It’s finally November, the second happiest time of the sporting year. Time for Sun Belt Basketball season.

We’re happy to present a frighteningly intense preview of the upcoming season courtesy of our resident expert, Jesse Hemingway. Long time fans may recall the old site, where we tried to replace him with a chimpanzee for last season’s preview column.

It was a mess, literally and figuratively, and the predictions weren’t up to Jesse’s level of accuracy and analytical rigor. Fortunately, he’s decided to slum it again this year, and we’re proud to host his analysis on Take a Knee.net.

You can find each team’s preview capsule by clicking on one of the many individual writeups currently dominating the front page of the site. Or, if you’re the impatient type, you can follow the links provided in the projected East and West standings.

Jesse has also projected a first, second, and third team all-SBC lineup, and newcomer and freshman teams, too. We don’t see things exactly the same (I’m a lot more optimistic about South Alabama, he has more confidence in Denver than I do), but the man knows his Sun Belt Basketball, and we think you’ll enjoy his work.

Ty and I will attempt to maintain a weekly recap/look ahead column, and Jesse may chime in from time to time with his observations. But we’re all limited in what (and who) we can physically see on TV or over the internet. So if you have thoughts or observations on your team that you think we should be aware of, please let us know.

Ty and I have our emails listed under the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the page, and we’ll be adding Jesse’s soon. For now, just know you can reach him at: jhemingway.sbc@gmail.com

Comments are always welcome. If you’re a first time commenter, your comment won’t automatically be visible. Be patient, it may take a little while for us to see the pending comment and approve your post.

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East Division Projected Standings:

1. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

2. Troy Trojans

3. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

4. Florida Atlantic Owls

5. South Alabama Jaguars

6. Florida International Golden Panthers

West Division Projected Standings:

1. North Texas Mean Green

2. Denver Pioneers

3. Arkansas State Red Wolves

4. UL – Monroe Warhawks

5. UA – Little Rock Trojans

6. UL – Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns

7. New Orleans Privateers

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All-Conference Teams

First Team: Player of the Year: Desmond Yates

Desmond Yates   Sr. F Middle Tennessee State

Nate Rohnert   Sr. G/F Denver

A.J. Slaughter   Sr. G Western Kentucky

Brandon Hazzard   Sr. G Troy

Eric Tramiel   Sr. F  North Texas

Second Team:

Josh White   Jr. G North Texas

Donald Boone   Sr. G Arkansas State

Billy Humphrey   Sr. G New Orleans

Sergio Kerusch   Sr. F Western Kentucky

Richard Delk   Sr. G Troy

Third Team:

Tony Hooper   Sr. G UL-Monroe

Tim Williams   Jr. G South Alabama

Rob Lewis   Jr. F Denver

Chris Gradnigo   Jr. G/F UL-Lafayette

Montario Haddock   Sr. F Middle Tennessee State

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All- Newcomer Team: Newcomer of the Year: Billy Humphrey

Billy Humphrey   Sr. G New Orleans

Martavious Adams   Soph. F Arkansas State

Tim Williams   Jr. G South Alabama

Solomon Bozeman   Jr. G UA-Little Rock

Antoine Watson   Jr. G Florida International

All-Freshman Team: Freshman of the Year: Ray Taylor

Ray Taylor   Fr. G Florida Atlantic

DeAndre Hersey   Fr-RS F South Alabama

William Green   Fr. F Western Kentucky

David Murray   Fr. G Middle Tennessee

Jacob Holmen   Fr. F North Texas