University of North Texas Athletics
Hopkins Tabbed Preseason First Team All-Sun Belt
10/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DENTON (10/26/03) The North Texas men’s basketball team was picked to finish tied for third in the 2004-05 Sun Belt Conference West Division race and senior guard Leonard Hopkins was named first team all-conference in a preseason poll conducted by the league’s 11 head coaches.
The Mean Green is coming off its best ever finish in the Sun Belt Conference after posting an 8-7 league record last year to finish third in the West Division. The 2004-05 team returns seven letterwinners and two starters in all-conference performer Hopkins and sophomore standout Calvin Watson. North Texas also brought in a highly touted recruiting class that includes TABC Texas Junior College Player of the Year Isaac Hines.
The Mean Green was knocked out of last year’s Sun Belt Conference Tournament by New Orleans in a thrilling double-overtime game. The Privateers, who went on to the tournament’s championship game, were also picked to finish tied for third with North Texas.
Louisiana-Lafayette was selected to repeat as the West Division champion with 66 points and all 11 first-place votes. The Ragin’ Cajuns were followed by South Alabama with 43 points, just two more than both the Mean Green and Privateers. New Mexico State (21 points) is predicted to finish fifth and Denver (19 points) sixth.
The East Division was led by Middle Tennessee with 51 points and eight first-place votes. Arkansas-Little Rock received the remaining three first-place votes and collected 44 points. Arkansas State (31 points) was selected third, Western Kentucky fourth (28 points) and Florida International (11 points) fifth.
Hopkins, a Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection last season, led North Texas in scoring with 14 points per game. The Dallas, Texas, native scored in double figures 19 times last season and posted at least 20 points in six games, including a career-high 27 against UNO at the SBC Tournament.
Hopkins was joined by five other guards on the poll’s first team, including preseason player of the year Bo McCalebb from New Orleans.
North Texas will play two exhibition games at the Super Pit on Nov. 6 and 12 before opening the regular season at home against Angelo State on Nov. 19. The Mean Green will play 15 regular-season home games this season, the most since 1973-74, and host the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. North Texas posted a 9-3 record at the Super Pit last season.
2004-05 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
EAST DIVISION
1. Middle Tennessee, 51 points (8)
2. Arkansas-Little Rock, 44 points (3)
3. Arkansas State, 31 points
4. Western Kentucky, 28 points
5. Florida International, 11 points
WEST DIVISION
1. Louisiana-Lafayette, 66 points (11)
2. South Alabama, 43 points
T3. North Texas, 41 points
T3. New Orleans, 41 points
5. New Mexico State, 21 points
6. Denver, 19 points
All-Sun Belt Conference Preseason Team
FIRST TEAM: Leonard Hopkins (G, North Texas), Mike Dean (G, Middle Tennessee), Orien Greene (G, Louisiana-Lafayette), Bo McCalebb (G, New Orlens), J.J. Montgomery (G, Arkansas State)
SECOND TEAM: Erik Benzel (G, Denver), Brandon Freeman (G, Arkansas-Little Rock), Brian Hamilton (F, Louisiana- Lafayette), Dewarick Spencer (G, Arkansas St.), Anthony Winchester (G, Western Kentucky)
THIRD TEAM: Michael Cuffee (G/F, Middle Tennessee), Darius Eason (F, Arkansas-Little Rock), Antonio Haynes (G, Western Kentucky), Duane John (G, New Mexico State), Steve Thomas (C, Middle Tennessee)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bo McCalebb (G, New Orleans)
