2021 Sun Belt Conference Info, Facts, & Preview Links
First Round (Pensacola, FL; 1&4 at Pensacola State College; 2&3 at Pensacola Bay Center)
Friday, March 5, 2021
Game 1: (5-East) Georgia Southern (13-12 overall; 7-9 conf) vs. (4-West) Arkansas St. (10-12 overall; 7-8 conf) at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 2: (6-West) UL-Monroe (7-18 overall; 5-13 conf) vs. (3-East) South Alabama (16-10 overall; 10-7 conf) at 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 3: (6-East) Troy (10-16 overall; 4-12 conf) vs. (3-West) UT Arlington (13-12 overall; 9-8 conf) at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 4: (5-West) Arkansas-Little Rock (11-14 overall; 7-11 conf) vs. (4-East) Appalachian St. (13-11 overall; 7-8 conf) at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Quarterfinals (Pensacola, FL; 6&7 at Pensacola State College; 5&8 at Pensacola Bay Center)
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Game 5: (5E) Ga.So./(4W) Ark. St. winner vs. (1-East) Georgia St. (14-5 overall; 8-4 conf) at 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 6: (6W) ULM/(3E) USA vs. (2-West) UL-Lafayette (16-8 overall; 10-7 conf) at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 7: (6E) Troy/(3W) UTA Winner vs. (2-East) Coastal Carolina (15-6 overall; 9-5 conf) at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 8: (5W) UALR/(4E) App. St. Winner vs. (1-West) Texas St. (18-6 overall; 12-3 conf) at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Semifinals (Pensacola, FL; Pensacola Bay Center)
Sunday, March 7, 2021
Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner at 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner at 9 p.m. (ESPN+)
Championship Game (Pensacola, FL; Pensacola Bay Center)
Monday, March 8, 2021
Game 11: Championship Game (Auto Bid) at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Tournament Winners (last 10 years):
2020: Cancelled due to the scourge known as COVID
2019: (1) Georgia St. (24-10 overall; 13-5 conf)
2018: (2) Georgia St. (24-11 overall; 12-6 conf)
2017: (6) Troy (22-15 overall; 10-8 conf)
2016: (1) UALR (30-5 overall; 17-3 conf)
2015: (1) Georgia St. (25-10 overall; 15-5 conf)
2014: (3) UL-Lafayette (23-12 overall; 11-7 conf)
2013: (6) Western Kentucky (20-16 overall; 10-10 conf)
2012: (7) Western Kentucky (16-19 overall; 7-9 conf)
2011: (5-West Division) UALR (19-17 overall; 7-9 conf)
NET ratings through games of 3/4/21 (347 teams)
Georgia St.-138
Texas St.-146
Coastal Carolina-161
UL-Lafayette-184
S. Alabama-209
Arkansas-Little Rock-211
UT Arlington-234
Arkansas St.-240
Appalachian St.-249
Ga. Southern-272
UL-Monroe-282
Troy-294
Kenpom ratings as of 3/4/21
Georgia St.-147
Coastal Carolina-176
Texas St.-177
UL-Lafayette-200
S. Alabama-213
Arkansas-Little Rock-223
Appalachian St.-231
UT Arlington-243
Arkansas St.-255
Ga. Southern-279
UL-Monroe-292
Troy-310
Here are some links for previews of the 2021 Sun Belt Conference tournament and the official tournament championship page (in no particular order):
Sun Belt Conference Tournament official page: https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2021/3/4/2021-sun-belt-conference-mens-basketball-championship-notes-presented-by-first-bank-and-trust.aspx
FanSided/Busting Brackets preview link: https://bustingbrackets.com/2021/03/05/sun-belt-basketball-2021-conference-tournament-preview-predictions/
Vavel tournament preview link (never heard of Vavel until today but nice preview): https://www.vavel.com/en-us/tennis-usa/2021/03/05/1062241-2021-sun-belt-conference-tournament-preview-parity-the-theme-in-pensacola.html
Three Man Weave tournament preview: https://www.three-man-weave.com/3mw/sun-belt-tournament-preview-2021
My brief take on the tournament: Georgia State has won 3 of the last 5 Sun Belt Conference tournaments and they are the favorite again this year. This tournament occasionally features lots of upsets, and again to me it feels like this might be one of those years. According to the NET and Kenpom, there isn't a big difference between Georgia State and most of the middle of the conference (at least not compared to what I have seen with most other conferences so far). So, Georgia State may yet win again, but I don't care. I am pulling for South Alabama (I have some friends that went to school there), but I think Texas State would be a fun story here, so I will pick them to win it. Enjoy!
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