Listen to UALR Coach Steve Shields talk about this year's Trojans

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UALR held its local media day on Thursday. Check out what UALR Coach Steve Shields had to say about this year's team and the Sun Belt Conference race.

Shields loses bet to Foley, wears Cards shirt on The Buzz

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As the unapologetic St. Louis Cardinals fans that we are at Burn The Horse, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to pass this on. UALR men's Coach Steve Shields lost a bet and had to wear a Cardinals shirt on 103.7 The Buzz's The Zone today. The winner of that wager is UALR women's coach Joe Foley. And for some unknown reason, that's Zone host Justin Acri dressed as the Burger King.

UALR women's basketball team has walk-on tryouts next week

Want to play basketball for the UALR women? Walk-on tryouts are next week. pic.twitter.com/uYLgxdiF

UALR men picked fifth; Williams named all-Sun Belt

Defending Sun Belt Conference champion UALR was picked fifth in the West Division in the preseason coaches' poll released on Wednesday.
UALR is in a major rebuilding mode this season due to graduations and injuries. Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State were preseason favorites to win the two divisions.
UALR point guard D'Andre Williams, who is currently not practicing due to injury, was named preseason third team all-Sun Belt.
UALR has a closed scrimmage against Ole Miss this weekend. UALR will also play a closed scrimmage against Stephen F. Austin in November.

Check out what UALR women's Coach Joe Foley had to say at Sun Belt media day

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Listen to what UALR women's coach Joe Foley had to say at today's Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Media Day. I hate that the Sun Belt packaged all these coaches on one file. Fast forward to about 37:30 to get to Coach Foley's segment.

UALR women picked third in Sun Belt preseason poll

No real surprise as the UALR women, for the first time in years, were not picked first in the preseason Sun Belt Conference women's poll. UALR was picked third. The surprise came in the form of the three first-place votes. That is a major sign of respect for Coach Joe Foley and the program he's built.
Denver and Middle Tennessee were the top two picks with Arkansas State picked second in the West Division.
The men's poll is released tomorrow.
UALR senior Marion Kursh was the only Trojan selected all-Sun Belt, making the second team.
UALR is coming off five consecutive 20-victory seasons and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. But the Trojans are in a rebuilding mode this season with the graduations of Chastity Reed, Shanika Butler and Asriel Rolfe.

D'Andre Williams out as UALR begins practice

UALR will begin practice on Friday without senior point guard D'Andre Williams. Williams had surgery on his knee this week and is expected to miss about three weeks.

The injury list also includes senior forward Courtney Jackson and sophomore forward Gus Leeper. Jackson's timetable for return isn't clear yet but it's hoped he will be able to play this season. Leeper is out for the season.

Strong's Stetson Billings gives commitment to sign with UALR

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The year of the guard continues for UALR with another strong commitment for UALR this week.

Stetson Billings, a 6-5 (sometimes listed 6-6) guard from Strong, Arkansas, visited this week and has given a verbal commitment to sign with UALR in November.

Billings was a teammate of Kentucky commitment Archie Goodwin last summer while playing for the Arkansas Wings in AAU basketball.

ESPN ranked him the fourth best recruit in the state. No. 1 was Goodwin, No. 2 was West Memphis' Jalen Jackson, who has yet to commit, and No. 3 was Dusty Hannahs, who committed to Texas Tech. ESPN gave him a grade in the 80s which equates to a 2 star.

Video of UALR commit John Gillon at Super 16

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Check out this video of UALR commit John Gillon. He's the point guard (5) for Houston Strake Jesuit. The other guy is headed to Duke. This was two weekends ago:

UALR's Kursh, Cobbins earn preseason recognition from Web site

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UALR's Marion Kursh and Ka'Neshia Cobbins have earned some preseason ink by College Sports Madness. Kursh was named second team All-Sun Belt, while Cobbins is the preseason freshman of the year.
http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/2298

Airline's Hagins returning home with commitment to UALR

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If you think Bossier City (La.) Airline point guard Josh Hagins, who committed to UALR last weekend, looks familiar, you might be right.

Hagins lived in Little Rock until sixth grade and is a former attendee of the Steve Shields UALR Basketball Camp. Here's what he had to say to the Shreveport Times:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20111003/SPORTS/111003026/Airline-s-Hagins-commits-UALR?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

Josh Hagins visited Creighton before committing to UALR

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Shreveport Airline guard Josh Hagins, who committed to UALR this weekend, had already made a visit to Creighton. Here's a story with some video previewing his visit.
http://whiteandbluereview.com/?p=13648

Strake Jesuit's Jon Gillon, Airline's Josh Hagins both commit to sign with UALR in November

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It appeared to be a slow start to the fall recruiting period, but that changed on Saturday with two commitments for the UALR Trojans.

Houston Strake Jesuit guard John Gillon and Shreveport Airline (La.) guard Josh Hagins both visited UALR this weekend and both have committed to sign with the Trojans in November. They join Austin (Texas) Bowie guard Mareik Isom, who visited and committed last week.