
6. Texas A&M-Kingsville, 425
7. Texas A&M-Commerce, 410
8. UT Permian Basin, 286
9. UAFS, 251
10. Midwestern State, 218
11. St. Mary's, 199
12. Oklahoma Christian, 173
13. Cameron, 162
14. UT Tyler, 133
15. Texas A&M International, 67
