2009–10 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball season

Preseason

Blue Ribbon magazine predicted Western Kentucky University to win the East Division. The Hilltoppers are returning from a season in which they came within one second of upsetting Gonzaga and advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. In addition, Hilltopper star A.J. Slaughter was named the Preseason Player of the Year.

Sun Belt Preseason Poll

;East Division

;West Division

Preseason All-SBC Team

• G -- Brandon Hazzard (Troy, Sr.)
• G -- A. J. Slaughter (WKU, Sr.)
• F -- Nate Rohnert (Denver, Sr.)
• F -- Eric Tramiel (North Texas, Sr.)
• F -- Desmond Yates (Middle Tennessee, Sr.)

Regular season

Non-conference

In terms of upsets over the six major conferences, Western Kentucky beat Vanderbilt University 76-69 on December 11. A.J. Slaughter scored 27 points to lead the Hilltoppers to their first win over Vanderbilt since 1946. Western Kentucky led for the final 16:33 of the game, though Vanderbilt cut the lead to one twice. This was Vanderbilt's second consecutive loss.

Conference season

Postseason

SBC Tournament

Main article: 2010 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament

Sunday, March 7 Monday, March 8 Tuesday, March 9 | RD1-seed03=8 | RD1-team03= FAU | RD1-score03=51 | RD1-seed04=9 | RD1-team04=South Alabama | RD1-score04=52

| RD1-seed05=4 | RD1-team05=Western Kentucky | RD1-score05=83 | RD1-seed06=13 | RD1-team06=New Orleans | RD1-score06=58

| RD1-seed07=5 | RD1-team07=Arkansas State | RD1-score07=89* | RD1-seed08=12 | RD1-team08=Ark-Little Rock | RD1-score08=82

| RD1-seed11=6 | RD1-team11=Denver | RD1-score11=71 | RD1-seed12=11 | RD1-team12=FIU | RD1-score12=64

| RD1-seed15=7 | RD1-team15=UL Lafayette | RD1-score15=75 | RD1-seed16=10 | RD1-team16=UL Monroe | RD1-score16=76

| RD2-seed01=1 | RD2-team01=Troy | RD2-score01=67 | RD2-seed02=9 | RD2-team02=South Alabama | RD2-score02=55

| RD2-seed03=4 | RD2-team03=Western Kentucky | RD2-score03=65 | RD2-seed04=5 | RD2-team04=Arkansas State | RD2-score04=64

| RD2-seed05=3 | RD2-team05=Middle Tennessee | RD2-score05=58 | RD2-seed06=6 | RD2-team06=Denver | RD2-score06=73

| RD2-seed07=2 | RD2-team07=North Texas | RD2-score07=69 | RD2-seed08=10 | RD2-team08=UL Monroe | RD2-score08=66

| RD3-seed01=1 | RD3-team01=Troy | RD3-score01=54 | RD3-seed02=4 | RD3-team02=Western Kentucky | RD3-score02=48

| RD3-seed03=6 | RD3-team03=Denver | RD3-score03=56 | RD3-seed04=2 | RD3-team04=North Texas | RD3-score04=63

| RD4-seed01=1 | RD4-team01=Troy | RD4-score01=63 | RD4-seed02=2 | RD4-team02=North Texas | RD4-score02=66 Asterisk denotes game ended in overtime.

References

References

1. (21 September 2009). "Blue Ribbon Tabs Slaughter-Led Toppers as Team to Beat in 2009-10". [[Western Kentucky University]].
2. Lockridge, Jeff. (12 December 2009). "Western Kentucky beats Vanderbilt for first time since 1946". [[The Tennessean]].