MURFREESBORO, Tenn.? The University of South Alabama men’s and women’s basketball teams had two players selected to the 2005-06 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference teams, announced by the conference office on Monday at its annual Media Day held in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Jaguar seniors Mario Jointer was named to the second team on the men’s side and JoAnna Williams was named to the third team on the women’s side.
Jointer, a senior guard from Jackson, Miss., was one of five players to play in all 28 games as a junior last year. He led the team with 16.6 points per game average and was named third team all-conference as a junior in his first season with the Jaguars. Jointer led the team in just about every statistical category, including 24 games in double figures, field goals made (147), 145 rebounds and 110 on the defensive end. He also had a team best 48 steals and dished out 52 assists. Jointer scored a career high 33 points against Loyola Marymount on Dec. 7, 2004.
Williams, a Gulfport, Miss. native, made an immediate impact to the Lady Jag team in 2005 leading the club in six different categories. She also ranked 17th in the Sun Belt in scoring (11.0 ppg) and third in three-point field goal percentage (38.5). Williams was also seventh in the league in steals (2.0 per game) and was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year. Williams led USA in scoring 11 times last season and recorded double figures in 16 of USA's 28 games.
The Jaguar men finished the 2004-05 season with a 10-18 record and were picked to finish fourth in the West Division on Monday by league coaches. Louisiana-Lafayette recorded the most points with 58 and six first place votes. Denver was second with 57 points and five first place votes. New Orleans was picked third with 43 points followed by the Jaguars with 33. North Texas received 27 points and picked fifth followed by conference newcomer, Troy, with 11 points to round out the division. Western Kentucky was picked to win the East Division, followed by Florida International, Middle Tennessee, Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State.
The Lady Jags, coming off a 13-15 season a year ago, were also picked to finish third in the West Division on Monday by league coaches. North Texas recorded the most points with 57, including seven first place votes on the Western side of the conference. UL-Lafayette was picked second in the division, while Western Kentucky was picked to take home top honors in the East. Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee each had three players earn all-conference honors, while WKU’s Tiffany Porter-Talbert was named the Preseason Player of the Year in the Conference.
Sun Belt Conference Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
East Division Points
1. Western Kentucky (10) 54
2. Florida International (1) 38
3. Middle Tennessee 36
4. Arkansas-Little Rock 23
5. Arkansas State 14
West Division Points
1. Louisiana-Lafayette (6) 58
2. Denver (5) 57
3. New Orleans 45
4. South Alabama 33
5. North Texas 27
6. Troy 11
* Poll conducted by 11 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Coaches
* First place votes in parentheses
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Team
First Team
Ivan Almonte (Florida International, Sr., F)
Bo McCalebb (New Orleans, Jr., G)
Dwayne Mitchell (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., G)
Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Sr., C)
Anthony Winchester (Western Kentucky, Sr., G)
Second Team
Chris Cameron (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr.,F)
Isaac Hines (North Texas, Sr., G)
Mario Jointer (South Alabama, Sr., G)
Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky, So., G/F)
Zack Wright (UALR, Jr., G)
Third Team
Bobby Dixon (Troy, Sr., G)
Marcus Morrison (Middle Tennessee, Sr., G/F)
Ismael N’Diaye (Florida International, Sr., F)
Jerry Nichols (Arkansas State, Sr., G)
Antonio Porch (Denver, Jr., F)
Preseason Player of the Year: Yemi Nicholson (Denver, Sr., C)
Sun Belt Conference Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll
East Division Points
1. Western Kentucky (7) 47
2. Arkansas State (2) 38
3. Middle Tennessee (1) 33
4. Florida International 22
5. Arkansas-Little Rock 10
West Division Points
1. North Texas (7) 56
2. Louisiana-Lafayette (3) 49
3. South Alabama 41
4. Denver 28
5. Troy 22
6. New Orleans 14
* Poll conducted by 11 Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Coaches
* First place votes in parentheses
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Team
First Team
Adrianne Davie (Arkansas State, Jr., C)
Crystal Kelly (Western Kentucky, So., F)
Jocelyn Love (UALR, Jr., G/F)
Tiffany Porter-Talbert (Western Kentucky, Sr., G)
Tia Stovall (Middle Tennessee, Sr., F)
Second Team
Erika Bobo (North Texas, Sr., G)
Ashley Blanche (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., G)
Chrissy Givens (Middle Tennessee, Jr., G)
Krystle Horton (Middle Tennessee, Jr., F)
Rudy Sims (Arkansas State, Jr., G)
Third Team
Amber Abraham (Arkansas State, Sr., G)
Faeza Bouderra (Florida International, Sr., G)
Le’Della English ( New Orleans, So., G)
Lasma Jekabsone (Florida International, Jr., C)
JoAnna Williams (South Alabama, Sr., G/F)
Preseason Player of the Year: Tiffany Porter-Talbert (Western Kentucky, Sr., G)
