RUSTON – Louisiana Tech's Daniel Batcho was voted Conference USA Men's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, announced by the league office on Thursday.
 
Batcho, a 6-foot-11, 245-pound forward from Paris, France, is coming off a stellar season with LA Tech, earning CUSA Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-CUSA, and CUSA All-Defensive Team honors. 
 
He averaged 15.2 points as a redshirt junior while shooting 59.0 percent from the field, best in CUSA. He posted six 20+ scoring performances including a career-high 24 points in two games against Seattle U and Middle Tennessee. 
 
Batcho also averaged a team-high and league-high 9.8 rebounds per game, registering a CUSA-best 11 double-doubles. On defense, he recorded 67 blocks while averaging 2.39 rejections per game, which ranked top 10 in the country. 
 
LA Tech was also tabbed first in the preseason poll, receiving 89 points (three first-place votes) by the league coaches. WKU and Sam Houston were right behind the Bulldogs in second and third, respectively.
 
Season tickets are still on sale and can be purchased by going to LATechSports.com/Tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631. 
 
The 2024-25 season gets underway on Nov. 4 at home against LSU-Alexandria.
 
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MBB PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech
 
MBB PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Zach Cleveland, Liberty
Kaden Metheny, Liberty
Daniel Batcho, Louisiana Tech
Jestin Porter, Middle Tennessee
Camryn Weston, Middle Tennessee
Christian Cook, New Mexico State
Lamar Wilkerson, Sam Houston
Otis Frazier III, UTEP
Tyrone Marshall Jr., WKU
Don McHenry, WKU
 
MBB PRESEASON POLL (first-place votes)
1. Louisiana Tech (3) – 87
2. WKU (2) – 85
3. Sam Houston (3) – 83
4. Middle Tennessee (1) – 69
T5. Liberty (1) – 62
T5. UTEP – 62
7. New Mexico State – 39
8. Jacksonville State – 29
T9. FIU – 17
T9. Kennesaw State – 17