GETTING INSIDE

The Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans won a school-record 15 Sun Belt league games in 2008-09 on their way to a West Division title and tie with NCAA second-round qualifier Western Kentucky for the overall league title.

The Trojans bade farewell to four seniors who helped UA-Little Rock to back-to-back divisional titles. With most of the rest of the league returning veteran squads, coach Steve Shields faces one of his toughest challenges in seven years on the job.

One thing that won’t change is the stifling defense that awaits Trojan opponents. UA-Little Rock was second in the league in scoring defense (63.4), second in field goal defense (.402) and first in 3-point field goal defense (.319).

The defense will have to carry the load until three new starters, which could include a couple of newcomers, find their rhythm. Two returning starters account for only 14 points and four rebounds per game.

NOTES, QUOTES

• The 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons marked the first time since 1988-89 and 1989-90 that UA-Little Rock had back-to-back 20-win seasons.

• Steve Shields has guided the Trojans to four divisional titles in his first six years.

• UA-Little Rock went 11-0 against the Sun Belt West last year.

Last Year:   23-8 overall, 15-3 in the Sun Belt

Head Coach:   Steve Shields (Baylor, 1988) 7th year (105-73)

By The Numbers:   23—Number of victories in ’08-09; the most since the 1995-96 Trojans also won that many.

93—F  inal RPI rating of the 08-09 Trojans, the highest in the state of Arkansas, followed by the Razorbacks at No. 147.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Key Returnees:   Senior forward Wayne Burton and junior guard Matt Mouzy are the only returning starters. The 6-8, 240-pound Burton averaged 3.4 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per contest. Mouzy led the Trojans with 73 made 3-pointers, 3-point percentage (.382) and 36 steals. The six-footer reached double-figures 16 times last season.

“Matt has a work ethic that is second to none,” said Trojan head coach Steve Shields. “He epitomizes the term gym rat. He’s just a self-made player. He can do one thing exceptionally well, and that’s shoot the basketball.”

Scouting The Newcomers:   Junior transfer Solomon Bozeman will be counted upon to take over the point guard position. The Magnolia, Ark., native averaged over seven points and nearly three assists per game in two seasons at South Florida. After starting in 24 of 30 games as a freshman with the Bulls, his minutes fell by nearly half as a sophomore. Still the 6-foot Bozeman ranks as South Florida’s all-time leader in free throw shooting (87.9 percent).

The Trojans also went international looking to replenish their roster. Also on board is 6-foot-3 guard Alex Garcia-Mendoza from El Puerta, Mexico, 6-7 forward Marlon Louzeiro of San Luis, Brazil, 6-5 guard Nikola Cicic of Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia and 6-10 F Will Neighbour originally from Aldershot, England.

Louzerio was signed out of Midland College where he helped guide the Chaparrals to a NJCAA runner-up finish and 61-8 mark.

Garcia-Mendoza comes to Little Rock from Northeaster Junior College in Colorado, where he averaged 14 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game for the Plainsmen. Garcia-Mendoza is expected to ease into one of two positions vacated by senior guards.

Key Early Season Games:   The Trojans open with four tough road games in the first two weeks of the season. Trips to Ole Miss, Tulsa, Creighton and Louisiana Tech dot the November slate. Memphis visits on December 12 before the conference slate opens four nights later at South Alabama.

Program Direction:   The program is consistent, but not spectacular during Steve Shields’ first four years at 62-54. A 43-19 mark over the past two years, including 28-10 in the league, has pushed the Trojans into the upper echelon of the Sun Belt Conference. With the heavy roster turnover from last year, can the Trojans re-load or must they re-build?

Probable Starting Lineup:   G Matt Mouzey, G Solomon Bozeman, G Alex Garcia-Mendoza, F Wayne Burton, F Mike Smith.

Roster Report:  

• Junior guard Matt Mouzey earned a scholarship this past spring after spending his first two years as a walk-on.

• Sophomore guard Curtis Jackson transferred after just one year in the UA-Little Rock program, likely to the junior college ranks.