College Basketball Conference Preview #15 - Conference USA

The 2024-25 College Basketball Season will be one to remember for each team in Conference USA. Look for Western Kentucky to set the pace and finish in 1st place in the Conference. Western Kentucky looks to cause problems in Conference USA in 2024-25 with new Head Coach Hank Plona but it won't be easy. The Hilltoppers only bring back two starters in senior guard Don McHenry and senior forward Tyrone Marshall. Both players could easily wind up being 1st Team All Conference USA Players this season. They will get help from senior guard Khristian Lander and senior forwards Enoch Kalambay and Babacar Faye - all returning reserves - along with senior guard Terrion Murdix (Texas A&M Corpus-Christi transfer). Look for senior guard Braxton Bayless (Niagara transfer) and senior forward Blaise Keita (Nebraska transfer) to provide additional scoring and rebounding as well for the Hilltoppers this season. Louisiana Tech hopes to build on a solid season in 2023-24 but it will be difficult. The Bulldogs return two starters in senior forward Daniel Batcho and junior guard Sean Newman. Louisiana Tech will need several returning reserves to play big roles most notably junior guard Jordan Crawford and junior forwards Devin Ree and Will Allen. They will get assistance from several transfers as well including sophomore guard Kaden Cooper (Oklahoma transfer) and junior guard Amaree Abram (Georgia Tech transfer). I predict Louisiana Tech to finish in 2nd place in the final Conference Standings. Sam Houston State last made the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and they may have an even more difficult time in 2024 than they have had in the past. The Bearkats are hoping to win the Conference USA Tournament in their second season in the Conference. Sam Houston State brings back two starters in senior guards Lamar Wilkerson and Damon Nicholas, Jr. The Bearkats also bring back senior forwards Cameron Huefner and Kian Scroggins - both returning reserves - along with senior guard Brennen Burns (Division II transfer). I predict Sam Houston State to finish in 3rd place in the final Conference Standings. Middle Tennessee will challenge Western Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, and Sam Houston State for the Conference USA Title and will need a huge season from senior guard Jestin Porter to win the Conference USA Tournament. The Blue Raiders bring back three starters in senior guard Jacob Johnson and senior forward Justin Bufford in addition to the aforementioned Porter. Head Coach Nick McDevitt did well in the Transfer Portal as the Blue Raiders added senior guard Jlynn Counter (IUPUI transfer) and senior center Essam Mostafa (TCU transfer). Look for several returning reserves in senior guard Camryn Weston, junior guard Tre Green, and sophomore forward Chris Loofe to have breakout seasons. Liberty begins their 2nd season in Conference USA looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. The Flames welcome back three starters and will be led by senior guard Kaden Metheny and junior guard Colin Porter. Look for senior guard Gabriel McKay and junior forwards Zander Yates and Bryson Spell - all returning reserves - to play bigger roles this season. Senior forward Josh Smith (Stetson transfer) and junior forward Zach Cleveland - the final returning starter - will provide additional scoring and rebounding for the Flames this season. I predict Liberty to finish in 5th place in the final Conference Standings.

UTEP brings back three starters and will be led by senior guard Corey Camper, Jr. and senior forward Otis Frazier III. The Miners will need sophomore forward Elijah Jones and sophomore guard David Tererell, Jr. - both returning reserves - to propel them to new heights this season. Look out for junior guards Devon Barnes (Tarleton State transfer) and Ahamad Bynum (Junior College transfer) as well along with senior forward Kevin Kalu - the final returning starter. The Miners may take their lumps this season with Head Coach Joe Golding but will bounce back quickly. I predict UTEP to finish in 6th place in the final Conference Standings. New Mexico State Head Coach Jason Hooten hopes he can guide the Aggies to a Conference USA Championship in just his 2nd season at the helm. The Aggies bring back two starters in senior guards Christian Cook and Jaden Harris. They will get help from senior guard Dionte Bostick (Cal State Northridge transfer) and senior guard Zawdie Jackson (Division II transfer). Look for senior forwards Robert Carpenter and Peter Filipovity (Maine transfer) to provide additional scoring and rebounding for the Aggies this season. I predict New Mexico State to finish in 7th place in the final Conference Standings. Jacksonville State is looking at a rebuild as the Gamecocks only return one starter in senior forward Marcellus Brigham. Look for several returning reserves - including senior guard Caleb Johnson and senior forward Mason Nicholson - to have big seasons for the Gamecocks as they try stay out of the Conference USA cellar. The Gamecocks also added sophomore guards Jao Ituka (Wake Forest transfer) and Koree Cotton (VMI transfer), along with senior guard Jaron Pierre, Jr. (Wichita State transfer). Head Coach Ray Harper has his work cut out for him in his 9th season at the helm but he is up for the challenge. I predict Jacksonville State to finish in 8th place this season. Kennesaw State begins it's 1st season in Conference USA with moderate expectations. The Owls only bring back one starter in junior guard Simeon Cottle. Look for sophomore guard R.J. Johnson, sophomore forward Frankquon Sherman, and senior guard Jusaun Holt - all returning reserves - to provide additional scoring and rebounding for the Owls this season. Kennesaw State also added senior guard Ricardo Wright (SMU transfer) and senior forward Andre Weir (FGCU transfer). I predict Kennesaw State to finish in 9th place this season. Florida International hopes to climb the Conference Standings even further after an 9th place finish in 2023-24. The Panthers return two starters in senior guard Jaidon Lipscomb and junior guard Dashon Gittens. Look for several transfers to play important roles - most notably junior guard Asim Jones (Junior College transfer) and senior guard Travis Gray (Junior College transfer). Senior forwards Jonathan Aybar and Okechukwu Okeke, along with junior guard Jayden Brewer - all returning reserves - will have to have big seasons if the Panthers hope to finish in the top half of the final Conference USA Standings. I predict Florida International to finish in 10th place this season. Regardless of which team wins the Conference Tournament it will be a great season in Conference USA. Enjoy all of the games!

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