University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bear coach Matt Daniel is curious about either his friend or tormentor.
For the second straight year, the Sugar Bears, who have struggled in their initial seasons in the Southland Conference, received one first-place vote to win the East Division in the preseason coaches poll. Overall, the Sugar Bears are picked fifth in the East in both the preseason basketball polls by coaches and sports information directors.
“There is a coach who is either really optimistic or tryiing to get back at me,” Daniel said during the Southland Conference teleconference among East Division coaches Wednesday.
The UCA men’s team is picked sixth among six teams in the East in both polls.
Neither UCA team, both with plenty of new faces, placed anyone on the preseason all-conference teams.
Daniel brought in nine new players, seven freshmen.
“We have a new look and a breath of fresh air,” he said.
He said his team has a combined five years of playing experience in Division I basketball.
“Practice so far is teaching me a lot of patience,” he said. “Our basketball IQ is very high. We’re getting better every possession. We just need more possessions and time is running out before we start the season (Nov. 13).
SFA (with nine and 10 first-place votes, respectively) is a solid pick to win the East Division in both polls. The Lady Jacks are followed in both polls by Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State, McNeese State, UCA and Nicholls. Lamar is the West Division favorite in the coaches poll and is tied with UT Arlington for the top in the SID poll.
UCA men’s coach Rand Chappell is hoping both the play and leadership of Mitch Rueter and Mike Pouncy, both of whom have battled injuries during their career, and a stronger scoring punch inside will make for an improved team this season.
“Hopefully, we are better across the board,” he said. “Our depth is better and we probably have an extra big body to bring off the bench and give us some scoring power. I think we’ll have some better punch on the perimeter.”
A major scoring prospect inside is 6-foot-8 Carlos Dos Santos, who has played for the Brazilian National Team and is a transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. “He’s an upgrade for us inside as far as catching passing and scoring,” Chappell said.
Another player with international experience is guard Imad Quahwash, who played for the Jordanian National Team this summer.
“That’s 20 to 25 extra games against good competition and with good coaches,” Chappell said. “He started the last game of the season and had us coaches thinking, ‘Why didn’t we do that sooner.’”
SFA is the East Division favorite in the men’s division in the coaches poll with a narrow edge over Nicholls and Southeastern Lousiana, follwed by Northwestern, McNeese State and UCA. Nicholls is the favorite in the SID poll followed by Southeastern Louisiana, SFA, McNeese, Northwestern State and UCA.
Sam Houston State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi are expected to battle it out for the top spots in the West Division.
