Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Wheeler Named CUSA Preseason Player of the Year
10/12/2023 11:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MTSU tabbed preseason favorites; Trio of Lady Raiders earn preseason All-CUSA honors
DALLAS – The Middle Tennessee Lady Raiders were tabbed preseason favorites, while fifth-year guard Savannah Wheeler was named CUSA Preseason Player of the Year and a trio of Lady Raiders earned Preseason All-CUSA honors, the league office announced on Thursday.
For the second consecutive season, MTSU received every first-place vote and had three preseason all-conference selections: Jalynn Gregory, Wheeler, and Courtney Whitson.
This marks the 14th time in 19 seasons that Middle Tennessee has been named the preseason favorite under head coach Rick Insell, including eight out of 11 seasons in CUSA.
Wheeler, a native of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, was voted the CUSA Preseason Player of the Year and earned her fourth consecutive CUSA preseason team selection. The fifth-year guard has put together one of the most decorated careers in conference history, compiling 1,747 career points, 398 rebounds, and 288 assists in just 107 games. She averaged 15.1 points per game in 2022-23 and was also tabbed the CUSA Preseason Player of the Year earlier this month by ESPN.
Whitson, a Kingsport, Tennessee native secured her second consecutive CUSA preseason team spot, following a season where she led the conference in rebounds and averaged 10.1 points per game. She became just the fifth Lady Raider in program history to reach the 1,000-point/800-rebound milestone. The graduate stands third all-time with 121 consecutive starts and ranks in the top five in career rebounds and minutes played.
Gregory, a native of Lafayette, Tennessee, was named to her first CUSA preseason team. The junior averaged 13.4 points per game and led the league in 3-point shooting last season. Gregory has connected on three or more treys in 23 games over the previous two seasons and scored doubles-figures in 22-of-33 games played in 2022-23.
The Lady Raiders open the 2023-24 season at home on Nov. 6 against Memphis. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
2023-24 CUSA Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Middle Tennessee (9)
T2. Liberty
T2. WKU
4. LA Tech
5. UTEP
6. NM State
7. FIU
8. Jax State
9. Sam Houston
* first-place votes in parentheses
CUSA WBB Preseason Player of the Year
Savannah Wheeler, MTSU
CUSA WBB Preseason All-Conference Honorees
Jalynn Gregory, MTSU
Savannah Wheeler, MTSU
Courtney Whitson, MTSU
Tanajah Hayes, FIU
Kaliah Henderson, FIU
Emma Hess, Liberty
Anna Larr Roberson, LA Tech
Molly Kaiser, NM State
Acacia Hayes, WKU
Alexis Mead, WKU
