MARSHALL, Texas – Rebuilding for the 2025-26 season, East Texas Baptist University has been picked fourth in the American Southwest Conference preseason poll. ETBU returns one starter from last season and six players.
 
ETBU earned 14 points for fourth place in the preseason ASC Poll after a 2-6 season last year. Hardin-Simmons University is picked to win the ASC with 29 points, Howard Payne University is second with 20 points, and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is third with 17 points. ETBU went 6-20 last year and lost in the ASC Tournament play-in game.
 
Three student-athletes are on the ASC Players to Watch list in Michael Roberts and newcomers Christian Dews and Jack Pease. Roberts is an All-ASC third-team selection that averaged 11.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, shooting 46 percent with 37 blocks and 30 steals. Dews played for ETBU in 2023-24 in 25 games, starting nine, recording 31 points and 41 rebounds. Pease played at the Colorado University for three years and averaged 12.1 points per game at Highland Park High School.
 
ETBU opens the 2025-26 season on Friday, November 7, hosting McMurry University in Ornelas Gym.