NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama baseball was picked to win the Sun Belt Conference East Division in a preseason poll voted on by the league's coaches.

USA received all 12 first-place votes as the favorite to win the East Division. Coastal Carolina was picked to finish second behind the Jaguars in the East Division, followed by Georgia Southern, Troy, Georgia State and Appalachian State. 

Louisiana received nine first-place votes and was picked to win the West Division. UTA received two first-place votes and was predicted to finish second in the West. Texas State, who received one first-place vote, was picked to finish third, followed by Arkansas State, Little Rock and ULM.

"When you have a lot of returners who have produced in their first two years, there's high expectations," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "But preseason polls, rankings and picks as to where you're going to finish four or five months in advance mean nothing to mean today, and have never meant anything to me to be quite honest. I don't put a lot of stock into any of it. There have been times we've been picked fourth in the preseason and have won the league. But it says that people have noticed their success and respect who our guys have become as baseball players and as a program. 

"Last year was last year, and has nothing to do with this year. It never has and never will. You can be a better team on paper, and each season poses its different problems and difficulties. It's good to be recognized by your peers and college baseball, but it doesn't affect how we'll play positively or negatively. The bottom line is you have to go out and play. We think we have a good team and so do our players, it's just about going out now and doing it."

The Jaguars return eight position starters from last year's 40-21 squad that finished 22-8 in league play and missed out on the program's third straight SBC championship by a half-game. South Alabama won the 2017 SBC Tournament and competed in the NCAA Hattiesburg (Miss.) Regional.

USA will begin the 2018 campaign ranked in four preseason polls:  Collegiate Baseball (No. 17), D1Baseball (No. 20), USA Today/Coaches (No. 23) and Baseball America (No. 24). South Alabama will open the season Fri., Feb. 16, at 3 p.m. (CT) against Kansas State in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Dugout Club, the baseball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/dugoutclub.
EAST DIVISION
1. South Alabama (12) - 72 pts
2. Coastal Carolina - 59 pts
3. Georgia Southern - 43 pts
4. Troy - 41 pts
5. Georgia State - 20 pts
6. Appalachian State - 16 pts
 
WEST DIVISION
1. Louisiana (9) - 68 pts
2. UTA (2) - 56 pts
3. Texas State (1) - 51 pts
4. Arkansas State - 36 pts
5. Little Rock - 27 pts
6. ULM - 11 pts