AMERICUS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern State University men's basketball team was picked to finish 12th in the Peach Belt Conference Preseason Poll released Thursday afternoon. Coming off a 6-22 overall record and a  4-18 mark in the PBC, the Hurricanes received 14 points as voted on by the league's head coaches. 

First-year head coach Aaron Coombs and the Hurricanes are looking to rebound on this upcoming season as he begins a new journey. With little time, Coombs was able to finalize his roster with two incoming freshmen and nine transfer student-athletes to a depleted basketball team. 

"That's right where I want to be," Coombs said. "I like my team a lot; if picked last it'll be good to see the talent in the league once the season starts."

They are set to return sophomores Jamari Dean and Devon Higgs, who each were attributers last season. Dean played in all 28 games as a freshman and averaged 21.8 minutes while finishing the season leading the team with 5.7 rebounds per game. Higgs averaged 10.5 minutes as he was tied second on the team with 0.3 blocks per game.

The Hurricanes will begin their season on the road at Fort Valley State on Nov. 12 before returning back to Americus for a string of home games. GSW's home opener will be against Middle Georgia State on Nov. 16 followed by games against Albany State Nov. 18 and Brewton-Parker College Nov. 25. The Hurricanes will host Fort Valley State Dec. 2 and Albany State Dec. 5 before starting Peach Belt Conference play Dec. 19 and 21 on the road against Augusta University and USC Aiken. 

Coming right into the new year, the Hurricanes host Lander University and North Georgia on Jan. 4 and 8 before heading to the beach to play Flagler College Jan. 11. GSW picks up a midweek home game against Clayton State on Jan. 15 as they will hit the road on Jan. 18 to play Georgia College. GSW closes our their January schedule with four games in nine days, as they will play host to Francis Marion Jan. 20 before hitting the road two days later to play Young Harris. GSW then returns back to Americus for a pair of games against UNC Pembroke on Jan. 25 and conference foe Columbus State Jan. 29. 

The Hurricanes open up February on the road as they will take on Francis Marion Feb. 1 and North Georgia Feb. 5. GSW returns home Feb. 8 to play USC Aiken but will hit the road for a midweek battle with Clayton State on Feb. 12 before returning home for a slue of home games. Coach Coombs invites Georgia College and Young Harris Feb. 15 and 19 to the Storm Dome before hosting Flagler College as their final home opponent of the year on Feb. 22. A short trip out to Columbus on Feb. 26 caps the February slate while GSW will end their season on the road against UNC Pembroke on March 1. 

Coombs noted that the preseason poll is the least of his worries. With a new look and offensive schemes, Coombs is looking forward to revamping GSW's basektball program.