Kristian Ferrell
The Sun Belt Conference has a rich history in basketball, with multiple teams making it to the NCAA tournament over the years. The 2024 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Championship is the latest tournament, with Coastal Carolina and ULM competing. Historically, UNC Charlotte (now Charlotte) reached the Final Four in 1977, and Western Kentucky, a future Sun Belt member, made it to the Final Four in 1971. While some teams in the Sun Belt Conference, such as Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, and Louisiana-Monroe, have yet to win a championship, other schools, like South Alabama and Western Kentucky, have proudly represented the Sun Belt Conference in the NCAA tournament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2024 |
| Teams with no championships | Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, Texas State |
| Past winners | South Alabama, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, UNC Charlotte, Western Kentucky |
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What You'll Learn
UNC Charlotte reached the Final Four in 1977
UNC Charlotte, then known athletically as the UNC Charlotte 49ers, reached the Final Four in 1977. This was the only time in the team's history that they made it to the Final Four.
The 49ers defeated Central Michigan, Syracuse, and Michigan en route to the 1977 Final Four. Syracuse and Michigan were ranked sixth and first, respectively, making UNC Charlotte's victory over them a significant upset. The team was led by coach Lee Rose and stars Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell, Lew Massey, and Chad Kinch.
In the national semifinal, the 49ers faced Marquette, who would go on to become the eventual champion. The game was a close one, with each team scoring 49 points. However, Marquette's Jerome Whitehead made a last-second, full-court pass and layup to win the game. Despite the loss, UNC Charlotte's appearance in the Final Four remains a significant achievement in the school's athletic history.
The 1977 Final Four is considered one of the most memorable championships in tournament history, with several compelling storylines. UNC Charlotte was considered a Cinderella team, and their success left a lasting impact on the city of Charlotte, propelling it to think of itself as a national city rather than just a regional one.
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Western Kentucky reached the Final Four in 1971
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team reached the Final Four in 1971, the first time the team had done so. The team was coached by John Oldham and led by Jim McDaniels, who was later found to have signed a professional contract and accepted money during the 1970-71 season, leading to the team's placement in the tournament being vacated.
The 1971 Western Kentucky team was notable for its chemistry and for starting five African-American players, a decision that was initially controversial within the team's administration. The team included high school seniors McDaniels, Clarence Glover, Jerome Perry, and Jim Rose, who had all committed to playing together at Western Kentucky while playing in the Kentucky All-Star game.
The Hilltoppers defeated Ohio State 81-78 in overtime to set up a date with Villanova in the Final Four in Houston. They then defeated Kansas 77-75 in the national third-place game. The 1971 Final Four was officially the first without a school from east of the Mississippi River.
Since their 1971 Final Four run, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have only reached the Sweet 16 three times.
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South Alabama won the regular season championship in 2008
The South Alabama Jaguars had a strong run in the early years of the Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament, winning the championship in 1996, 1997, and 1998. They continued their success into the 2000s, winning the regular season championship in 2008.
The Sun Belt Conference holds an annual men's basketball tournament, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. The tournament has been played every year since the Sun Belt Conference's formation in 1976, with the first tournament taking place in 1977. The size and format of the tournament have varied over the years, but it has consistently utilised a single-elimination style.
The 2008 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament took place from March 5 to March 11, with the first round held at campus sites and the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game taking place in Mobile, Alabama, at the Mitchell Center. South Alabama's 2008 regular season championship earned them a bid to the NCAA Tournament, along with the tournament winner, Western Kentucky.
South Alabama's success in the Sun Belt Conference continued beyond their 2008 regular season championship. In 2013, they once again received a bid to the NCAA Tournament, this time alongside Middle Tennessee. The Jaguars' performance in the Sun Belt Conference has solidified their place in the conference's basketball history, alongside other notable teams such as Western Kentucky, Charlotte, and Georgia State.
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Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee shared success in 2013
The Sun Belt Conference has a rich history in basketball, with multiple teams making it to the NCAA tournament in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2008, South Alabama and Western Kentucky received bids, and in 2013, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee shared this success.
Western Kentucky University has a long association with the Sun Belt Conference. After joining in the 1980s, they remained members even after other universities left following the 1990-91 basketball season. In 2009, the university joined the Sun Belt's football conference, upgrading their football program to Division I FBS. Western Kentucky's basketball team has been highly successful, reaching the Final Four in 1971 and receiving bids to the NCAA tournament in 2008 and 2013.
Middle Tennessee State University, on the other hand, joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2000, along with New Mexico State University and the University of North Texas. Middle Tennessee's basketball team first found success in 2013 when they received a bid to the NCAA tournament along with Western Kentucky. In 2013, both universities announced they would be leaving the Sun Belt Conference for Conference USA, with Middle Tennessee departing in 2013 and Western Kentucky following in 2014.
The success of Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee in the 2013 NCAA tournament is a testament to the Sun Belt Conference's basketball prowess. While both universities have since left the conference, their achievements in 2013 remain a notable part of the Sun Belt's basketball history.
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Current Sun Belt teams with no championships include Coastal Carolina and Southern Miss
The Sun Belt Conference has a rich history in basketball, with multiple teams making it to the NCAA tournament over the years. The conference has experienced fluctuations in membership, with teams joining and departing over time.
The Sun Belt Conference currently includes 10 teams that are divided into two divisions for football: East and West. The East division comprises Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, and Troy, while the West division includes Arkansas State, Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, and Texas State.
Among the current Sun Belt teams, Coastal Carolina and Southern Miss stand out as they have yet to win a championship. Coastal Carolina, a member of the East division, is a relatively new addition to the Sun Belt Conference, having previously been affiliated with Conference USA. Despite their lack of a championship title, they have a notable achievement to their name, having won a D-I national title before officially joining the Sun Belt Conference.
Southern Miss, on the other hand, is part of the West division and is known for its academic excellence. It is one of four Sun Belt member schools that are doctorate-granting universities with "very high research activity," according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. However, in terms of athletic achievements, Southern Miss has yet to claim a championship title within the Sun Belt Conference.
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Frequently asked questions
I cannot find specific information on the winner of the 2024 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Championship.
Teams currently in the Sun Belt with no championships include Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, and Texas State.
Past and present Sun Belt schools with wins in the NCAA Tournament during their time as conference members include UNC Charlotte (1977) and Western Kentucky (1971 and 1994).
In 2008, both regular-season champion South Alabama and tournament winner Western Kentucky received bids.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock changed its athletic branding to Little Rock starting with the 2015-16 school year.
