Nine teams at .500 or better. Half of the league's 12 teams in the KenPom top 200. Power-conference transfers scattered throughout.
There's little debate as to the strength of the Sun Belt Conference. But there may be more depth in the league than at any point in recent years.
"There's no team in this league that you can go in and just say, 'That's a win,'" Arkansas State Coach Mike Balado said. "You've got to come in with your A-game every night. If you don't, you're in big trouble -- there are good coaches and a lot of really good players.