Thirteenth.
 
That is where The UT Permian Basin men's basketball team was projected to finish in the 2023-24 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, which is an understandable place to project the Falcons to finish based on the team finishing 7-15 (13^th) in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) in the 2022-23 season.
 
However, while it was understandable it also meant that the coaches in the LSC didn't respect or bother to research the players that head coach Kyle Tolin brought in this season – returning only one player from last season. 
 
"We've got a lot of new players in here; we've got a brand-new team. Obviously, Keyon is back and he's been through the league and Lathaniel played in the league so we got two guys that understand the level we are getting into every night," said coach Tolin. "I think we've done a good job in getting the right pieces in here to. Guys who want to be here at UTPB, guys who like competing, playing basketball is important to them, and guys who are willing to work hard and buy into something bigger than themselves. I think that is important and you can win with guys like that."
 
The players that coach Tolin has brought in has led to the Falcons, starting the season off to the best start ever under coach Tolin, as they are currently 10-3 overall, 5-2 in the LSC (4^th place), and currently on a three-game winning streak.
 
"I think we have good players number one. If you're going to win games you have to have good players," said coach Tolin. "We also have been lucky so far that these guys really fit. We can play different ways, put different lineups out there, there is not an ego, they all care about each other and there is going to be someone different every night that is going to be your leading scorer. I think they have all embraced that."
 
With the talent and chemistry, the team has shown so far this season, it is no surprise that they have taken down, Texas A&M Kingsville (projected to finish 6^th), Eastern New Mexico (projected to finish 8^th), Arkansas Fort Smith (projected to finish 10^th) and Western New Mexico (projected to finish 12^th). Additionally, the Falcons are now receiving votes (3) in the D2CSC Men's Basketball South-Central Region Rankings.
  Alex Matthews is the leading scorer for the Falcons averaging 14.5 (12^th in the LSC), while shooting 52.8 percent from the field (sixth in LSC). A few spots down is Lathaniel Bastian who averages 13.7 (16^th in LSC) and leads the league in field goal percentage making 62.7 percent. DJ Armstrong can't be left alone from beyond the arc as he is making 41.8 percent, which is fourth best in the LSC. Keyon Craddock has been a big reason for his teammate's success, as he has been dishing dimes out left and right averaging 3.8 assist (tied for seventh in LSC).
 
Bastian is also a force on the glass, grabbing a league leading 11.3 rebounds and is tied for second in blocked shots, sending back 1.5 shots. Armstrong not only knocks down shots, but also picks pockets averaging 1.5 steals (tied for sixth LSC).
 
As a whole, the Falcons have the five ranked offense in the LSC (82.6) and No. 1 ranked defense only giving up 65 points. From the field they shoot 49.1 percent (4^th in LSC) and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc (tied for 3^rd in LSC). At the free throw line, the Falcons make 76.7 percent which is fourth best in the LSC.
 
On the defensive side, they are fourth in the LSC in turnover margin (3.77) and are eighth in the rebound category grabbing 36.6 boards.
  The Falcons have taken care of business at home – currently 8-0 in the Falcon Dome – and now will look to duplicate that success on the road over the next two weeks, against four tough opponents.
 
"I think we need to have the same mentality that we have at home. Like the expectation of needing to take care of business, needing to win home games. It has to be the same thing on road," said coach Tolin. "Obviously four games on the road for anybody is tough, but in our league on our side it is really going to be tough. So just kind having the same mentality, we need to have the same good week of prep and get ready to go. We will actually do a little more today than I have done all year long on the opposing teams, just trying to get ready to go because it is different."
 
The first stop the Falcons will make will be against the team tied for tenth in the South-Central Region and tied for third (5-1) in the LSC – Lubbock Christian.
 
"They are really good," said coach Tolin about Lubbock Christian. "They shoot over 50 percent from the field. I think they are the most efficient team offensively in our league and maybe in the country. They all can shoot it, so five guys are going to have to be committed to guarding against them. They pick on your weak link and if you don't guard then your man is going to be open and is going to make a shot. They are really good offensively and they have been the class of the league along with West Texas A&M over the last four or five years in the Lone Star Conference. It'll be a good matchup a good game for us."
 
Following that game, they will face a tougher opponent – West Texas A&M – who is No. 1 in the South-Central Region and No. 5 in the D2CSC Men's Basketball National Rankings. The Falcons will then take on seventh place Cameron and tied for eighth place Midwestern State, before returning home on Jan. 25 (Thursday) to take on tied for fifth St. Edwards at 7:30 p.m.