South Alabama menâs basketball picked 6th in Sun Belt
South Alabama is picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Conference in men’s basketball this season, according to voting by league coaches released Monday.
Richie Riley’s Jaguars — who finished 19-16 and were Sun Belt Conference tournament runners-up a year ago — received two first-place votes and 129 overall points, placing them behind James Madison (7; 176), Appalachian State (2; 159), Old Dominion (1; 154), Southern Miss (148) and Louisiana (2; 136). Marshall (119) was picked seventh, followed by Troy (91), Arkansas State (84), Texas State (72), Georgia State (69), Coastal Carolina (59), Georgia Southern (42) and Louisiana-Monroe (32).
Also announced Monday were the preseason All-Sun Belt teams. Southern Miss guard Austin Crowley was named Preseason Player of the Year, in addition to picking up a spot on the first team. Crowley — who averaged 16 points per game a year ago — is joined on the first team by James Madison guard Terrence Edwards, Appalachian State forward Donovan Gregory, Old Dominion guard Chauncy Jenkins, Troy guard Christyon Eugene and Louisiana guard Themus Folks.
South Alabama’s Tyrell Jones was chosen for the second team, along with Marshall guard Kamdyn Curfman, Louisiana-Monroe guard Tyreke Locure, Georgia State guard Dwon Odom and Marshall forward Obinna Anochili-Killen. Jones, a senior from Chicago, averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season.
Preseason third-team members are Arkansas State guard Terrance Ford, Georgia State guard Brenden Tucker, Appalachian State forward C.J. Huntley, Arkansas State guard Freddy Hicks and Troy guard Aamer Muhammad.
South Alabama opens the 2023-24 season at home Nov. 6 vs. Mobile.
2023-24 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball
Predicted order of finish
School | Points | 1st place |
---|---|---|
1. James Madison | 176 | 7 |
2. Appalachian State | 159 | 2 |
3. Old Dominion | 154 | 1 |
4. Southern Miss | 148 | – |
5. Louisiana | 136 | 2 |
6. South Alabama | 129 | 2 |
7. Marshall | 119 | – |
8. Troy | 91 | – |
9. Arkansas State | 84 | – |
10. Texas State | 72 | – |
11. Georgia State | 69 | – |
12. Coastal Carolina | 59 | – |
13. Georgia Southern | 42 | – |
14. Louisiana-Monroe | 32 | – |
Preseason All-Sun Belt teams
First team | ||
---|---|---|
Austin Crowley* | G | Southern Miss |
Terrence Edwards | G | James Madison |
Donovan Gregory | F | Appalachian State |
Chaunce Jenkins | G | Old Dominion |
Christyon Eugene | G | Troy |
Themus Folks | G | Louisiana |
Second team | ||
Tyrell Jones | G | South Alabama |
Kamdyn Curfman | G | Marshall |
Tyreke Locure | G | Louisiana-Monroe |
Dwon Odom | G | Georgia State |
Obinna Anochili-Killen | F | Marshall |
Third team | ||
Terrance Ford | G | Arkansas State |
Brenden Tucker | G | Georgia State |
CJ Huntley | F | Appalachian State |
Freddy Hicks | G | Arkansas State |
Aamer Muhammad | G | Troy |
*—Preseason Player of the Year
NOTE: Ties were not broken.