By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

The NAIA Division 1 Preseason Coaches’ Poll is hypothetical by nature.

“We are humbled with the honor,” said LSU Alexandria head coach Larry Cordaro after his team was picked No. 2 for the second straight season. “However, we realize that no one has won or lost a game yet … past performance is no guarantee of future results.”

Said Kelvin Starr, head coach of No. 1-ranked The Master’s University: “We have a lot of work to do.”

This year, the NAIA can sort out its early No. 1 spot on the court and in one of the season’s first games.

Master’s will play LSU Alexandria on Thursday at the Texas Wesleyan Champions Classic in Fort Worth, Texas. The four-team tournament, which also features No. 7 LSU Shreveport and No. 11 Texas Wesleyan, will conclude Friday.

The marquee matchup comes on day one, however, as the Mustangs trot out four starters from last year’s team (a group that earned the No. 1 overall seed in the national tournament) against a Generals club that has averaged 30 wins over the last three seasons.

LSU Alexandria features a wealth of shooting, athleticism and depth and is fresh off its first-ever national championship game appearance.

Master’s fell prey to a first-round upset last year, losing to Peru State in overtime. In 2018-19, the Mustangs are focused on a return trip to Kansas City, Missouri. They will rely on 6-foot-10 center Tim Soares, a third-team NAIA All-American, and point guard Hansel Atencia, an honorable mention All-American pick, to make it happen.

“People speculate if you’re really the No. 1 team,” Soares said Tuesday, “and playing the No. 2 team, you have to prove yourself. It’s up for grabs, the No. 1 spot, and whoever plays the hardest, I think will take it and prove to everybody that they’re actually No. 1.”

Of course, William Penn University would have something to say about it, as the Statesmen tied LSU Alexandria for second in the preseason poll. But on Thursday at 5 p.m. CDT, the spotlight will shine on Forth Worth for a game that will be live streamed through Texas Wesleyan’s website.

For LSU Alexandria, the contest comes a week after the Generals scored a record 124 points in a win over Southern University at New Orleans in their season opener.

Three Generals tallied at least 20 points, highlighted by Mikkel Norment’s 22.

Master’s has played two exhibition games to this point, beating NCAA Division 2 programs Azusa Pacific University (82-68) and Concordia University Irvine (78-71).

“We kind of struggled last year on defense,” said TMU junior Brock Gardner. “But this year, we’ve been really good at clogging the paint and getting out on shooters and helping each other out. Whether it be on straight-line drives or whatever the case might be.”

Said Soares: “I think our competitiveness has been great so far. If we keep that up – with the intensity and defensive effort – I think we’ll be fine.”