USA Basketball Poised to Contend in the Sun Belt

With seven returning players, including all five starters the South Alabama basketball team is poised to make a run at the Sun Belt Title.  It all starts with forward Augustine Rubit who was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team.  Rubit was second in the Sun Belt in scoring last season and first in rebounds.  Rubit, a junior forward, understands he will be the focal point of opposing defenses this year.  "I gotta to learn to pass it out cause I'm going to get the opportunity,  I'm going to get the ball," Rubit said during the team's fan day.  "So every time they do double, pass it out and then when I have a quick opportunity to score I gotta score real quick."

While Rubit is dangerous in the paint guard Freddie Goldstein is a scoring threat from the outside.  Goldstein was first in the conference in three pointers made per game.  He was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team.  Joining him on the third team was Javier Carter.  He lead the league in blocked shots a year ago.  Add in sophomore Mychal Ammons on the wing - he was third on the team in scoring last year - and the Jags have a solid nucleus going into the season.  Coach Ronnie Arrow knows that is a bonus leading into their season opener against Florida State.  "I think early you're as good as your returning players," Arrow said.  "We hope to get off to a good start, we have to because the first round out of the box is Florida State, so, it's not one of these other schools.  We're hitting it hard and I hope that the Canada trip prepared us.  They got us good their last year, we want to show up this year and have a good showing and win."


Even though last year's starter at point guard Trey Anderson returns that position is wide open.  Coach Arrow was impressed by newcomer Dre Connor on the trip to Canada.  Connor played his freshman season at Towson and joins the jags from Labette junior college in Kansas.  Xavier Roberson is also expected to make an impact at shooting guard.  The sharpshooter had his season cut short last year after eight games beacuse of a foot injury.  Look for 6'10" freshman Viktor Juricek to contribute in the post.  At the very least he should be a solid rebounder and protect the basket while Carter or Rubit are on the bench.  It's been six years since South Alabama won a Sun Belt Title outright.  This is arguably their best team in that time.  In a poll of the league's coaches USA was picked to finish second in the East Division behind Middle Tennessee.  South Alabama hoops fans have a reason to be excited about the upcoming season, with several experienced players leading the way, the Jaguars could be headed for a special year.