BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The first publication to release its preseason picks for the upcoming 2009-10 basketball season has tabbed the Toppers as the team to beat. Blue Ribbon magazine has forecasted Western Kentucky University to win the Sun Belt Conference East Division while senior guard AJ Slaughter was selected as the publication's Player of the Year.
Under first-year head coach Ken McDonald, WKU won its sixth East Division title in nine years last season with a 15-3 league record. Highlighting the team's 25-win season was a trip to the NCAA Tournament, including a first round victory over fifth-seeded Illinois and coming within one second of upsetting 10th-ranked Gonzaga and advancing to the program's second-straight Sweet 16.
Following a breakout season by Troy in 2008-09, the Trojans are picked to finish second behind the Hilltoppers, followed by Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Florida Atlantic, and FIU.
In the West Division, North Texas is the favorite followed by UALR, Louisiana-Lafayette, Denver, Arkansas State, ULM, and New Orleans.
Slaughter led the Hilltoppers and ranked sixth in the Sun Belt in scoring last season averaging 16.0 points per game. In addition to earning Sun Belt All-Conference Second-Team honors, he shared the Clem Haskins Most Valuable Player award with backcourt mate Orlando Mendez-Valdez. The 6-3 senior guard from Shelbyville, Ky. averaged 17.3 ppg during the Sun Belt Tournament, leading WKU to the program's seventh tournament title, and earning Most Valuable Player honors.
In the NCAA Tournament, after scoring 14 in the first round win over Illinois, Slaughter poured in 24 against #10 Gonzaga. He turned in a career-night with 25 points and nine rebounds in the Toppers' 68-54 upset of #3 Louisville on November 30. Just two days later, Slaughter tallied 20 in a win over Georgia, just one of his team-best 10 performances with 20 or more points on the season.
Slaughter enters the 2009-10 season with 986 career points, needing just 14 to become the 43rd member of the prestigious 1,000-point club at WKU.
Joining Slaughter on the All-Conference team is Brandon Hazzard (Troy, Sr., G), Nate Rohnert (Denver, Sr., F), Eric Tramiel (North Texas, Sr., F), and Desmond Yates (Middle Tennessee, Sr., F). New Orleans' Billy Humphrey, who transfered to the Privateers after three seasons at Georgia, was named the Newcomer of the Year.
WKU finished the 2008-09 season ranked 41st in the RPI ratings as well as received votes in the final ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Hilltoppers, who return four starters and five of their top six scorers, will open up the 2009-10 season on November 16 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the 25th Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off in Baton Rouge, La.
BLUE RIBBON FORECAST
SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
EAST DIVISION
1. WKU
2. Troy
3. Middle Tennessee
4. South Alabama
5. Florida Atlantic
6. FIU
WEST DIVISION
1. North Texas
2. UALR
3. Louisiana-Lafayette
4. Denver
5. Arkansas State
6. ULM
7. New Orleans
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
G -- Brandon Hazzard (Troy, Sr.)
G -- AJ Slaughter (WKU, Sr.)
F -- Nate Rohnert (Denver, Sr.)
F -- Eric Tramiel (North Texas, Sr.)
F -- Desmond Yates (Middle Tennessee, Sr.)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
AJ Slaughter (WKU, Sr.)
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Billy Humphrey (New Orleans, Sr.)
