Oct. 14, 2008

Sun Belt Conference Official Release

HOT SPRINGS, AR - The Sun Belt Conference released its preseason all-conference teams and predicted order of finish, as voted on by the league's 13 head men's basketball coaches. Florida Atlantic University senior classmates Carlos Monroe and Paul Graham III were both recognized as preseason All-Sun Belt Conference players.

Monroe, a 6-foot-8 power forward, was among the NCAA's top rebounders (9.5 per game) a year ago, en route to earning First Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. Monroe was one of just five players to be named an All-SBC First Team player for 2008-09. Monroe was recently tabbed as the league's preseason `Player of the Year' by Lindy's Magazine.

Graham III scored 14.0 points per game for the second straight season a year ago and was picked by the league's coaches to be a Third Team All-SBC player in 2008-09. Graham, a 6-foot-5 guard, needs just 54 more points to total 1,000 for his FAU career. He also ranks among the Owls' all-time leaders in assists.

The Owls were picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt's East Division. The 2008-09 season will be the first for head coach Mike Jarvis at FAU. At each of his three previous coaching stops - Boston University, George Washington University and St. John's University - Jarvis was able to reach postseason play in his first year.

The Owls open its practice schedule this upcoming Saturday, October 18. FAU's season-opening game is on Friday, November 14 against Monmouth University. For ticket information call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.

2008-09 SUN BELT CONFERENCE COACHES POLL

EAST DIVISION
1. Middle Tennessee - 76 points (11 first-place votes)
2. South Alabama - 60 points (2 first-place votes)
3. WKU - 52 points
4. Florida Atlantic - 38 points
5. FIU - 33 points
6. Troy - 14 points

WEST DIVISION
1. UALR - 76 points (6 first-place votes)
1. North Texas - 76 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Louisiana-Lafayette - 75 points (3 first-place votes)
4. Arkansas State - 43 points
5. ULM - 39 points
6. Denver - 35 points
7. New Orleans - 20 points

ALL-SBC FIRST TEAM
Carlos Monroe, FAU
Russell Hicks, FIU
Desmond Yates, MT
Josh White, NT
Brandon Davis, USA

ALL-SBC SECOND TEAM
Tony Hooper, ULM
Kevin Kanaskie, MT
Collin Dennis, NT
Domonic Tilford, USA
Jeremy Evans, WKU

ALL-SBC THIRD TEAM
Steven Moore, UALR
Paul Graham III, FAU
Chris Gradnigo, ULL
Kyndall Dykes, UNO
A.J. Slaughter, WKU

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Desmond Yates, MT