It’s so easy to get overly hyped. I recall the summer that the Lakers signed Steve Nash to join Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. Well respected ESPN Radio personality Mike Greenberg breathlessly announced that the Lakers were obviously the NBA favorite headed into the new season. That didn’t happen. Nor did it happen when Albert Pujols signed with the Angels. It didn’t happen when Mike Tyson rolled himself out of retirement to fight Evander Holyfield. It didn’t happen when the Browns drafted Johnny Manziel.

Sports storylines largely ignore the script.

But if you look at the Arkansas State Red Wolves men’s basketball team, you are very tempted to declare Bryan Hodgson’s squad the favorite to dunk victorious over the Sun Belt. On Monday, the program announced that Louisiana transfer Kobe Julien would join the Red Wolves. The 6’6″ forward was one of the Sun Belt’s leading scorers last season, shooting a shade over 17 points per game. In three games against A-State last year, Julien scored 20, 21 and 15 points. He can pop a three. He can puncture the paint. He’s a fine replacement for the recently portal-ed Freddy Hicks.

With Julien committed, Bryan Hodgson’s Red Wolves appear to have a perfect mix of returning veterans (Darian Ford, Taryn Todd, Izaiyah Nelson, Avery Felts and Dyondre Dominguez), talented freshman recruits (Josh Hill, R’Chaun King) and big impact transfers (Julien, Cody Head, Joseph Pinion and Rashaud Marshall). What’s missing? While Terrance Ford Jr. is projected to take over point-guard duties from Caleb Fields, the team could always use a practiced hand at the position. Coach Hodgson has one scholarship left to offer.

On paper, and with what we’ve seen on the court, it would appear that Arkansas State will have a very good basketball team for 2024-25. The team can shoot. It can defend. It can block and rebound. However, the Sun Belt is steadily growing as a basketball conference, and not even ULM will be standing pat to allow the Red Wolves a moment in the sun. Old Dominion and Georgia State will rebound. James Madison and Appalachian State will reload. Marshall and Southern Miss may re-emerge. Troy and Texas State never stay down long. Only the hardwood can determine a favorite.

But man, it’s tempting to crown the Red Wolves right now.

Photo by Carla Wehmeyer – Arkansas State