Sun Belt Conference preview

A team-by-team glance at the Sun Belt heading into the 2009-10 season.

(In CBSSports.com predicted order of finish)

East Division

1. Western Kentucky

Few programs in the nation, much less the Sun Belt Conference or at any other mid-major school, can top Western Kentucky's rich history and tradition: 41 conference titles, 21 NCAA appearances, one Final Four (1971) and the Sweet 16 just two years ago.

Exit the 2008-09 Sun Belt Player of the Year, Orlando Mendez-Valdez. Enter the preseason pick to be the 2009-10 Player of the Year, A.J. Slaughter.

It's business as usual at WKU, where four regulars and five of the top six scorers are back from a team that reached the second round of the NCAAs for the second year in a row.

It's a potentially scary proposition for Sun Belt opponents, but second-year coach Ken McDonald also has the top-rated recruiting class in the conference, and may be deeper than last year.

"I think there's probably a bit more excitement around the team on paper, for whatever reason, with returning guys, new guys and the system in place," McDonald said. "So there's a lot of things, momentum-wise, hopefully, we can capitalize on.

"Last year we basically played six guys, we stayed away from injury and we made it work. This year, with a more talented group, the challenge is keeping everybody happy. Guys are here to play."

Slaughter led the Hilltoppers in scoring last season with 16.0 points per game.

The top three rebounders, including two more double-figure scorers, also return. Juniors Steffphon Pettigrew (12.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Sergio Kerusch (11.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg) are back, as is 6-9 senior Jeremy Evans (8.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg), who also blocked two shots per game.

Most preseason polls once again tab Western Kentucky as the favorite in the Sun Belt.

2. Troy

Good guard play, as Dick Vitale and virtually every other college basketball analyst preaches, is crucial to any team's success.

Few mid-majors, and, perhaps, no one in the Sun Belt, can boast a more experienced and productive group of guards than the Troy trio of Brandon Hazzard, Richard Delk and Michael Vogler. The three veterans earned First, Second and Third-Team All Sun Belt honors, respectively, last season.

The Trojans expect to contend in the Sun Belt with four returning starters and Yamene Coleman, a transfer from Alabama who can fill a void inside.

An All-Sun Belt pick, Hazzard is a deadly 3-point shooter and led the Trojans in scoring last season, averaging 16.2 points per game. Hazzard, who shot nearly 45 percent from 3-point range as a junior last season, is a career 43.2 percent shooter from deep.

"The thing that makes Brandon a special shooter is that he shoots such a high percentage," Troy head coach Don Maestri said. "A lot of guys make a lot of 3-pointers, but their percentage is low. Brandon is special because he shoots at a high percentage."

At 6-9 and 230 pounds, Coleman brings much-needed size to the Troy lineup. He averaged nearly four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes per game for Alabama last year. He joins Bernard Toombs, who sat out last season with an injury, to provide the Trojans a solid presence in the low post.

3. South Alabama

South Alabama is not exactly starting from scratch this season, but it's close.

Player introductions will be a preseason staple and an early season requirement for the Jaguars. Only four lettermen return, and only one of the four came close to being a full-time regular last year.

South Alabama has 10 newcomers, and the Jaguars probably need significant contributions from as many as four or five of them.

South Alabama won 23 games last season and reached the Sun Belt finals, where it lost to Western Kentucky. Any hopes of extending a streak of four consecutive, 20-win seasons, rest with a practically new team.

The Jaguars lost their top three scorers, Domonic Tilford, Brandon Davis and DeAndre Coleman, who combined for 40 points and nearly 20 rebounds a game. The most experienced returnees, forward LaShun Watson and guard Bryan Sherrer, combined for 32 starts last season. Big men Philip Tabet and Charles Tabet combined for just 4.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in limited playing time.

Those four have to show the way, says USA coach Ronnie Arrow, while the team breaks in its many newcomers.

"The guys back from last year are going to be very important," Arrow said. "Philip would have played more last year if we wouldn't have had such good inside players. He's got the most experience of anybody inside that we have returning.

"Charles didn't play much last year either, but he has to step up. It's time for him to become a vital player for us. Bryan (Sherrer) should have a good year. He came on late, started all four games in the (Sun Belt) tournament and is one of our best shooters. This should be a breakout year for (LaShun) Watson."

4. Middle Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State has one of the least experienced backcourts, and, led by one of the best players in the Sun Belt Conferene, one of the strongest frontcourts in the league.

Desmond Yates is one of just two returning regulars for the Blue Raiders, but the 6-7, All-Sun Belt forward is a good one to build around. Yates, who had to fill in at center last season because of injuries, shot 57.9 percent from the field and averaged 17.2 points per game.

Center Theryn Hudson, who was a medical redshirt last year, is back and adds strength to the post on both ends of the floor. His presence allows Yates to return to his natural position, power forward.

Newcomers may have to make an impact, especially in the backcourt, for MTSU to equal or improve on last year's 18-10 record. Only two guards with significant game experience return.

Junior college transfers Rod Emanuel, a 6-3 shooting guard from Santa Fe (Fla.) Community College, and James Washington, a quick, 5-11 point guard out of Indian Hills (Ia.) Community College, have a chance to play right away.

"I think both of those guys can come in and earn great minutes for us," MTSU coach Kermit Davis said. "They're both third-year guys, which I think is a plus for us, since we don't have a lot of experience at guard."

Davis is excited about his recruiting class, overall, in part because of their offseason work ethic.

"This is the best conditioned team we have begun practice with in the last four or five years," Davis said. "In something of a surprise, our new players as a whole are actually better conditioned than our returning players, and our returning players are in good shape."

5. Florida Atlantic

There are young teams. And then there is Florida Atlantic.

The Owls' preseason roster includes seven true freshmen and four sophomores. Of the four returning lettermen, just one, guard Shavar Richardson, scored in double figures in the 2008-09 season.

There are 10 newcomers, and coach Mike Jarvis is counting heavily on his 2009 recruiting class, and not just because he has to rely on them.

"This class is as good a class as I have ever been part of recruiting, and that includes some pretty good classes at Boston University, George Washington and St. John's," Jarvis said. "The reason for my optimism is the fact that we have recruited a complete team, point guard, shooting guard, small forwards, power forward, center and it's not often that you do that.

"Of course it's not often that you have to do that. We are really grateful to the fact that these young men have decided to put their trust and faith in us."

Big man Demonte Simpson (6-9, 270, who helped AAA Knoxville Bearden, Tenn., become the 26th-ranked prep team in the nation) and big guard Darren Stewart (Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Pembroke Pines, Fla.) appear to be the best of the newcomers.

All four returnees started at least 18 games, including junior forward Brett Royster, sophomore forward Chris Watson and sophomore point guard Alex Tucker

This is FAU's fourth season in the Sun Belt Conference.

6. Florida International

The hiring of basketball legend Isiah Thomas put Florida International in the national college basketball spotlight.

Thomas left the New York Knicks' front office -- he earlier served on the bench in a head-coaching capacity -- in a cloud of controversy, but he hopes to revive his coaching career by putting new life into a program that hasn't had a winning season in a decade.

His team is almost as new to the college basketball scene as Thomas, who left Indiana in 1981. Only five lettermen return, and only one of them scored in double figures last year, forward Nicola Gacsesa, who averaged exactly 10 points per game.

The defection of the 2008-09 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, 6-10 Freddy Asprilla, makes the Panthers as small as they are inexperienced. Only one player is listed over 6-6.

Gacsesa is the top returning scorer (10.0 ppg). The 6-9 senior, a native of Serbia, also hauled in 4.6 rebounds per game.

While the returnees learn Thomas' system and the new players adjust to D-I basketball, Thomas is emphasizing defense.

"Defense will be our staple," Thomas said. "We're very small so we'll have to depend on our scrappiness and tenacity. Here in college it's just a matter of expanding on the things that they've already done. It'll be new for me. My job right now is to teach and then observe, then try to piece it all together."

"I want us to be known as a tough, aggressive defensive team. We don't have a lot of size so we will have to depend on our scrappiness, our tenacity and our togetherness. I also want us to get up and down the floor and be a good offensive team."

One newcomer could provide instant offense early in the season. Junior college transfer Marvin Roberts, a 6-5 forward out of Brooklyn, was the nation's leading Juco scorer last year, averaging 29.6 points per game.

West Division

1. North Texas

The Mean Green have won at least 20 games each of the past three seasons; however, only once has that accomplishment resulted in a trip to the NCAA tournament.

With all five starters returning, several newcomers and a couple of others returning after sitting out last year, coach Johnny Jones' squad possesses both the talent and the depth required to make their second foray in the field of 65 in three years.

Josh White (5-10) is back at full strength. Even after a left wrist injury early in the year, White averaged 11.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Preseason all-conference selection Eric Tramiel is back for his senior season at forward. Tramiel earned third-team all-conference honors after averaging 12 points and 6.5 rebounds per outing last season. Tramiel also blocked 21 shots and shot nearly 58 percent from the field.

Wing Tristan Thompson (6-5, junior) is the Mean Green's best weapon from beyond the arc. Thompson connected on 37.4 percent of his 3-point tries last season.

"With the number of guys we have returning, the type of recruiting year we had and a couple guys who sat out last year that we think will have an impact on our team, we think we can have an exciting year," said Jones.

North Texas would like to increase its pace and improve upon its 77.2 points-per-game scoring average from a year ago, but also must limit opponents to less than the 74.7 points it allowed per outing last season. The Mean Green was second in the league in scoring offense, but next to last in scoring defense.

With several newcomers expected to contribute immediately, North Texas will try to force tempo even more than in previous seasons. Jones' is hoping the increase in rotation will result in a better defensive club as well.

Shannon Shorter, a 6-4 junior, comes from Paris (Texas) Junior College where he compiled 16 points and nine rebounds per game in leading his team to a top 10 ranking. Richard Thomas comes from NJCAA champion Garden City Community College. The 6-5 guard poured in nearly 14 points per game in the title run. Also on board is freshman Jacob Holmen, a long and active 6-8 forward from Whitehouse, Texas.

"We'll have some more size on the perimeter at the two and three positions which will help us become a better defensive club," Jones noted.

2. Denver

The Pioneers continue to make strides under third-year coach Joe Scott. The Pete Carill pupil and protege has improved the Pioneers' win total in each of his first two seasons. Denver even earned and won a Sun Belt Conference tournament home game for the first time.

Denver has never made an NCAA tournament appearance, but that's clearly the goal in 2009-10 with every starter returning as well as a deep and experienced bench.

Scott has stressed defense throughout his career.

His teams at Air Force were the best in the nation in scoring defense during his four years at Colorado Springs and his 2006-07 Princeton squad also led the nation in the category. Under Scott, the Pioneers have recorded two straight seasons of top 25 finishes in scoring defense.

Three starters who averaged in double figures return as does the league's top 3-point shooter from last season. The efficient offense allowed Denver to lead the Sun Belt in both field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage a year ago.

All-Sun Belt Conference first-team selection Nate Rohnert was the only player to finish amongst the league's top 15 in scoring (15.3), rebounding (5.4) and assists (4.7). He also finished in the top 10 in field goal percentage (.493), steals (1.29) and minutes played (37.0).

Forward Rob Lewis is also back after averaging 13 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Brian Stafford added over 11 points and 2.0 boards per contest. Guard Kyle Lewis and forward Justin Coughlin complete the returning starting lineup.

Redshirt sophomore Andrew Hooper shot a sizzling 46.6 percent off the bench from beyond the arc, best in the conference.

While every starter returns -- as well as three key reserves -- this is still a young Pioneer basketball team. The program has improved each year under Scott and with the amount of young talent on board, it's reasonable to expect the trend will continue.

3. Arkansas-Little Rock

The Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans won a school-record 15 Sun Belt league games in 2008-09 on their way to a West Division title and tie with NCAA second-round qualifier Western Kentucky for the overall league title.

The Trojans bade farewell to four seniors who helped UA-Little Rock to back-to-back divisional titles. With most of the rest of the league returning veteran squads, coach Steve Shields faces one of his toughest challenges in seven years on the job.

One thing that won't change is the stifling defense that awaits Trojan opponents. UA-Little Rock was second in the league in scoring defense (63.4), second in field goal defense (.402) and first in 3-point field goal defense (.319).

The defense will have to carry the load until three new starters, which could include a couple of newcomers, find their rhythm.

Senior forward Wayne Burton and junior guard Matt Mouzy are the only returning starters. The 6-8, 240-pound Burton averaged 3.4 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per contest. Mouzy led the Trojans with 73 made 3-pointers, 3-point percentage (.382) and 36 steals. The 6-footer reached double-figures 16 times last season.

Junior transfer Solomon Bozeman will be counted upon to take over the point guard position. The Magnolia, Ark., native averaged over seven points and nearly three assists per game in two seasons at South Florida. After starting in 24 of 30 games as a freshman with the Bulls, his minutes fell by nearly half as a sophomore. The 6-foot Bozeman ranks as South Florida's all-time leader in free-throw shooting (87.9 percent).

The Trojans also went international looking to replenish their roster. Also on board is 6-3 guard Alex Garcia-Mendoza from El Puerta, Mexico, 6-7 forward Marlon Louzeiro of San Luis, Brazil, 6-5 guard Nikola Cicic of Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia and 6-10 F Will Neighbour originally from Aldershot, England.

Louzerio was signed out of Midland College where he helped guide the Chaparrals to a NJCAA runner-up finish and 61-8 mark. Garcia-Mendoza comes to Little Rock from Northeaster Junior College in Colorado, where he averaged 14 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game for the Plainsmen. Garcia-Mendoza is expected to ease into one of two positions vacated by senior guards.

4. Arkansas State

Two-thirds of the way through coach John Brady's first season, the Red Wolves were 13-7 and looked like a team which could be dangerous in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

They were controlling games with physical defense and good rebounding, while doing just enough on the offensive end to make the dirty work pay off. But once the calendar flipped into February, Arkansas State just lost its way.

A 10-game losing streak culminated with a 69-62 defeat at Middle Tennessee in the Sun Belt tournament's opening round, leaving the Red Wolves with a 13-17 finish and a sour taste to what was once a good year.

All three facets of the game failed ASU down the stretch. The defense allowed more than its 64.8 per game average seven times, including 73 or more on five occasions, putting pressure on an already-challenged offense.

On the nights when the defense did enough to win, the offense failed to follow suit. The Red Wolves lost four of their last 10 games by five points or less, including consecutive games in three nights by a total of five points when they scored 57 and 50 points, respectively.

ASU even faltered on the glass, the low point coming in a Feb. 21 home loss to Denver, which not only snapped a 43-game road losing streak but out-rebounded an opponent for just the second time all year.

There is hope for improvement next season, although the team will lose four seniors, most notably solid point guard Ifeanyi Koggu. Among the returnees are leading scorer Donald Boone, as well as Daniel Bryant and inside threat Eric McKinney.

If the Red Wolves can improve their shooting -- they were a dismal 43 percent from the floor and only 68 percent at the foul line -- they have a chance to post a winning record in 2009-10.

5. Louisiana-Lafayette

Big things were expected from Louisiana-Lafayette in 2008-09. After all, the Ragin' Cajuns had virtually everybody back from their Sun Belt West championship team the year before. However, injuries and illness decimated the team and Lafayette finished fourth in the West.

Coming into the season, all eyes are on head coach Robert Lee. Lee's status wasn't resolved until two weeks after the completion of last season when the school announced he would return for a sixth season. A run at another West Division title might be required for Lee to stick around for a seventh.

It seems like forever since Lee nearly directed an upset of Louisville in the first-round of the 2005 NCAA tournament.

Eleven contributors are back including the team's three leading scorers. Nine different players that started last year are also back giving the Cajuns an experienced and veteran bench.

Chirs Gradnigo, the team's leading scorer each of the last two seasons, heads the returnees. Gradnigo averaged 13.3 points per game last year, including almost 15 per league contest.

Travis Bureau and Randell Daigle also provide scoring punch at 12.4 and 11.3 points per game respectively. Daigle is the deep threat for the Cajuns and made nearly three per game from behind the arc last season.

Returning reserves, meanwhile, accounted for 25 points per game last season.

With the decision on Lee languishing for two weeks after last season, clearly the direction of the program is in question. The question can be answered quickly and swiftly by a healthy, veteran squad. If not, a new direction will likely be charted.

6. Louisiana-Monroe

The Warhawks literally limped to six league wins and just 10 overall wins last season. The team was besieged by injuries that left them short-handed at several spots, particularly point guard.

The team's top two backcourt players were together for only the first three games of the season. As a result, ULM ranked near the bottom of the Sun Belt conference in assist/turnover ratio and turnover margin and assists.

However, optimism is high in Monroe.

All five starters return as does the team's sixth man, who may very well claim a starting assignment.

A stout recruiting class and a favorable decision by the NCAA hardship committee gives the Warhawks their best roster of talent and depth in the Orlando Early era.

Dynile Forbes sprained an ankle early last season, but came on strong down the stretch by averaging nearly 15 points per game over the final 10 contests. Forbes is best at attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line. Forbes moved into the starting lineup late in the season.

The team's scoring leader (12.3 per game), steals leader and 3-point leader, Malcolm Thomas, also returns. Thomas was ninth in the league, hitting at a 40 percent clip from beyond the arc.

ULM's top rebounder and shot blocker, Rudy Turner, is back. Turner averaged 10 points and seven rebounds last year.

The Warhawks also get former All-Sun Belt performer Tony Hooper back. Hooper played in just four games last year because of a broken foot. Hooper was granted a fifth year of eligibility, but he and ULM staff didn't know of the extra season until early July.

With a veteran squad, a move up the conference hierarchy is expected. School administrators are confident the program is turning the proverbial corner.

7. New Orleans

Head coach Joe Pasternack might have effectively saved the New Orleans basketball program from extinction when he facilitated a $1 million gift from local businessmen John Georges and former UNO standout Gabe Corchiani.

As it was, state budget cuts threatened to moth ball the once proud Privateer program. The gifts will help to offset the meager budget that was eventually approved.

Pasternack is back for his third year, an accomplishment in itself since both of his predecessors lasted just one season.

Despite losing all but three players from the most successful New Orleans team in a decade last year, Pasternack somehow managed 11 wins overall, six victories inside the Sun Belt Conference.

Three starters do return this year but none averaged as many as seven points per game last season. New Orleans will rely heavily on two star recruits and an SEC transfer.

Czech-born center Jaroslav Tyrna is the leading scorer (6.5) and rebounder (4.9) for the Privateers. The 6-10 Tyrna is a native of Prague.

Charles Carmouche (6-2) and Ejike Hart (6-8) are the other two returning starters. The duo averaged just six points and seven rebounds combined last year.

The biggest addition is that of former Georgia Bulldog Billy Humphrey. Humphrey was instrumental in leading the 'Dawgs to the 2008 SEC Tournament title with two big games in one day after a tornado in Atlanta delayed the event. Humphrey averaged 12.2 points per game for Georgia.

Jacolby Pittman, New Orleans' first three-star recruit in five years, is expected to play immediately as is late signee Devin McDonald. McDonald was set to go to Colorado State before signing with the Privateers in June.