College Basketball Conference Preview #23 - Sun Belt Conference
The 2023-24 College Basketball Season will be one to remember for each team in the Sun Belt Conference. Look for Appalachian State to set the pace and finish in 1st place in the Conference. The Mountaineers are looking to make the NCAA Tournament in 2024 for the 2nd time in the past three seasons. Appalachian State brings back all five starters and will be led by senior forwards Donovan Gregory and C.J. Huntley. The Mountaineers also bring back junior guard Terence Harcum and sophomore forward Justin Abson - both returning starters - and junior forward Christopher Mantis - the lone returning reserve - along with senior guard Myles Tate (Butler transfer). James Madison brings back two starters in senior guard Noah Friedel and junior forward Justin Amadi. Head Coach Mark Byington did well in the Transfer Portal as the Dukes added senior forward T.J. Bickerstaff (Boston College transfer) and senior guard Michael Green III (Robert Morris transfer) along with sophomore guard Quincy Allen (Colorado transfer). Look for junior guard Terrence Edwards and senior forward Julien Wooden - both returning reserves - to provide additional scoring for the Dukes. I predict James Madison to finish in 2nd place in the final Conference Standings. Southern Miss only returns two starters from their 2022-23 team in senior guards Austin Crowley and Mo Arnold. The Golden Eagles will also rely on senior guards Nefti Alvarez and Donovan Ivory - both returning reserves. Expect contributions from senior guard Andre Curbelo (St. John's transfer) and senior forward Victor Iwuakor (UNLV transfer) as well. Head Coach Jay Ladner will have Southern Miss back at the top of the Conference soon but their fans need to remain patient this season. I predict the Golden Eagles to finish in 3rd place this season. Louisiana will challenge Appalachian State, James Madison, and Southern Miss for the Sun Belt Conference Title and will need a huge season from junior guard Themus Fulks to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Ragin' Cajuns only bring back two starters in junior guard Kentrell Garnett and the aforementioned Fulks. Both players could easily wind up being 1st or 2nd Team All Sun Belt Players this season. They will get help from junior forwards Kobe Julien and Joe Charles - both returning reserves. Look for junior guard Blake Butler (Junior College transfer) and junior forward Hosana Kitenge (Junior College transfer) to provide additional scoring and rebounding for the Ragin' Cajuns this season. I predict Louisiana to finish in 4th place in the final Conference Standings. Old Dominion looks to cause problems in the Sun Belt Conference in 2023-24 but it won't be easy. The Monarchs bring back two starters in junior guard Chaunce Jenkins and senior forward Dericko Williams. Look for several returning reserves including junior guard Imo Essien and sophomore guard Bryce Baker to play bigger roles this season for the Monarchs. Old Dominion also added senior guard Tyrone Williams (Oregon transfer) and junior guard RJ Blakney (Dayton transfer) via the Transfer Portal to provide the Monarchs with additional scoring. Head Coach Jeff Jones has the team headed in the right direction as he enters his 11th season at the helm. I predict Old Dominion to finish in 5th place this season. South Alabama hopes to climb the Conference Standings even further after a 7th place finish in 2022-23. The Jaguars return two starters in senior guard Tyrell Jones and senior forward Judah Brown. Look for several transfers to play important roles - most notably senior guard Samuel Tabe (Junior College transfer) and junior forward Thomas Howell (ULM transfer). Senior forward Marshall Kearing and junior forward Elijah Ormiston - both returning reserves - along with senior guard Isaiah Gaiter (Division II transfer) - will have to have big seasons if the Jaguars hope to finish in the top half of the final Sun Belt Conference Standings. I predict South Alabama to finish in 6th place this season. Marshall hopes to remain among the Conference elite even while losing two of their top three players in 2022-23 to the Transfer Portal. The Thundering Herd return two starters in senior forward Obinna Anochili-Killen and senior guard Kamdyn Curfman. Marshall will need several returning reserves to play big roles including sophomore forward Wyatt Fricks, sophomore guard Jacob Conner, and senior guard Marko Sarenac. They will get assistance from several transfers - most notably senior guard Kevon Voyles (UMES transfer) and junior forward Nate Martin (Texas State transfer). I predict Marshall to finish in 7th place in the final Conference Standings.
Georgia State hopes to finish in the top half of the Sun Belt Conference but knows it will be extremely difficult. The Panthers return three starters and will be led by junior guard Dwon Odom and junior forward Jamaine Mann. Look for several transfers to play big roles - most notably senior forward Jay'Den Turner (Queens transfer), along with sophomore guards Toneari Lane (Winthrop transfer) and Rickie Bradley Jr. (VMI transfer). Senior guard Brenden Tucker - the final returning starter - and sophomore center Edward Nnamoko - the lone returning reserve - should provide immediate scoring off the bench. I predict Georgia State to finish in 8th place in the final Conference Standings. Arkansas State welcomes new Head Coach Bryan Hodgson to Jonesboro. The Red Wolves return three starters and will be led by senior guard Caleb Fields and junior guard Avery Felts. A pair of incoming transfers will also play key roles as the Red Wolves added junior forward Dyondre Dominguez (UMass transfer) and sophomore guard Derrian Ford (Arkansas transfer). Look for contributions from sophomore guard Terrance Ford Jr. - the final returning starter - along with junior guard Malcolm Farrington and junior forward Julian Lual - both returning reserves. I predict Arkansas State to finish in 9th place this season. Troy returns two starters in senior guards Christyon Eugene and Aamer Muhammad. Head Coach Scott Cross has the team headed in the right direction as the program is trending upward with back-to-back 20-win seasons. Look for sophomore forward Jackson Fields and sophomore guard Kamryn Mitchell - both returning reserves - to play big roles this season. Junior forwards Jerrell Bellamy (Junior College transfer) and Theo Seng (Junior College transfer) should give the Trojans a spark off the bench in each Sun Belt contest. I predict Troy to finish in 10th place this season. Louisiana-Monroe is looking to continue the rebuild as the Warhawks bring back two starters in senior guards Tyreke Locure and Jamari Blackmon. Look for several experienced returning reserves including junior forward Nika Metskhvarishvili along with sophomore guards Jacob Wilson and Jalen Bolden to have huge seasons for the Warhawks as they try stay out of the Sun Belt Conference cellar. The Warhawks also added junior forwards Makai Willis (Fairfield transfer) and AD Diedhiou (UAB transfer). Head Coach Keith Richard has his work cut out for him in his 14th season at the helm but he is up for the challenge. I predict Louisiana-Monroe to finish in 11th place this season. Texas State returns three starters and will be led by senior forward Tyrel Morgan and senior guard Drue Drinnon. The Bobcats will need senior guard Dylan Dawson and junior forward Brandon Love - both returning reserves - to propel them to new heights this season. Look out for senior forward Chris Nix (UT Martin transfer) and sophomore guard Coleton Benson (Army transfer) - along with sophomore guard Jordan Mason - the final returning starter - as well. The Bobcats may take their lumps this season as they continue to try to climb the Sun Belt Conference ladder. I predict Texas State to finish in 12th place in the final Conference Standings. Georgia Southern is in for a rebuilding year. The Eagles only bring back one starter in senior forward Carlos Curry. Look for senior guard Tyren Moore, senior forward Johnny McFatten, and sophomore forward Nate Brafford - all returning reserves - to provide additional scoring for the Eagles. Sophomore guard Jamar Franklin (South Alabama transfer), senior guard Russell Dean (Hampton transfer), and senior forward Eugene Brown III (Ohio State transfer) will all look to make an immediate impact under new Head Coach Charlie Henry. I predict Georgia Southern to finish in 13th place this season. Coastal Carolina only welcomes back one starter in senior guard Henry Abraham. Look for solid contributions from senior guard Jomaru Brown and junior guard Kylan Blackmon - both returning reserves. Sophomore forward Ian Granja (Memphis transfer) and junior guard Brayon Freeman (Rhode Island transfer) will both provide additional scoring and rebounding. I predict Coastal Carolina to finish in 14th place in the final Conference Standings. Regardless of which team wins the Conference Tournament it will be a great season in the Sun Belt Conference. Enjoy all of the games!
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