2009–10 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season

August 2023 2009–10 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season #FCA120 NCAA Division I Basketball Sun Belt Conference 2001 logo.svg 150px November 9, 2009through March 6, 2010 13 ESPN, CBS Sports Regular Season Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year Tournament 2010 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament 2010 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament Basketball 2008–09 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season 2008–09 2010–11 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season 2010–11 The 2009–10 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season marked the 33rd season of Sun Belt Conference men's basketball during the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Preseason Blue Ribbon magazine predicted Western Kentucky University to win the East Division. The Hilltoppers are returning from a season in which they came within one second of upsetting Gonzaga and advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. In addition, Hilltopper star A.J. Slaughter was named the Preseason Player of the Year.http://www.wkusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5400&ATCLID=204798424 Blue Ribbon Tabs Slaughter-Led Toppers as Team to Beat in 2009-10 21 September 2009 Western Kentucky University 16 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20110718073751/http://www.wkusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5400&ATCLID=204798424 2011-07-18 dead Sun Belt Preseason Poll East Division RankTeam1 Western Kentucky2 Troy3 Middle Tennessee State4 South Alabama5 Florida Atlantic6 Florida International West Division RankTeam1 North Texas2 UALR3 Louisiana-Lafayette4 Denver5 Arkansas State6 ULM7 New Orleans Preseason All-SBC Team G -- Brandon Hazzard (Troy, Sr.) G -- A. J. Slaughter (WKU, Sr.) F -- Nate Rohnert (Denver, Sr.) F -- Eric Tramiel (North Texas, Sr.) F -- Desmond Yates (Middle Tennessee, Sr.) Regular season Non-conference In terms of upsets over the six major conferences, Western Kentucky beat Vanderbilt University 76-69 on December 11. A.J. Slaughter scored 27 points to lead the Hilltoppers to their first win over Vanderbilt since 1946. Western Kentucky led for the final 16:33 of the game, though Vanderbilt cut the lead to one twice. This was Vanderbilt's second consecutive loss.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091212/SPORTS0602/912120346/Western+Kentucky+University+shocks+Vanderbilt Western Kentucky beats Vanderbilt for first time since 1946 Lockridge Jeff 12 December 2009 The Tennessean 16 December 2009 October 2010 H3llBot Conference season Postseason SBC Tournament 2010 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament First roundSaturday, March 6 Second roundSunday, March 7 SemifinalsMonday, March 8 Championship gameTuesday, March 9 8 FAU 51 9 South Alabama 52 4 Western Kentucky 83 13 New Orleans 58 5 Arkansas State 89* 12 Ark-Little Rock 82 6 Denver 71 11 FIU 64 7 UL Lafayette 75 10 UL Monroe 76 1 Troy 67 9 South Alabama 55 4 Western Kentucky 65 5 Arkansas State 64 3 Middle Tennessee 58 6 Denver 73 2 North Texas 69 10 UL Monroe 66 1 Troy 54 4 Western Kentucky 48 6 Denver 56 2 North Texas 63 1 Troy 63 2 North Texas 66 Asterisk denotes game ended in overtime. References 2