According to the Sun Belt Conference men’s and women’s basketball coaches, there’s certainly room for improvement for the UL squads.
On the men’s side, the Ragin’ Cajuns’ men were picked sixth in the league standings after finishing 12th in coach Quannas White’s first season at the helm.
Injuries played a key role in the Cajuns struggling with an 11-22 overall and 7-11 league record last season.
One of those key injuries was suffered by Oklahoma State transfer point guard Jamyron Keller, who played in only the first two games of the season. Keller’s potential was enough for him to be voted as a third-team All-Sun Belt selection.
On the women’s side, coach Garry Brodhead is coming off the worst season of his career at 5-26 overall and 2-16 in league play. The coaches voted UL to move up one spot to 13th in the league standings.
One of the main reasons for optimism this season is sophomore forward Imani Daniel. The John Curtis product reached double digits in scoring 16 times last season and averaged 12.7 points and 6.2 rebounds a game with 45% shooting.
Fans can get the first look at Brodhead’s new roster at 6 p.m. Thursday against LSU Alexandria in the first of two exhibition games. The regular-season opener is scheduled for Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. against Xavier.
On the men’s side, the Cajuns open the regular season against Akron on Nov. 2 at the Cajundome.
Arkansas State was picked to win the men’s title with 182 points with three first-place votes, while James Madison was a close second with 176 points, despite nine first-place votes. The preseason player of the year for the men is Isaac Taveras of Southern Miss.
On the women’s side, Crislyn Rose is the preseason pllayer of the year from Arkansas State.
James Madison was the preseason favorite to win the league on the women’s side with 189 points and 11 first-place votes, followed by Troy in second with 166 points and Arkansas State third with 165.
Sun Belt men’s basketball
Preseason player of the year – Isaac Taveras, Southern Miss
FIRST TEAM
Adante’ Holiman, Old Dominion
Peyton Law, South Alabama
Jacob Meyer, Georgia State
Noah Otshudi, Marshall
Isaac Taveras, Southern Miss
SECOND TEAM
Tameron Ferguson, Arkansas State
Preston Fowler, James Madison
Dallas Gardner, Georgia Southern
Gage Lattimore, James Madison
Layne Taylor, Arkansas State
THIRD TEAM
Jacoi Hutchinson, Troy
Jamyron Keller, UL
Jalen Langsy, South Alabama
Kyran Tilley, Louisiana Tech
K.J. Windham, James Madison
Sun Belt men’s poll
1. Arkansas State (3) – 182
2. James Madison (9) – 176
3. Troy – 143
4. South Alabama – 136
5. Marshall – 125
6. UL – 117
7. Southern Miss (2) – 109
8. App State – 105
9. Georgia Southern – 85
10. Georgia State – 79
11. Old Dominion – 76
12. Louisiana Tech – 64
13. Coastal Carolina – 58
14. ULM – 15
Sun Belt women’s basketball
Preseason player of the year – Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State
FIRST TEAM
Tessa Grady, Coastal Carolina
Jordan Marshall, Louisiana Tech
Daisia Mitchell, App State
Bree Robinson, James Madison
Crislyn Rose, Arkansas State
SECOND TEAM
Imani Daniel, UL
Aniya Hubbard, Troy
Olivia Olson, Marshall
Zakiya Stephenson, James Madison
Joi Williams, App State
THIRD TEAM
Kayla Cleaveland, Georgia Southern
Grace McDonough, James Madison
Chrysta Narcisse, Southern Miss
Riley Stack, Old Dominion
Alexia Weaver, Louisiana Tech
Sun Belt women’s poll
1. James Madison (11) – 189
2. Troy – 166
3. Arkansas State (1) – 165
4. Marshall – 151 (1)
5. Louisiana Tech (1) – 148
6. Old Dominion – 106
T7. Coastal Carolina – 99
T7. Southern Miss – 99
9. App State – 79
10. ULM – 77
11. Georgia Southern – 62
12. South Alabama – 61
13. UL – 42
14. Georgia State – 26
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