Lou-Lafayette

Thursday Recap: Can Pittsburgh or Villanova Turn Things Around?

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:35:10 -0800

To understand the funk that Pittsburgh and Villanova are currently mired in, it may take this fact about the two teams they lost to on Thursday night. This is the first time as members of the Big East (since 2005-06 for both) that DePaul and USF have won conference games on the same night. Yes, allowing that to sink in underlines the gravity of the situation for both the Panthers and Wildcats, as both teams are in need of some answers at this point in time.

Pittsburgh, once again playing without point guard Tray Woodall, had their biggest issues show up on the defensive end in their 84-81 loss to the Blue Demons. DePaul scored 53 points and shot 59.4% from the floor in the second half to make their comeback, and point guard Brandon Young was near unstoppable with 26 points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds with just one turnover. Pittsburgh held a 50-32 edge on the boards, but when a team makes 10 of 22 from beyond the arc as DePaul did, winning on the road becomes that much tougher.

Even with all five starters scoring in double figures (Talib Zanna led the way with 16), the Panthers were in trouble for much of the night due to the issues defensively to go along with some bad decisions late. Ashton Gibbs' decision to give the foul on Young as the sophomore was attempting what would be the game-winning layup with 17.2 seconds remaining may be the most glaring mistake, but there were issues in terms of shot selection and some costly turnovers as well.

As for Villanova the situation may be even worse, as Jay Wright's team is extremely young in key areas. And youth doesn't always have to be measured by years; lack of familiarity with a new role can be just as damning for a team and that could be the case for Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek.

Cheek now has to be a feature option for the Wildcats offensively, and while he had a key role last season Wayns is being entrusted with the task of running the show without a Corey Fisher alongside him. Other than these two and Mouphtaou Yarou, Villanova is relying a lot on their youngsters, and the 74-57 loss to USF further exposed the fact that they're not ready for the Big East yet.

While Villanova was expected to be a bubble team this season, the expectations were much higher for Pittsburgh. If anything the impact of the loss of players such as Fisher and Corey Stokes (Villanova), and Brad Wanamaker, Gary McGhee and Gilbert Brown (Pittsburgh) was underestimated by those outside of the respective programs.

While many are quick to point out the fact that leagues can eat their young in conference play, it can also expose older players as well. There's still time for both teams to turn things around, but Pittsburgh and Villanova both understand that they need to do so quickly.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Indiana hangs on to beat Michigan and remain undefeated at home.
The battle between the Hoosiers and Wolverines lived up to the pregame expectations, but at the end of the contest Indiana's starting frontcourt and Victor Oladipo's defense made the difference in the 73-71 win. Christian Watford was a matchup nightmare for Michigan, scoring 25 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists, and Cody Zeller added 18, four rebounds and two blocks. By comparison, the Michigan starting frontcourt of Jordan Morgan (12 points, nine rebounds) and Evan Smotrycz (eight points) was solid but didn't have a similar impact.

As a team the Hoosiers shot 55.1% from the field and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 62.2%, well above what Michigan allowed entering the game (47.1%). Another area in which Indiana held their own was three-point shooting. Michigan did make ten, with Stu Douglass making three, but they needed twenty-four attempts to do so while Indiana made seven of their eleven attempts.

But back to Oladipo, who was given the responsibility of defending Tim Hardaway Jr. for much of the night. Hardaway Jr. led Michigan with 19 points, but he needed 19 shot attempts to do so (0-for-7 3PT). Oladipo didn't shoot well himself (2-for-10, five points) but that didn't stop him from taking care of business on the other end. There's also the matter of what Indiana's backcourt was able to do with Michigan freshman Trey Burke, who scored ten points on 4-for-15 shooting. Indiana's offense will get the headlines in many circles, but don't ignore their effort defensively.

2. Good luck making any sense of the Pac-12 this season.
Two happenings on Thursday sum up the conference: Utah won, and so did Arizona State with just six scholarship players after having to suspend three. Yeah, it's going to be a wacky year in the Pac-12, and that's not a good thing for a league that put together a 1-24 record against RPI Top 50 teams in non-conference play. My question on Twitter was a simple one, but one without a clear answer at this point in time. With so many meager non-conference resumes it may take at least 12 league wins to be a seriously discussed at-large candidate, but who can accomplish that in this conference?

The quick responses would likely yield Arizona, California and maybe Washington, but all three went on the road and lost on Thursday. Stanford? They fell at Oregon, who owns one of the two wins for road teams in the first week-plus of conference play (at Washington State last week). Oregon State, who went 0-2 against the Washington schools last week, could also be an option given their talent. But the fact that there are so many question marks is a bad thing for the Pac-12 in terms of their prospects come Selection Sunday.

Just one team remains undefeated in conference play: Colorado, who whipped the Huskies 87-69 in Boulder. But given the way things have played out thus far, the Buffaloes will likely fall against Washington State. One-bid league? Never thought it would be a serious possibility, but that could very well be the reality if a couple of teams don't rise above the rest of the conference.

3. Penn State hands Purdue a 20-point loss for their first Big Ten win of the season.
Patrick Chambers' Nittany Lions have taken their lumps, which was expected to happen given the major personnel losses from last season's NCAA Tournament team. But they gave a serious lump to Purdue on Thursday night, leading from start to finish in a 65-45 romp in Happy Valley. As a team the Boilermakers shot just 31.9% for the game, and outside of Robbie Hummel (14 points, five rebounds) Purdue starters shot 5-for-22 on the night. Tim Frazier played well for Penn State, finishing with 15 points, nine assists and five rebounds, but he wasn't the star as Billy Oliver knocked down seven of eleven three-pointers to score a game-high 21 points.

The 6'8" forward shoots 37% from beyond the arc, but this was quite the explosion for a player who had made three or more from deep in just three games this season. Purdue entered the contest with every opportunity to take care of business as a team hoping to contend for a conference title would, and they came out flat. Sometimes it takes getting drilled to remember that you can't get away with such starts.

Quick Hitters

1. No sequence summed up the night better than Louisiana-Lafayette playing the final seconds of overtime against Western Kentucky with six players on the floor. Yes, six. After nearly turning the ball over Elfrid Payton scored a layup that gave the Ragin' Cajuns a 72-70 win. According to the rules there was no way for the officials, who missed the error coming out of the timeout, to review the play and assess a technical foul (which should have been the call to begin with). There's also no way for the Sun Belt to go back and replay the final seconds, meaning that the Hilltoppers are out of luck.

2. Also in the Sun Belt, keep an eye on North Texas especially with Tony Mitchell now in the fold. Mitchell led the Mean Green to a 78-73 overtime win at South Alabama with 34 points and 16 rebounds, and if this is a harbinger of things to come this is a team that can contend to win the conference.

3. Manhattan was just seconds away from their third MAAC win, but a Dylon Cormier three from the corner gave Loyola (MD) the 61-60 win in Baltimore. Cormier was one of three Greyhounds to score 11 points while Erik Etherly added eight points, seven assists and six rebounds. George Beamon led the Jaspers with 18 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots.

4. Glen Braica's St. Francis (NY) Terriers moved to 2-1 in NEC play, beating Quinnipiac 73-72 in Brooklyn. The Terriers, who were led by Stefan Perunicic (21 points), likely won't be a contender for the league title but games like this make the difference between hosting and going on the road in the quarterfinals of the NEC Tournament. Good win for the Terriers.

5. Congratulations are in order for the Hartford Hawks, who picked up their first win of the season. Andres Torres scored 27 points and grabbed six rebounds as the Hawks beat New Hampshire 56-49 in West Hartford.

6. Wofford may not be one of the teams discussed as a contender in the SoCon, but the defending champs aren't in the business of conceding anything. Karl Cochran led four starters in double figures with 21 points as the Terriers beat College of Charleston 75-58 to move to 2-1 in league play. The Cougars made just 34.4% of their two-point shots on the night as Wofford did a good job of limiting their quality looks.

7. In the Big West, UCSB sent a message to Cal-State Fullerton in the form of a 77-64 win in their first home game since November 30th. Orlando Johnson scored 23 points and James Nunnally 18 as the Gauchos remained undefeated in league play while handing the Titans their first Big West loss. Fullerton will still be a factor in the race, but until further notice it's safe to say that UCSB and Long Beach State are the best bets to win the league.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Tony Mitchell (North Texas)
34 points and 16 rebounds in the Mean Green's 78-73 overtime win at South Alabama.

2. F Jamal Olasewere (Long Island)
29 points and 12 rebounds in the Blackbirds' 87-81 win at Sacred Heart.

3. F Rob Jones (Saint Mary's)
31 points, 12 rebounds and three steals in the Gaels' 78-72 win at San Diego.

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Louisiana-Lafayette's Dwight "Bo" Lamar

Jon Teitel — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:40:36 -0800

In the latest installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with UL Lafayette legend Dwight "Bo" Lamar. One of the most prolific scorers in NCAA history, Lamar still ranks second all-time in points scored. The one player he couldn't surpass: the great "Pistol" Pete Maravich.

Jon Teitel: Who gave you the nickname "Bo" and how do you like it?

Dwight "Bo" Lamar: I like it. My older brother was "Big Bo", so my family just called me Bo.

JT: In 1969 you averaged 18 ppg for Columbus East HS as you and teammate Ed Ratleff (a fellow future two-time All-American) led your school to a 25-0 record and won the state title. What was it like to play with Ratleff, and how was your team able to stay focused for every single game that season?

DL: It was beautiful. We had a lot of talent besides me and Ed as our entire starting five that year was good. We played a lot of good competition, which helped us keep our focus.

JT: In the semifinals of the 1970 Bayou Classic you made a half-court shot at the buzzer for a two-point win over Yale, after which the fans stormed the court and hoisted you onto their shoulders. Did you think you were going to make the shot, and where does that rank among the most clutch shots you ever made?

DL: I do not think it was from half court. It was probably only 30-40 feet away from the basket. There is not one clutch shot that stands out in my mind; I thought they were all going in!!

JT: You lost a three-point home game to Baylor during your sophomore year, then never lost another home game during the rest of your career. How close did you come to winning that game, and how big of a home-court advantage did your fans provide?

DL: That Baylor game was a close one. Our fans were the greatest, so playing at Blackman Coliseum was a big advantage.

JT: In 1971 you scored a school-record 62 points in a three-point overtime win over Northeast Louisiana. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone", and how did you have the energy left to keep scoring in OT?

DL: I do not think that it was one of my better games. Everything just fell into place. I was reliving this game with a teammate just a couple of weeks ago. I made a shot late in regulation to send it into OT, and then scored another seven points in OT.

JT: In 1971 you led all of Division II with an average of 36 ppg. Did you feel like you were the best player in the country, and what is your secret for scoring?

DL: The secret for scoring was my teammates. They had to want to give me the ball. I do not know if I was the best player in the country, but I felt like I was one of the best scoring guards. There are not too many guys who led the nation in scoring while also winning a lot of games, so I am very proud of that.

JT: What are your memories of the 1971 NCAA Division II Tournament (Lamar scored 44 points in a win over Assumption before losing to eventual champion Evansville)?

DL: I remember that we beat every #1 team in the country...but still ended up 3rd. It was a great time for Louisiana basketball, as Louisiana Tech and LSU were both rated #1 during that season.

JT: What are your memories of the 1972 NCAA Tournament (Lamar scored 35 points and had a school record (for tournament play) 11 assists in a win over Marshall, then scored 29 points on 14-for-42 FG in a four-point loss to Louisville, which is still tied for the second-most shots ever taken in a tourney game)?

DL: The Louisville game was a tough loss due to a controversial over-and-back call late in the game.

JT: What are your memories of the 1973 NCAA Tournament (Lamar scored 35 points in a win over Houston, then scored 18 in a three-point loss to Kansas State)?

DL: It was a bitter pill to swallow. We thought we had a great chance to get to the Final Four and play UCLA so we might have gotten caught napping. What I remember most is that my good friend Chuckie Williams was on the Kansas State team at the time.

JT: You averaged 29.2 PPG in your six-game tournament career, which is still in the Top 10 all-time. How were you able to play your best when it mattered the most?

DL: It is a combination of several factors: God-given talent, hard work, and good teammates/coaches.

JT: Your 3,493 career points is still second all-time in Division I history (behind only Pete Maravich). Do you consider yourself one of the best players in NCAA history and do you think anyone will ever bump you down to #3?

DL: If they have not scored 3,500 points by now with the three-point shot, I do not think they ever will. All records are made to be broken...but I do not think that anyone will ever break Pistol's record. The circumstances of the sport these days will not allow it.

JT: In the summer of 1973 you were drafted in the third round by Detroit (six spots ahead of Larry Kenon), but you ended up starting your pro career in the ABA. Why did you end up choosing the ABA over the NBA, and do you have any regrets?

DL: Hindsight is always 20/20, so if I knew back then that the ABA would fold then I definitely would have gone to Detroit. I think the ABA was just in such a hurry to merge with the NBA that they overlooked the talent they had. The NBA had a couple of great centers like Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but the ABA had a bunch of great young centers (including Moses Malone, Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel). I was told by Kentucky Colonels owner John Y. Brown that he wanted to buy a TV station to showcase our talent, and I think that if that had happened then the league would still be alive today.

JT: As a rookie in 1974 you led the ABA with 69 three pointers made and scored a team-record 50 points in a game against Indiana. How were you able to come in and contribute so quickly and what is your secret for three-point shooting?

DL: The only secret is God-given talent. We had a young team that started two other rookies in addition to me (Tim Bassett and Caldwell Jones), so I was able to play right away and learn as I went.

JT: In the 1974 ABA Western Division Semifinals you averaged 27.5 ppg in a losing effort to Utah, which was just behind Dr. J for the highest playoff average that season. Where does Dr. J rank among the best players you ever saw, and do you consider yourself one of the best scorers in ABA history?

DL: I think my three-year ABA history was too short to put myself in that category. A lot of my heroes in the ABA had great careers, guys like Steve Jones and Ron Boone. If the league would have lasted a little longer, then I would like to think that I could have been one of the best ABA scorers ever. I really like Wilt Chamberlain. He and Kareem were probably the two best players I have ever seen.

JT: In 1977 you went back to the NBA to play for the Lakers, and despite playing with NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar you ended up getting swept by the eventual champion Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. What was the biggest difference between the ABA and NBA, and where does that Portland team rank among the best you have ever seen?

DL: That Portland team was one of the best. If my teammate Kermit Washington had not gotten hurt then I think it would have been a different series.

Lamar is also on Jon's list of best fantasy players in Sun Belt history.

Arkansas State: John Dickson (1967) 1891 PTS (#2), 1139 REB (#2), 62.5 FG% (#2), 2-time All-American, conference POY

Arkansas-Little Rock: Derek Fisher (1996) 1393 PTS (#3), 472 AST (#2), 184 STL (#2), All-American, conference POY

Denver: Harry Hollines (1968) 1879 PTS (#1), 2-time All-American

Florida Atlantic: Earnest Crumbley (2004) 1559 PTS (#1), 505 AST (#1), 181 STL (#1), 286 3PM (#1), 79.2 FT% (#3)

Florida International: Dwight Stewart (1993) 2101 PTS (#1), 806 REB (#2), 264 AST (#2), 128 BLK (#1), 172 STL (#3)

UL Lafayette: Dwight "Bo" Lamar (1973) 3493 PTS (#1), 520 AST (#4), 3-time All-American, conference POY

UL Monroe: Calvin Natt (1979) 2581 PTS (#1), 1285 REB (#1), 57.4 FG% (#4), 3-time All-American, conference POY

Middle Tennessee State: Kerry Hammonds (1989) 1616 PTS (#3), 955 REB (#2)

North Texas: Kenneth Lyons (1983) 2291 PTS (#1), 1095 REB (#1), 2-time All-American

South Alabama: Jeff Hodge (1989) 2221 PTS (#1), 461 AST (#2), 223 STL (#2), All-American, conference POY

Troy: Anthony Reed (1990) 1875 PTS (#1), 913 REB (#3), 149 STL (#5), 57.9 FG% (#2), All-American

Western Kentucky: Jim McDaniels (1971) 2238 PTS (#1), 1118 REB (#4), 3-time All-American, 2-time conference POY

Sun Belt Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:41:07 -0800

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: Who Will Win the Sun Belt Conference?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:57:53 -0700

The Ultimate Schedule: Sun Belt

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:07:24 -0700

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 20:04:37 -0700

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

Sun Belt Conference Tournament: Preview & Prediction

Evan Dorey — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:14:01 -0800

This is one in a series of conference tournament previews, in which I run down all the teams involved, give a brief statistical review and present the log5 projections, using in-conference offensive and defensive efficiency. The basic log5 methodology comes from Bill James, and this is an area Ken Pomeroy has looked at in the past as well. I claim nothing new in the application, but obviously with slightly different methodologies, these numbers may differ from others you find. I don’t claim to be an expert on any particular conference, and I’m sure there are some mis-characterizations on some players I’ve seen sparingly at best, so please add your thoughts in the comments. Anyway, with no further ado, the preview follows below:

Sun Belt Conference Tournament

The Sun Belt is a bit odd with it’s 13 team setup, with the first three seeds getting a bye from the first round, which is played at campus sites, then the remainder of the games played in Hot Springs, AR, which, as far as I know, is a relatively neutral site.

Tournament Odds

#	Team	QF	SF	F	W
1	Western Kentucky	100.00%	90.49%	75.07%	55.40%
2	Arkansas Little Rock	100.00%	65.40%	41.27%	17.21%
3	Troy	100.00%	61.10%	27.52%	9.23%
4	North Texas	93.35%	58.60%	14.54%	6.11%
5	Middle Tennessee	71.43%	29.94%	5.46%	1.74%
6	South Alabama	90.37%	37.68%	13.99%	3.83%
7	Denver	91.25%	33.76%	16.96%	5.25%
8	Louisiana Lafayette	73.45%	7.57%	2.78%	0.70%
9	Florida International	26.55%	1.94%	0.56%	0.11%
10	Louisiana Monroe	8.75%	0.85%	0.13%	0.01%
11	New Orleans	9.63%	1.22%	0.13%	0.01%
12	Arkansas St.	28.57%	10.22%	1.52%	0.40%
13	Florida Atlantic	6.65%	1.24%	0.07%	0.01%

The Hilltoppers are pretty clear favorites, but beyond that there’s a lot of parity, with several teams having a solid chance of advancing. Arkansas St. look like the main lower ranked team that could cause some trouble.

#1 – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (21-8, 15-3) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.169

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2008 (Sweet Sixteen)

After making a great run in the NCAA tournament last season, the Hilltoppers seemed poised to give it a another shot, after an excellent season that including beating a highly-ranked Louisville team. WKU features the Sun Belt’s best offense; a group that makes a pretty good percentage of its shots, but really shines on the offensive glass, where it pulls down a lot of misses and generates a lot of extra opportunities. It also has a pretty solid defense, again predicated on rebounds and defending the inside.

Players to watch:

6-1 SR Orlando Mendez-Valdez, 14.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 58.6 eFG% - Mendez-Valdez became the first Hilltopper to record a triple double earlier this season, and while that was clearly a career game, he’s definitely capable of filling up those columns in the boxscore. His real strength, though, is his three-point shot, the best on the team, and when he gets it going he can put up a lot of points quickly.

6-3 JR A.J. Slaughter, 15.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 51.2 eFG% - Slaughter leads the Hilltoppers in scoring, and while his percentages aren’t as good as Mendez-Valdez’s, he’s a good player who shoots effectively and doesn’t make many mistakes.

#2 – Arkansas Little Rock Trojans (22-7, 15-3) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.094

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1990 (1^st Round)

The Trojans had a very solid non-conference season, including beating Creighton and Oral Roberts, and keeping it reasonably close with Memphis. Little Rock has the strongest defense in the conference, holding opponents to under 40% from the field. It’s equally good inside and outside, and does enough in the other areas to keep its opponents’ offense under wraps. With the ball, the Trojans are only average, a good inside scoring team that gets to the free throw line a lot, but really struggles with turnovers.

Players to watch:

6-4 SR John Fowler, 10.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG,50.0 eFG% - Fowler is notable because he is one of the nation’s best players at getting to the free-throw line, putting up a FTA/FGA ratio of nearly 80%. He leads the team in rebounding, but isn’t really a force on the inside.

6-7 SR Shane Edwards, 11.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 51.2 eFG% - Edwards is second in scoring and rebounding for the Trojans, and is an effective forward, shooting over 50% from two, but really doing poorly with his three-point shots.

#3 – Troy Trojans (19-11, 14-4) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.066

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2003 (1^st Round)

Troy had a bad start to the season, but turned it around in 2009, going 14-3 since January 1^st. It’s managed this with a smart perimeter game, shooting over 40% from behind the arc, and rarely turning the ball over. The Trojans have cost themselves a lot of this success with some weak defensive play, forcing a lot of turnovers, but allowing opponents to make shots pretty easily, especially from three, and doing a poor job on the defensive glass.

Players to watch:

6-1 JR Michael Vogler, 10.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 51.7 eFG% - Vogler leads the Sun Belt in steals and assists, and when you consider that he holds onto the ball well, and is a pretty good shooter, he’s the kind of guy who can generate a lot of useful possessions.

6-4 JR Richard Delk, 13.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 54.6 eFG% - Most of Delk’s value comes from his scoring; he’s not a major contributor in other parts of the boxscore, but he can have some big scoring games and is one of the team’s more effective two-point shooters.

#4 – North Texas Mean Green (18-11, 11-7) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.043

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2007 (1^st Round)

The Mean Green run one of the faster paces in the Sun Belt, but manage to maintain a pretty efficient offense, despite not making a lot of shots. The reason they can do this is free throws: North Texas gets to the line as often as any team in the nation, and a pretty good 73% mark from the stripe earns them a lot of points. A problem is that they send opponents to the line pretty often themselves, being the worst team in the league at fouling. Opponents take very few threes against the Mean Green, but with given that they make 50% of twos, there’s not much reason to be tempted into the outside shot.

Players to watch:

6-7 JR Eric Tramiel, 12.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 59.9 eFG% - Tramiel’s raw numbers don’t really strike you that strongly, but he’s a very interesting player, leading the team in rebounding and shooting 59% from the floor. He also doesn’t turn the ball over much, and gets to the free throw line quite often. If he could get his free throw percentage up from 62%, he’d be that much more of an offensive threat.

5-10 JR Dominique Johnson, 10.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 50.0 eFG% - Johnson is a really effective guard, not a primary scoring option, but a good ball distributor who leads the team in steals, and shoots 39% from behind the arc and 86% from the free throw line.

#5 – Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (17-13, 10-8) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.003

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1989 (2^nd Round)

After a 5-0 start to the Sun Belt season, Middle Tennessee fell off somewhat, ending up in 5^th place, and getting the toughest draw of the opening round in Arkansas St. I’ll credit the Raiders with managing to de-emphasize their weaknesses: they are the conference’s worst three-point shooters, but tend to focus on getting the ball inside a lot. When you combine good inside shooting with great ball control, they are actually a decently efficient team, but not posing a serious danger from long distance somewhat limits them. Defensively, they depend on holding opponents to just one shot a possession, a plan that doesn’t really work out when you let them make as high a percentage as MTSU does.

Players to watch:

6-7 JR Desmond Yates, 17.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 61.9 eFG% - Desmond Yates is a really solid inside scorer, and the primary offensive focal point for Middle Tennessee. He’s shot nearly 60% from the field on more than 350 attempts, and his three-point shooting, while modest for most teams, is among the best on the Raiders.

6-4 SR Kevin Kanaskie, 12.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 48.7 eFG% - Kanaskie enters the tournament on a major roll, averaging more than 16 points in his last five games, and he’ll need to keep that up for MTSU to make a run. Interestingly, his assists have gradually decreased since the start of the season, and he hasn’t reached his average of four in more than a month.

#6 – South Alabama Jaguars (17-12, 10-8) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.034

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2008 (1^st Round)

After winning the tournament last season as the #1 seed, the Jaguars will be hard-pressed to repeat, though their average level offense and defense mean they don’t have a glaring weakness to cover. They tend to pound the ball inside, good offensive rebounders who get to the free throw line often, but a 65% rate once they get there results in a lot of wasted shots. South Alabama plays at a slow pace, which lets it defend well, especially from inside the arc, but results in one of the nation’s worst turnover rates. It also is vulnerable to teams that take a lot of long-distance shots, and can potentially find itself shot out of the game.

Players to watch:

6-6 SR Brandon Davis, 13.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 60.8 eFG% - Davis doesn’t lead the team in points or rebounds, but that’s more about the size of his role than the quality of his play. He’s a 61% shooter from the floor who can crash the boards effectively on both ends, and is a big double-double threat. His main problem is staying out of foul trouble; when he does, he’s easily the most efficient offensive player on the floor.

6-7 SR DeAndre Colman, 11.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 55.6 eFG% - Colman is second in the conference in rebounding, and has one of the best defensive rebounding rates in the country. He’s somewhat inconsistent as a scorer, but his play on the glass should not be underestimated in its importance to the Jaguars.

#7 – Denver Pioneers (14-15, 9-9) ; Efficiency Margin: +0.052

Last NCAA Tournament bid: None

Denver is a team I’ve followed in boxscores on and off all season, thanks to its incredibly striking statistical profile. The Pioneers play the slowest brand of basketball in the nation, and it pays off, as they are the country’s most efficient shooting team. They take most of their shots from three, where they hit a solid 38%, but their 58% on shots from two is what’s really eye-catching. There’s a price to their speed, however, as they are a relatively poor team with turnovers and are country’s worst rebounders. Defensively, the Denver system isn’t as effective; it struggles to defend the interior, and commits a lot of fouls. Still, this is a team that’s somewhat better than its record might suggest, and can cause some difficult matchups. With the Pioneers having one of the nation’s least experienced rosters, this year should be a good learning experience for a team that should improve in seasons to come.

Players to watch:

6-5 JR Nate Rohnert, 15.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 55.1 eFG% - Rohnert leads the Pioneers in points, rebounds, assists and steals, and plays more minutes than anyone in the Sun Belt. As one of the more interior oriented Pioneers, his 58% shooting percentage from inside is one of the main reasons Denver leads the nation from two-point range.

6-7, SO Rob Lewis, 12.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 56.7 eFG% - Lewis is the second half of Denver’s interior duo, and has the team’s best rebounding rate. He takes too many threes, where his percentage is not very good, but like Rohnert is a high percentage player inside the arc.

#8 – Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (10-19, 7-11) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.026

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2005 (1^st Round)

There’s an interesting shift now that we’ve reached the #8 seed: all of the top 7 teams average more than a point per possession offensively, and all the teams from 8 and below, including Louisiana-Lafayette, average less. The bright spot for the Cajuns is a league average defense that protects the inside really well, but gets torched from behind the arc. An interesting tidbit about the Cajun offense is that it has one of the lowest blocked shot rates in the country, but doesn’t shoot particularly well inside.

Players to watch:

6-7 SO Travis Bureau, 12.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 53.4 eFG% - Bureau is an outside-oriented 6-7 player, taking the majority of his shots from behind the arc. His scoring has tailed off precipitously in recent weeks, and he will need to reverse that trend for the Cajuns to succeed.

6-8 JR Tyren Johnson, 6.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 43.8 eFG% - Johnson is the team’s best rebounder and shot-blocker, but should be discouraged from shooting, especially from behind the arc.

#9 – Florida International Golden Panthers (12-19, 7-11) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.060

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1995 (1^st Round)

The Panthers will likely rue the fact that they missed out on hosting a first round game, as they have won just two road games all season, both against teams ranked below them in conference. FIU’s offense is decent, with good long-distance shooting covering for some big problems with turnovers and free throws. The defense is a major problem, though, not getting many stops or getting opponents to give up the ball.

Players to watch:

6-3, SR Alex Galindo, 15.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 53.2 eFG% - Galindo missed a lot of time with an ankle injury, but showed few signs of rust on his return, leading the team in scoring. He’s a prolific three-point shooter who really added another dimension to the team when he was re-inserted in the line-up.

6-10, FR Freddy Asprilla, 14.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 53.7 eFG% - Asprilla is the kind of freshman that you should keep your eye on, as he’s become a critical player for the Panthers early in his college career. He’s the Sun Belt’s leading rebounder, despite missing a month in the middle of the conference season, and starting just 12 games on the year. He’s raw, there can’t be any doubt of that, just a 45% free-throw shooter who doesn’t assert himself defensively with shot-blocks, but there are few players in the country as dominant on the glass as Asprilla has been.

#10 – Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (10-19, 6-12) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.099

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1996 (1^st Round)

The Warhawks had tough season, going through a few bad losing spells and having a lot of trouble on both ends of the floor. They are pretty good three-point shooters, but their abysmal 41% shooting from two basically sinks their offensive hopes. Defensively, there’s not much they do particularly well, with opponents scoring seemingly at will inside, and Monroe not being able to get back the ball often enough when its opponents do miss.

Players to watch:

6-8 SO Rudy Turner, 10.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 51.4 eFG% - Rudy Turner does a lot of good work inside, an effective shot blocker and an excellent offensive rebounder. His 51% from the field is easily the team’s highest, but his foul trouble limits his minutes.

6-6 JR Malcolm Thomas, 12.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 46.9 eFG% - Thomas has had a sort-of ebb-and-flow approach to his season, putting up some big performances at the start of the conference schedule, then going through a lean stretch before building back up in his last few games. He shoots about the same percentage from two and from three, but takes most of his shots inside, which results in a lot of misses.

#11 – New Orleans Privateers (11-18, 6-12) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.100

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1996 (1^st Round)

It’s pretty tough to find a team that’s as bad a group of shooters as the Privateers: they’ve shot just 27% from behind the arc and 64% from the free throw line. They do better inside the arc, and most of their shots come from there, but they also place near the bottom of the league in turnovers and offensive rebounding. New Orleans’ defense is better than a lot of teams in the league, but it can’t make up for the offensive problems, despite leading the conference in forcing turnovers.

Players to watch:

6-3 SR Kyndall Dykes, 17.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 49.4 eFG% - The 3^rd leading scorer in the conference, Dykes has been on fire of late, averaging well over 20 points in his last four games, and shooting 55% from the field, though with just a handful of three attempts.

6-4 SR T.J. Worley, 16.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 50.1 eFG% - Worley is the only player on the Privateers to shoot higher than 50% eFG, which is mostly powered by solid two-point shooting, as his long distance shot is somewhat spotty. Most of his contribution comes in points, and he’s a good outside option when compared with the more inside-oriented Dykes.

#12 – Arkansas St. Red Wolves (13-16, 5-13) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.020

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1999 (1^st Round)

Arkansas St. is one of the most interesting teams I’ve profiled, entering the tournament on a nine-game losing streak, but actually ranked seventh by efficiency margin, and one of the least lucky teams in the nation, according to Ken Pomeroy. The Red Wolves boast one of the conference’s better defenses, with good offensive rebounding and strong interior defense being the keys. Their offense is the conference’s second worst, and is particularly bad inside, where most of its shots come from, but they’ve more often then not been able to keep opponents close. From a pure points margin stand, Arkansas St. is eight games below .500, while scoring just two less points per game than they allow, a surprising statistic. The numbers say that this team is the best chance for a surprise semi-finalist, but it’s hard to see them snapping their losing streak with a long tournament run.

Players to watch:

6-8 JR Eric McKinney, 8.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 54.9 eFG% - McKinney is a solid player, and while he doesn’t often explode for a big point total, when he does get offensive chances he takes them pretty effectively. He’s the team’s best rebounder and a very good shot-blocker, and an efficient offensive option inside.

6-5 JR Donald Boone, 13.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 49.5 eFG% - The Wolves’ leading scorer, Boone is also second in the Sun Belt in steals, and is one of the best three-point shooters on the team. He’s a decent inside shooter as well, and while his percentages aren’t spectacular, they’re just good enough for him to be efficient.

#13 – Florida Atlantic Owls (6-25, 2-16) ; Efficiency Margin: -0.137

Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2002 (1^st Round)

Florida Atlantic is by a wide margin the worst defensive team in the conference, allowing opponents to score pretty easily. The Owls do defend the outside shot well, but the fact that they still put up such a poor defensive record is a testament to their inability to force turnovers and their trouble stopping opponents inside. Their offense doesn’t really cover for the defense much, as you’d expect from a cellar-dwelling team.

Players to watch:

6-5 SR Paul Graham, 18.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 45.4 eFG% - It takes the conference’s worst team to produce the conference’s top scorer, but unlike what you sometimes see with bad teams, Graham is both the centerpiece of the offense and an effective player. His shooting from the field isn’t particularly good, but he’s an excellent free throw shooter, and rarely turns the ball over, considering how often he touches it.

6-8 SO Brett Royster, 7.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.4 BPG, 56.5 eFG% - The Sun Belt’s top shot-blocker also plys his trade for the conference’s punching bag, and is a pretty effective player, shooting well over 50%, getting to the line a lot, and being a solid rebounder. He’s not utilized much in the offense, but he’s been a better option than a lot of players who have taken more shots.

My statistical all-Sun Belt team:

Denver JR G/F Nate Rohnert, 15.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 55.1 eFG%

Western Kentucky SR G Orlando Mendez-Valdez, 14.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.2 SPG, 58.6 eFG%

Western Kentucky JR G A.J. Slaughter, 15.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 51.2 eFG%

South Alabama SR F Brandon Davis, 13.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 60.8 eFG%

Middle Tennessee JR F Desmond Yates, 17.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 61.9 eFG%

Sun Belt Tournament: Pairings & Schedule

Press Release — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:26:55 -0800

Sun Belt Conference Announces Men's Basketball Championship Seeds and Pairings

NEW ORLEANS - WKU, UALR and Troy have earned the top three seeds in the upcoming 2009 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Championship, set to begin this week. The trio will receive first-round byes and will await their opponents in the quarterfinals in Hot Springs, Ark.

This year's tournament begins with five first-round games at campus sites on Wednesday, March 4 and then moves to Hot Springs for quarterfinal, semifinal and championship competition at Summit Arena, March 8-11. All Sun Belt Conference tournament games in Hot Springs will be broadcast on SBC Extra via SunBeltSports.org. The men's semifinals will be broadcast on ESPN Plus and the finals will be aired live on ESPN2. Additionally, all of the action in Hot Springs can be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Tie-breaking procedures were utilized to seed this year's tournament field, as both Middle Tennessee and South Alabama were tied for the fifth-seed. In a two-way tie, first the head-to-head records were taken in account; however, the two teams split their regular season series this season, therefore, remaining equal. Then, their records against the top seeds were used, beginning with the WKU. Both teams have the same winning percentage against WKU and UALR, yet the Blue Raiders did defeat No. 3 Troy once this season, while South Alabama dropped both contests. Middle Tennessee then becomes the fifth-seed and South Alabama is the sixth-seed.

Louisiana-Lafayette and Florida International also tied with identical 7-11 records. However, the Ragin' Cajuns defeated the Golden Panthers in the only meeting between the two teams. The Cajuns therefore take the eighth-seed and FIU is the ninth-seed.

New Orleans and Louisiana-Monroe also tied with 6-12 records; however the Warhawks defeated the Privateers in both meetings between the two teams. ULM therefore earns the tenth-seed and UNO earns the eleventh-seed.

For only the third time in the Sun Belt Conference's 33-year storied history, the league will play its Men's and Women's Basketball Championships at a neutral site. A total of 16 teams -- eight men and eight women -- will qualify to travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Teams will gather at Summit Arena to vie for not only the conference tournament crown, but for the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as well. Not since the 1992 and 1993 seasons has the Sun Belt Conference aligned itself with a neutral venue. During those two years, the league championships were played at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.

STANDINGS

1. WKU (15-3, .833)

2. UALR (15-3, .833)

3. Troy (14-4, .778)

4. North Texas (11-7, .611)

5. Middle Tennessee (10-8, .556)

6. South Alabama (10-8, .556)

7. Denver (9-9, .500)

8. Louisiana-Lafayette (7-11, .389)

9. Florida International (7-11, .389)

10. Louisiana-Monroe (6-12, .333)

11. New Orleans (6-12, .333)

12. Arkansas State (5-13, .278)

13. Florida Atlantic (2-16, .111)

MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

First Round - Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - Campus Sites

No. 9 Florida International at No. 8 Louisiana-Lafayette (Lafayette, La.)

No. 13 Florida Atlantic at No. 4 North Texas (Denton, Texas)

No. 12 Arkansas State at No. 5 Middle Tennessee (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)

No. 11 New Orleans at No. 6 South Alabama (Mobile, Ala.)

No. 10 Louisiana-Monroe at No. 7 Denver (Denver, Colo.)

Quarterfinals - Sunday, March 8, 2009 - Summit Arena

12:30 p.m. - Game 1 - No. 1 WKU vs. No. 8/9

3:00 p.m. - Game 2 - No. 4/13 vs. No. 5/12

6:30 p.m. - Game 3 - No. 2 UALR vs. No. 7/10

9:00 p.m. - Game 4 - No. 3 Troy vs. No. 6/11

Semifinals - Monday, March 9, 2009 - Summit Arena

6:30 p.m. - Game 5 - Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner (ESPN+)

9:00 p.m. - Game 6 - Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner (ESPN+)

Finals - Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - Summit Arena

9:00 p.m. - Championship Game (ESPN2)

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the Sun Belt?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:02:15 -0800

Sun Belt Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:51:49 -0800

Conference Rank: 18th

Conference Page

All-Sun Belt Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Josh White	North Texas	So
G	Dominic Tilford	So. Alabama	Sr
F	Desmond Yates	MTSU	Jr
F	Alex Galindo	Florida Int'l	Sr
F	Carlos Monroe	Florida Atlantic	Sr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Carlos Monroe Desmond Yates		Points: Desmond Yates 16.0 Rebounds: Carlos Monroe 9.5 Assists: Kevin Kanaskie 3.3

Sun Belt Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

79	South Alabama	Sun Belt	1	NCAA
95	Middle Tenn St	Sun Belt	2
123	West Kentucky	Sun Belt	3
175	Ark Little Rock	Sun Belt	4
191	LA Lafayette	Sun Belt	5
201	North Texas	Sun Belt	6
213	Florida Intl	Sun Belt	7
231	Florida Atlantic	Sun Belt	8
241	Denver	Sun Belt	9
247	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	10
264	New Orleans	Sun Belt	11
280	LA Monroe	Sun Belt	12
307	Troy	Sun Belt	13

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

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

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Rise & Fall: The Sun Belt