University of North Texas Athletics
NT Basketball Unanimous Pick To Win West
10/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Josh White and George Odufuwa earned Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt selections and Tristan Thompson was named to the second team. All three players were apart of All-Sun Belt teams last season en route to the program's second Sun Belt title and NCAA Tournament berth of the last four seasons.
North Texas becomes the first Sun Belt West squad since 2004-05 to garner a unanimous pick to win the division. The Mean Green was predicted to win the division prior to last season and followed up with its first West Division title since entering the league. The three preseason selections are the most by an NT team since joining the Sun Belt in 2000, as are the multiple first-team nods.
"It's great to see that three guys that have had such a positive impact on our program are so respected around the league, which is evident by their respective placements on the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams," said North Texas head coach Johnny Jones. "We are excited about our preseason ranking. With a great group of guys returning from last year's championship team we look forward to the challenge of an always tough Sun Belt Conference schedule."
White - who ranked among the league's top 10 in points, free throw percentage, minutes, 3-point percentage, assists and assist to turnover ratio - is coming off a Third-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection as a junior; his second career All-SBC nod. White already ranks 11th in NT history with 1,244 career points, and was just the 18th player in program history to reach the 1,000 point plateau.
North Texas' double-double big-man, Odufuwa was one of just 20 players in the NCAA to average a double-double in 2009-10. Odufuwa averaged 11.5 points and led the Sun Belt and ranked 13th in the NCAA with 10.7 rebounds per game. The feat earned him second-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors, and he was also named to the All-Sun Belt Conference Tournament Team.
Thompson earned a Third-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection after tying for the team lead with 14.5 points per game on 40.4 percent shooting from 3-point. He became the 19th player in NT history to score 1,000 career points when he topped the mark in the Sun Belt Tournament final against Troy. At his best under the bright lights, Thompson scored a career-high 28 points against Kansas State in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tourney.
North Texas opens the season on Nov. 12 against Henderson State at noon at the Super Pit. The Mean Green will raise its championship banners prior to its 7 p.m. tip off against Texas Tech on Nov. 16.
All-Sun Belt Conference Teams
First Team
George Odufuwa (North Texas, Sr., F)
Josh White (North Texas, Sr., G)
Tim Williams (South Alabama, Sr., G)
Sergio Kerusch (WKU, Sr., F)
Steffphon Pettigrew (WKU, Sr., F)
Second Team
Martavius Adams (Arkansas State, Jr., F/C)
Donald Boone (Arkansas State, Sr., G)
Greg Gantt (Florida Atlantic, So., G)
Raymond Taylor (Florida Atlantic, So., G)
Tristan Thompson (North Texas, Sr., G)
Third Team
Solomon Bozeman (UALR, Sr., G)
Brett Royster (Florida Atlantic, Sr., F)
Marvin Roberts (FIU, Sr., G/F)
Randell Daigle (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., G)
James Washington (Middle Tennessee, Sr., G)
Preseason Player of the Year: Sergio Kerusch (WKU, Sr., F)
2010 SBC Coaches Preseason Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes)
WEST DIVISION
1. North Texas (12) 72
2. Arkansas State 55
3. Denver 51
4. Louisiana-Lafayette 36
5. UALR 26
6. Louisiana-Monroe 12
EAST DIVISION
1. WKU (11) 71
2. Florida Atlantic (1) 53
3. South Alabama 47
4. Middle Tennessee 42
5. FIU 22
6. Troy 17
