Rivals.com Releases Rankings

Recently, the college athletics reference Web site Rivals.com ranked all 347 college basketball teams for the upcoming season.

Here’s how South Alabama and the rest of the Sun Belt Conference fared.

No. 283 Florida Atlantic - FAU lost the league’s top scorer from last season, Paul Graham III (18.5). But FAU returns top shot blocker Brett Royster and second league leading assist man Alex Tucker, hoping to rebuild off of last season’s two conference victories.

No. 271 New Orleans - UNO lost their top scorers but welcomes Georgia transfer Billy Humphrey.

No. 260 Louisiana-Monroe - The War Hawks return Tony Hopper from a broken foot injury.

No. 225 Florida International - FIU hired coach Isaiah Thomas and will be led by center Freddy Asprilla (13 points, nine rebounds.) The Golden Panthers open the season against North Carolina.

No. 220 South Alabama - The Jags return just one of their top five scorers, and two of the top nine.

No. 201 Louisiana-Lafayette - Guard Chris Gradnigo returns after leading the Ragin’ Cajuns in scoring last season 13 ppg. ULL went 1-13 on the road last year.

No. 197 Arkansas-Little Rock - UALR must replace their top three scorers from last season.

No. 187 Arkansas State - The Red Wolves only had one player in double figures in scoring last season, Donald Boone (13.6). ASU lost their last 10 games and won only one of their last 13 games.

No. 153 Denver - The Pioneers return Nate Rohnert (15 ppg 5 rebounds), who also led the league in minutes played at 37 per game. The Pioneers were the top defensive team in the league allowing only 60 ppg.

No. 142 Middle Tenn. - Three-time All-Conference player Desmond Yates (17.2 ppg 4.5 rebounds) returns along with four other seniors.

No. 103 North Texas - The Mean Green will be early favorites, returning their top four scorers, led by forward Eric Tramiel (12 ppg and 6.6 rebounds).

No. 82 Troy - The Trojans’ offensive game plan is simple. Run down the court and fire away, leading the league in scoring offense and 3-pointers made a game.

No. 52 Western Kentucky - Four starters return, plus Western is bringing in the league’s best recruiting class. Guard A.J. Slaughter has league player-of-the-year potential. Western is seeking its third consecutive first-round win in the NCAA tourney.

USA Coach Ronnie Arrow has coached six 20-win teams in his college career, including three with the Jags.

However, with many new faces on this season’s team, a tough task awaits him and the Jags.

USA has only three seniors on the roster and nine freshmen. Bryan Sherrer started 11 games and LaShun Watson started 21 for the Jags last season.

Jag fans may not need to worry too much, though. In Arrow’s first season with USA in 2007-2008, the Jags only had two seniors, and that year’s team finished the season 26-6.

Coach Arrow has been quoted saying this year’s team style will, no doubt, be more up-tempo than what it was last year.

Jag fans are hoping that is a indication of good things to come in 2009-2010.