@UTAMavsMBB Picked 2nd, Warren Named To Sun Belt Preseason First Team
11/1/2019 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – Returning all five starters and four of its top-five scorers, the UT Arlington men's basketball team has been picked to finish in 2nd place in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll, while senior guard Brian Warren has been tabbed as a Preseason First Team selection.
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In voting conducted by the league's 12 head coaches, UTA garnered two 1st-place votes as part of 124 total points – 2nd to South Alabama's 138 (eight 1st-place votes). Georgia Southern (121) was picked 3rd, while Texas State (110) checked in at 4th as the Eagles and Bobcats secured the other two 1st-place votes (full poll at the end of this release).
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Last year, the Mavericks were predicted to finish in 2nd-to-last place (11th) before exceeding all those low expectations with a runner-up performance, and UTA will look to take the next step in 2019-20 with a Sun Belt Championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament.
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If UTA is to achieve its ultimate goal under 2nd-year head coach Chris Ogden, Warren will likely play a vital role as he returns to the Mavs for his second season.
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Warren was named to the Sun Belt Third Team and Sun Belt All-Tournament Team in his initial season as a Maverick after leading UTA in scoring (15.4), assists (3.6), steals (1.2) and minutes (29.8) last year, in addition to grabbing 2.6 rebounds.
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The Indianapolis native made four shots which forced overtime or double overtime, and he converted the go-ahead/eventual game-winning free throws twice. He ranked 8th in the Sun Belt in assists, 7th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) and 5th in free-throw percentage (.805).
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The Tyler Junior College product eclipsed the 20-point mark eight times during the year and poured in 30+ points twice, including a career-high 33 versus ULM in late February. All told, Warren's 507 total points rank tied as the 17th-most in single-season program history.
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The Mavericks shattered those aforementioned expectations last year by finishing in a tie for 2nd with a 12-6 Sun Belt record; that nine-spot improvement from preseason to final regular-season finish was tied for the best in the nation along with Siena, which was picked 11th in the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) and finished in a four-way tie for 2nd.
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Looking closer at the numbers, it should come as no surprise how UTA exceeded preseason predictions despite returning the fewest amount of points of any Division-I team in the nation. In 2018-19, UTA posted top-10 single-season program records in each of the following categories:
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1st) 3-Point Percentage Defense: .298 (13th Nationally)
5th) Free Throw Percentage: .741
6th) Field Goal Percentage Defense: .423
7th) Points Per Game Allowed: 69.8
8th) Total Rebounds: 1,237
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UTA has reached the Sun Belt Tournament Final each of the last two seasons, losing in the championship game both times to Georgia State. The Mavs will look to snap that streak this coming March as the tournament returns to New Orleans as the semifinals and final will be held at the Pelicans' Smoothie King Center.
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Beyond the Sun Belt coaches' prediction, in his initial ranking earlier this summer, ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi installed UTA as the Sun Belt favorites in 2019-20. Andy Katz from the NCAA also predicted UTA to make the NCAA Tournament in his preseason bracket courtesy of winning the Sun Belt.
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The 2019-20 season tips off this coming Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the College Park Center with a local affair against UT Dallas before the Homecoming tilt with traditional mid-major force Tulsa on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m.
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Tickets for all games are available by visiting UTATickets.com, calling the UTA Box Office at (817) 272-9595 or by stopping by during regular business hours.
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SUN BELT CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL (1st-Place Votes)
1. South Alabama (8) – 138
2. UTA (2) – 124
3. Georgia Southern (1) – 121
4. Texas State (1) – 110
5. Louisiana – 92
6. Georgia State – 76
7. Coastal Carolina – 75
8. ULM – 72
9. Appalachian State – 40
10. Arkansas State – 33
11. Little Rock – 32
12. Troy – 22
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PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT TEAMS
First Team
Quan Jackson, Georgia Southern (R-Jr., G, Tallahassee, Fla.) 3
Josh Ajayi, South Alabama (R-Sr., F, El Monte, Calif.) 2
Trhae Mitchell, South Alabama (R-Sr., F, Austell, Ga.) 3
Brian Warren, UTA (Sr., G, Indianapolis, Ind.) 3
Nijal Pearson, Texas State (Sr., G, Beaumont, Texas) 1
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Second Team
Justin Forrest, Appalachian State (Jr., G, Decatur, Ga.)
DeVante Jones, Coastal Carolina (So., G, New Orleans, La.) *
Ike Smith, Georgia Southern (R-Sr., G, Gainesville, Fla.)
Kane Williams, Georgia State (Jr., G, Douglasville, Ga.)
Michael Ertel, ULM (Jr., G, Indianapolis, Ind.) 3
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Third Team
Isaac Johnson, Appalachian State (Sr., F, Charlotte, N.C.)
Isaiah Crawley, Georgia Southern (Sr., F, Ripley, Tenn.)
Cedric Russell, Louisiana (Jr., G, Alexandria, La.)
JD Williams, ULM (Sr., G, Birmingham, Ala.)
Don Coleman, South Alabama (R-Sr., G, North Augusta, S.C.)
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Preseason Player of the Year
Trhae Mitchell, South Alabama (R-Sr., F, Austell, Ga.) 3
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1 2018-19 First Team All-Sun Belt
2 2018-19 Second Team All-Sun Belt
3 2018-19 Third Team All-Sun Belt
* 2018-19 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
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FOLLOW ALONG
For updates, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more engaging and personal content, be sure to follow the men's basketball program on Twitter (@UTAMavsMBB), Instagram (@UTAMavsMBB) and Facebook (/UTAMavsMBB).
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In voting conducted by the league's 12 head coaches, UTA garnered two 1st-place votes as part of 124 total points – 2nd to South Alabama's 138 (eight 1st-place votes). Georgia Southern (121) was picked 3rd, while Texas State (110) checked in at 4th as the Eagles and Bobcats secured the other two 1st-place votes (full poll at the end of this release).
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Last year, the Mavericks were predicted to finish in 2nd-to-last place (11th) before exceeding all those low expectations with a runner-up performance, and UTA will look to take the next step in 2019-20 with a Sun Belt Championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Â
If UTA is to achieve its ultimate goal under 2nd-year head coach Chris Ogden, Warren will likely play a vital role as he returns to the Mavs for his second season.
Â
Warren was named to the Sun Belt Third Team and Sun Belt All-Tournament Team in his initial season as a Maverick after leading UTA in scoring (15.4), assists (3.6), steals (1.2) and minutes (29.8) last year, in addition to grabbing 2.6 rebounds.
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The Indianapolis native made four shots which forced overtime or double overtime, and he converted the go-ahead/eventual game-winning free throws twice. He ranked 8th in the Sun Belt in assists, 7th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) and 5th in free-throw percentage (.805).
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The Tyler Junior College product eclipsed the 20-point mark eight times during the year and poured in 30+ points twice, including a career-high 33 versus ULM in late February. All told, Warren's 507 total points rank tied as the 17th-most in single-season program history.
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The Mavericks shattered those aforementioned expectations last year by finishing in a tie for 2nd with a 12-6 Sun Belt record; that nine-spot improvement from preseason to final regular-season finish was tied for the best in the nation along with Siena, which was picked 11th in the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) and finished in a four-way tie for 2nd.
Â
Looking closer at the numbers, it should come as no surprise how UTA exceeded preseason predictions despite returning the fewest amount of points of any Division-I team in the nation. In 2018-19, UTA posted top-10 single-season program records in each of the following categories:
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1st) 3-Point Percentage Defense: .298 (13th Nationally)
5th) Free Throw Percentage: .741
6th) Field Goal Percentage Defense: .423
7th) Points Per Game Allowed: 69.8
8th) Total Rebounds: 1,237
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UTA has reached the Sun Belt Tournament Final each of the last two seasons, losing in the championship game both times to Georgia State. The Mavs will look to snap that streak this coming March as the tournament returns to New Orleans as the semifinals and final will be held at the Pelicans' Smoothie King Center.
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Beyond the Sun Belt coaches' prediction, in his initial ranking earlier this summer, ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi installed UTA as the Sun Belt favorites in 2019-20. Andy Katz from the NCAA also predicted UTA to make the NCAA Tournament in his preseason bracket courtesy of winning the Sun Belt.
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The 2019-20 season tips off this coming Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the College Park Center with a local affair against UT Dallas before the Homecoming tilt with traditional mid-major force Tulsa on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m.
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Tickets for all games are available by visiting UTATickets.com, calling the UTA Box Office at (817) 272-9595 or by stopping by during regular business hours.
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SUN BELT CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL (1st-Place Votes)
1. South Alabama (8) – 138
2. UTA (2) – 124
3. Georgia Southern (1) – 121
4. Texas State (1) – 110
5. Louisiana – 92
6. Georgia State – 76
7. Coastal Carolina – 75
8. ULM – 72
9. Appalachian State – 40
10. Arkansas State – 33
11. Little Rock – 32
12. Troy – 22
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PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT TEAMS
First Team
Quan Jackson, Georgia Southern (R-Jr., G, Tallahassee, Fla.) 3
Josh Ajayi, South Alabama (R-Sr., F, El Monte, Calif.) 2
Trhae Mitchell, South Alabama (R-Sr., F, Austell, Ga.) 3
Brian Warren, UTA (Sr., G, Indianapolis, Ind.) 3
Nijal Pearson, Texas State (Sr., G, Beaumont, Texas) 1
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Second Team
Justin Forrest, Appalachian State (Jr., G, Decatur, Ga.)
DeVante Jones, Coastal Carolina (So., G, New Orleans, La.) *
Ike Smith, Georgia Southern (R-Sr., G, Gainesville, Fla.)
Kane Williams, Georgia State (Jr., G, Douglasville, Ga.)
Michael Ertel, ULM (Jr., G, Indianapolis, Ind.) 3
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Third Team
Isaac Johnson, Appalachian State (Sr., F, Charlotte, N.C.)
Isaiah Crawley, Georgia Southern (Sr., F, Ripley, Tenn.)
Cedric Russell, Louisiana (Jr., G, Alexandria, La.)
JD Williams, ULM (Sr., G, Birmingham, Ala.)
Don Coleman, South Alabama (R-Sr., G, North Augusta, S.C.)
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Preseason Player of the Year
Trhae Mitchell, South Alabama (R-Sr., F, Austell, Ga.) 3
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1 2018-19 First Team All-Sun Belt
2 2018-19 Second Team All-Sun Belt
3 2018-19 Third Team All-Sun Belt
* 2018-19 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
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FOLLOW ALONG
For updates, behind-the-scenes photos, videos and more engaging and personal content, be sure to follow the men's basketball program on Twitter (@UTAMavsMBB), Instagram (@UTAMavsMBB) and Facebook (/UTAMavsMBB).
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