JONESBORO, Ark. — The Arkansas State men’s and women’s basketball teams are expected to compete near the top of the league this season after both were selected to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference preseason coaches polls, the league announced Monday.
The women’s team, the reigning Sun Belt Tournament champion which earned its first NCAA Tournament berth last season, claimed the No. 2 spot with 174 points, finishing just behind favorite James Madison.
The Red Wolves placed two players on the preseason all-conference teams: junior guard Crislyn Rose, who was named to the First Team, and senior guard Zyion Shannon, who earned a spot on the Second Team. Rose was also the Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player last spring.
On the men’s side, first-year coach Ryan Pannone will lea