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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Tarleton Texan men's basketball team has been ranked No. 11 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in the 2010-11 preseason poll.

The Texans, who last year reached the program's seventh NCAA South Central Regional in nine seasons, lost just two seniors off of last year's 24-8 squad.

Tarleton is the highest-ranked team from the South Central region in the poll.

“Being recognized for the quality of our program is nice,” said Tarleton head coach Lonn Reisman. “Our coaching peers believe we have one of the top programs in the nation, and that is a big honor. Year in and year out we are ranked in the polls, but when it comes down to it, these polls help us more in recruiting than on the basketball floor. We still have to go out and play 100 percent every night in order to win. The recognition is nice, but it is where you finish that makes all the difference.”

The Texans are joined by fellow Lone Star Conference schools Central Oklahoma at No. 18 and Midwestern State at No. 20. The only other South Central Region member is No. 16 Central Missouri.

Defending Division II champion Cal Poly Pomona, who has played in the last two title games, is ranked No. 1 heading into the season.

Tarleton opens the 2010-11 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 13 when it hosts Arlington Baptist at 7 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.