Cedar City • In one of the least surprising results in the history of preseason college basketball polls, Southern Utah was voted to finish last in the Big Sky Conference this season.
Coach Nick Robinson understands.
"It's where we should be picked," he said. "We were one of the worst teams in the country last year, much less the Sky."
It's hard to argue.
In Robinson's second season, the Thunderbirds finished 2-27. They didn't beat a Division I team until their next-to-last game, when SUU defeated North Dakota, 77-71.
The good news?
According to Robinson, the two-win disaster of 2013-14 was buried a long time ago.
"We put it to bed last spring," he said, "and we don't talk about it. Our returning players remember, of course. But our incoming guys have no idea what last year was like ... and that's our approach. This is a new team."
Southern Utah returns eight players, led by sophomore guard Trey Kennedy, junior wing A.J. Hess, junior forward Casey Oliverson and sophomore guard John Marshall.
Kennedy averaged a team-leading 9.5 points per game last season. Hess averaged 9.3 points. Oliverson (7.0) and Marshall (5.3) also made major contributions for a team built on balance. Twelve different players started at least one game. Ten averaged at least 10 minutes.
Robinson believes the experience his underclassmen gained will pay dividends this season.
"The program is moving in the right direction as far as culture is concerned," Robinson said. "... [But[ we still have a lot of strides to make."
Seven newcomers join the program this season, including junior college transfers Travon Langston and Chris Thompson. Langston is a guard from Utah State-Eastern. Thompson is a wing from Tohono O'odham Community College in Arizona.
"We're excited about the offensive and defensive contributions they will be make to our program," Robinson said. "I believe they bring a new dimension to our team, as well as leadership that we need."
Two freshman could make an impact. Tyler Rawson is a 6-foot-9 forward from American Fork. Sherron Wilson is a 6-foot-6 wing from Las Vegas.
"I'm like our talent and our depth, moving forward," said Robinson, whose Thunderbirds open the season Friday at Kansas State.
Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes forward Jordan Loveridge (21) during the second half of the game at the Huntsman Center Thursday January 10, 2013. UCLA won the game 57-53.
Courtesy Chad Zavala | The Daily Utah Chronicle Utah's Jordan Loveridge reacts after scoring on a three-point shot against USC in the first round of the PAC12 Men's Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas, NV., Wednesday, March 13, 2013.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Utah forward Jordan Loveridge (21) looks to make a pass during their game against the Willamette Bearcats at the Huntsman Center on Friday, November 9, 2012. Loveridge led the team with 10 rebounds and 18 points as the Utes beat the Bearcats 104-47.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah's Jordan Loveridge shoots a corner three pointer in the first half of a game at the Huntsman Center, Saturday, March 1, 2014.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utahís Jordan Loveridge (21) drives with Ball Stateís Tyler Koch (34) defending as the University of Utah hosts Ball State, NCAA basketball Wednesday November 27, 2013 at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
Utah's Jordan Loveridge, right, drives to the basket as Ball State's Jeremie Tyler defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes forward Jordan Loveridge (21) hits the net. The University of Utah leads Carroll College 54-23 Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
Utah forward Jordan Loveridge (21) steals the ball from Carroll's Jake Hollifield during an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/The Salt Lake Tribune, Leah Hogsten)
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes forward Jordan Loveridge (21) drives past UCLA Bruins guard Noah Allen (22) during first half action in the Utah versus UCLA men's basketball game at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Sunday, January 4, 2015.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes forward Jordan Loveridge (21) shoots the ball, as the University of Utah Utes host the Washington State Cougars, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday January 21, 2015.
Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes forward Jordan Loveridge (21) celebrates a three-pointer from the floor, as the University of Utah Utes host the Washington State Cougars, college basketball at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Wednesday January 21, 2015.
Utah's Jordan Loveridge, left, shoots under pressure by Southern California's Nikola Jovanovic, of Serbia, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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