Sun Belt Basketball: 2021 Conference Tournament preview, predictions

Semifinals

Georgia State (1E) vs. South Alabama (3E)

South Alabama and Georgia State played multiple times this year, and the Jaguars are 1-2 in those matchups, but this time around will be for a trip to the conference championship. Mike Flowers and Justin Roberts will matchup heat to head, and I think South Alabama has a better team overall and will take this matchup this time around.

Prediction: South Alabama

Coastal Carolina (2E) vs App State (5E) 

Although Coastal and App State are in the same division, their matchups were cancelled due to COVID, so this will be the first meeting of the season. The teams are bitter rivals, and a trip to the finals will only add to the fire. Jones and Tipler will match up with Delph and Forrest in what should be a great game.

Both teams have decent frontcourts as well, meaning this game will be decided by the bench units. With Tyrik Dixon as the likely 6th man for the Chants, I think they will edge out the Mountaineers in a heated game.

Prediction: Coastal Carolina

Finals

South Alabama (3E) vs. Coastal Carolina (2E)

In the last game of the tournament, the best backcourts in the conference will square off head to head in what will be their 5th meeting of the season. The series is tied at 2-2, Coastal securing 2 double-digit wins at home, and South Alabama winning by single-digits at their home court.

A 5th game on a neutral site would be the perfect way to end the season. Jones, Tipler, Garrick Green, Mostafa, and Dixon vs. Flowers, Locure, Iorio, and squad. The top powers in the east all emerged, and my pick is for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers to emerge as the 2021 Sun Belt Tournament Champions.

Prediction: Coastal Carolina

Player of The Tournament: DeVante’ Jones-Coastal Carolina