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NCAA Basketball: 2023 Sun Belt Tournament preview and best bets

By Brian Emory

AUSTIN, TEXAS - DECEMBER 21: Jordan Brown #21 of the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns drives around Christian Bishop #32 of the Texas Longhorns during the game the between the Texas Longhorns and the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at Moody Center on December 21, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - DECEMBER 21: Jordan Brown #21 of the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns drives around Christian Bishop #32 of the Texas Longhorns during the game the between the Texas Longhorns and the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at Moody Center on December 21, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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Sun Belt Bob Marlin of the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
Sun Belt Bob Marlin of the Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

Key teams to watch in Sun Belt Tournament

Southern Miss: (25-6, 14-4): Southern Miss head coach Jay Ladner has orchestrated one of the most impressive turnarounds in all of college basketball this season. After going 7-26 and 1-17 in Conference USA play a season ago, Ladner entered the season on a red-hot seat. A lot has been made about the ever-evolving landscape of collegiate athletics due to the NIL revolution, but Ladner has successfully adapted and now has his group in position to earn an NCAA Tournament bid because of it. The Golden Eagles are led in scoring by a duo of transfers in Austin Crowley and Felipe Haase. Southern Miss has had a strong season regardless of how you slice it, but it will be fascinating to see how this team performs at a neutral site.

Ladner’s squad did not lose a conference game within the confines of Reed Green Coliseum, but the team had its share of struggles on the road. When the Golden Eagles lose, they seem to REALLY lose. The Golden Eagles lost their four conference games by a combined 72 points, including a 31-point thrashing in Mobile, AL at the hands of the South Alabama Jaguars. Interestingly enough, if the Jaguars beat Appalachian State Thursday afternoon it will set up for a rematch between the two on Saturday.

Louisiana: (23-7, 13-5): After falling short in the Sun Belt Championship Game a year ago, Bob Marlin’s Ragin’ Cajuns appear primed and ready to make another daunting run for the Sun Belt crown.  The Cajuns are led by forward Jordan Brown, formerly of the University of Arizona. Brown is currently scoring 19.8 points while averaging 8.3 rebounds per contest. It’s difficult to win these tournaments, but the Cajuns do a lot of things well that will make them a tough out in Pensacola. Louisiana is one of the best rebounding teams in all of college basketball, and the Cajuns especially get after the offensive glass which creates a lot of extra possessions. When watching Louisiana it’s clear they are a well-coached bunch, limiting turnovers and patiently working for strong looks offensively. The Cajuns are one of the best three-point shooting teams in the conference, so if they can shoot well from downtown they have a real chance to cut down the nets Monday night.

Marshall: (24-7, 13-5): While his career may not quite rival that of his younger brother’s, Dan D’Antoni has quietly built a strong basketball program in the hills of Huntington, West Virginia. D’Antoni boasts a career-winning percentage of .564, and he took the Thundering Herd to the Round of 32 in 2018. However, his 2023 group may just be his best team yet.

The Thundering Herd have one of the most dynamic scoring guards in all of college basketball in Taevion Kinsey. Kinsey is a bit of a unicorn in this new era of college sports, as he has spent all five years of his eligibility wearing the green and white. The senior guard impacts every facet of the game averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Seven-foot freshman center Micah Handlogten is also a massive presence down low, reeling in 10 rebounds and blocking over 2 shots per contest.