NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama senior Tim Williams was selected to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team and the Jaguars were voted third in the East Division in a release by the league Tuesday morning.

Williams, from Pontiac, Mich., was a Second Team All-SBC pick in 2009-10 and is the league’s top returning scorer. He averaged a team-best 15.8 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per contest, which also ranked sixth in the Sun Belt.

Sergio Kerusch, one of two Western Kentucky student-athletes voted to the first team, was tabbed the preseason player of the year.

WKU is also the favorite in the East, garnering 11 of 12 first-place votes and 71 points. The Hilltoppers are followed by Florida Atlantic (53 points, one first-place vote), South Alabama (47), Middle Tennessee (42), Florida International (22) and Troy.

North Texas was the unanimous pick in the West, earning all 12 first-place nods for 72 points. Arkansas State was second (55 points) with Denver (51), Louisiana at Lafayette (36), Arkansas-Little Rock (26) and Louisiana at Monroe (12) rounding out the division.

JAGUARS TO APPEAR ON TELEVISION FIVE TIMES IN 2010-11

The league also announced its television schedule for the year and South Alabama is slated to have five games—three at home and two on the road—set for broadcast.

USA’s home game with Louisiana at Lafayette on Jan. 30 will be televised by the Sun Belt Network, a partnership between the conference and Cox Sports Television (CST) and Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS).

Both of the Jags’ tilts with Western Kentucky (Jan. 20 and Feb. 3) will be on Fox College Sports and produced by the Hilltopper Sports Network.

The 12th annual Coors Classic, scheduled for Nov. 28 between LSU and the Jaguars, will be carried by CSS.

South Alabama’s trip to Denver on Feb. 20 will be shown on Fox Sports Net-Rocky Mountain.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—


All-Conference Team
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)

2010-11 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