2009–10 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season

2009–10 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season
League NCAA Division I
Sport Basketball
Duration November 9, 2009
through March 6, 2010
Number of teams 13
TV partner(s) ESPN, CBS Sports
Regular Season
Tournament
2009–10 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
East
Troy 13 5   .722     20 13   .606
Middle Tennessee State 13 5   .722     19 14   .576
WKU 12 6   .667     21 13   .618
Florida Atlantic 10 8   .556     14 16   .467
South Alabama 8 10   .444     17 15   .531
FIU 4 14   .222     7 25   .219
West
North Texas† 13 5   .722     24 9   .727
Arkansas State 11 7   .611     17 14   .548
Denver 10 8   .556     19 13   .594
Louisiana–Lafayette 10 8   .556     13 17   .433
Louisiana–Monroe 6 12   .333     12 19   .387
Arkansas–Little Rock 4 14   .222     8 22   .267
New Orleans 3 15   .167     8 22   .267
2010 Sun Belt Conference Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009–10 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season marks the 33rd season of Sun Belt Conference basketball.

Preseason

Blue Ribbon magazine predicted Western Kentucky University to win the East Division. The Hilltoppers are returning from a season in which they came within one second of upsetting Gonzaga and advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. In addition, Hilltopper star A.J. Slaughter was named the Preseason Player of the Year.[1]

Sun Belt Preseason Poll

East Division
Rank Team
1 Western Kentucky
2 Troy
3 Middle Tennessee State
4 South Alabama
5 Florida Atlantic
6 Florida International
West Division
Rank Team
1 North Texas
2 UALR
3 Louisiana-Lafayette
4 Denver
5 Arkansas State
6 ULM
7 New Orleans

Preseason All-SBC Team

Regular season

Non-conference

In terms of upsets over the six major conferences, Western Kentucky beat Vanderbilt University 76-69 on December 11. A.J. Slaughter scored 27 points to lead the Hilltoppers to their first win over Vanderbilt since 1946. Western Kentucky led for the final 16:33 of the game, though Vanderbilt cut the lead to one twice. This was Vanderbilt's second consecutive loss.[2]

Postseason

SBC Tournament

References

  1. "Blue Ribbon Tabs Slaughter-Led Toppers as Team to Beat in 2009-10". Western Kentucky University. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2009.
  2. Lockridge, Jeff (12 December 2009). "Western Kentucky beats Vanderbilt for first time since 1946". The Tennesseean. Retrieved 16 December 2009.