Kansas University did not pick a patsy to play on Opening Day.

The Jayhawks at 7 tonight will entertain University of Louisiana at Monroe, a squad that returns all five starters and 11 letter winners from last year’s Sun Belt Conference West Division co-regular-season men’s basketball championship team.

Orlando Early’s third Warhawk squad is ranked 35th in the country’s preseason Mid-Major Top 25 poll, and tapped first in the preseason Sun Belt coaches’ poll.

“We understand that we were picked to finish at the bottom last year and found a way to finish at the top,” Early said of the conference coaches’ poll, which indeed had the overachieving Warhawks (18-14 overall, 11-7 league) placing in the cellar. “It is great for our program but not something we focus on.”

Tony Hooper, a 5-foot-11 junior from Houston, is back after averaging a team-leading 15.4 points and 3.8 rebounds a game. He scored in double figures in 21 games and has been selected preseason second-team all-Sun Belt.

“I’m really excited for Tony to be recognized by people around the league,” Early told the Monroe (La.) News Star. “He has really worked hard since he has been here and still realizes he has a long way to go. He’s worked hard to be a leader.”

Hooper led the Warhawks in steals (1.7) and three-pointers (76) and ranked second in assists (98) his soph season.

“I just want to come out every day and lead my team to a victory,” Hooper told the News Star. “I do whatever I can, whether it’s scoring, playing defense or rebounding. Whatever it is, I’m willing to do it.”

Hooper had 17 points in ULM’s 93-58 exhibition victory over Millsaps on Tuesday in Monroe, La. Jonas Brown, a 6-3 senior, who averaged 12.3 ppg a year ago, totaled 20 off 5-of-10 three-point shooting, while 6-8 freshman Raphelle Turner had 15 points. Turner averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds last season for Peabody High School in Alexandria, La.

Lance Brasher, a 6-2 senior who averaged 10.4 ppg last year, tallied seven points with six assists. Afam Nweke, a 6-7 junior, who averaged 6.7 rebounds a game, had four boards and two points.

The Warhawks – who have nobody taller than 6-8 – received a boost from the return of point guard Brandon Roberts, a 6-0 sophomore who is coming off ACL surgery. He had two points and two assists in 20 minutes of the exhibition.

Four highly-touted freshmen newcomers also are on board and figure in the mix as Early attempts to build on last year’s success.

In the team’s first year in the Sun Belt, Early emerged as league coach of the year. He also won the Tommy Joe Eagles Memorial Award, presented to Louisiana’s top coach by the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches. He also was a finalist for the Hugh Durham Mid-Major Coach of the Year.

And get this … he’s a graduate of Gardner-Webb, the school that shocked Kentucky, 84-68, on Wednesday night in Lexington.

His team faces a rugged non-league slate this season, traveling to KU, Mississippi and Arkansas and playing in tournaments at Michigan State and Iowa.

“Obviously we are playing at some very good programs and will have to play our best in order to compete,” Early said. “Hopefully these games will help us when we get into conference play. We have a veteran team with guys who have been in the program. This season feels much better than my first two years here when we had freshmen and guys who hadn’t played for me. It feels good to have a veteran group back, and I feel it will make all the difference.”

Of KU, he said: “They are a top program, and it’s tough winning anywhere on the road. We hope to go out there and play hard, compete and see what happens.”