1999 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament

The 1999 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament was held February 27–March 2 at the Cajundome at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana.

1999 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament
Classification	Division I
Season	1998–99
Teams	8
Site	Cajundome Lafayette, LA
Champions	Arkansas State (1st title)
Winning coach	Dickey Nutt (1st title)
MVP	Chico Fletcher (Arkansas State)
Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournaments

1998–99 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Louisiana Tech	10	–	4		.714			19	–	9		.679
Arkansas State †	9	–	5		.643			18	–	12		.600
Florida International	7	–	7		.500			13	–	16		.448
SW Louisiana	7	–	7		.500			13	–	16		.448
Western Kentucky	7	–	7		.500			13	–	16		.448
South Alabama	6	–	8		.429			11	–	16		.407
New Orleans	5	–	9		.357			14	–	16		.467
Arkansas-Little Rock	5	–	9		.357			12	–	15		.444
† 1999 Sun Belt Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

Arkansas State defeated Western Kentucky in the championship game, 65–48, to win their first Sun Belt men's basketball tournament.

The Indians, in turn, received an automatic bid to the 1999 NCAA tournament, their first appearance in the Division I event. No other Sun Belt members earned bids to the tournament.

Format

The Sun Belt once again saw changes in its membership; three teams departed the conference, Jacksonville (TAAC), Lamar (Southland), and Texas–Pan American (Independent), while one was added, Florida International (TAAC). Total membership reduced from ten to eight.

With the membership changes came some slight modifications to the tournament format. All eight teams, seeded based on regular season conference records, were now placed directly into the initial quarterfinal round as part of a single-elimination style bracket.

Bracket

	Quarterfinals Saturday, February 27					Semifinals Sunday, February 28					Championship Tuesday, March 2
	1	Louisiana Tech	68
	8	Arkansas–Little Rock	66
						1	Louisiana Tech	66
						5	Western Kentucky	76
	5	Western Kentucky	80
	4	SW Louisiana	73
											5	Western Kentucky	48
											2	Arkansas State	65
	3	Florida International	65
	6	South Alabama	57
						3	Florida International	69
						2	Arkansas State	87
	7	New Orleans	53
	2	Arkansas State	70

See also

• Sun Belt Conference women's basketball tournament