Men's basketball tabbed 3rd in SLC West
10/21/2008 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KATY, TX -- Texas-Arlington and Stephen F. Austin State are the 2009 preseason favorites to win the Southland Conference's West and East Divisions, respectively, according to a vote of the league's head men's basketball coaches.
Sam Houston State was selected to finish third in the SLC West in the poll. UTA received nine West Division first place votes and runner-up pick Lamar garnered first place votes from three head coaches.
Stephen F. Austin received 10 first place votes in the East Division. Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana each received one.
Sam Houston State returns two starters from its 23-8 squad last year. DeLuis Ramirez, 6-4 senior forward, and Ashton Mitchell, 5-11 junior point guard, averaged 9.2 and 7.2 points, respectively, in 2008.
Senior post players 6-8 Barkley Falkner and 6-10 Domas Kvedys and sophomore 6-4 Josten Crow also return after reserve roles on last year's team.
A large group of newcomers will join the Bearkats including transfers Corey Allmond, Preston Brown, Lance Pevehouse and Kendrell Thompson. Two freshmen, Antuan Bootle and Drae Murray, also bring talent to the club.
"We are picked third in the West, and based on the returning players we have, I feel that is an accurate placement," SHSU head coach Bob Marlin said. "Everyone knows the tradition of our program, and regardless of the preseason picks, our goals remain the same -- to win a conference championship.
"But, based on our experience, the third pick is probably accurate. The league is very strong this year and it was strong last year. There are some good teams."
SFA returns four starters off last season's squad, which went 13-3 in the SLC and 26-6 overall.Texas-Arlington won the Southland Conference post-season tournament and represented the league in the NCAA playoffs.
"We have had a good fall," Marlin said. "Kyle Speer, our conditioning coach, did a great job with the guys in the weight room. We've got seven new players plus a redshirt, so we have eight new faces for our fans this year. It's going to take some time to bring it all together and put the players in the best position to be successful."
The 2009 Southland Conference Head Coach's Preseason Poll:
| WEST DIVISION Rank Team (First Place Votes) |
EAST DIVISION Rank Team (First Place Votes) |
| 1. Texas-Arlington (9) 63 pts. | 1. Stephen F. Austin (10) 65 pts |
| 2. Lamar (3) 54 pts. | 2. Northwestern St. (1) 51 pts. |
| 3. SAM HOUSTON 46 pts. | 3. Southeastern LA (1) 48 pts. |
| 4. Texas-San Antonio 39 pts. | 4. McNeese St. 31 pts. |
| 5. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 26 pts. | 5. Nicholls St. 28 pts. |
| 6. Texas St.-San Marcos 18 pts. | 6. Central Arkansas 23 pts. |
