Lamar Cardinals

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Location: Beaumont, Texas

Conference: Southland

2017-2018 Record: 19-14, 11-7 in conference

Head Coach: Tic Price, 65-67 at Lamar, 232-189 as a HC

Best Season: 1980 – Sweet 16

Record vs. Jackets: First Meeting

Pre-Season pick: 5^th in the Southland

Leading returning scorer: Nick Garth, 13.6 points per game

This will be the Yellow Jackets first matchup with the Cardinals. Head Coach Tic Price will be looking to integrate 8 newcomers, having lost 5 starters from last years team, in this his 5^th season in charge. Look for leading returning scorer, Nick Garth and JUCO transfer Edwin Jeudy to play an integral role for the Cardinals as they look to improve on coach Price’s best season in Beaumont.

UTRGV Vaqueros

Location: Edinburg. Texas

Conference: Western Athletic Conference

2017-2018 Record: 15-18, 6-8 in conference

Head Coach: Lew Hill, 25-40 at UTRGV

Best Season: 1963 NAIA National Champions

Record vs. Jackets: 1-1

Pre-Season pick: 6^th in the Western Athletic

Leading returning scorer: Terry Winn III, 9.6 points per game

The Yellow Jackets will look to take the series lead against the Vaqueros with a win in a series that was first played in 1975, a matchup won by the Vaqueros 80-73, while Tech was in the depths of the Dwayne Morrison era, prior to joining the ACC. Coach Hill will look to replace leading scorer Nick Dixon, and 3 other graduating seniors with six newcomers. Terry Winn III returns after being the 2^nd leading scorer and top rebounder last season.

Prairie View A&M Panthers

Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images

Location: Prairie View, Texas

Conference: Southwestern Athletic Conference

2017-2018 Record: 16-18, 12-6 in conference

Head Coach: Byron Smith, 35-44 at Prairie View A&M

Best Season: 1962 NAIA National Champions

Pre-Season Pick: 4^th in the Southwestern Athletic

Record vs. Jackets: First Meeting

Leading returning scorer: Gary Blackston, 19.2 points per game

The Jackets are hoping to avoid a repeat of their last meeting with a SWAC opponent, last years 64-63 loss to Grambling. Senior Guard Gary Blackston returns to lead the Panthers after being the 2^nd leading scorer last season. Coach Smith will be looking to build on the 2^nd place finish the Panthers posted last year in the SWAC.