HOT SPRINGS, Ark. ? University of New Orleans forward Kyndall Dykes and guard Brittany Helm were named to the All-Sun Belt Conference preseason men's and women's basketball teams, it was announced on Monday at the Sun Belt Media Days.
Dykes, a senior and one of just three returning letter winners for the Privateers, was a third-team selection and is the Privateers' leading returning scorer from last season. The New Orleans native averaged 13.6 points per game and was also the team leader with 5.3 rebounds per contest. He ranked 14th in the SBC in both categories.
The Warren Easton High School graduate scored in double figures 23 times and had a season-high 23 points against Arkansas-Little Rock on Jan. 2.
Helm, meanwhile, was a second-team selection on the women's side. The Baton Rouge product is the reigning Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year after finishing second on the team with 12 points per game last season.
The junior scored in double figures 20 times and had a career-high 22 points in the SBC Tournament against North Texas. She finished second on the team in scoring and led the Lady Privateers in assists, steals and minutes played.
As a team, the Privateer men's squad was picked seventh in the Sun Belt Conference West Division, while the Lady Privateers were tabbed fifth. Arkansas-Little Rock was picked as the co-division favorite on the men's side ? along with North Texas ? while the UALR ladies were predicted to win the West along with Arkansas State. Middle Tennessee was picked atop the East Division on both sides.
MT's Desmond Yates and Western Kentucky's Dominique Duck were named the league's preseason players of the year on the men's and women's side, respectively.
The 2008-09 season is only one month away. The Lady Privateers will host their season opener against McNeese State at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14, while the men will host North Carolina State at 7 p.m. on Nov. 15. Both teams are playing in the newly renovated Lakefront Arena. For ticket information, please call 504-280-GAME.
SUN BELT CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
First-place votes in parentheses
EAST DIVISION POINTS
1. Middle Tennessee (11) 76
2. South Alabama (2) 60
3. Western Kentucky 52
4. Florida Atlantic 38
5. Florida International 33
6. Troy 14
WEST DIVISION
1. Arkansas-Little Rock (6) 76
1. North Texas (4) 76
3. Louisiana-Lafayette (3) 75
4. Arkansas State 43
5. Louisiana-Monroe 39
6. Denver 35
7. New Orleans 20
ALL-SUN BELT MEN'S PRESEASON TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Carlos Monroe, FAU
Russell Hicks, FIU
Desmond Yates, MT
Josh White, NT
Brandon Davis, USA
SECOND TEAM
Tony Hooper, ULM
Kevin Kanaskie, MT
Collin Dennis, NT
Domonic Tilford, USA
Jeremy Evans, WKU
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
SUN BELT CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
EAST DIVISION POINTS
1. Middle Tennessee (6) 71
2. Western Kentucky (6) 68
3. South Alabama 48
4. Florida International (1) 43
5. Troy 24
6. Florida Atlantic 19
WEST DIVISION
1. Arkansas State (8) 83
1. Arkansas-Little Rock (5) 83
3. North Texas 57
4. Louisiana-Monroe 50
5. New Orleans 38
6. Denver 34
7. Louisiana-Lafayette 19
ALL-SUN BELT WOMEN'S PRESEASON TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Anshel Cooper, UALR
Kim Sitzmann, UALR
Veronica Smith, ASU
Amber Jackson, NT
Dominique Duck, WKU
SECOND TEAM
Monika Bosilj, FIU
Chelsia Lymon, MT
Brittany Helm, UNO
Brittney James, NT
Arnika Brown, WKU
THIRD TEAM
Shay Scott, ASU
Lottie Moore, ULM
Shakira Nettles, USA
Kylie Morrisey, TROY
Kenzie Rich, WKU
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dominique Duck, WKU
