Rivals: SLC Predictions MBB

[TexasTerror]

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

EAST

1. Nicholls State

2. Southeastern Louisiana

3. Stephen F. Austin

4. Northwestern State (La.)

5. McNeese State

6. Central Arkansas

WEST

1. Sam Houston State

2. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

3. Texas-San Antonio

4. Texas-Arlington

5. Texas State - San Marcos

6. Lamar

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[Guest coachacola]

Here's another from the Rush The Court website:

Predicted Order of Finish:

East

  1.    Southeastern Louisiana (12-4)

  2.    Nicholls State (11-5)

  3.    Stephen F. Austin (10-6)

  4.    Northwestern State (7-9)

  5.    McNeese State (5-11)

  6.    Central Arkansas (4-12)

West

  1.    Sam Houston State (13-3)

  2.    Texas-San Antonio (11-5)

  3.    Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (10-6)

  4.    Texas-Arlington (9-7)

  5.    Lamar (7-9)

  6.    Texas State (6-10)

Fun With KenPom.  Last year the conference’s highest-rated team on KenPom.com was (as you would figure) Stephen F. Austin at 98th.  The lowest was Central Arkansas who was listed at 322d (out of 344…ouch).  We’ll definitely give Lamar a little credit for last year’s non-conference strength-of-schedule — they ranked 24th with a non-conference slate that included Kentucky (in December, when it still meant something), Louisville, Memphis, and Texas Tech (whom they beat).

NCAA Tournament History.  As mentioned, Northwestern State owns the last two wins by this conference in the NCAA Tournament, and the Southland’s last victory came in 1985 when the Mailman and Louisiana Tech snagged a #5-seed in the Midwest region and knocked off Pittsburgh and Ohio State en route to the Sweet 16, where they lost by two points in an overtime heartbreaker to #1-seed Oklahoma.  Before that, in earlier NCAAs, the conference could be counted on pretty reliably for at least one win all the way back to 1972, usually by Lamar.  Interestingly, since 2000, the Southland has sent nine different teams as its NCAA Tournament representative, with only Texas State, Nicholls State and Central Arkansas, who is still getting used to Division I, left wanting (Texas State and Nicholls State have been prior to 2000).

Final Thoughts.  It will be fun to watch the Southland Conference standings this season because, depending on which expert you ask or which publication you consult, as many as six teams are felt to have the talent to be conference champs.  Stephen F. Austin will be a popular pick just because they got there last year, but losing two previous conference POYs might be too much to overcome.  Sam Houston State will also be a popular choice, and probably the most sensible since they have the best overall guard combo in a guard-dominated league.  But look at that NCAA Tournament history…as a single-bid conference, moreso than most, the Southland is one of those conferences where you simply never know, since everything depends on the conference tournament.  The fact that the conference has had eleven of its twelve teams represent it over the last 13 NCAA Tournaments makes it even more compelling.

http://rushthecourt.net/2009/10/19/2009-10-conference-primers-18-southland/

[UNLV]

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

EAST

1. Nicholls State

2. Southeastern Louisiana

3. Stephen F. Austin

4. Northwestern State (La.)

5. McNeese State

6. Central Arkansas

WEST

1. Sam Houston State

2. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

3. Texas-San Antonio

4. Texas-Arlington

5. Texas State - San Marcos

6. Lamar

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I can't imagine LU being this bad with all that talent and size. It's going to be fun bragging about how the 12th place team is

winning the conference.

[Guest mffl]

We're getting no love... not that we don't deserve it. I guess we'll just have to see how it goes.

SELA is predicted to go 12-4? Doutbful.

[Guest coachacola]

These predictions seem to focus more on who's returning the most players than anything else.  It's all about who gets hot in conference and in the conference tourney.  I like Lamar's chances if they can stay healthy for once.

[LUFAN]

Well at least if we stink this year we will not be underachieving....

[Lazeek]

[quote name="LUFAN" post="681595" timestamp="1256071519"]
Well at least if we stink this year we will not be underachieving....
[/quote]

That is exactly what I was thinking!!!!!!!  I am looking forward to the season..............only about 3 more weeks until the home opener!!!!!!!