Sun Belt Tournament Begins in Pensacola; Arkansas State Plays Thursday The 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Championship presented by Air Force Reserve officially kicks off today in Pensacola, Florida, with all 14 Sun Belt institutions competing in a single-elimination tournament. The event will run from March 3 to March 9 at the Pensacola Bay Center. Seedings and matchups were finalized Friday evening following the conclusion of the regular season. Troy, with a 20-11 overall record and a 12-6 mark in conference play, secured the regular season championship and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. This marks the Trojans’ second consecutive title, following their first victory in the tournament since 2017. Six teams tied for second place in the conference standings with 11-7 records, including Marshall, Coastal Carolina, App State, Texas State, South Alabama, and Arkansas State. The tournament format has been adjusted for the 2024-25 season, granting the top two seeds automatic byes to the semifinals. No. 1 seed Troy and No. 2 seed Marshall will advance directly to the semifinals on March 8, while No. 3 seed Coastal Carolina and No. 4 seed App State will receive byes to the quarterfinals on March 7. First-round games will begin on March 3, with all matches broadcast on ESPN+. The championship game will air on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. CT on March 9. The tournament schedule includes a series of matchups starting with the first round on March 3. Notable games include Louisiana facing Georgia State at 5 p.m. CT, followed by Old Dominion against ULM at 7:30 p.m. CT. Subsequent rounds will feature matchups between higher-seeded teams and winners from earlier games, with the final showdown between the semifinalists on March 9.#sun_belt_conference #pensacola_bay_center #troy #marshall #arkansas_state
JMU men’s basketball faces steep challenge in Sun Belt tournament The No. 9 seeded JMU men’s basketball team (17-14, 9-9 Sun Belt) will begin its postseason campaign in the Sun Belt Conference tournament on Wednesday at 6 p.m. EDT. The Dukes will face the winner of Game 1, which pits No. 12 Louisiana (10-21, 7-11) against No. 13 Georgia State (10-21, 7-11). The matchup will take place just 24 hours after the Game 1 contest, as both teams prepare for the high-stakes showdown. Head coach Preston Spradlin acknowledged the difficulty of the task, calling the two opponents “two tough teams” capable of defeating any squad in the league. “You never know exactly what you’re going to get in the matchup against those guys,” Spradlin said, emphasizing the unpredictability of the contest. The Dukes, who faced both teams during the regular season, will need to rely on their experience to navigate the challenge. JMU’s previous encounters with Louisiana and Georgia State highlight the importance of preparation. The Dukes lost to Louisiana at home on Feb. 4, 64-61, with junior forward Justin McBride sidelined. However, Spradlin noted that Louisiana has since improved, boasting confidence and a strong performance in recent games. Meanwhile, JMU swept its two matchups against Georgia State, defeating the Panthers 81-79 in overtime on Feb. 12 and 80-65 in Atlanta on Feb. 21. “We played really well not long ago down at Georgia State,” Spradlin said, citing the team’s strong defensive and transition play. To secure the Sun Belt Conference championship and a bid to the NCAA tournament, JMU must win six consecutive games in six days. Spradlin admitted the challenge is immense, stating, “We haven’t even said the word six.#jmu #sun_belt_conference #preston_spradlin #justin_mcbride #cliff_davis
