Men’s Basketball Tabbed Sixth In Preseason Poll

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's basketball team has been selected to finish sixth in the Sunshine State Conference preseason poll. Barry earned the top spot in the poll, as they received 61 total votes and six of nine first place votes. Lynn was selected to finish second, and the defending conference and national champions Florida Southern was selected to finish third.

Last season the Spartans finished fourth in the conference, as they went 18-10 overall and 10-6 in SSC play. UT's season ended in the conference tournament when they fell in the first round to the Nova Southeastern Sharks.

Tampa returns eight players from last year's team, including junior guards Austin Rettig and Matt Johnson. Rettig is the team's returning leading scorer and rebounder, as he averaged 15 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Johnson averaged 6.8 points and 4.9 assists per game. Rettig and Johnson were also two of just three players to play in every game for the Spartans last season.

Tampa opens up the 2015-16 season at the Saint Leo Tournament on November 13th and 14th, as they square up against Alabama-Huntsville and North Alabama.

UT opens up conference play on November 18th, as they host the Florida Tech Panthers.

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