Conference preview: Sun Belt

The Sun Belt is going through another remodeling phase, this time with hopes of being more than a one-bid conference.

Two teams finished with 20 wins last season, but only South Alabama earned the NCAA automatic berth, while Western Kentucky was relegated to the NIT. A similar thing happened in 2005: Three teams had at least 20 wins, but only Louisiana-Lafayette earned the automatic berth.

With two more schools joining (giving the conference 13), and many teams trying to improve with transfers, the Sun Belt hopes it can increase its win total and RPI, getting more than one team to the Big Dance.

Florida Atlantic, with new coach Rex Walters, comes over from the Atlantic Sun, and Louisiana-Monroe joins after playing in the Southland last season.

Big-name transfers coming over should only increase the quality of play in the conference. Some of the best players are Louisiana-Lafayette's David Dees, who scored 16.2 ppg at Liberty; North Texas' Keith Wooden, who was a high school star before struggling at Arizona State; Florida International's Alex Galindo, a 3-point specialist from Kansas; and Troy's Richard Chaney, who averaged 7.5 ppg for Utah's Sweet 16 team in 2004-05.

Team to beat

Western Kentucky: With 10 letter-winners and three starters back from last year's 23-8 team, the Hilltoppers are the odds-on favorites to claim the Sun Belt.

Coach Darrin Horn has increased the team's win total in each of his three years at the school and has an excellent chance to make it four.

It all starts with Courtney Lee (6-foot-5), who is the conference's top player. Lee, who averaged 17.4 points and 6.3 rebounds, can do it all and will score from all over the floor.

The backcourt is solid with the return of senior Benson Callier (8.9 ppg) and junior Ty Rogers (7.2 ppg). Sophomore forward Daniel Emerson, who shot 53.8 percent from the field off the bench last season, is expected to a big contributor as a starter.

Also joining the rotation will be Tyrone Brazelton, who was a National Junior College Athletic Association first-team All-America selection and the Region 16 player of the year after leading Missouri State-West Plains with 18.3 points per game and 158 assists.

The winner of the West could be any number of teams, but Arkansas State, New Orleans and Arkansas-Little Rock will provide the biggest threat to the Hilltoppers.

Watch out for

New Orleans: Despite going just 10-19 last season, the Privateers should be one of the most improved teams in the conference and have an outside chance to compete for the title.

Bo McCalebb, who was forced to take a redshirt last season after injuring his wrist in the fourth game of the season, is back. He was the Sun Belt preseason player of the year in 2004-05, averaging 22.6 points. He is also the only player in conference history to be named Sun Belt Tournament most outstanding player as a freshman.

Jamie McNeilly (9.2 ppg, 5.7 apg) is also back at guard along with James Parlow (10.6 ppg). Newcomer Tim Tillman, who spent three injury-riddled seasons at Drexel, is expected to be healthy and contribute in the frontcourt.

The biggest challenge New Orleans has to overcome is its free-throw shooting. Of the four returning scorers, all shot less than 70 percent from the foul line.

Player of the year

Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky: Lee is easily the best player in the conference and one of the top players in the nation.

The 6-foot-5 junior was recently named one of 50 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award. Lee also finished in the top 10 in the conference in assists, steals and free throw percentage. The do-it-all forward also shot 40.8 percent from 3-point range.