MOBILE, Ala. ? The Sun Belt Conference made a couple of big announcements on the opening day of the league's annual Basketball Media Days in Mobile, Ala. on Monday. The league released its 2007-08 ESPN television package, which includes UALR's Feb. 21 home game against Arkansas State, and announced Hot Springs, Ark. has been chosen as the host city for the 2009-2011 men's and women's basketball tournament by the Sun Belt's Executive Committee.
The 2009-2011 Sun Belt tournaments will be played at Summit Arena, which was constructed in 2003 with a seating capacity of 6,000 and adjoins the Hot Springs Convention Center. Located 50 miles from Little Rock, Hot Springs is visited by three million tourists annually and offers more than 4,000 hotel rooms with 15 restaurants within walking distance of Summit Arena.
“The Sun Belt Conference basketball tournament will draw thousands of new visitors to Hot Springs and to our State, and I know that Arkansas's natural beauty and warm hospitality will make their trip memorable,” said Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe. “As a big fan of college basketball, I'm looking forward to some great games. I thank the Sun Belt Conference for choosing Arkansas, and congratulate the people of Hot Springs on an outstanding job in achieving this honor.”
The conference also released its preseason Coaches Poll and All-Conference Team on Monday. The Trojans, coming off a 13-17 (8-10 Sun Belt) campaign, were picked sixth in the West Division. ULM, which returns all five starters off last year's co-Western Division championship team, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the West with nine of a possible 13 first-place votes. On the East side, Western Kentucky received all 13 first-place votes to emerge as the consensus preseason favorite.
“The thing about preseason expectations is that they hold no weight on the outcome of your season. The games are the only things that matter. That is what we've always focused on, and what I stress to our team,” said UALR head coach Steve Shields. “I think it also poses a good challenge for our guys, to try and prove people wrong.”
New Orleans senior Bo McCalebb, who needs 382 points to become the league's all-time leading scorer, was named preseason Player of the Year. McCalebb was joined on the preseason First Team by Courtney Lee (WKU), Adrian Banks (ASU), Carlos Monroe (FAU) and Demetric Bennett (USA).
UALR opens the 2007-08 season on Sunday, Nov. 4 with an exhibition game against Cameron at the Jack Stephens Center. For ticket information, call 501-565-UALR (8257).
“I'm excited about our guys mindset through the first 10 practices. We have to continue to grow and get better defensively, but I'm encouraged by what I've seen so far.”
2007-08 Men's Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
First Team
Adrian Banks (Arkansas State, Sr., G)
Carlos Monroe (Florida Atlantic, Jr., F)
Bo McCalebb (New Orleans, Sr., G)
Demetric Bennett (South Alabama, Sr., G)
Courtney Lee (WKU, Sr., G/F)
Second Team
Alex Galindo (Florida International, Jr., F)
David Dees (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., G)
Tony Hooper (Louisiana-Monroe, Jr., G)
O'Darien Bassett (Troy, Sr., G)
Tyrone Brazelton (WKU, Sr., G)
Third Team
Elijah Millsap (Louisiana-Lafayette, So., G)
Kevin Kanaskie (Middle Tennessee, Jr., G)
Quincy Williams (North Texas, Sr., F)
Keith Wooden (North Texas, Sr., F/C)
Daon Merrit (South Alabama, Sr., G)
Preseason Player of the Year - Bo McCalebb (New Orleans, Sr., G)
Preseason Coaches Poll
As voted on by all 13 league head coaches (First place votes in parenthesis)
|
East Division |
Points |
|
1. WKU (13) |
78 |
|
2. South Alabama |
59 |
|
3. Middle Tennessee |
51 |
|
4. Florida Atlantic |
43 |
|
5. Florida International |
25 |
|
6. Troy |
17 |
|
West Division |
Points |
|
1. Louisiana-Monroe (9) |
85 |
|
2. North Texas (1) |
71 |
|
3. Arkansas State (2) |
62 |
|
4. New Orleans (1) |
61 |
|
5. Louisiana-Lafayette |
37 |
|
6. UALR |
35 |
|
7. Denver |
13 |
