I dont guess it surprised anyone when Western Kentucky was picked to win the Sun Belt Conferences East Division at basketball Media Day in New Orleans earlier this week. With the team the Hilltoppers have returning, it would have been a shock if they were picked anywhere other than first. Folks in Bowling Green have the opportunity to see a very special team this season. Anything short of a return trip to the NCAA Tournament will be a disappointment, but that could be a very real possibility if things dont fall exactly right for WKU.Much of the talk around Media Day centered around whether or not the Sun Belt could manage to get two teams in the NCAA Tournament. More often than not, the response was negative. I think we should, but Im not going to hold my breath, said Middle Tennessee coach Randy Wiel. Youre going against an institution that is based on tradition. No matter what, if they had to choose between South Alabama or Western as an at large or a team like Wake Forrest theyll pick Wake Forrest even if they dont deserve it. The Sun Belt is simply too top heavy to help its best team make an impressive case for an at-large bid. Sure Western Kentucky, New Mexico State and Arkansas State could play with most any team in the country, but the fact that teams like North Texas and Middle Tennessee are some of the worst teams in Division I drags everyone down especially those teams at the top. We seem to have two or three or four teams that can play with anybody, and then there is another group and we may be a part of this that impacts our league in a negative way, so the top teams dont really benefit like they should, said South Alabama coach Bob Weltlich, who had to settle for an NIT bid after finishing second in the SBC last year. Its not all doom and gloom, however. Arkansas State coach Dickey Nutt said he thinks the chances of the Sun Belt getting more than one team in the tournament are the best they have been in years. I think there are some teams that are well-deserving, Nutt said. I really feel like our league has stepped up and were stronger as a league. The only way that will likely happen is if the Hilltoppers have a fantastic regular season with only one or two losses, make a tedious climb into the Top 25 polls and then are upset in the SBC tourney. Even then, it would be very uncomfortable for the Hilltoppers to have to sit and hope their name gets called when the pairings are announced. Home in LouisianaThe Louisiana-Lafayette roster features a familiar name to UK fans. Michael Southall, who signed with the Wildcats but was released from his scholarship after pleading guilty to misdemeanor marijuana charges, will be playing for the Ragin Cajuns this season after joining coach Jesse Evans squad in August. Southall pleaded guilty on June 6, 2000, and was released by Kentucky the following day. He then enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy, a prep school in Chatham, Va., and later signed with Georgia Tech on Nov. 10, 2000.It didnt take long for Southall to get in trouble again. In April he was arrested and charged with public consumption of alcohol, underage drinking, and resisting arrest. Georgia Tech then promptly released the 19-year-old Southall. Despite his somewhat shady past, the 6-foot-11, 240 pounder from Wisconsin should give Louisiana-Lafayette a strong presence in the post after losing its entire front court from last season. OJ Stapleton is the sports editor of the Daily News.