JONESBORO, Ark. (10/14/24) – Arkansas State men's basketball was picked to finish first in the Sun Belt Conference in the 2024-25 Preseason Coaches Poll, while a conference-leading three Red Wolves received preseason honors, the league announced Monday.
A-State, coming off a stellar first season under head coach Bryan Hodgson, received 12 of 14 possible first-place votes and earned 193 of 196 possible points to be selected as the league favorite for the first time in school history. The Red Wolves finished fourth in the league last season after being picked ninth in the preseason, going 11-7 in conference play and reaching the Sun Belt Conference championship game.
Kobe Julien earned Preseason Player of the Year honors, highlighting a trio of Red Wolves on the preseason all-league lists that included Taryn Todd and Izaiyah Nelson on the second and third teams, respectively. Monday marks the first time since the 2012-13 preseason in which A-State boasts three on the preseason all-conference lists.
Julien earned First Team honors after leading the conference in scoring (17.3) last season at Louisiana before joining the Red Wolves in the offseason. The Baton Rouge, La., native was a First Team NABC All-District and Second Team All-SBC selection, and scored in double figures in 31 of 33 contests. Of those 31 double-digit outputs, 11 were 20-plus and one over 30. He also tied for fourth in the league in free-throw percentage, converting at an 82.4-percent clip.
Todd earned a spot on the second team after leading A-State in scoring a season ago (12.8) and being named Third Team All-Sun Belt. He also led the Red Wolves in steals (37) and field goals (180), shooting 42.0 percent from the field. The Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, native led the team with 25 double-digit scoring outputs, including six past the 20-point mark and one 30-point performance.
Nelson enters the year as one of the league's most-feared rim protectors and garnered a preseason third-team nod. The rising junior led the Scarlet and Black in both rebounding (7.6) and blocked shots (73), the latter in which he ranked 17th nationally with the most swats by an A-State player since 2001-02. Nelson also accounted for a team-high eight double-doubles and averaged 9.8 points per contest.
James Madison, which reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, earned a first-place vote, while Troy also garnered a top vote after placing third in the conference last year.
A-State opens the season at home against reigning MAC Tournament champion Akron on Monday, Nov. 4, with tip-off slated for 7 p.m. inside First National Bank Arena. However, fans can get an early glimpse of the 2024-25 squad at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, as the Red Wolves host Trevecca Nazarene in an exhibition bout. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online.
SEASON TICKETS
Including their exhibition outing, the Red Wolves will play 16 games at First National Bank Arena. Limited lower-level season tickets remain available, including less than 100 sideline tickets. Tickets can be purchased online at AStateRedWolves.com/tickets or by calling (870) 972-2401.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the A-State men's basketball program, follow @AStateMB on Twitter/X and @astatemb on Instagram, while also liking the team's Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateMB.
2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Arkansas State (12) – 193
2. James Madison (1) – 170
3. Troy (1) – 155
4. Louisiana – 144
5. Southern Miss – 133
6. App State – 122
7. Texas State – 89
T8. Georgia Southern – 85
T8. Old Dominion – 85
10. Marshall – 79
11. South Alabama – 78
12. Georgia State – 75
13. Coastal Carolina – 34
14. ULM – 28
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Player of the Year
Kobe Julien, Arkansas State [R-SR | F | Baton Rouge, La.]
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
Mark Freeman, James Madison [R-SR | G | Memphis, Tenn.]
Kobe Julien, Arkansas State [R-SR | F | Baton Rouge, La.]
Hosana Kitenge, Louisiana [SR | F | Crawley, England]
Nate Martin, Marshall [SR | F | Houston, Texas]
Myles Rigsby, Troy [SO | F | Fort Worth, Texas]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team
Obinna Anochili-Killen, Marshall [5th Yr. | F | Lagos, Nigeria]
Tayton Conerway, Troy [SR | G | Burleson, Texas]
C.J. Huntley, App State [GR | F | Huntersville, N.C.]
Toneari Lane, Georgia State [SR | G | Atlanta, Ga.]
Taryn Todd, Arkansas State [SR | G | Ontario, Canada]
Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team
Xavier Brown, James Madison [JR | G | Williamsburg, Va.]
Andre Curbelo, Southern Miss [GR | G | Vega Baja, Puerto Rico]
Tyrel Morgan, Texas State [GR | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Izaiyah Nelson, Arkansas State [JR | F | Atlanta, Ga.]
Myles Tate, App State [SR | G | Spartanburg, S.C.]
