2018-19 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Weekly News and Notes:
Week 7 Release (PDF) | Standings | Composite Schedule | Stats | Media Guide
AROUND #SUNBELTMBB
• ‘Tis the season for some Sun Belt men’s basketball as all 12 teams are in action leading up to Christmas Day. This week’s schedule features 19 games with 12 of those slated for live coverage.
• Through the first six weeks of the season, Sun Belt teams have combined for a 44-10 record (.815) on their home hardwoods in non-conference contests. All 12 teams boast winning records with Appalachian State (4-0), Texas State (4-0), Coastal Carolina (4-0), Louisiana (3-0), Arkansas State (3-0), Georgia State (3-0) and ULM (3-0) all undefeated at home.
• Texas State’s 10-1 start equals the second-best start in school history. The Bobcats also began the 1952-53 season with a 10-1 record.
• Georgia Southern enters the week leading NCAA Division I in field goal percentage at .532 (335-of-640). The Eagles have shot .500 or better in seven of their first 10 games.
• Louisiana (No. 1 Kansas, No. 3 Tennessee) and Gonzaga (No. 2 Duke, Tennessee) are the only two teams in the country to play two of the top three teams in the current Associated Press Poll. Georgia State has taken five teams in its first 11 games that played in the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The Panthers are 2-3 in those games with none of them played on their home court.
• In the latest CollegeInsider.com Men’s Mid-Major Top 25, Texas State (20th) and Louisiana (21st) were ranked with Georgia Southern and Georgia State receiving votes.
• Georgia Southern redshirt sophomore guard Quan Jackson is among NCAA Division I steals leaders this season, entering the week ranked third in steals per game (3.25) and tied for 20th in total steals (26).
• Louisiana senior guard Marcus Stroman is among the leaders in assists, ranking tied for third in total assists (78) and eighth in assists per game (7.1). Stroman also ranks sixth in total steals (30). He is one of 11 players in Division I to average 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game. On the list includes California’s Jason Kidd (1992-93, 1993-94), LSU’s Randy Livingston (1994-95), Syracuse’s Michael Carter-Williams (2012-13) and Providence’s Kris Dunn (2014-15).
• Stroman’s teammate, senior forward JaKeenan Gant, is among the nation’s best shot blockers this season, ranking fourth in total blocks (35) and sixth in blocks per game (3.18). Gant has already reached triple-digits in blocks since arriving in Lafayette. He enters the week with 103 career blocks.
• Troy senior forward Jordon Varnado moved in the top 20 in career double-doubles among active Division I players with his 22nd double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds) in the Trojans’ win at WKU on Dec. 16. Varnado enters the week ranked tied for 18th nationally.
• The Sun Belt’s top two scorers are both from the same hometown, Gainesville, Ga. Arkansas State senior guard Ty Cockfield II leads the conference at 22.6 points per game and Georgia State junior guard D’Marcus Simonds is second at 20.9 points per game. Cockfield went to Johnson High School and Simonds went to Gainesville High School.
• The 2019 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball Championship is set for March 12 and 14-17. The tournament begins on Tuesday, March 12, with two first-round games taking place at on-campus sites. The remaining eight teams converge on Lakefront Arena in New Orleans starting on Thursday, March 14, with the winner earning the league’s automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. First-round, second-round, quarterfinal and semifinal games are set for live coverage on ESPN+. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 17 at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ty Cockfield II, Arkansas State (Sr., G, Gainesville, Ga.)
Arkansas State senior guard Ty Cockfield II carried the Red Wolves to a double-overtime win over Florida Atlantic. Cockfield poured in a season-high 34 points, tied for the highest scoring total in the Sun Belt this season. He knocked down 14-of-15 at the free throw line, including 5-of-6 in the second overtime to help Arkansas State move to 3-0 at home. The 34-point outing saw Cockfield secure his second 30-point game this season and fourth 30-point scoring performance of his career, while also posting a 20-plus point outing for a sixth-straight game. His six-straight, 20-point games are the most in school history since J.J. Montgomery had seven-straight during the 2003-04 season.
2018-19 Weekly Award Winners
November 13: D'Marcus Simonds, Georgia State
November 20: Tookie Brown, Georgia Southern
November 27: Nijal Pearson, Texas State
December 3: Nijal Pearson, Texas State
December 10: Alonzo Sule, Texas State
December 17: Ty Cockfield II, Arkansas State
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Tuesday, December 18
Appalachian State at Georgetown (FS1), 5:30 p.m.
Bradley at Georgia Southern (ESPN+), 6:30 p.m.
Louisiana at McNeese (CST/ESPN+), 6:30 p.m.
Missouri State at Arkansas State, 7 p.m.
Nicholls at ULM, 7 p.m.
UTA at Gonzaga (KHQ-TV/Root Sports), 8 p.m.
Wednesday, December 19
UNC Wilmington at Georgia State (ESPN+), 6 p.m.
Little Rock at Memphis (ESPN3), 7 p.m.
Alabama A&M at South Alabama (ESPN+), 7 p.m.
Thursday, December 20
Milligan at Appalachian State, 6 p.m.
Mobile at South Alabama (ESPN+), 7 p.m.
Friday, December 21
Coastal Carolina at College of Charleston, 6 p.m.
Georgia Southern at Radford (ESPN+), 6 p.m.
Coppin State at ULM, 7 p.m.
Troy at UAB, 7 p.m.
UTA at Cal Poly, 9 p.m.
Saturday, December 22
Little Rock at Georgetown (FSN), 11 a.m.
Arkansas State at Syracuse (ACCN/RSN), 1 p.m.
Texas State at Arkansas (SECN), 1 p.m.
All Times are Central and Subject to Change