Three Early Takeaways From the College Basketball Season

The first week of the 2025-26 college basketball season has wrapped up, and Sun Belt teams have already delivered statement wins, surprising starts, and early storylines worth watching. While it’s too early to draw definitive conclusions, the opening week has provided some interesting insight to how teams will look this season, good or bad. Here are three early takeaways from Week 1 in the Sun Belt.

1. Troy Is Still The Team to Beat

If opening week is any indication, Troy looks every bit like a team that can return to March Madness. The Trojans opened the season with one of the conference’s most impressive wins, and a game of the year candidate, going on the road to face MAC contender Kent State and pulling off a 103-97 overtime thriller. All five starters scored in double figures, with Thomas Dowd posting a double-double.

The Trojans followed that by winning a defensive battle, defeating Furman on the road 64-61. Guard Cobi Campbell, who redshirted due to injury last season, erupted for 21 points. Campbell has had a breakout start to the season, ranking third in the conference in scoring to start the year.

The Trojans have already shown they can win shootouts and defensive battles, with both coming away from home against tournament level teams. With a tough west coast swing on the horizon, Troy has more opportunities to continue improving their resume, and continue to show why they are the class of the conference.

2. Southern Miss Might Have the League’s Best Player

It is early, but Issac Taveras has already placed himself as one of the top players in the conference, and a candidate for Sun Belt Player of the Year. The junior guard has been one of the most dominant players through the first week, averaging 23 points, seven rebounds, and shooting nearly 63 percent from the field.

Taveras opened the season with 28 points on 11-for-15 shooting, then followed that with 25 points and eight rebounds in an overtime loss against South Carolina last time out. His size, versatility, and ability to make tough shots has made him nearly un-guardable so far.

The Challenge? The rest of the team has question marks. The Golden Eagles were picked near the bottom of the conference, and we rarely see POY candidates on bottom half teams. But if Southern Miss plays the way they did against South Carolina, and Taveras maintains anything close to this production, both the team and their star could be far more relevant than the preseason polls projected.

3. The Bottom of the League Looks Shaky Early

While teams like Troy and Marshall have looked impressive, several teams have stumbled to open the season, raising early concerns for their fans.

ULM’s struggles were somewhat expected, and the Warhawks have lived up to those concerns, losing by 20-plus to Northern Illinois and Ole Miss. They took care of Rust College, but that does not settle many questions about a injury-riddled roster that was built around non-Division I experience, international freshman, and one that was already thin.

Georgia State’s 0-3 is more concerning. The Panthers were blown out by Eastern Michigan on opening night, looked more competitive against Cincinnati, and then suffered a collapse at home against Presbyterian after leading by 14. Injuries have played a role, but head coach Jonas Hayes has to get the season turned around before it gets too late.

Possibly the biggest surprise in the conference comes from Texas State, who opened the year with a staggering 83–48 loss to Bowling Green. The Bobcats rebounded with a win over Texas A&M–San Antonio but fell to Tulane to start 1–2. Freshman DJ Hall and returner Franck Emmou have shown promise, but the Bobcats are going to need broader contributions if they hope to finish in the top half of the league, as many expected.

The first week didn’t provide an answer to everything, but it did provide a snapshot of what fans can expect this season. Troy looks strong again, a potential Player of the Year is emerging in Hattiesburg, and several programs are already playing catch-up. With over a month of non-conference play left, there are still plenty of opportunities for things to change.