The Associated Press

CHICAGO, Ill. - The University of Cincinnati was picked by Conference USA coaches to win the league title for the eighth straight year despite losing four starters, including All-American guard Steve Logan.

The Bearcats are led by returning starter Leonard Stokes and sophomore Jason Maxiell, who was selected by coaches to the preseason all-conference team.

Marquette's Dwayne Wade, a junior who averaged 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds last season, was chosen as preseason player of the year.

Also on the preseason all-conference team are Reece Gaines of Louisville, Marque Perry of Saint Louis and Andre Brown of DePaul.

Marquette was picked to finish second in the American Division with Louisville third. The coaches voted Memphis as the top team in the National Division, followed by Tulane and Houston.

Marquette, coming off a 26-7 season, lost three players in the offseason. Freshmen Kevin Menard and Ron Howard and sophomore Odartey Blankson all transferred out of the program, leaving coach Tom Crean with a team of 10 scholarship players and a one walk-on.

So it's no surprise Crean is expecting Wade to play a bigger role a year after the 6-5 guard led the Golden Eagles in scoring and rebounding last season.

"The whole thing with him comes down to how complete a player can he be on both ends of the court," he said. "There's going to be a lot of focus put on stopping him and it's important that he learn to adjust and figure out how we're going to win the game."

The conference has four new coaches this season, with Neil Dougherty taking over at TCU, Mike Anderson at UAB, Dave Leitao at DePaul and Brad Soderberg at Saint Louis.

With high turnover among coaches and players, Louisville coach Rick Pitino said he couldn't name three starting players on any team other than his own. And though he agreed Cincinnati is the team to beat, he said the conference should be wide open.

"Houston could be the best team in the league and I wouldn't know it," he said.