MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern States Athletic Conference released its 2025-26 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll on Tuesday, and the Loyola Wolf Pack were picked seventh out of 12 teams by the league's coaches. Loyola gathered 72 total votes, and it sits behind Dalton State (134), Life (132), Mobile (116), Faulkner (102), William Carey (94), and UT Southern (82).
The Wolf Pack's roster features 14 returners and four newcomers, which makes up half of Loyola's offensive production from last year's squad. While the program saw its two leading scorers graduate, Kosta Bjelicic (10.4 points per game), Leonard Jackson (9), Kameron Johnson (8.6), Cameron Williams (7.4) and Jarvis Brown (6.7) all averaged more than five points per game during the 2024-25 campaign. Bjelicic and Williams both averaged 4.5 rebounds per game as well, and Johnson and Jackson had 40 and 29 steals, respectively.
Zachary Lee missed most of last season due to an injury, but he was the SSAC Championship MVP and on the SSAC All-Freshman Team two seasons ago. Bjelicic was on the SSAC All-Freshman Team last season, and Reece Seicshnaydre and Jaylen Peters both averaged more than 10 minutes per game off the bench as well.
Loyola opens the season with a home game against Texas A&M-San Antonio at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, but six of its first eight games are on the road, although the Wolf Pack won't leave the state of Louisiana until their sixth road game on Nov. 22 at William Carey. After opening SSAC play at Carey, the Wolf Pack will play two more road conference games in December before picking things back up on Monday, Jan. 5, at home against SUNO. They'll also play Dillard (Nov. 25) and College of Biblical Studies (Dec. 16) at home before the New Year.
Loyola starts 2026 with six home games in January, including the Hall of Fame Game on Saturday, Jan. 24, and four home games in February, with Senior Day capping off the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The SSAC Championship will take place Feb. 25-28 in Montgomery, Alabama.
2025-26 SSAC Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Dalton State – 134 (5)
2. Life – 132 (4)
3. Mobile – 116 (1)
4. Faulkner – 102 (1)
5. William Carey – 94
6. UT Southern – 82
7. Loyola – 72
8. Thomas – 68 (1)
9. Blue Mountain Christian – 53
10. Brewton-Parker Christian – 43
11. Point – 21
12. Abraham Baldwin - 19
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