Overview of Georgia State Basketball Conference
Georgia State basketball is a member of the Sun Belt Conference, a Division I athletic conference composed of 11 universities and colleges located in the southeastern United States. The Sun Belt Conference was formed in 1976 and is one of the oldest Division I conferences in the country. The teams that currently make up the Sun Belt Conference are Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Little Rock, Louisiana, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, and ULM.
History of the Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference was established in 1976 by seven universities from the southeastern United States. The original schools included Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Louisiana, South Alabama, Texas State, ULM, and Western Kentucky. Over the years, the number of teams in the Sun Belt Conference has grown, with new teams joining and some teams leaving. In 2019, the Sun Belt Conference added the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Texas at Arlington to the conference.
Benefits of Being in the Sun Belt Conference
Being a member of the Sun Belt Conference provides Georgia State basketball with a number of benefits. One of the main benefits is having access to a large number of schools in the southeastern United States. This allows Georgia State to compete against other teams in the region and build rivalries. Additionally, the Sun Belt Conference offers its members access to a variety of NCAA championships, including basketball, baseball, and softball. Georgia State can also take advantage of the conference’s various marketing opportunities, which help to publicize the team’s games and increase attendance.
Georgia State Basketball in the Sun Belt Conference
Georgia State basketball has been a member of the Sun Belt Conference since 2005. During that time, the team has been one of the most successful teams in the conference. In 2012, the Panthers won the conference tournament and made their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Since then, the team has continued to be a competitive force in the conference, reaching the NCAA tournament four times and winning the regular season conference championship in 2017.
Georgia State Basketball Rivalries
Georgia State has developed rivalries with other teams in the Sun Belt Conference over the years. The Panthers have a long-standing rivalry with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which dates back to the 1970s. The Panthers have also developed rivalries with other teams in the conference, such as Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, and Georgia Southern.
Georgia State Basketball Championships
The Georgia State Panthers have won a number of championships in the Sun Belt Conference since 2005. In 2011, the Panthers won the regular season conference championship, and in 2012, the team won the conference tournament and made their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. The Panthers have also won the conference tournament three times, most recently in 2017.
Georgia State Basketball Coaching Staff
The Georgia State Panthers are led by head coach Rob Lanier. Lanier was hired in 2018 and has quickly established himself as one of the top coaches in the Sun Belt Conference. Prior to arriving at Georgia State, Lanier was the associate head coach at TCU and has also held assistant coaching positions at Texas, Texas A&M, and LSU. He has helped lead the Panthers to a number of successful seasons, including an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2019.
Georgia State Basketball Facilities
The Georgia State Panthers play their home games at the GSU Sports Arena, which was built in 1972. The arena has a capacity of 7,500 and is one of the oldest in the Sun Belt Conference. The arena has been renovated multiple times over the years, most recently in 2019, when the seating capacity was increased and a new video board was installed.
Georgia State Basketball Fan Support
The Georgia State Panthers have a passionate fan base that consistently supports the team during the season. The Panthers have sold out the GSU Sports Arena for several games over the past few years, and the team has one of the highest attendance rates in the Sun Belt Conference. The fans are also very supportive of the team during the NCAA tournament, as the Panthers have had a number of successful tournament runs in recent years.
Conclusion
Georgia State basketball is a member of the Sun Belt Conference, a Division I athletic conference composed of 11 universities and colleges located in the southeastern United States. The Panthers have had a great deal of success in the conference since joining in 2005, winning the regular season championship in 2011 and the conference tournament in 2012 and 2017. The team is led by head coach Rob Lanier, and the Panthers play their home games at the GSU Sports Arena. Georgia State has a passionate fan base that consistently supports the team, and the team has had a number of successful NCAA tournament runs.
Georgia State basketball is an integral part of the Sun Belt Conference, and the Panthers have established themselves as one of the top teams in the conference. With a passionate fan base and a solid coaching staff, Georgia State is poised to continue their success in the coming years.