Archie, Downey Earn Coaches Preseason All-SEC Honors

Nov. 3, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference unveiled its fifth annual men’s basketball coaches preseason All-SEC first and second teams Monday. South Carolina point guard Devan Downey was selected to the first team, and Gamecock forward Dominique Archie was named to the second team.

A First-Team All-SEC pick last season, Downey recorded 18.4 points, 5.4 assists and an SEC record-setting 3.2 steals per contest a year ago. He looks to lead a fast-paced Gamecock attack under first-year head coach Darrin Horn on the court this year.

Archie posted 10.6 and 5.7 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per contest last season. He scored in double-digits 19 times a year ago, including a season-high 20 points against both Southern California and Ole Miss. A veteran member of the squad, Archie has started all 62 games of his South Carolina career.

Thirty-two different players received votes for the teams, and LSU and Tennessee led all schools with three selections each. Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson and Vanderbilt’s A.J. Ogilvy were the only unanimous first-team selections.

The coaches preseason All-SEC first and second teams consist of a minimum of eight players on each squad, voted on by the SEC head men’s basketball coaches. No ties were broken and no predicted order of finish was made.

A list of the 2009 SEC Men’s Basketball Coaches Preseason All-SEC team follows.

FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC	Pos	Ht	Wt	Cl	Hometown
Nick Calathes, Florida	G/F	6-6	194	So.	Casselberry, Fla.
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky#	—	6-9	235	So.	Huntington, W.Va.
Tasmin Mitchell, LSU	F	6-7	240	Jr.	Denham Springs, La.
Marcus Thornton, LSU	G	6-4	205	Sr.	Baton Rouge, La.
Chris Warren, Ole Miss	G	5-10	160	So.	Orlando, Fla.
Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State	F/C	6-9	210	Jr.	Brownsville, Tenn.
*Devan Downey, South Carolina*	G	*5-9*	*175*	*Jr.*	*Chester, S.C.*
Tyler Smith, Tennessee	F	6-7	215	Jr.	Pulaski, Tenn.
A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt#	C	6-11	250	So.	Sydney, Australia
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC	Pos	Ht	Wt	Cl	Hometown
Alonzo Gee, Alabama	G	6-6	219	Sr.	Palm Beach, Fla.
Ronald Steele, Alabama	G	6-1	191	Sr.	Birmingham, Ala.
Michael Washington, Arkansas	F/C	6-9	239	Jr.	McGehee, Ark.
Korvotney Barber, Auburn	F	6-7	225	Sr.	Manchester, Ga.
Terrance Woodbury, Georgia	G/F	6-7	221	Sr.	Virginia Beach, Va.
Chris Johnson, LSU	C	6-11	210	Sr.	Montross, Va.
Jodie Meeks, Kentucky	—	6-4	208	Jr.	Norcross, Ga.
*Dominque Archie, South Carolina*	F	*6-7*	*200*	*Jr.*	*Augusta, Ga.*
Wayne Chism, Tennessee	F	6-9	242	Jr.	Jackson, Tenn.
J.P. Prince, Tennessee	G	6-7	205	Jr.	Memphis, Tenn.