Get To Know a College Basketball Mid-Major: Sun Belt Conference

The Sun Belt Conference, home to 12 member universities across the American South, showcases competitive men's and women's college basketball programs that compete annually for conference championships and NCAA tournament berths, with student-athletes from institutions like Louisiana, Georgia State, and Troy pursuing excellence on the court while representing their schools in the competitive mid-major landscape. Established in 1976, the Sun Belt has grown from a small conference to a significant force in college athletics, with member institutions spanning nine states from Texas to Virginia, creating a diverse competitive environment where both public and private universities develop basketball talent. Despite operating outside the Power Five conferences, Sun Belt teams regularly produce professional basketball prospects while maintaining academic excellence, with the conference's championship tournaments providing dramatic moments that often lead to NCAA tournament upsets and showcase the parity and excitement of mid-major college basketball.