3MW’s All Conference Team:
Player of the Year: Charles Bassey, Jr., Western Kentucky
Coach of the Year: Andy Kennedy, UAB
Newcomer of the Year: Kenneth Lofton Jr., Fr., Louisiana Tech
Freshman of the Year: Kenneth Lofton Jr., Fr., Louisiana Tech
Season Storylines:
For the most part, C-USA played to expectations. My preseason top six (not bold calls) ended up finishing the 2020-21 campaign in the top six, but certain squad still stood out.
UAB was leaps and bounds better than anticipated. Credit Andy Kennedy for breathing new life in the Blazer program — the man seemingly wins 20+ games every single season. UAB has a ton of fire-power in the backcourt, good size up front, and one of the league’s best defensive units to make a push in the postseason.
Western Kentucky won the league, but the Hilltoppers actually finished FIFTH in KenPom. Aside from UAB, top dogs Marshall, Louisiana Tech, and North Texas all out-ranked WKU. Talent-wise, Rick Stansbury’s squad still stands head and shoulders over the rest of the league. Perhaps this is the year he FINALLY gets his ‘Toppers to the Big Dance.
Marshall is the most fun team to watch and would give any team a run for its money in the NCAA Tournament. North Texas plays ugly but features one of the best players in the league in Javion Hamlet. La Tech is just a solid basketball team — the Bulldogs received a major boost from freshman Kenneth Lofton, Jr. (no relation) and are one of the best-coached teams in C-USA.
Charlotte earns the most disappointing team award. Despite having solid roster continuity, a good coach in Ron Sanchez, and one of the best players in the league in Jahmir Young, the Niners finished 225th in KenPon after starting the year 172nd and lost their last eight games of the season. Yeesh. FIU was also wildly disappointing, but the Panthers had a ridiculous amount of injuries, so Jeremy Ballard gets a slight pass. Due to COVID issues, the Panthers had to forfeit their opening game to Middle Tennessee, the worst team in C-USA.
UTEP and UTSA were predictably unpredictable. Both schools have a wealth of scoring talent and yet could barely scrape to .500 in conference play.
Rice was much better than advertised — Quincy Olivari is a burgeoning star and VMI transfer Travis Evee was fantastic in his first season in Houston.
Florida Atlantic’s finish further proves Dusty May might be a wizard. The Owls are on a four-game winning streak heading into the conference tourney. Southern Miss isn’t devoid of talent, but don’t count on these Owls to make much of a run.
Tournament Preview
Tournament Predictions
(6W) Rice over (7W) Southern Miss
(4W) UTSA over (5E) Charlotte
(3E) Marshall over (6W) Rice
(5W) UTEP over (4E) Florida Atlantic
(3W) North Texas over (6E) Middle Tennessee
(1E) Western Kentucky over (4W) UTSA
(3E) Marshall over (2W) UAB
(1W) Louisiana Tech over (5W) UTEP
(3W) North Texas over (2E) Old Dominion
(1E) Western Kentucky over (3E) Marshall
(3W) North Texas over (1W) Louisiana Tech
(1E) Western Kentucky over (3W) North Texas