CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – After representing the Southland Conference in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program was predicted to finish in first-place in the 2022-23 Preseason Poll.
Furthermore, four A&M-Corpus Christi student-athletes were tabbed to the Preseason All-Conference Teams. Seniors
Terrion Murdix,
Isaac Mushila and
Trevian Tennyson were slotted to the First-Team, and senior
Simeon Fryer on the Second-Team.
The Islanders are coming off a historic campaign which saw them win the SLC Conference Tournament under first-year head coach
Steve Lutz. A&M-Corpus Christi posted a 23-12 record and brought back all five starters this season.
"It's an honor to be picked first in the preseason poll and to have earned such respect from the other members of our league. We are proud of last year's run to the NCAA Tournament and are excited about the challenge ahead to make another run. This is a brand new year and I love the fact we return an experienced roster, augmented by a few new pieces, to continue to grow and build on last year's success," Lutz said.
Murdix was the 2022 SLC Tournament MVP and was on the 2021-22 SLC All-Defensive Team. He led the conference in assists (3.38 apg) and was fourth in steals (1.9 spg). Murdix averaged 9.8 points per game on the year and 12.2 points in conference.
Mushila was the 2021-22 Newcomer of the Year, a 2021-22 All-Conference Second-Team selection and a two-time SLC Player of the Week winner. He led the Islanders in both scoring (13.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg) and was ninth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (3.57).
Tennyson was a 2021-22 All-Conference Third-Team honoree. He averaged 12.0 points per game and hit a three-pointer in every regular season game on the year. Tennyson's 74 threes on the season tied for the second-most in school history.
Fryer was voted on the 2022 SLC All-Tournament Team after he caught fire from long range where he was 10-of-19 to help the team earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Team Captain was the only student-athlete on the roster to start in all 35 games and averaged 8.5 points per game.
The Islanders will open the season on the road at Mississippi State on Monday, Nov. 7. The home opener is Friday, Nov. 11 against UTSA at 7 p.m. in the Dugan Wellness Center.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at goislanders.com/tickets or by phone at 361-825-BALL (2255). The ticket office can also be reached via email at tickets@tamucc.edu.
SLC PRESEASON POLL
| Pl |
School |
1st |
Points |
| 1 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
11 |
149 |
| 2 |
Nicholls |
6 |
137 |
| 3 |
New Orleans |
2 |
129 |
| 4 |
Southeastern |
|
105 |
| 5 |
McNeese |
|
97 |
| 6 |
Northwestern State |
|
92 |
| 7 |
Texas A&M-Commerce |
|
56 |
| 8 |
HCU |
1 |
55 |
| 9 |
Lamar |
|
44 |
| 10 |
UIW |
|
36 |
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Darius Lee, HCU (awarded posthumously)
PRESEASON FIRST-TEAM
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Latrell Jones |
Nicholls |
G |
5th |
New Orleans, La. |
| Terrion Murdix |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
G |
Sr. |
Springfield, Ill. |
| Isaac Mushila |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
F |
Sr. |
Lubumbashi, Congo |
| Christian Shumate |
McNeese |
F |
So. |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Trevian Tennyson |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
G |
Sr. |
Arlington, Texas |
PRESEASON SECOND-TEAM
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Hometown |
| Simeon Fryer |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
G |
R-Sr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Tyson Jackson |
New Orleans |
F |
Jr. |
Fairburn, Ga. |
| Simeon Kirkland |
New Orleans |
F |
Sr. |
Ocala, Fla. |
| Manny Littles |
Nicholls |
F |
5th |
Lanett, Ala. |
| Pierce Spencer |
Nicholls |
G |
Jr. |
Porter, Texas |
Stay Social
For all the latest on Islanders Men's Basketball, be sure to follow the team on Twitter (
@Islanders_MBB), Instagram (
@IslandersMBB) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (
IslandersMBB).
#ShakasUp
