2023–24 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season explained

2023–24 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season
Color:
  1. 0A2240
Color Text:
  1. FFFFFF
League:NCAA Division I
Sport:Basketball
Duration:November 6, 2023 – March 1, 2024
No Of Teams:14
Tv:ESPN
Season:2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Season Champs:Appalachian State
Season Champ Name:Regular season champions
League Champ Name:Tournament Champion
Mvp:Terrence Edwards Jr., James Madison
Mvp Link:Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Finals:Tournament
Finals Link:2024 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament
Finals Champ:James Madison
Finals Runner-Up:Arkansas State
Finals Mvp Link:Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament#Champions by year
Seasonslistnames:Basketball
Prevseason Year:2022–23

The 2023–24 Sun Belt men's basketball season began with practices in October 2023, followed by the start of the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in December 2023, and concluded on March 2, 2024. The 2024 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament took place from March 5–11, 2024, at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida.

Head coaches

Coaching changes

Arkansas State

On March 22, 2023, former Alabama assistant coach Bryan Hodgson was named the new head coach of the Red Wolves.[1]

Coastal Carolina

Head coach Cliff Ellis retired on December 6, 2023, after 17 seasons with the Chanticleers. Assistant coach Benny Moss was named interim head coach for the rest of the season.[2]

Georgia Southern

After head coach Brian Burg left to coach Ole Miss, on March 14, 2023, former Alabama assistant coach Charlie Henry was named head coach.[3]

Old Dominion

Jeff Jones resigned after the ninth game of the season following a heart attack he had on December 20, 2023. Special assistant coach Kieran Donohue was named interim head coach for the rest of the season. Jones retired from coaching on February 26, 2024.[4]

Coaches

TeamHead coachPrevious jobYears at schoolOverall recordSun Belt recordSun Belt titlesSun Belt Tournament titlesNCAA Tournaments
Appalachian StateDustin KernsPresbyterian5111
Arkansas StateBryan Hodgson1000
Coastal CarolinaCliff EllisAuburn15002
Benny Moss (interim)Coastal Carolina 13000
Georgia SouthernCharlie Henry1000
Georgia StateJonas Hayes2000
James MadisonMark ByingtonGeorgia Southern4011
LouisianaBob MarlinSam Houston14111
Louisiana–MonroeKeith Richard14000
MarshallDan D'Antoni10001
Old Dominion Jeff JonesAmerican11001
Kieran Donohue (interim)Old Dominion 11000
South AlabamaRichie RileyNicholls State6000
Southern MissJay LadnerSoutheastern Louisiana5000
Texas StateTerrence JohnsonTexas State 4200
TroyScott Cross5000

Preseason

Preseason Coaches Poll

On October 16, 2023, the conference announced a preseason conference poll as voted on by the league's 14 head coaches.[5]

RankTeam
1.James Madison (7)
2.Appalachian State (2)
3.Old Dominion (1)
4. Southern Miss
5.Louisiana (2)
6.South Alabama (2)
7.Marshall
8.Troy
9.Arkansas State
10.Texas State
11. Georgia State
12.Coastal Carolina
13.Georgia Southern
14.Louisiana–Monore

Preseason Awards

The conference also announced preseason All-SBC teams.

Sun Belt preseason player of the year

Preseason All-Sun Belt teams

2023-24 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Teams
First TeamSecond TeamThird Team
Austin Crowley – Southern Miss
Terrence Edwards Jr. – JMU
Donovan Gregory – Appalachian State
Chaunce Jenkins – Old Dominion
Christyon Eugene – Troy
Themus Fulks – Louisiana
Tyrell Jones – South Alabama
Kamdyn Curfman – Marshall
Tyreke Locure – Louisiana–Monroe
Dwan Odom – Georgia State
Obinna Anochili-Killen – Marshall
Terrance Ford Jr. – Arkansas State
Brenden Tucker – Georgia State
C. J. Huntley – Appalachian State
Freddy Hicks – Arkansas State
Aamer Muhammad – Troy

Regular season

Early season tournaments

TeamTournamentFinish
Appalachian StateFort Myers Tip-Off1st (Palms Division)
Arkansas StateAcrisure Invitational3rd
Coastal CarolinaMyrtle Beach Invitational8th
Georgia SouthernTowneBank Holiday Classic4th
Georgia StateCapitol Challenge 3rd
James Madison Cancún Challenge1st (Rivera Division)
Louisiana Gulf Coast Showcase5th
MarshallCayman Islands Classic6th
Old Dominion Diamond Head Classic6th
South Alabama Jaguar Classic1st
Southern MissJacksonville Classic4th
Texas StateLouisiana Tech MTE
TroyTrojan Classic1st

Player of the week

WeekPlayer(s) of the WeekSchool
Nov 13[6] Terrence Edwards Jr.James Madison
Nov 20[7] Freddy HicksArkansas State
Nov 27[8] Kobe JulienLouisiana
Dec 4[9] Kobe Julien (2)Louisiana
Dec 11[10] T. J. BickerstaffJames Madison
Dec 18[11] Jordan MasonTexas State
Dec 25[12] Terrence Edwards Jr. (2)James Madison
Jan 1[13] T. J. Bickerstaff (2)James Madison
Jan 8[14] André CurbeloSouthern Miss
Jan 15[15] Caleb FieldsArkansas State
Jan 22[16] Tre'Von SpillersAppalachian State
Jan 29[17] Nate Martin Marshall
Feb 5[18] Caleb Fields (2)Arkansas State
Feb 12[19] Victor IwuakorSouthern Miss
Feb 19[20] Terrence Edwards Jr. (3)James Madison
Feb 26[21] Samuel TabeSouth Alabama
March 4[22] Tyren MooreGeorgia Southern

Records against other conferences

Power 6 Conferences
ConferenceRecord
ACC1–1
Big East0–0
Big Ten1–4
Big 120–6
Pac–120–2
SEC1–7
Combined3–20
Other NCAA Division I ConferencesRecord
America East0–0
American4–5
ASUN5–7
Atlantic 100–3
Big Sky0–0
Big South5–2
Big West1–1
CAA3–7
Conference USA2–6
Horizon2–2
Independents/Non-Division I0–0
Ivy0–1
MAAC0–0
MAC16–12
MEAC3–1
Missouri Valley2–2
Mountain West1–1
Northeast0–0
OVC4–2
Patriot0–0
Southern3–4
Southland2–5
SWAC5–0
Summit1–1
West Coast0–2
WAC2–0
Combined61–64

Post season

Sun Belt tournament

See main article: 2024 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament. [23]

* – Denotes overtime period

NCAA tournament

See main article: 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

National Invitation Tournament

See main article: 2024 National Invitation Tournament.

College Basketball Invitational

See main article: 2024 College Basketball Invitational.

Honors and awards

Sun Belt Awards

[24]

2023-24 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Individual Awards
AwardRecipient(s)
Player of the YearTerrence Edwards Jr. – James Madison
Coach of the YearDustin Kerns – Appalachian State
Defensive Player of the YearJustin Abson - Appalachian State
Newcomer of the YearT. J. Bickerstaff – James Madison
Freshman of the YearMyles Rigsby – Troy
Sixth Man AwardTayton Conerway – Troy
2023-24 Sun Belt Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams
First TeamSecond TeamThird Team
Terrence Edwards Jr. - James Madison
Christyon Eugene – Troy
Caleb Fields – Arkansas State
Donovan Gregory – Appalachian State
Tre'Von Spillers – Appalachian State
T. J. Bickerstaff – James Madison
Austin Crowley – Southern Miss
Chaunce Jenkins – Old Dominion
Kobe Julien – Louisiana
Tyren Moore — Georgia Southern
Joe Charles – Louisiana
Noah Freidel – James Madison
Terence Harcum – Appalachian State
Hosana Kitenge – Louisiana
Nika Metskhvarishvili – Louisiana–Monroe
John Ojiako – Coastal Carolina
Taryn Todd – Arkansas State

Notes and References

  1. News: Kelly. Nick. Alabama basketball assistant Bryan Hodgson hired as Arkansas State head coach. The Tuscaloosa News. March 22, 2023. March 2, 2024.
  2. Web site: 2023-12-06 . Cliff Ellis Announces Retirement, Ending 49-Year Coaching Career. May 22, 2024. Coastal Carolina University Athletics. en.
  3. Web site: 2023-03-29 . Charlie Henry Formally Introduced as Georgia Southern Men’s Basketball Coach. May 22, 2024. Georgia Southern University Athletics. en.
  4. Web site: 2024-02-26 . Old Dominion coach Jeff Jones retiring after decades-long career including stops at Virginia, American . March 2, 2024. CBSSports.com. en.
  5. Web site: James Madison Tops Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll. Sun Belt Conference. March 2, 2024. October 16, 2023.
  6. Web site: James Madison's Edwards Earns Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week Honor. March 2, 2024. November 14, 2023. sunbeltsports.org.
  7. Web site: Arkansas State's Hicks Named Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week. March 2, 2024. November 21, 2023. sunbeltsports.org.
  8. Web site: Louisiana's Kobe Julien Tabbed Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week . March 2, 2024. November 28, 2023.
  9. Web site: Louisiana's Kobe Julien Claims Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week. March 2, 2024. December 5, 2023.
  10. Web site: JMU's T.J. Bickerstaff Earns Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. December 12, 2023.
  11. Web site: Texas State’'s Jordan Mason Claims Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. December 18, 2023.
  12. Web site: James Madison's Terrence Edwards Secures Second Sun Belt Men's Basketball Weekly Honor. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. December 27, 2023.
  13. Web site: James Madison's T.J. Bickerstaff Collects Second Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week Honor. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. January 2, 2024.
  14. Web site: Southern Miss Guard Andre Curbelo Earns Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. January 9, 2024.
  15. Web site: Arkansas State's Caleb Fields Claims Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. January 16, 2024.
  16. Web site: App State's Tre'Von Spillers Collects Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week Accolade. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. January 23, 2024.
  17. Web site: Marshall's Nate Martin Tabbed Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. January 30, 2024.
  18. Web site: Arkansas State's Caleb Fields Earns Second Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week Nod. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. February 5, 2024.
  19. Web site: Southern Miss Forward Victor Iwuakor Garners Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week Honor. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. February 13, 2024.
  20. Web site: James Madison's Terrence Edwards Earns Third Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week Accolade. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. February 20, 2024.
  21. Web site: South Alabama's Samuel Tabe Collects Sun Belt Men's Basketball Player of the Week Honor. Sun Belt Sports. March 2, 2024. February 27, 2024.
  22. Web site: Georgia Southern's Tyren Moore Earns Season's Final Sun Belt Men' sBasketball Player of the Week Accolade. Sun Belt Sports. March 4, 2024. March 4, 2024.
  23. Web site: 2024 SBC MBB Tournament Bracket (PDF) - Sun Belt Conference . 2024-02-02 . sunbeltsports.org . en.
  24. Web site: Sun Belt Announces 2023-24 Men’s Basketball Postseason Awards & All-Conference Teams. Sun Belt Sports. Sun Belt Conference. March 4, 2023 . March 4, 2024.