ARLINGTON, Texas – Seattle University men's basketball has been selected third in the 2023-24 Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll while senior guard Cameron Tyson was named to the five-member Preseason All-WAC Team, the conference office released Monday.
The Redhawks are coming off a 2022-23 season that saw them finish 20-12 overall and 11-7 in WAC play, good for a tie for fourth in the regular season standings. The 20-win season was the second straight for the program, marking the first back-to-back years of hitting the mark since 1963-64.
Seattle U's third place pick came with 86 points. Reigning WAC Tournament champion Grand Canyon earned nine first-place votes and 99 points to be named the preseason favorite. Stephen F. Austin picked up two first-place votes and 87 points to edge the Redhawks for second place. 2022-23 WAC regular season champion Utah Valley was picked fourth with 61 points.
One of the most prolific scorers in the nation last season, Tyson returns to the Redhawk lineup for his final collegiate season. The Bothell, Wash., native averaged 18.6 ppg in 2022-23, good for second in the WAC and 53rd in the nation. He drained 97 threes, which was 23rd most nationally, and his 3.23 threes per game was good for 11th nationally.
Tyson earned Second Team All-WAC and WAC All-Newcomer Team honors in 2021-22, his first season at Seattle U. This marks his second consecutive Preseason All-WAC honor after earning the nod in 2022-23. He concluded last season as a First Team All-WAC honoree and NABC First Team All-District selection.
Seattle U returns 10 letterwinners, including three starters in Tyson, Alex Schumacher and Brandton Chatfield, this season. The Redhawks have also added five new faces including O'Dea High School alum John Christofilis, who spent the last two years at Creighton, and Ingraham High School product Malek Gomma.
The 2023-24 season gets underway Wednesday, Nov. 8 as the Redhawks host Prairie View A&M in a 7 p.m. tip off at the Redhawk Center.
2023-24 WAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank, Team (1st-Place Votes), Points
1. Grand Canyon (9), 99
2. Stephen F. Austin (2), 87
3. Seattle U, 86
4. Utah Valley, 61
5. Abilene Christian, 60
6. Tarleton State, 49
7. California Baptist, 47
8. UT Arlington, 43
9. Southern Utah, 26
UTRGV, 26
11. Utah Tech, 21
2023-24 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Ray Harrison, Jr., G, Grand Canyon
2023-24 Preseason All-WAC Team
Ray Harrison, Jr., G, Grand Canyon
Gabe McGlothan, R-Sr., F, Grand Canyon
Cameron Tyson, R-Sr., G, Seattle U
Sadaidriene Hall, Jr., F, Stephen F. Austin
Drake Allen, Jr., G, Utah Valley
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