Sun Belt Conference coaches projected the WKU men’s basketball team to finish first in the Sun Belt’s East Division, the league announced Tuesday.

WKU senior forward Sergio Kerusch was also selected as the Sun Belt’s Preseason Player of the Year.

Florida Atlantic was picked to finish second behind WKU in the East. North Texas, the Sun Belt’s representative in the NCAA Tournament last year, was predicted to win the West Division.

WKU senior forward Steffphon Pettigrew was also named to the league’s Preseason All-Conference First Team along with Kerusch. They are joined by South Alabama’s Tim Williams and North Texas’ George Odufuwa and Josh White.

No WKU players were named to the second or third teams.

The Toppers begin their season at 3 p.m. Sunday with a home exhibition game against Campbellsville.

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

First Team

George Odufuwa (North Texas, Sr., F)

Josh White (North Texas, Sr., G)

Tim Williams (South Alabama, Sr., G)

Sergio Kerusch (WKU, Sr., F)

Steffphon Pettigrew (WKU, Sr., F)

Second Team

Martavius Adams (Arkansas State, Jr., F/C)

Donald Boone (Arkansas State, Sr., G)

Greg Gantt (Florida Atlantic, So., G)

Raymond Taylor (Florida Atlantic, So., G)

Tristan Thompson (North Texas, Sr., G)

Third Team

Solomon Bozeman (UALR, Sr., G)

Brett Royster (Florida Atlantic, Sr., F)

Marvin Roberts (FIU, Sr., G/F)

Randell Daigle (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., G)

James Washington (Middle Tennessee, Sr., G)

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 

Sergio Kerusch (WKU, Sr., F)

Sergio Kerusch (WKU, Sr., F)

2010 SBC COACHES PRESEASON PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (first place votes)

West Division

1. North Texas (12) 72

2. Arkansas State 55

3. Denver 51

4. Louisiana-Lafayette 36

5. UALR 26

6. ULM 12

East Division

1. WKU (11) 71

2. Florida Atlantic (1) 53

3. South Alabama 47

4. Middle Tennessee 42

5. FIU 22

6. Troy 17

As voted on by Sun Belt Head Coaches

First-place votes in parentheses