UT-Arlington looks to build upon winning formula

Originally published in USA Today Sports Weekly’s College Basketball Season Preview issue.

By JOSHUA KAY

Coming off a season in which UT-Arlington tied a program record with 24 victories, Scott Cross’s squad has all the pieces to take the next step: winning the team’s first ever Sun Belt title. The Mavericks return all five of their starting cast from a season ago which includes 2015-2016 first team All-Sun Belt PG Erick Neal and 2016-17 preseason Sun Belt player of the year, Kevin Hervey.

The Marvericks will be tested by Georgia State, a team looking to regain the top stop in the league. The Panthers lost senior Kevin Ware to graduation but return leading scorer Jeremy Hollowell (14.8 PPG) while adding 4-star recruit D’Marcus Simonds and Murray State graduate transfer Justin Seymour.

New comers Coastal Carolina will join the Sun Belt loaded and ready to contend for a title. The Chanticleers return Elijah Wilson (13.7 PPG) and Jaylen Shaw (11.1 PPG) while adding five players headlined by freshman Arthur Labinowicz who averaged 24.0 PPG at Combine Academy.

UL-Monroe looks to make another deep tournament run, however without Majok Deng who averaged 18.4 PPG and Sun Belt Defensive player of the year, Justin Roberson, the Warhawks will look to Nick Coppola (10.9 PPG) to fill the void.

Georgia Southern will put its hopes in reigning Sun Belt Rookie of the year, Tookie Brown (17.8 PPG) and junior Mike Hughes (14.9 PPG). UL-Lafayette will need to find a way to replace last years Sun Belt player of the year Shawn Long (18.9 PPG). Fortunately, Jay Wright (8.9 PPG) and Johnathan Stove (8.9 PPG) can pick up the scoring.

Expectations are high for Arkansas Little-Rock first year head Coach Wes Flannigan who will have to rely on Marcus Johnson Jr. (12.7 PPG) and Jalen Jackon (8.5 PPG) to get the Trojans back to their winning ways. Arkansas State new head coach, Grant McCasland will employ a mix of veterans like Devin Carter (17.3 PPG) and youth like first team all NJCAA selection Devin Simms (20.3 PPG, 10.1 RPG).

Troy’s offense could be one of the most explosive in the league with the return of Wesley Person (16.8 PPG) and Jordan Varnado (13.2 PPG). South Alabama returns Ken Williams (15.5 PPG) and Georgi Boyonov (10.4 PPG, 7.1 PRG) Texas State will be tested early after signing eight new players for the 2016-17 season. Ronshad Shabazz  (11.9 PPG) looks to take more of a leadership role in his sophomore campaign for Appalachian State.

Projected Order of Finish

1. UT-Arlington (24-11,13-7)
2. Georgia State (16-14, 9-11)
3. Costal Carolina (21-12, 12-6) *In Big South
4. UL-Monroe (20-14, 15-5)
5. Georgia Southern (14-17, 10-10)
6. UL-Lafayette (19-15, 12-8)
7. Arkansas Little-Rock (30-5, 17-3)
8. Arkansas State (11-20, 7-13)
9. Troy (9-22, 4-16)
10. South Alabama (14-19, 8-12)
11. Texas State (15-16, 8-12)
12. Appalachian State (9-22, 7-13)

Player of the Year

 Kevin Hervey, F Jr., 6-7, 230 UT-Arlington

Rookie of the Year

D’Marcus Simonds, G 6-3, 180 Georgia State 

All-Conference Teams

First Team

Tookie Brown (G) 5-11, 180 lbs.                   (So.) Georgia Southern

D’Marcus Simonds (G) 6-3, 180 lbs.             (Fr.) Georgia State

Erick Neal (G) 5-10, 155 lbs.                          (Jr.) UT-Arlington

Jordan Varnado (F) 6-6, 215 lbs.                    (So.) Troy

Kevin Hervey (F) 6-7, 230 lbs.                       (Jr.) UT-Arlington

Second Team

Marcus Johnson Jr. (G) 5-11, 175 lbs.           (Sr.) Arkansas Little-Rock

Ken Williams (G) 6-3, 198 lbs.                       (Sr.) South Alabama

Wesley Person (G) 6-3, 180 lbs.                     (Jr.) Troy

Devin Carter (G/F) 6-5, 205 lbs.                     (RSr.) Arkansas State

Ronshad Shabazz (F/G) 6-5, 212 lbs.             (So.) Appalachian State

Rating the Recruits                   

Costal Carolina: The Chanticleers enter their first season in the Sun Belt with depth at guard and an improved frontcourt. Arthur Labinowicz (6-4, 190), who averaged 24.0 PPG at Combine Academy in Charlotte, NC, headlines a recruiting class for head coach Cliff Ellis that also includes Amidou Bamba (6-8, 240) from Ontario, Canada and three junior college transfers.

Arkansas State: The Red Wolves lost their leading scorer Anthony Livingston who transferred to Texas Tech so bringing in a pure scorer was on first year head coach, Grant McCasland’s mind. He filled that void with NJCAA first team all American Devin Sims (6-5, 197), a stretch wing who shot 75 percent from the field last year. Overall, McCasland brings in eight new players that included two international recruits and five junior college transfers.

Georgia State: The Panthers may have landed the most coveted recruit in the Sun Belt with the signing of four-star guard D’Marcus Simonds (6-3, 180). Ranked in many top 100 recruiting lists, Simonds can be plugged in right away to Ron Hunter’s offense. Georgia State also added gradate transfer Justin Seymour (Murray State) to help strengthen the backcourt.

Don’t Miss Games

UT-Arlington at Texas, November 29^th: UT-Arlington is no stranger to pulling off the upset over a power five team, beating Ohio State in Columbus last season. The Mavericks also pushed Texas to the brink falling 80-73 in OT. This year, with a veteran core returning, don’t be surprised if the upset happens.

Coastal Carolina at UT-Arlington, December 31st: The Chanticleers will begin their new era of Sun Belt basketball on the road against a tough UT-Arlington team with their sites on an NCAA berth.

UL-Lafayette at UL-Monroe, February 18^th: These two conference rivals, separated by just 185 miles, square of in another highly contested matchup of potential conference powerhouses. The Ragin’ Cagins haven’t won at UL-Monroe since 2013.