WACO, Texas – The Heartland Conference released its 2015-16 preseason polls for men's and women's basketball Tuesday as voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
After a second-place finish in the regular season in 2014-15, the Rogers State men were predicted to finish fifth this season, despite garnering two votes for the top spot. The Hillcats posted a 14-6 mark in league play a season ago winning 20 games for the seventh time in the eight-year history of the program.
 
In a poll where five teams earned first-place votes, UA Fort Smith received 14 and was picked to win the men's basketball championship ahead of defending conference regular season and tournament champion St. Mary's.
 
The Hillcat women were selected to finish ninth in the Heartland Conference following a 6-12 record in the league last season going 8-18 overall, entering the third year as a member of the conference.
 
In its first season of full NCAA Division II eligibility, Lubbock Christian earned 17 of 20 first-place votes to be chosen as the preseason favorite to win the women's title. UA Fort Smith, last year's tournament champion, got the other three votes to finish second in the poll.
 
The 2015-16 season will mark the first year the Heartland Conference has hosted an eight-team, single elimination postseason tournament, making the race for the championship wide open. The tournament will be held on March 4-6 at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
 
The Hillcats can compete for the Heartland Conference championship during the regular season, but due to the fact they are still provisional NCAA Division II members, are not eligible for postseason play.
 
RSU's women open the season with an exhibition contest at the University of Tulsa Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., while the men follow with their opener, an exhibition at Oral Roberts Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
 
To view the complete men's poll click HERE and for the women's poll, click HERE.