Sun Belt media days report

LITTLE ROCK — Foley's Trojans No. 1 pick MOBILE, Ala. - The UALR women accomplished a first Monday by being selected first in the Sun Belt Conference preseason coaches poll.

UALR, entering its fourth season under Coach Joe Foley, had never been picked anything but last in the West Division poll until last season when the Trojans were selected fourth.

This year, UALR received six of the 13 first-place votes and had 76 points overall to edge second-place Denver, which had three first-place votes and 70 points.

"It's a change. It's an honor to be picked. But naturally, it's where you end up at the end of the year that counts," Foley said. "But for our program, it shows progress. Hopefully, we can carry through." North Texas and Arkansas State each received two firstplace votes and were selected third and fourth, respectively.

Western Kentucky was picked over four-time defending conference champion Middle Tennessee to win the East Division.

ASU 3rd, UALR 6th Arkansas State's men were picked third in West Division in the men's preseason coaches poll behind Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas. The Indians received two first-place votes.

UALR, which was picked to finish first last season, waspicked to finish sixth this season.

"It's a great challenge for our basketball team," UALR Coach Steve Shields said. "I think back five years ago when we were picked down at the bottom. Preseason polls and all-conference teams make for great anticipation and talk about the league, but thank goodness we play the games.

That's what you have to focus on." 3 Trojans All-SBC UALR's women landed three players on the preseason allconference teams. Sophomore Kim Sitzmann, who was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year

last season, was named to the

first team. Senior Nikya Hughes

was named to the second team

and sophomore Anshel Cooper

to the third team.

On the men's side, Arkansas

State's Adrian Banks was

named to the first team.

Tune in Feb. 21 UALR and Arkansas

State will each get only one

appearance on ESPN Plus

this season as part of the Sun

Belt's television deal. And

again this year it will be the

game between the teams at the

Stephens Center.

ESPN Plus will televise the

Feb. 21 doubleheader between

Arkansas State and UALR.