University of North Texas Athletics
Hines Named To Preseason All-Sun Belt Basketball Team
10/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (10/24/05) -- North Texas senior guard Isaac Hines has been named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Basketball Team as a second-team selection, while the Mean Green was picked to finish fifth in the league’s West Division according to a poll of the conference’s 11 head coaches.
Hines was one of two North Texas players to start every game last year and became the first player in school history to lead the team in assists, steals and rebounds during the same season. The Dallas, Texas, native ranked second in the Sun Belt in assist/turnover ratio, third in steals, sixth in assists and 11th in rebounds during the 2004-05 campaign.
North Texas, which returns three starters and six letterwinners from last year’s 14-14 team, received 27 points in the coaches poll. The Mean Green received just six fewer points than South Alabama, while Louisiana-Lafayette was named the preseason favorite to win the West Division with six first-place votes and 58 points. Denver was not far behind the Ragin’ Cajuns in the voting, receiving five first-place votes and 57 points.
Western Kentucky is an overwhelming favorite to win the East Division after receiving 10 of 11 first-place votes and 54 points. FIU received the remaining first-place vote and was picked to finish second with 38 points.
Denver senior center Yemi Nicholson was named the Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.
North Texas begins the 2005-06 season November 18 with a home game against Hardin-Simmons at 7 p.m.
2005-06 SUN BELT CONFERENCE PRESEASON MEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES POLL
East Division
1. Western Kentucky (10), 54 points
2. Florida International (1), 38 points
3. Middle Tennessee, 36 points
4. Arkansas-Little Rock, 23 points
5. Arkansas State, 14 points
West Division
1. Louisiana-Lafayette (6), 58 points
2. Denver (5), 57 points
3. New Orleans, 45 points
4. South Alabama, 33 points
5. North Texas, 27 points
6. Troy, 11 points
PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE TEAM
First Team: Ivan Almonte (FIU, Sr., F), Bo McCalebb (UNO, Sr., G), Dwayne Mitchell (ULL, Sr., G), Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Sr., C), Anthony Winchester (WKU, Sr., G)
Second Team: Chris Cameron (ULL, Sr., F), Isaac Hines (NT, Sr., G), Mario Jointer (USA, Sr., G), Courtney Lee (WKU, So., G/F), Zack Wright (UALR, Jr., G)
Third Team: Bobby Dixon (Troy, Sr., G), Marcus Morrison (MT, Sr., G/F), Ismael N’Diaye (FIU, Sr., F), Jerry Nichols (ASU, Sr., G), Antonio Porch (Denver, Jr., F)
PRESEASON SUN BELT CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Sr., C)
