2016–17 Conference USA men's basketball season

The 2016–17 Conference USA men's basketball season began with practices in October 2016, followed by the start of the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in late December and concluded in early March.

Middle Tennessee claimed the outright regular season championship with a win over UAB on February 26, 2017. Louisiana Tech finished in second place in the regular season, three games behind the Blue Raiders.

Middle Tennessee's JaCorey Williams was named C-USA Player of the Year and Kermit Davis was named the Coach of the Year.

The C-USA tournament was held from March 8 through 11, 2017 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Middle Tennessee defeated Marshall to win the tournament championship for the second consecutive year. As a result, the Blue Raiders received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. No other C-USA school received an NCAA Tournament bid. Rice received a bid to the College Basketball Invitational tournament.

Head coaches

Coaching changes On March 10, 2016, after 10 years with UTSA, head coach Brooks Thompson was fired. He finished at UTSA with a record of 130–176. On April 1, the school hired Steve Henson as head coach.

On March 17, 2016, WKU head coach Ray Harper resigned after three players were suspended by a university disciplinary committee. He finished at WKU with a record of 90–62. On March 28, the school hired Rick Stansbury as head coach.

UAB head coach Jerod Haase left UAB to accept the head coaching position at Stanford. On April 4, 2016, the school hired Robert Ehsan, who had been an assistant under Haase at UAB, as head coach .

Coaches Team Head coach Previous job Year at school Overall record C-USA record C-USA championships NCAA TournamentsCharlotteMark PriceCharlotte Bobcats(asst.)227–36 16–20 00FIUAnthony EvansNorfolk State451–76 25–45 00Florida AtlanticMichael CurryPhiladelphia 76ers(asst.)327–64 13–41 00Louisiana TechEric KonkolMiami(asst.)246–20 26–10 00MarshallDan D'AntoniLos Angeles Lakers(asst.)348–52 29–25 00Middle TennesseeKermit DavisLSU(asst.)15307–179 52–1822North TexasTony BenfordMarquette(assoc. head coach)562–9523–4900Old DominionJeff JonesAmerican489–51 46–24 00RiceMike RhoadesVCU(assoc. head coach)347–52 26–28 00Southern MissDoc SadlerIowa State(asst.)320–63 14–39 00UABRobert EhsanUAB(asst.)117–169–900UTEPTim FloydUSC7135–81 75–41 00UTSASteve HensonOklahoma(asst.)114–197–1100WKURick StansburyTexas A&M(asst.)115–17 9–900 Notes: All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only. Year at school includes 2016–17 season. Overall and C-USA records are from time at current school and are through the end of the 2016–17 season.

Preseason

Preseason Coaches Poll Source RankTeam 1. UAB (10) 2. Middle Tennessee (4) 3. WKU 4. Marshall 5. Old Dominion 6. UTEP 7. Louisiana Tech 8. Charlotte 9. Rice 10. North Texas 11. FIU 12. Florida Atlantic 13. Southern Miss 14. UTSA () first place votes

Preseason All-C-USA Team Source Recipient SchoolJeremy CombsNorth TexasChris Cokley UABJon ElmoreMarshallJustin Johnson WKUWilliam Lee UABErik McCreeLouisiana TechGiddy PottsMiddle TennesseeRyan TaylorMarshallReggie Upshaw Jr.Middle Tennessee

Conference schedules

Conference matrix This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play.   CharlotteFIUFAULaTechMarshallMTSUUNTODURiceUSMUABUTEPUTSAWKUvs. Charlotte – 0–11–01–02–01–00–21–12–00–11–01–00–11–1vs. FIU1–0 – 2–01–01–02–00–11–01–01–00–22–02–01–0vs. Florida Atlantic0–10–2 – 1–01–02–01–00–11–00–12–02–01–11–0vs. Louisiana Tech0–10–10–1 – 0–11–00–20–11–10–21–00–21–10–1vs. Marshall0–20–10–11–0 – 2–00–11–11–01–01–01–00–10–2vs. Middle Tennessee0–10–20–20–10–2 – 0–10–10–10–10–21–00–10–2vs. North Texas2–01–00–12–01–01–0 – 2–02–02–01–01–01–01–0vs. Old Dominion1–10–11–01–01–11–00–2 – 0–20–11–00–11–00–2vs. Rice0–20–10–11–10–11–00–22–0 – 0–21–01–01–01–0vs. Southern Miss1–00–11–02–00–11–00–21–02–0 – 1–01–11–11–0vs. UAB1–02–00–20–11–12–00–11–00–10–1 – 1–01–01–1vs. UTEP0–10–20–22–00–10–10–11–00–11–10–1 – 1–11–0vs. UTSA0–10–21–11–11–01–01–00–11–01–10–11–1 – 1–0vs. WKU1–10–10–11–02–02–00–12–00–10–11–10–10–1 – Total7–113–156–1214–410–817–12–1612–611–76–129–912–68–109–9

Players of the Week Throughout the conference regular season, the C-USA offices named one or two players of the week and one or two freshmen of the week each Monday. Week Player of the week Freshman of the week November 14, 2016 Egor Koulechov, Rice DaQuan Bracey, Louisiana Tech November 21, 2016 Dominic Artis, UTEP Byron Frohnen, UTSA November 28, 2016 JaCorey Williams, Middle Tennessee Jailyn Ingram, Florida Atlantic December 5, 2016 Marcus Evans, Rice Najee Garvin, Charlotte December 12, 2016 Jon Elmore, Marshall Deon Barrett, UTEP December 19, 2016 JaCorey Williams (2), Middle Tennessee A. J. Lawson, North Texas December 26, 2016 Stevie Browning, Marshall Byron Frohnen (2), UTSA Jalen Harris, Louisiana Tech January 2, 2017 Reggie Upshaw Jr., Middle Tennessee Quentin Jackson Jr., Charlotte January 9, 2017 Ryan Taylor, Marshall Giovanni De Nicolao, UTSA January 16, 2017 William Lee, UAB DaQuan Bracey (2), Louisiana Tech January 23, 2017 Jon Davis, Charlotte DaQuan Bracey (3), Louisiana Tech January 30, 2017 Matt Willms, UTEP Byron Frohnen (3), UTSA February 6, 2017 Justin Johnson, WKU A. J. Lawson (2), North TexasFebruary 13, 2017Marcus Evans (2), RiceRyan Woolridge, North TexasFebruary 20, 2017Paul Thomas, UTEPRyan Woolridge (2), North TexasFebruary 27, 2017Quinton Campbell, Southern Miss A.J. Lawson (3), North TexasMarch 6, 2017Egor Koulechov (2), RiceJalen Harris (2), Louisiana Tech

All-C-USA honors and awards Following the regular season, the conference selected outstanding performers based on a poll of league coaches. Honor Recipient Player of the YearJaCorey Williams, Middle Tennessee Coach of the YearKermit Davis, Middle Tennessee Defensive Player of the YearWilliam Lee, UAB Freshman of the YearDaQuan Bracey, Louisiana Tech Newcomer of the YearJaCorey Williams, Middle TennesseeSixth Man of the YearZoran Talley, Old Dominion All-C-USA First Team Erik McCree, Louisiana Tech Jon Elmore, Marshall JaCorey Williams, Middle Tennessee Marcus Evans, Rice Egor Koulechov, Rice All-C-USA Second Team Jon Davis, Charlotte Reggie Upshaw Jr., Middle Tennessee William Lee, UAB Dominic Artis, UTEPJustin Johnson, WKU All-C-USA Third Team Jacobi Boykins, Louisiana Tech Ryan Taylor, Marshall Giddy Potts, Middle Tennessee Ahmad Caver, Old Dominion Omega Harris, UTEP All-C-USA Defensive Team Jacobi Boykins, Louisiana Tech Ryan Taylor, Marshall Reggie Upshaw Jr., Middle Tennessee Denzell Taylor, Old Dominion William Lee, UAB All-C-USA Freshman Team DaQuan Bracey, Louisiana Tech Jalen Harris, Louisiana Tech Tyrik Dixon, Middle Tennessee A. J. Lawson, North Texas Byron Frohnen, UTSA

Postseason

C-USA Tournament

Only the top 12 conference teams were eligible for the tournament. GameTime*Matchup#ScoreTelevisionAttendance First round – Wednesday, March 8111:30 amNo. 8 Western Kentucky vs. No. 9 UTSA52–56Campus Insiders 3,20722:00 pmNo. 5 Rice vs. No. 12 Southern Miss 86–7535:30 pmNo. 7 UAB vs. No. 10 Charlotte74–736,41048:00 pmNo. 6 Marshall vs. No. 11 Florida Atlantic89–74 Quarterfinals – Thursday, March 9511:30 amNo. 1 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 9 UTSA86–70ASN3,65462:00 pmNo. 4 UTEP vs. No. 5 Rice86–7675:30 pmNo. 2 Louisiana Tech vs. No. 7 UAB69–574,00588:00 pmNo. 3 Old Dominion vs. No. 6 Marshall63–64 Semifinals – Friday, March 10911:30 amNo. 1 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 4 UTEP82–56CBSSN3,299102:00 pmNo. 2 Louisiana Tech vs. No. 6 Marshall77–93 Championship Game – Saturday, March 11117:30 pmNo. 1 Middle Tennessee vs. No. 6 Marshall83–72CBSSN3,956 *Game times in CT. Rankings denote tournament seed

NCAA tournament

Seed Region School First Four First Round Second Round Sweet 16 Elite Eight Final Four Championship12SouthMiddle TennesseeN/Adefeated (5) Minnesota 81–72 eliminated by (4) Butler 65–74

References