The 2024–25 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season was the season for Sun Belt Conference men's basketball teams that began with practices in October 2024, followed by the start of the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play began in December 2024, and concluded on February 28, 2025. The 2025 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament took place from March 4–10, 2025, at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida.
Head coaches Coaching changes Coastal Carolina On December 6, 2023, head coach Cliff Ellis retired with assistant coach Benny Moss named interim head coach for the rest of the season. On March 12, 2024, Western Carolina head coach Justin Gray was named new head coach.
James Madison On March 25, 2024, Mark Byington left to become head coach of Vanderbilt. On March 29, 2024, Morehead State head coach Preston Spradlin was named new head coach of the Dukes.
Louisiana Head coach Bob Marlin was fired on December 19, 2024, after 15 seasons with the Ragin' Cajuns. Assistant coach Derrick Zimmerman was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Marshall On March 25, 2024, head coach Dan D'Antoni and Marshall parted ways. Later that day, associate head coach Cornelius Jackson was named his successor.
Old Dominion Jeff Jones resigned following a heart attack he had on December 20, 2023, and special assistant coach Kieran Donahue was named interim head coach for the rest of the season. Jones retired on February 26, 2024. Former Old Dominion player and Maryland assistant coach Mike Jones was named new head coach on March 1, 2024.
Coaches TeamHead coachPrevious jobYears at schoolOverall recordSun Belt recordSun Belt titlesSun Belt Tournament titlesNCAA TournamentsAppalachian StateDustin KernsPresbyterian6111Arkansas StateBryan HodgsonAlabama 2000Coastal CarolinaJustin GrayWestern Carolina1000Georgia SouthernCharlie HenryAlabama 2000Georgia StateJonas HayesXavier 3000James MadisonPreston SpradlinMorehead State1000LouisianaBob MarlinSam Houston15111Derrick Zimmerman (interim)Louisiana 4000Louisiana–MonroeKeith RichardLSU 15000MarshallCornelius JacksonMarshall 1000Old Dominion Mike JonesMaryland 1000South AlabamaRichie RileyNicholls State7000Southern MissJay LadnerSoutheastern Louisiana6000Texas StateTerrence JohnsonTexas State 5200TroyScott CrossTCU 6000
Preseason Preseason Coaches Poll On October 14, 2024, the conference announced a preseason conference poll as voted by the league's 14 head coaches. RankTeam 1. Arkansas State(12) 2. James Madison (1) 3. Troy (1) 4. Louisiana 5. Southern Miss 6. Appalachian State 7. Texas State 8. Georgia SouthernOld Dominion 10. Marshall 11. South Alabama 12. Georgia State 13. Coastal Carolina 14. Louisiana–Monore
Preseason awards Sun Belt preseason player of the year Kobe Julian – Arkansas State
Preseason All-Sun Belt team 2024-25 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Teams First Team Second Team Third TeamMark Freeman – James Madison Kobe Julian – Arkansas State Hosana Kitenge - Louisiana Nate Martin – Marshall Myles Rigsby – TroyObinna Anochili-Killen – Marshall Tayton Conerway – Troy C.J. Huntley – Appalachian State Toneari Lane – Georgia State Taryn Todd – Arkansas StateXavier Brown – Appalachian State Andre Curbelo – Southern Miss Tyrel Morgan – Texas State Izaiyah Nelson – Arkansas State Myles Tate – Appalachian State
Regular season Early season tournaments Team Tournament FinishAppalachian State Live Oak Bank Holiday Classic 2ndArkansas State Baha Mar Hoops Nassau ChampionshipCoastal Carolina Alabama A&M Bulldog BashGeorgia Southern Rock Hill Classic 3rdGeorgia State Jacksonville Classic –James Madison Boardwalk Battle 3rdLouisiana Paradise Jam 8thOld Dominion Cayman Islands Classic 8thSouth Alabama Jaguar Classic 3rdTexas State Myrtle Beach Invitational 5th
Player of the week WeekPlayer(s) of the WeekSchoolNov 11Jackson FieldsTroyNov 18Nate MartinMarshallNov 25Bryce Lindsey James Madison Dec 2Myles CoreySouth AlabamaDec 9Denijay HarrisSouthern MissDec 16Taryn ToddArkansas StateDec 23Robert Davis Jr.Old Dominion Dec 30Tyrel MorganTexas StateJan 6Tayton ConerwayTroyJan 13Sean DurugordonOld Dominion Jan 20Tylan PopeTexas StateJan 27Jalen Speer MarshallFeb 3Mark FreemanJames MadisonFeb 10Myles TateAppalachian StateFeb 17Cesare EdwardsGeorgia StateFeb 24Barry Dunning Jr.South AlabamaMar 3Izaiyah NelsonArkansas State
Records against other conferences +Power 6 Conferences Conference RecordACC0–3Big East0–0Big Ten0–2Big 120–5Pac–120–0SEC0–8 Combined 0–18Other NCAA Division I ConferencesRecordAmerica East0–0American6–10ASUN7–1Atlantic 100–5Big Sky0–0Big South3–4Big West0–1CAA5–7Conference USA3–8Horizon2–1Independents/Non-Division I2–0Ivy1–0MAAC0–1MAC14–13MEAC0–1Missouri Valley2–2Mountain West0–0Northeast0–0OVC3–1Patriot1–0Southern2–1Southland2–0SWAC7–7Summit0–1West Coast0–0WAC2–5 Combined 62–69
Postseason Sun Belt tournament
Source:
* – Denotes overtime period
The tournament was held at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida, from March 4–10, 2025.
NCAA tournament
Seed Region School First Four 1st round 14 Midwest Troy Bye L 57–76 #3 Kentucky – W–L (%): Total:
National Invitation Tournament
Seed Bracket School 1st round 2nd round 3 Dallas Arkansas State W 103–78 Saint Louis – L 63–65 #2 North Texas – W–L (%): Total:
Honors and awards Sun Belt Awards
2024-25 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Individual Awards Award Recipient(s)Player of the Year Tayton Conerway – TroyCoach of the Year Richie Riley – South Alabama Defensive Player of the Year Obinna Anochili-Killen - MarshallNewcomer of the Year Mark Freeman – James MadisonFreshman of the Year Bryce Lindsay – James Madison Sixth Man Award Bryce Lindsay – James Madison
2024-25 Sun Belt Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams First Team Second Team Third TeamTayton Conerway - Troy Barry Dunning Jr. – South Alabama Mark Freeman – James Madison Myles Tate – Appalachian State Taryn Todd – Arkansas StateObinna Anochili-Killen – Marshall Cesare Edwards – Georgia State Denijay Harris – Southern Miss C. J. Huntley – Appalachian State Tylan Pope — Texas StateMyles Corey – South Alabama Sean Durugordon – Old Dominion Adante' Holiman – Georgia Southern Bryce Lindsay – James Madison Izaiyah Nelson – Arkansas State
References