Sun Belt

College Hoops Tuesday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:37:34 -0500

For all the bubble teams not playing on Tuesday night there's really just one game they need to pay full attention to: the Horizon League final between host Butler and second-seeded Wright State. Point blank: if the Raiders find a way to knock off Gordon Hayward and company at Hinkle Fieldhouse one more bid goes off the board (if you're of the thinking that Saint Mary's wasn't a lock themselves before Monday night). The Bulldogs, as you likely already know, went through Horizon League play unscathed and would benefit from a win in regards to NCAA Tournament seeding with a "preferred" seed being more than possible. The last time these two teams met was back on February 6th, a game Butler won 74-62.

If Brad Brownell's team is to win one thing they can do is get Matt Howard into foul trouble. The junior forward has had more than his fair share of foul troubles this season but if he's on the floor and allowed to go to work it's going to be a long night. In the first meeting Butler turned the ball over seventeen times but more than made up for it by shooting a blistering 67.5% from the field (23-29 from two-point range). And that was a game in which Howard played just sixteen minutes; Willie Veasley led the way with nineteen points while Hayward added seventeen. Also of note: the average plus/minus for the starters in that contest.

Butler's starting five boasted an average plus/minus of +13 while the Raiders were far below that at -11.4. Todd Brown and Vaughn Duggins are two of those five starters and they must have superlative performances if Wright State is to pull off the upset. The game was essentially a matter of Butler getting whatever shot they desired; if the Raiders are unable to make them work for their shots they'll be in for a long night at Hinkle. As for other games bubble teams will be on display in both the Atlantic 10 and the Big East.

Rhode Island, Charlotte and Dayton all host first-round games and if they should lose there's no need to entertain thoughts of a Selection Show viewing party. As for the Big East, USF kicks things off with last-place DePaul. The Blue Demons may have the edge in regards to being ready to play in this noon tip since they were in the same exact spot against Cincinnati last season (the Bearcats were on the bubble in that game, similar to USF). The crowd could very well resemble that of a "friends and family night", meaning that the team that manufactures its own energy from the start will be at a decided advantage. Seton Hall is also a bubble team and they take on Providence in the first game of the night session. Those two met last Saturday with the Pirates winning on the road, but given the up-and-down styles that both teams play Seton Hall could have their work cut out for them.

Three total tickets to the NCAA Tournament will be punched with title games in the Sun Belt and Summit also taking place. Oakland was the best team in the Summit but it's not like Ron Hunter's Jaguars were that far off. And the Sun Belt was one of the most unpredictable leagues in college basketball this season, meaning that anyone's guess is a good one in regards to the matchup between Troy and North Texas. Before all the other major conferences tip off their league tournaments this will be a good mixture of games.

TV GAMES

Noon ESPN2 USF vs DePaul (Big East Tournament)
2p ESPN2 Connecticut vs St. John's (Big East Tournament)
7p ESPN2 North Texas vs Troy (Sun Belt Final)
7p ESPNU Seton Hall vs Providence (Big East Tournament)
9p ESPN Wright St at Butler (Horizon Final)
9p ESPN2 IUPUI vs Oakland (Summit Final)
9p ESPNU Cincinnati vs Rutgers (Big East Tournament)

OTHER TOURNAMENTS

Atlantic 10 First Round (campus sites)
7p Duquesne at St. Bonaventure
7p Saint Joseph's at Rhode Island
7p Massachusetts at Charlotte
7p George Washington at Dayton
Big Sky Semifinals (Ogden, UT)
6:35p Montana vs Northern Colorado
9p Portland St vs Weber St
MEAC First Round (Winston-Salem, NC)
6:30p Florida A&M vs Bethune-Cookman
9p North Carolina A&T vs Howard

OTHER GAME
8p Pennsylvania at Princeton

ONE PREDICTION

Seton Hall over Providence: Look for this to be the wildest game of the day at the Garden, but the pick here is Seton Hall. Both teams have stretches of lackadaisical play/bad shot selection but the Pirates are the better of the two teams when it comes to turning their opponents over. Seton Hall wins by five.

Sun Belt Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:40:43 -0500

Western Kentucky is once again the favorite after last year's impressive 25-win season. Up and coming teams like Troy, Denver, and North Texas hope to make some noise as well.

Conference Rank: 14th

10 year average: 16th

Conference Page

All-Sun Belt Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Brandon Hazzard	Troy	Sr
G	AJ Slaughter	Western Kentucky	Sr
G/F	Nate Rohnert	Denver	Sr
F	Desmond Yates	MTSU	Jr
F	Eric Tramiel	North Texas	Sr

Player of the Year - AJ Slaughter
CHN Award Winners		Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans AJ Slaughter (3rd Team) Brandon Hazzard Desmond Yates		Best Scorer: Desmond Yates Best Rebounder: Eric Tramiel Best Playmaker: AJ Slaughter

Sun Belt Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

53	West Kentucky	Sun Belt	1	NCAA
99	North Texas	Sun Belt	2	CBI/CIT
116	Troy	Sun Belt	3	CBI/CIT
140	Middle Tenn St	Sun Belt	4
174	Denver	Sun Belt	5
183	South Albama	Sun Belt	6
217	Florida Intl	Sun Belt	8
218	Ark Little Rock	Sun Belt	7
253	LA Lafayette	Sun Belt	9
277	LA Monroe	Sun Belt	10
296	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	11
303	Florida Atlantic	Sun Belt	12
335	New Orleans	Sun Belt	13

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Sun Belt?

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Poll: Best Non-BCS Conference in 2009-10?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:05:41 -0500

Poll: Who Will Win the Sun Belt Conference?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:57:29 -0400

College Basketball: Preseason Conference Ranking

CHN — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:43:04 -0400

After finishing 1st in the RPI the last two years, the ACC should fall back slightly thanks to the big-name departures at UNC & Wake Forest. This should allow one of the Big 12, Big Ten, or even SEC a shot at being #1. The Pac-10 is weak enough that a high-major like the A-10, MVC, or MWC could surpass it.

Chime in with your thoughts below if you agree or disagree with CHN's preseason conference ranking.

2009-10 Conference Ranking

*08-09 is last year's conference RPI. Commentary by Shawn Siegel, ranking by CHN.

	Conference	08-09*
1	Big Ten 9 of 11 teams go into season with ncaa hopes, and as many as 7 may reach that goal	2
2	Big 12 ku is the clear title contender. the bottom few teams are weak though and the middle-tier is hit or miss	3
3	ACC no dominant team like last year, but solid as always.	1
4	SEC rise of uk brings league back to prominence after down year..	6
5	Big East lose tons of big name players, and still held down by likes of depual, rutgers, etc	4
6	Pac-10 conceivable the pac-10 only receives 3 tourney bids.	5
7	Atlantic 10 should get at least 2 invites to the ncaa tournament	8
8	MVC with improvement expected from usual leaders creighton & siu, mvc should be solid all-around	9
9	MWC just about every top team loses a top player, but mwc should be one of the more entertaining leagues	7
10	Conference USA though memphis takes step back, rest of league is better than usual.	10
11	WAC after some down years, wac will once again be compeititve league	11
12	Horizon butler has top 10 hopes, but squads like csu and green bay lose key seniors.	12
13	Colonial while still 1 bid league, likes of odu, n'eastern, gmu, and vcu are all quality	14
14	Sun Belt more then just wku, the entire east division is solid	17
15	MAAC siena, niagara, and rider all have postseason hopes	13
16	WCC gonzaga and smc both worse then season ago	15
17	MAC #'s should be better than last year, but west division still a struggle	21
18	Big West led by up-and-coming long beach state. always finish around this #.	18
19	Summit darling ndsu loses a lot, so usual contenders like oru and oakland should be at forefront again	26
20	Big Sky with exception of sacramento st, this is a solid league top to bottom.	24
21	Southland underrated league always good for some non-conference upsets	19
22	Ivy cornell will be the best the ivy has offered in quite some years	29
23	Southern steph curry's departure opens up door for charleston	20
24	America East decimation of binghamton will hurt league #'s	16
25	Atlantic Sun the league's upper half is as solid as it's been for a few years	27
26	Patriot could use a rebound from former top gun bucknell.	22
27	OVC morehead st continues its improbable rise..	23
28	Big South outside of radford, not much to get excited about here..	25
29	NEC nec hasn't had much going for it in recent years	28
30	MEAC as usual, will battle swac for title of country's worst	30
31	SWAC solid jackson st gives swac hope of surpassing meac	31

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Tuesday/Wednesday Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:06:37 -0400

More mid-week football from the Sun Belt with Arkansas State (1-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) hitting the road (8 PM on ESPN2) to visit UL Monroe (3-2, 2-0), who sits tied atop the conference standings with a 2-0 record (Troy) in league play. The Warhawks lead the conference in rushing, total and scoring offense with QB Trey Revell and RB Frank Goodin leading the way. But the Red Wolves are no slouch, having lost their last two games by a combined six points. Troy and Iowa are talented but rather straightforward in what they're going to do. The same can't be said for the Warhawks, who will employ a variety of looks on offense and defense.

"They're very multiple defensively," said Arkansas State head coach Steve Roberts in Monday's Sun Belt Coaches Teleconference. "They come from everywhere, show you a lot of different fronts and a lot of movement." UL Monroe ranks third in the Sun Belt in total defense and second in rushing defense with LB Cordia Watson and DE Aaron Morgan leading the way. Watson leads the team in tackles while Morgan leads the conference and ranks fifth nationally in sacks per game (1.20; 6 sacks on the year).

Arkansas State has the conference's third-best rushing attack and Reggie Arnold is the main cog in the Arkansas State rushing attack. Arnold averages just over seventy yards per game but he isn't the only option as seen in the team average of almost 163 yards per game. QB Corey Leonard can be a threat by land and by air but he hasn't been as productive on the ground as he was a season ago. Look for him to try to make more plays with his feet against the Warharks should the opportunity present itself.

As for a winner it may be worth noting that the Warhawks have scored just ten more points than their opponents this season, and Arkansas State's two road losses came at the hands of Nebraska and Iowa. Look for the Red Wolves to pick up their first win in conference play on the road.

Wednesday: #5 Boise State (5-0, 1-0 WAC) @ Tulsa (4-1, 2-0 C-USA) (8 PM on ESPN)

While this game is going to get a lot of attention due to the the explosive nature of both offenses as much has been accomplised by the Boise State defense through five games. The Broncos rank in the Top 25 nationally in every major defensive category and when you combine that with the fact that the offense ranks 5th in scoring offense the end result is a team that will be heard from when it comes time to decide who gets a BCS at-large berth.

Sophomore QB Kellen Moore has done a good job of distributing the football while continuing to limit mistakes, leading the WAC in pass efficiency while ranking fifth in the conference in total offense. "Their quarterback makes everything work," said Tulsa head coach Todd Graham on Monday. "He operates very well in the pocket and manages the offense very well."

There isn't just one guy who gets the job done offensively for Chris Peterson's team; many players understand their roles and carry out their responsibilities, making this an extremely difficult team to contain. The Golden Hurricane have some good numbers defensively as well, leading Conference USA in both total and scoring defense.

But those stats may need to be taken with a grain of salt; the three FBS teams they've beaten (Tulane, New Mexico and Rice) have the following national rankings in total offense: 94th, 108th and 109th. Their other win this season came against FCS member Sam Houston State, and their lone test (Oklahoma) didn't go too well last month. That will likely put some more pressure on QB G.J. Kinne and the Tulsa offense, which ranks third in Conference USA in total offense and second in scoring offense.

Kinne has played well outside of the loss at Oklahoma, leading Conference USA in pass efficiency while also leading the team in rushing. Coach Graham will mix things up in the spread, making sure that playmakers such as Damaris Johnson and Jamad Williams get the ball in a variety of ways. A good individual matchup to watch may be Johnson going up against All-America candidate CB Kyle Wilson, who will have a clean bill of health after being a bit banged up earlier this season.

The pick here is that while the Golden Hurricane will come out ready to go the Broncos will be too much for them to contain for sixty minutes. Look for Boise State to remain undefeated.

Middle Tennessee vs. Troy Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:01:17 -0400

Tuesday night brings about a matchup in the Sun Belt and if the first two weekends are any indication of what's to come then this will be a wild season in the league. Middle Tennessee State (3-1, 1-0) hits the road to take on Troy (2-2, 1-0), the preseason favorite to win the conference. But the idea that the Trojans and Florida Atlantic would run away with this thing has fallen by the wayside; there are more options from which to choose and the Blue Raiders have shown themselves to be one.

QB Dwight Dasher leads a team that ranks 19th in passing offense and 37th in total offense, and he ranks sixth nationally (first in the Sun Belt) in in total offense. Also leading the team in rushing yards (D.D. Kyles has replaced the injured Phillip Tanner at tailback), Dasher is a dynamic threat in head coach Rick Stockstill's spread offense.

"Well, I think he's (Dasher) playing with a lot of confidence," said Coach Stockstill in Monday's Sun Belt Coaches Teleconference. "He prepares himself well for each game and he's done a great job from the leadership standpoint as well." Dasher has made the transition that quite a few young quarterbacks struggle with as dual threats: going from being an athlete who plays the position to a quarterback who happens to be athletic. Job one for the Trojan defense is to neutralize Dasher.

As for the defending Sun Belt champions they've won the last three in the series yet have struggled some on defense. Troy ranks sixth in the conference in total defense but they've been better in winning their last two games. But they can throw the football, leading the Sun Belt in passing offense (18th nationally) behind QB Levi Brown (23rd nationally in total offense). Running the ball has been a chore for Larry Blakeney's team, ranking 106th in rushing offense (96.5 ypg).

The Trojans will not lean heavily upon this aspect of the offense, with a few different threats to choose from. WR Jerrel Jernigan and RB DuJuan Harris are two of the better-known players from a national point of view but receivers TeBiarus Gill, Chip Reeves and Zack Marcum are the top three receivers on the team in regards to yardage. A Middle Tennessee defense that ranks third in the conference in pass defense will have its hands full with the Trojans.

If anything can help the Blue Raiders end their losing streak at the hands of Troy it would be turnovers. They lead the conference in turnover margin (1.50) and rank seventh nationally in the category while the Trojans (-.50) rank fourth in the Sun Belt (82nd nationally).

"They're leading our conference in all of the turnover categories: forced fumbles, margin, interceptions and fumble recoveries and they're nationally ranked in those areas so we certainly have to take care of the football," said Troy head coach Larry Blakeney. Turnovers can be the great equalizer for road teams and when a team's as good at forcing them as the Blue Raiders are it could make all the difference. In an entertaining affair look for the Blue Raiders to win The Battle for the Palladium, ending their three-game losing streak to the Trojans.

Western Kentucky Basketball Preview: #53

Joel Welser — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:04:01 -0400

Overall Rank: #53

Conference Rank: #1 Sun Belt Conference

2008-09: 25-9, 15-3

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Ken McDonald (25-9 at Western Kentucky, 25-9 overall)

Western Kentucky had only six players who averaged over a dozen minutes per game last season. Five of them are back and that should be enough to get the Hilltoppers another Sun Belt Conference crown. Replacing Orlando Mendez-Valdez will not be easy, but WKU has replaced more important pieces of the puzzle over the last few years and they keep dominating the conference. Do not expect that to end this year.

Key Losses: G Dejan Cvoro, F D.J. Magley, G Orland Mendez-Valdez

Key Newcomers:

The five returning players will probably start just about every game, so all this team needs from the newcomers is some depth. Freshmen Caden Dickerson, William Green, Jordan Swing and Jameson Tipping should be able to provide enough depth on the wings. Up front it will be junior college transfer Cliff Dixon and 6-8, 240 pound senior Nemanja Milosevic. Dixon, at 6-10, is the tallest player on the roster and should at least be a solid defender from day one. Milosevic is a big body who can step outside and hit the mid-range jumper.

Backcourt:

Anthony Sally is the player who will take over for Mendez-Valdez. The 6-2 senior was a superb sixth man last year, dishing out 2.7 assists per game. The team rarely needed him to score, so Sally only averaged 4.1 points per game, but he is a capable shooter who can put the ball in the basket if WKU needs him to do so. But with A.J. Slaughter back after leading the team with 16.0 points per game, Sally might not have to do much scoring. Slaughter, who also added 3.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals on top of his 16.0 points, is a great all-around player and will once again be the leader of this team. Expect Sally and Slaughter to both handle the ball depending on the situation, much like Slaughter and Mendez-Valdez did last season.

Frontcourt:

The talent level does not drop off much at the forward positions. Steffphone Pettigrew and Sergio Kerusch might be listed as wings, but both can play the four spot. Pettigrew is the better shooter of the two and he averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds last year. Like Pettigrew, Kerush is only 6-5, but led the team last year with 7.4 rebounds per contest. Kerusch can stretch out the defense with his outside shooting ability, but he will do most of his scoring around the basket. And he can do a lot of scoring in a hurry. WKU may look a little undersized with Pettigrew and Kerusch, but those two play much bigger than 6-5.

Who to Watch:

While everybody else is hoisting up three’s or slashing to the basket, it is Jeremy Evans who does the dirty work in the paint. The 6-9 senior tallied 8.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last year and was the beneficiary of the rest of the explosive offensive weapons around him. Many times Slaughter would drive the lane and immediately get double teamed. A quick pass later and Evans had himself an easy two points. However, it is Evans’ ability on the other end of the floor that makes him so valuable. He blocked two shots per contest last year and he never makes it easy for the opposition to get into the paint.

Final Projection:

There is enough talent in the starting five to win an NCAA Tournament game, but the key will be the contributions off the bench. Slaughter averaged nearly 35 minutes per game last year and it could be worse this time around on the perimeter unless the team starts shuffling Pettigrew to the two guard spot or one of the freshmen can turn into a consistent sixth man. The depth in the paint is better than it was last year, but Coach Ken McDonald really needs one of the freshmen guards to contribute immediately if this team expects to be even better than they were last year.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Anthony Sally, Senior, Guard, 4.1 points per game

A.J. Slaughter, Senior, Guard, 16.0 points per game

Steffphon Pettigrew, Junior, Forward, 12.7 points per game

Sergio Kerusch, Junior, Forward, 11.2 points per game

Jeremy Evans, Senior, Forward, 8.8 points per game

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College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

The Ultimate Schedule: Sun Belt

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:07:00 -0400

Sun Belt Scheduling “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games

Week 1: Florida Atlantic @ Nebraska (September 5^th)

This could be a dangerous game for the Cornhuskers despite the fact that they have one of the best defenses in the Big 12. Nebraska is breaking in a new quarterback in Zac Lee, and the Owls have one of the nation’s more underrated quarterbacks in Rusty Smith. FAU didn’t perform well in games against BCS conference opponents last season, scoring just thirteen points in losses to Texas, Michigan State and Minnesota. No one will expect the Owls to compete much less win in Lincoln, but a solid performance may be a harbinger of things to come for FAU.

Other Games Considered: Troy @ Bowling Green (9/3), Middle Tennessee @ Clemson (9/5)

Week 2: Troy @ Florida (September 12^th)

The favorites to win the Sun Belt and SEC meet in Gainesville, and there will be a significant difference in talent level. For the Trojans this matchup is as much about simply competing with the Gators, if not more, than it is winning the game. No Sun Belt team has ever had a realistic shot at an at-large BCS bid because of the number of games played against SEC opponents, especially those of national championship pedigree. Just like FAU in Week 1, there are lessons to be learned that can be applied towards a run at the Sun Belt championship.

Other Games Considered: Kansas State @ Louisiana-Lafayette (9/12), Ohio @ North Texas (9/12), FIU @ Alabama (9/12)

Week 3: Middle Tennessee @ Maryland (September 19^th)

This is a non-conference game in which the Sun Belt representative has a realistic shot at winning. In fact the Blue Raiders beat Maryland in Murfreesboro 24-14 last season, and the Terrapins aren’t thought to be world beaters this season either. Chris Turner threw three picks in the loss, negating a solid performance from RB Da’Rel Scott. The Blue Raiders will need to use the same formula if they want to beat the Terps again, and find a way to slow down Scott as well.

Other Games Considered: UAB @ Troy (9/19), Florida Atlantic @ South Carolina (9/19)

Week 4: Troy @ Arkansas State (September 26^th)

Troy’s first game in defending their Sun Belt crown is on the road, and the Red Wolves are more than capable of knocking them off. The Trojans have won nine of their last ten conference road games and two straight over Arkansas State. But all-time they’re 3-6 against the Red Wolves, who would like to show better in Jonesboro than they did in the meeting two seasons ago (27-0 Troy). The Trojans were a +3 in turnover margin in last year’s game, blowing open a game despite the fact that the Red Wolves had the ball for twelve more minutes. Turnovers can either be the great equalizer, or they can blow a game wide-open. Arkansas State needs to at least break even in that department if they’re to knock off Troy.

Other Games Considered: ULM @ Florida Atlantic (9/26), Toledo @ FIU (9/26)

Week 5: FIU @ ULM (October 3^rd)

Two teams expected by many to fight it out in the middle of the Sun Belt standings meet in Monroe with the Golden Panthers looking to avenge a loss that helped deny them bowl eligibility last season. The second quarter in last year’s 31-27 ULM victory made all the difference with the Warhawks outscoring FIU 21-0 in that stanza. Florida International won the yardage battle but lost time of possession and ultimately the game as a result. FIU should be an improved team this season, which should give them a shot at winning on the road.

Other Game Considered: Wyoming @ Florida Atlantic (10/3)

Week 6: Middle Tennessee @ Troy (October 6^th)

If the Blue Raiders want to entertain any thought of winning the conference they need to get over the hump that is Troy. The Trojans have won the last three in the series, including a 31-17 win at Middle Tennessee in last year’s season opener. Troy won despite four turnovers thanks to a run defense that limited the Blue Raiders to just eighty-four yards on the ground, and Middle Tennessee also left point on the board in not taking advantage of those four turnovers. The “World’s Largest Toga Party” shouldn’t disappoint this year with both teams entertaining thoughts of a trip to the New Orleans Bowl.

Other Game Considered: North Texas @ Louisiana-Lafayette (10/10)

Week 7: Bye Week (October 17^th)

Troy’s trip to FIU could be a tricky affair despite the fact that the Trojans have won all five of their all-time meetings. Arkansas State/ULM gets a national television audience for a game between two of the contenders for the Sun Belt title, but it’s also a good time to take a week off.

Week 8: FIU @ Arkansas State (October 24^th)

While both are expected to be around the middle of the conference standings at season’s end, a game like this can ultimately be the difference between going to a bowl game and staying home in a league like the Sun Belt. Three of the last four meetings have been decided by three points or less with the Golden Panthers winning last year’s meeting 22-21. Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton threw one pass in that game, and it was the touchdown pass that won the game for FIU. The Red Wolves dominated time of possession and held FIU to forty-eight yards rushing but lost in a heartbreaker. Don’t expect happy faces when FIU arrives in Jonesboro as a result.

Other Games Considered: Florida Atlantic @ Louisiana-Lafayette (10/24), WKU @ Middle Tennessee (10/24)

Week 9: Arkansas State @ Louisville (October 31^st)

The Red Wolves head to Louisville to take on a Louisville team they can be, provided they slow down Cardinals RB Victor Anderson. They’ve never met, and the Cards will have a new quarterback in Justin Burke. There’s been some heat applied to Steve Kragthorpe’s seat even though Louisville AD Tom Jurich hasn’t bitten the bait. A loss here, even with ASU beating Texas A&M last season, wouldn’t be the best thing for the head coach’s job security.

Other Games Considered: Middle Tennessee @ Florida Atlantic (10/31), ULM @ Troy (10/31), Louisiana-Lafayette @ FIU (10/31)

Week 10: FIU @ Middle Tennessee (November 7^th)

FIU won last season’s meeting by ten, holding the Blue Raiders to seventy-two yards passing. Each team finished the game with three turnovers, but it was FIU who showed a little more offensive balance. They’ve only met four times and the home team has won all four, which could be a good sign for the Blue Raiders. The winner continues to entertain thoughts of winning the Sun Belt while the loser is dealt a near-fatal blow.

Other Games Considered: Florida Atlantic @ UAB (11/7), Louisiana-Lafayette @ Arkansas State (11/7)

Week 11: Arkansas State @ Florida Atlantic (November 14^th)

Depending on what happens up to this point the Red Wolves and Owls could end up playing for second place, or possibly something bigger. Florida International ran for just sixty-three yards in the 28-14 loss, not a surprise since the Owls were winless when they failed to run for at least one hundred yards. Arkansas State put up just under five hundred yards of offense in the win, even converting more than half of their third downs and winning time of possession by thirteen minutes. The Owls also won’t be thrilled to see ASU RB Reggie Arnold, who ran for 150 yards in the win.

Other Games Considered: Troy @ Arkansas (11/14), Louisiana-Lafayette @ Middle Tennessee (11/14)

Week 12: Florida Atlantic @ Troy (November 21^st)

The preseason “Game of the Year” in the Sun Belt matches the last two winners of the conference title. The Trojans win by thirteen in Boca Raton last season, forcing three turnovers and limiting the Owls to just seventy-five yards on the ground. Even in the era of spread offenses you need to be able to do something on the ground in order to win championships. It also doesn’t help when you’re just 3-of-13 on third downs. The last three meetings in the series have been won by the visiting team, so even with the Trojans holding a 5-1 advantage all-time the Owls definitely have a chance.

Other Games Considered: Arkansas State @ Middle Tennessee (11/21), ULM @ Louisiana-Lafayette (11/21)

Week 13: Bye Week (November 28^th)

The best games on the penultimate Saturday of the season are Middle Tennessee visiting ULM and Troy making the trek to Louisiana-Lafayette. How much of an impact either (or both) game has on the Sun Belt title race remains to be seen, but those aren’t rivalry games. Sit this week out in order to watch an in-state rivalry game that featured a wild finish in 2008.

Week 14: Florida Atlantic @ FIU (December 5^th)

The Golden Panthers needed one more win to break even on the season, and their close rivals made sure they fell short in a wild 57-50 Owls victory. The game featured fifty-three first downs, seventeen penalties and more than 1,000 yards of offense. How often do you see a fourth quarter in which each team scores twenty-eight points? Quarterbacks Paul McCall (FIU) and Rusty Smith (FAU) combined for nine touchdown passes and two interceptions in the thriller, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if 2009 meant more of the same. One of these teams could go into the season finale in need of a win to get bowl eligible; it’s especially sweet to deny your bitter rival a trip to a bowl game.

Other Game Considered: Arkansas State @ Western Kentucky (12/3)

Sun Belt Football Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:04:13 -0400

Trojans look to defend conference title

Favored to win the Sun Belt in 2008, the Troy Trojans had some recovering to do following back-to-back losses to Ohio State and Oklahoma State. Losing starting quarterback Jamie Hampton to a torn ACL didn’t help matters either, but the Trojans rose to the challenge in conference play. QB Levi Brown stepped into Hampton’s role and excelled, throwing for 2,030 yards and fifteen touchdowns in eight starts. For his efforts the Richmond transfer was named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, and his return is one of the reasons why Troy is favored to repeat as league champion.

Brown (or the recovered Hampton) will have with him one of the best receivers in the Sun Belt in senior Jerrell Jernigan, who amassed 868 yards on seventy-seven receptions. Jernigan is versatile as well, finishing second on the team in rushing in 2008 as well. Running back DuJuan Harris returns as well, looking to post a second consecutive season of at least 1,000 yards rushing. Just like Jernigan, Harris is a versatile offensive threat, finishing third on the team in receptions in 2008.

Defensively the Trojans return just five starters, but this is a very talented unit that should give league foes fits. Senior defensive end Cameron Sheffield was a First Team All-Sun Belt selection last season, as was middle linebacker Boris Lee. Jorrick Calvin is the lone returning starter in the secondary, but plenty of the options at Coach Blakeney’s disposal have game experience. The conference slate also works in their favor, with each of the other predicted contenders having to visit Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium. Another trip to the New Orleans Bowl is within the Trojans’ grasp.

Florida Atlantic made even more of a comeback than the Trojans last season, bouncing back from a 1-5 start to eventually become the first school in conference history to win consecutive bowl games. QB Rusty Smith seems to have been at FAU for the better part of a decade, and his experience will enhance an offense that returns eight starters. Defensively head coach Howard Schnellenberger has to replace eight starters, including all three linebackers and their top six tacklers from 2008.

Frantz Joseph racked up an amazing 154 tackles at the middle linebacker spot, and he leaves a very large hole for someone to fill. The lack of starting experience on defense puts a little more pressure on the offense to score points, but outside of trips to Nebraska and South Carolina their schedule sets up for another run at a conference title.

Steve Roberts and company could be in position to make a run at the Sun Belt title with fourteen starters back in Jonesboro. QB Corey Leonard is well on his way to becoming the school’s all-time leader in a number of passing categories, and it’ll help matters that the Red Wolves are experienced at running back and wide receiver. Defensively ASU welcomes back defensive end Alex Carrington, who racked up 10.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss on his way to becoming Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Seven of the Red Wolves’ top nine tacklers from 2008 will be back this season.

Rick Stockstill’s Middle Tennessee team could be on the verge of a special season with seventeen starters back, including ten on offense. They’ll have to make up for the production lost due to the graduation of QB Joe Craddock. RB Phillip Tanner led the team in rushing and new quarterback Dwight Dasher, has some game experience, will have at his fingertips a very talented and experienced group of receivers. Defensively the Blue Raiders return seven starters led by leading tackler MLB Danny Carmichael. Middle Tennessee ranked third in the Sun Belt in total defense last season while its offense was only sixth. Those rankings could be reversed in 2009.

Louisiana-Lafayette has to replace some of the most prolific players in school history, most notably RB Tyrell Fenroy, the 2008 Sun Belt Player of the Year. Also gone is quarterback Michael Desormeaux, meaning that head coach Ricky Bustle will need to find suitable replacements to make up the 2,500-plus rushing yards those two combined for last season. All five starters on the offensive line return led by left guard Brad Bustle and center Chris Fisher.

Defensively the Ragin’ Cajuns welcome back nine starters. But when you ranked eighth in rush defense and seventh in pass efficiency defense cynics there is room for improvement. Defensive end Hall Davis and linebacker Daylon McCoy will lead the way for a unit that will have to pick up the slack for an offense that’s replacing its two best weapons.

The FIU Golden Panthers weren’t in the news much during the summer, due in large part to the hiring of Isiah Thomas as men’s basketball coach. But it wouldn’t be wise to sleep on Mario Cristobal’s team, which made significant strides in 2008 (improving their win total by four games from 2007). The next step is bowl eligibility, something that could have been achieved if not for close losses to Louisiana-Monroe and Florida Atlantic in November. The Golden Panthers return ten starters on offense, led by quarterback Pail McCall. However FIU will need to replace their top two rushers from 2008, but a running game that finished dead last in the Sun Belt would have needed revamping anyway.

Louisiana-Monroe returns sixteen starters, eight on each side of the football. Head coach Charlie Weatherbie will likely look to junior Trey Revell to start at quarterback. Kinsmon Lancaster was a capable dual-threat quarterback in 2008, passing for just over 2,000 yards while rushing for another 800 yards. Defensively the Warhawks have plenty of experience with their top five tacklers from last season all back, led by middle linebacker Cardia Jackson (127 tackles). Look for the ULM lines to be solid with four starters back on the offensive line and all three back on the defensive line. But will a team that finished seventh in the conference in total offense last season produce enough points to improve upon their win total (four)? That remains to be seen.

North Texas and Western Kentucky will bring up the rear, with the Hilltoppers playing their first season as a football member of the Sun Belt. WKU went through a trial run last season, playing five Sun Belt teams in a 2-10 campaign (both wins came against FCS competition). Six starters return to a defense that gave up 200 yards or more on the ground in five games and at least 150 in two more contests. Senior inside linebacker Blake Boyd will have to lead that unit, and an offense that struggled mightily last season has to replace quarterback David Wolke. The good news is that contributors return at both running back and wide receiver, and the offensive line returns four starters. But the Hilltoppers will go through some serious growing pains.

North Texas’ lone win came against WKU, and unfortunately for head coach Todd Dodge the success he enjoyed at Southlake (Texas) Carroll hasn’t followed him to the collegiate ranks. The quarterback position had a lot to do with last season’s 1-11 mark, but the presence of redshirt freshman Riley Dodge could make a difference. Let’s just say that the coach’s son should have a solid grasp of the offensive system. Running back Cam Montgomery (928 rushing yards, 9 TDs) returns, as does the entire starting offensive line.

On defense the Mean Green welcomes back six starters to a unit had a really hard time last season. North Texas finished 2008 last in the Sun Belt in total defense and turnover margin…yet the Mean Green ranked fourth in time of possession. Defensive coordinator Gary DeLoach will need his defense to improve its efficiency, which will be helped by their improved performance along with the offense not turning the ball over as often.

Storyline: Can Troy repeat? They’ll face stiff tests from Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and Arkansas State but it’s a definite possibility.

Players of the Year: QB Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic) and LB Boris Lee (Troy)

How they’ll finish

1. Troy

2. Florida Atlantic

3. Arkansas State

4. Middle Tennessee

5. FIU

6. ULM

7. Louisiana-Lafayette

8. North Texas

9. Western Kentucky

Next: Sun Belt Ultimate Schedule