Weevils Picked Fourth

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BIRMINGHAM, AL --- The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Gulf South Conference Pre-Season Coaches' Poll released Oct. 20.

   Additionally, junior guard Nate Newell and senior forward Billy McDaniel have been named to the 2005 All-Gulf South Conference Preseason Basketball Team.

   The Weevils collected one first-place vote, two second-place votes, one third-place vote, three fourth-place votes, and one eighth-place vote.

   UAM finished the 2004-05 season with an 18-10 record, including a 10-6 Gulf South Conference mark, finishing third in the GSC-West and qualifying for the Gulf South Conference tournament for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

   Last year's Weevils earned several "firsts," becoming the first Boll Weevil squad to be ranked in the NCAA Division II South Region poll, and becoming the first Boll Weevil team to be ranked in the NABC Division II Top-25 poll, peaking at No. 22. After all their accomplishments, both Newell and McDaniel were named First Team All-Gulf South Conference, and head coach Mike Newell was named GSC-West Coach of the Year.

   The 2005-06 Boll Weevils open their 28-game regular season schedule Wednesday, Nov. 16, hosting Arkansas Baptist. The Weevils will play non-conference dates against in-region foes Lynn and Florida Gulf Coast, as well as Division I opponents Cincinnati, Dayton, and LSU before opening their conference slate on Jan. 5 against Arkansas Tech.

2005 GSC MEN'S BASKETBALL PRE-SEASON COACHES POLLS

Photo courtesy of Media Services

F Billy McDaniel

WEST DIVISION

1. Delta State (61)
2. Central Arkansas (49)
3. Harding (46)
4. Arkansas-Monticello (44)
5. Henderson State (43)
6. Ouachita Baptist (29)
7. Christian Brothers (20)
8. Arkansas Tech (17)
9. Southern Arkansas (15)

EAST DIVISION

1. Montevallo (49)
2. West Georgia (35)
3. Alabama-Huntsville (33)
4. North Alabama (33)
5. Valdosta State (33)
6. West Florida (18)
7. West Alabama (12)
8. Lincoln Memorial (11)

Photo courtesy of Media Services

G Nate Newell

2005 GSC PRE-SEASON MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

WEST DIVISION

F - Billy McDaniel, UAM
G - Nate Newell, UAM
G - Jeremy Richardson, Delta State
F - Matt Hall, Harding
G - Lonnie Smith, Harding
F - Dedric Spooner, Henderson State

EAST DIVISION

F - Ken Fox, Lincoln Memorial
G - James Hall, Montevallo
F - Marcus Kennedy, Montevallo
F - A.J. Gordon, North Alabama
G - Mike Crain, Valdosta State
C - Jon Rogers, Valdosta State
G - Tai Ellis, West Georgia

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