In the world of college basketball, there are — as in most sports — a group of perennial national powers. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of the game knows the name of Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and a few others.
But there are also special spots saved in the collective public’s memory for those smaller schools coming from the ‘mid-major’ conferences that catch the nation’s attention each spring. Usually, these teams are the end result of a drawn out process. A couple of consecutive recruiting classes pans out and — after struggling early on — a senior-laden squad with plenty of experience and trust in one another surprises the larger schools in the NCAA tournament.
Sure, the Georgia Southern Eagles haven’t been to the national tournament in a quarter century or so, but there is a chance that a mid-major storm could be brewing in Statesboro.
Last season, the Eagles had to replace nearly all of its effective players from the 2014-15 campaign. Written off by most Sun Belt coaches and fans, an Eagle squad that was almost exclusively made up of freshmen and sophomores finished the regular season as one of the more explosive teams in the league.
This time around, the Eagles are still young and are still flying under the radar, as evidenced by a Sun Belt preseason poll that picked them to finish sixth. All five starters return from last season’s squad and — even if a few late leads were lost during non-conference play — Georgia Southern announced its presence with authority in its conference opener on New Year’s Eve when it sent Georgia State home with an embarrassing blowout loss.
There are still 17 more games to be played in the Sun Belt schedule and the conference figures to be as deep as it has been during the Eagles’ three-year tenure, but it appears that Georgia Southern is ready to stake its claim as one of the best.
As the conference schedule gets underway, here’s how the Statesboro Herald sees the Sun Belt going this season.
1. UT Arlington
The Mavericks were looking like the class of the Sun Belt last season until star guard Kevin Hervey tore his ACL and was lost for the season. Without their top scorer, UTA took nearly a month to figure out a new identity and was buried in the standings by the time things turned around.
Now Hervey is back in charge of the show. And while it typically takes more than a full year for athletes to fully recover from a torn knee ligament, it’s hard to argue with the Mavericks’ 2-0 start in Sun Belt play and their impressive 10-2 non-conference mark.
2. Little Rock
Last year’s regular season and tournament champs have lost a handful of players from a squad that went 30-5 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Consistently stellar play keyed the Trojans’ great year, but much was also made about the influence of first-year head coach Chris Beard. With a good amount of talent returning and another season of settling into Beard’s game plan, Little Rock has every reason to believe it can repeat as champs.
3. Georgia Southern
With nearly every member of the Eagles’ roster still an underclassman, Georgia Southern should still be in ‘growing pains’ mode. That may have been evident in failing to close out some potential early road wins, but that was overshadowed by the sheer talent that has reared its head on opponents over the last two seasons.
Tookie Brown, Mike Hughes and Ike Smith proved themselves to be a lethal three-pronged scoring threat last season. Improved frontcourt play from the Eagles has allowed the trio even more room to operate and Georgia Southern’s deepest team in years is allowing coach Mark Byington to keep players rested while still putting an imposing lineup on the floor.
4. UL Lafayette
While UT Arlington and Little Rock soaked up the preseason hype, the Ragin’ Cajuns remain one of the more solid programs in the Sun Belt, year in and year out.
UL Lafayette maintains one of the conference’s best home-court advantages in the ‘Cajundome’ and has already ripped off an 8-game winning streak this season. The Cajuns dropped their Sun Belt opener to Arkansas State, but bounced back with a win over Little Rock.
5. South Alabama
The Jaguars are looking to take the next step this season. South Alabama failed to qualify for the 2014 Sun Belt tournament, but has won first round games in each of the last two tournaments.
There is plenty to be desired out of the Jags’ offense, but they have an inside-outside duo of Ken Williams and Georgi Boyanev and a solid defensive unit.
South Alabama dropped five of its final six non-conference games before opening Sun Belt play with a narrow win over Troy.
6. Georgia State
The Panthers received a first place vote in the Sun Belt’s preseason poll, but haven’t looked the part of a title contender so far.
Two seasons ago, Georgia State used a powerful and dynamic offense to storm to both the regular season and conference tournament. Through 13 games this season, only two Panthers are averaging more than 7.5 points per game.
If Georgia State doesn’t find plenty more scoring, a good-but-not-great defense won’t be enough to contend with the top of the league.
7. Arkansas State
No Sun Belt team had a more drastic turn of events last season than Arkansas State.
The Red Wolves were tied atop league standings after dealing Little Rock its first conference loss last season before losing 12 of their final 14. The dropoff led to the dismissal of coach John Brady after eight seasons.
It appears that Arkansas State might be headed back in the right direction as the Wolves had a stellar non-conference portion of the season and are already 2-0 in Sun Belt play.
8. Coastal Carolina
As a new member of the Sun Belt, Coastal Carolina sees the possible paths before it by observing the last two schools to join in on the conference fun. Georgia Southern nearly won the league title two seasons ago while Appalachian State has yet to qualify for the Sun Belt tournament.
Competing in a solid Big South last season, the Chanticleers won 21 games and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals. Coastal struggled a bit in non-conference play, but already has a Sun Belt win to its name.
9. Troy
The Trojans have a pair of dangerous scorers in Jordon Varnado and Wesley Person.
Unfortunately for Troy, that’s about the end of its exemplary list.
The good news for the Trojans is that their season is guaranteed to be longer this time around. All 12 conference members will compete in the Sun Belt tournament in March - welcome news for a Troy team that failed to qualify in each of the previous two seasons.
The Trojans nearly got off to a good start in conference play, but lost to South Alabama by a single point in their opener.
10. Texas State
The woes continue in San Marcos.
Texas State got its football season off to a great start by pulling of an upset victory over Ohio. From there, the wheels fell off and the Bobcats skidded to a 2-10 mark while going winless in conference play.
Things might not get much better during basketball season. Texas State will again be leaning heavily on its defense as the Bobcats are averaging just 67 points per game, but are allowing just 61 — easily the best mark in the Sun Belt. The Bobcats’ defense won’t get any breaks from here on out as the conference is full of dominant scorers.
11. UL Monroe
UL Monroe used stellar size, good defense and timely shooting to clinch second place during the regular season and advancing to the Sun Belt championship game last year.
Now, it’s back to square one as four of the Warhawks’ top five scorers from last season have graduated and point guard Nick Cappola is the lone returning starter.
UL Monroe held its own in November and December, but has already dug itself an 0-2 hole in league play.
12. Appalachian State
The Mountaineers of Appalachian State are still rebuilding after entering the Sun Belt with their program in turmoil.
Thanks to academic issues, the Mountaineers weren’t even eligible to compete in the postseason two years ago. That ban was lifted for the 2015-16 campaign, but a 7-13 conference record kept them out of the field.
Optimists are looking for Appalachian to take a step forward this season, but the Mountaineers have just three wins over Division-I schools so far and are 0-2 in Sun Belt action.
By MIKE ANTHONY
manthony@statesboroherald.com
In two seasons of Sun Belt competition, the Georgia Southern women’s squad hasn’t had nearly as much fun as the men’s team.
With a loss to Georgia State last week to tip of the new conference season, the Eagles are now just 6-35 all time in Sun Belt games. Still, there is reason to be optimistic. The team’s overall win total took a step forward last season and this year’s four wins are already more than halfway to last year’s seven.
That said, some bigger, more relevant steps forward would be a welcome sight for the ladies’ squad.
Now in the second year of Kip Drown’s tenure as head coach, the Eagles appear to have more pieces in place to begin a turnaround. Angel McGowan is a dynamic guard who - now that she’s healthy - can take over games with her shooting and ability to drive. In the paint, Sierra Butler is only a junior, but is already a threat to record a double-double on any given night.
The focus is now on the rest of the Eagles.
The team’s veterans have proven that they can compete, but they are also the same players who have come up short in so many previous games. If the Eagles are to improve this season, they’ll need early contributions from freshmen and sophomores amongst a Sun Belt that is full of veteran teams.
Here’s how the Herald sees the women’s side of the Sun Belt.
1. Troy
Troy shocked the Sun Belt last season. Arkansas State looked nearly unstoppable as it rolled to a 19-1 conference record and cruised into the finals of the conference tournament, only to be shocked by No. 4 seed Troy.
And while Arkansas State was decimated by graduation following the season, Troy returns nearly everyone as it looks to add a regular season championship - and maybe another tournament title - to its resume.
2. Little Rock
The women’s side of the Sun Belt could easily turn into a battle of the Trojans and of two very different teams.
Troy likes to race up and down the court and is no stranger to hitting triple-digits while Little Rock has held 11 of its first 14 points to 60 points or fewer.
3. UT Arlington
The balance of power in the conference shifts even farther west as the Lady Mavericks look to make a leap up in the standings.
Last season, UTA was as down-the-middle as it gets, going 15-15 overall and 10-10 in Sun Belt play. With most of last year’s team returning, the Mavs could easily pick up a few extra wins this time around.
4. UL Lafayette
So far, the Lady Cajuns have ruled their state. The non-conference portion of the schedule saw UL Lafayette record wins over both Southeastern Louisiana and Louisiana Tech.
Following a 1-1 start to Sun Belt play, the Cajuns get a shot at continuing their trend as UL Monroe is next on the docket.
5. South Alabama
The Jaguars play solid defense. That said, they are just barely averaging more than 50 points per game for themselves. A tough non-conference schedule has contributed to those lean numbers, but they’ll have to improve if the Jags want to contend.
6. Texas State
Nearly halfway through the regular season schedule, Texas State sits in the middle of most important statistical categories. That earns them a spot right in the middle of the projections.
The Bobcats are solid, but not without their flaws. And with several heavyweights at the top of the Sun Belt, that won’t be enough to contend.
7. Appalachian State
Joi Jones has been filling up the scoresheet early and often for the Mountaineers. Jones has been receiving some help from Madi Story, who is averaging 11.4 points per game.
But that’s about it for Appalachian. No other team members are doing much damage in terms of scoring, rebounding or dishing out assists.
8. Arkansas State
The writing was on the wall two seasons ago. The Lady Red Wolves knew they had a juggernaut of a team, but were also aware that the 2016-17 season would be one of rebuilding.
Arkansas State currently sits at 3-11, but has managed a Sun Belt win already.
9. Georgia Southern
We’d love to be optimistic and predict a huge turnaround, but it’s hard to argue against that 6-35 Sun Belt record mentioned previously.
It’s entirely possible that — with a little more luck and team health — the Eagles could have already reached last season’s total of seven wins. On the other hand, there is still the issue of learning to finish games, as the Eagles have constantly faded late in winnable games over the last few seasons.
10. Georgia State
True, Georgia State already has a win over Georgia Southern, but that seems like business as usual. In five total meetings as conference rivals, the home team has yet to win a game.
As for the Panthers, a lack of offensive firepower will likely keep them from posing much of a threat to the rest of the Sun Belt.
11. Coastal Carolina
It’s been eight years since the Coastal Carolina ladies have been able to boast of a winning record.
That might not be changing anytime soon. The Lady Chanticleers were hammered in their inaugural Sun Belt game and currently sit at 0-2.
12. UL Monroe
The Lady Warhawks are also 0-2 in conference play. UL Monroe is just 3-11 on the season and none of those victories have come against Division-I competition.