ST. LOUIS - Westminster men's basketball was chosen to win the SLIAC in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches. 

The Blue Jays won the tournament a year ago while finishing 12-16 overall and 10-8 in the conference. They received 70 total points and four first-place votes in this year's poll which featured five teams receiving first-pace votes. 

The squad returns all five starters headlined by the trio of guards Tanner Cochran, Romo Tabb, and Jimmy Villalobos. Cochran averaged 9.4 points a season ago while Tabb averaged 11.8 points and grabbed 5.0 rebounds, earning third team All-Conference honors. Villalobos was named to the All-Tournament team while scoring 7.8 points per game last season. 

Westminster adds two junipr transfers Sean O'Brien and Cody Shaw. 

Spalding was chosen to finish second just behind Westminster with 67 points and two first-place votes. Wesbter garnered 65 points and two first-place votes to come in third. Greenville was picked to finish fourth with 57 points and a first-place vote. Iowa Wesleyan was the last team to receive a first-place vote and received 51 points. 

The rest of the poll is as follows: MacMurray, Blackburn, Eureka, Principia, and Fontbonne. 

Westminster kicks off the 2016-17 season Friday, Nov. 18 at Millikin in Decatur, Ill.