Sun Belt Conference releases basketball conference schedules

Earlier in the month, the Sun Belt Conference announced schedules for the Troy basketball programs. Both Trojan squads look to build off successful seasons. 

The Troy men's basketball team grabbed the Sun Belt Conference crown last season and was the only Sun Belt team to represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament.  

On the other hand, the Troy women’s basketball team fell just short in the Sun Belt Tournament and fought back to the WNIT Title game, where they lost a close matchup to Buffalo. 

To recap from last season, the men's team went 23-11, posting a13-5 record in conference play with losses to Texas State, Arkansas State, South Alabama, James Madison and Louisiana in conference. Troy lost to No. 18 Kentucky in the first round of March Madness. 

The women's team went 24-14 and 13-5 in conference play, losing to James Madison, Louisiana, Arkansas State and ULM. They then lost to Arkansas State in the conference tournament semifinals and fell to Buffalo in the WINT final. 

The men's squad lost key pieces to the transfer portal -- a notable loss was Sun Belt Player of the Year Tayton Conerway, who averaged 14.2 points, 2.9 steals, 4.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game.  

The women did not lose any key players to the portal, but saw Brianna Jackson, Briana Peguero and others graduate. Troy also signed Mississippi State transfer Shakira Edwards who broke out with eight  points, two  rebounds and a steal against Chicago State and will boost the team’s depth. 

To start conference play, the men’s team will play three straight home games. The Trojans square off against Marshall on Dec. 20, Texas State on New Years Eve and South Alabama on Jan. 3. All of those teams were .500 or better last season.  

On the contrary, the women's team will start with three straight on the road, playing against Old Dominion, Louisiana and Southern Miss, all of which were .500 or below. 

The men then go on a road trip to play Arkansas State on Jan. 7 for a Sun Belt Championship game rematch, and play Louisiana on Jan. 10 to take on the Ragin’ Cajuns before returning to Trojan Arena to play Southern Miss on Jan. 14 and Arkansas State again on Jan. 17.  

The ladies play two straight home games against Texas State on Jan. 7 and Arkansas State on Jan. 10, then head to ULM on Jan. 14 and San Marcos, Texas, on Jan. 17 to bid farewell to Texas State in their last season as members of the Sun Belt. 

After two straight away games and two home games, the men repeat the cycle and play at Old Dominion on Jan. 21 and at Georgia Southern on Jan. 24. They square off against James Madison on Jan. 29 and Appalachian State on Jan. 31.  

The women's team runs a similar schedule pattern, playing Georgia Southern on Jan. 22 and Georgia State on Jan. 24 at home before hitting the road to play Marshall on Jan. 28 and Coastal Carolina on Jan. 31. 

The men will then start their longest road tripyet, playing five straight away games while the women's team will play five straight home games at the same time. The men's team plays Georgia State on Feb. 4, Texas State i on Feb. 11, Southern Miss on Feb. 14, ULM on Feb. 18 and South Alabama on Feb. 21.  

The women's team plays App State on Feb. 4, Louisiana on Feb. 12, ULM on Feb. 14, South Alabama on Feb. 18 and Southern Miss on Feb. 21. 

To wrap up the regular season, the men's team comes home for two games and the women's team travels for the next two. The men play Louisiana and ULM, and the women play Arkansas State and South Alabama.