In fact, they believe Middle Tennessee is the team to beat in what shapes into a highly-competitive race for the league's championship and automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Middle Tennessee has been picked to win the East Division in a vote of the league's head coaches. The result of the poll and preseason All-SBC team was announced today to tip off the Sun Belt Media Days in Hot Springs, Ark. - the neutral site of this year's SBC Championship.

"I am going to be honest, I'm excited to be picked to win the conference," Middle Tennessee fourth-year coach Rick Insell said. "I'm excited about our players and I'm excited the coaches think we have the team to win it."

The coaches believe the race for the East Division will be an exciting fight to the finish between its top rivals. Middle Tennessee received six of a possible 13 first-place votes and 71 points to edge WKU, which garnered six first-place votes and 68 points. South Alabama is picked third with 48 points. Florida International picked up the remaining first-place vote and had 43 points for fourth, followed by Troy (24) and Florida Atlantic.

Coaches also believe the West Division will be contested between rival schools. Arkansas State and UALR are tied for first atop the preseason poll. Arkansas State picked up eight first-place votes and UALR received the remaining five. Both teams had 83 points.

Despite being picked by coaches to win the East Blue Raider junior guard Chelsea Lymon was the only Middle Tennessee player named to the preseason All-SBC team. She was a second-team selection. Middle Tennessee is the only team among the top four contenders (two on each side) to have just one player selected and it is the only school of the top four to have just one player selected overall.

Perhaps the reason is this year's Blue Raiders expect to be a more balanced scoring team than the previous two years when Chrissy Givens and Holt handled the bulk of the offensive load, respectively.

"It really is a statement to be picked to win the league and have just one player on the All-Sun Belt team and not have any players on the first team," Insell said. "We have a lot of good basketball players and young ladies who have been in a lot of big games. Their roles were different the past two seasons but that doesn't mean they are not good players. Sometimes you wonder if you are doing the right thing and we are at Middle Tennessee. We are recruiting the right kind of kids and it's all about team. We have a lot of good basketball players and if they come together we will have a chance to win the conference."

One of Middle Tennessee's biggest leaders is Lymon. She came back strong last year from a season-ending injury suffered midway through her freshman campaign and has enjoyed a strong offseason. Lymon played in all 34 games with 19 starts in 2007-08 and proved to be well-rounded in her contributions. She started the last 18 games of the year at point guard and averaged 11.7 points and 2.3 assists. More importantly, the team was 13-5 during that stretch. Lymon turned in 14 of her double-digit scoring performances in the final 20 games last season.

"I thought Chelsia was one of the best point guards in the country when we signed her and she was having a great freshman season before an injury ended her season," Insell said. "She came on strong last season and finished real strong. She carried that momentum into the offseason and I expect Chelsea to have a great year. She has a great deal of confidence and we have confidence in her."

Lymon and classmates Brandi Brown and Jackie Pickel all have played roles in each of the previous two seasons that resulted in postseason appearances and Emily Queen and Anne Marie Lanning received a wealth of experience as freshmen last season.

Insell also is excited about a talented group of newcomers. Forward Shytoria Davis should help solidify the front line and heralded transfer Alysha Clark, a two-time Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, is anticipated to provide an immediate impact.

SBC Preseason Coaches Poll
(First place votes in parenthesis)
East Division
1 Middle Tennessee (6) 71
2 WKU (6) 68
3 South Alabama 48
4 FIU (1) 43
5 Troy 24
6 Florida Atlantic 19

West Division
T1 Arkansas State (8) 83
T1 UALR (5) 83
3 North Texas 57
4 ULM 50
5 New Orleans 38
6 Denver 34
7 Louisiana-Lafayette 19

Preseason All-SBC
First Team
Anshel Cooper (UALR, Jr., G)
Kim Sitzmann (UALR, Jr., G)
Veronica Smith (Arkansas State, Jr., G)
Amber Jackson (North Texas, Sr., F)
Dominique Duck (WKU, Sr., F)

Second Team
Monika Bosilj (FIU, Jr., G)
Chelsia Lymon (Middle Tennessee, Jr., G)
Brittany Helm (New Orleans, Jr., G)
Brittney James (North Texas, Jr., G)
Arnika Brown (WKU, So., F)

Third Team
Shay Scott (Arkansas State, So., F)
Lottie Moore (ULM, Sr., G)
Shakira Nettles (South Alabama, Jr., G)
Kylie Morrissy (Troy, Sr., G/F)
Kenzie Rich (WKU, Jr., G)

Preseason Player of the Year
Dominique Duck (WKU, Sr., F)

	Print this article
Share on Facebook