Let's go ahead and get the most surprising stuff out of the way. The Lumberjacks are struggling, as is Southeastern Louisiana. Who thought the two would start a combined 1-5 in SLC play? Not me.
It's only Week 2, so there's obviously a ton up in the air and a long season left. But there's already some slight separation, and normally those that get a good jump on the season we'll be in contention at the end.
1. Abilene Christian - 14-3 (3-1): This wasn't an easy start to conference play for ACU, with 3 of their first 4 games on the road. Last week they traveled to McNeese and Southeastern Louisiana and pulled out wins (by a combined 4 points), with Jalone Friday still absent from the lineup. Despite their Week 1 loss to Sam Houston, the road wins and overall record puts them above the Bearkats right now. They'll get some home rest this week, with HBU and Northwestern State coming to town.
2. Sam Houston - 7-8 (3-0): The Bearkats are playing well, and the only remaining team without a conference loss. Sam started the week with a decent road win at UCA, then knocked off UIW at home behind 22 second half points from Cameron Delaney. They get Corpus Christi A&M at home Wednesday, before making the short weekend trip to HBU.
3. New Orleans - 8-7 (3-1): Very few people have been talking about the Privateers, but they should be. Coach Slessinger has another gritty team, and like last year, I think he can have his squad stay towards the top of the league and be within striking distance of a title. An OT win in Beaumont and a 13 point win over McNeese vaults UNO to #3. This could be a tough week, hosting SFA and traveling to Corpus Christi.
4. Nicholls State - 10-7 (3-1): The Colonels are starting to come together, which can be dangerous for the league with the amount of talented transfers they had come in. They started the week with the (then) shocker over Stephen F. Austin, then getting a last second win at Houston Baptist. Nicholls is on the road to McNeese and UCA this week.
5. Stephen F. Austin - 8-7 (1-2): The rest of the rankings are really just a mess. Even the teams that won last week did so in ugly fashion. The Lumberjacks are struggling. Bad. After a flat performance at Nicholls, SFA then let Northwestern State come to Nac and win at the buzzer (while the Demons did everything possible to lose, shooting 37% and committing 23 turnovers). As mentioned, there's still a LOT of time left in the season. But SFA needs to start figuring things out and quickly or their regular season title hopes will be gone. I believe they have the best two players in the league, and if there's ever a time to play bad in conference play, it's right now. A road trip to New Orleans mid-week will not help their battle, before having to travel to UIW.
6. Central Arkansas - 7-10 (2-2): The Bears had a rough going against Sam Houston despite 27 points from Thatch Unruh, but picked up a nice win against Lamar where they knocked down 12 of 23 three pointers. That kind of shooting can keep the Bears in some games. UCA will hit the road for a contest at Incarnate Word, before getting the Colonels at home.
7. Corpus Christi A&M - I said last week that the Islanders will see themselves up the rankings soon and I guess I was slightly right. They won their lone game last week against the Demons, but I'm not sure they'll stay this high. Corpus will be underdogs in Huntsville, as well as at home against UNO.
8. Northwestern State - 7-10 (2-2): Speaking of the Demons, they just did something that very few teams have done as of late. Win in Nacogdoches. I mentioned it wasn't pretty, but the buzzer beater tip in from Ishmael Lane gave the Demons their 2nd win at SFA in the last 3 years. They're off this Wednesday, and then heading to Abilene.
9. Southeastern Louisiana - 4-12 (0-3): The 0-3 start is NOT good for the Lions. But if we're going to try to sugar coat it, it was at least against some decent teams. They were a minute away from knocking off ACU, and I think they win this week against both Lamar and McNeese. If they don't, they'll continue to slide down my rankings.
10. Houston Baptist - 5-9 (1-2): The Huskies really could have used the win against Nicholls. Despite 29 points from Edward Hardt, they just couldn't get it done. This week could be a rough one unfortunately, traveling to ACU and then a battle with Sam Houston.
11. Lamar - 8-9 (1-3): Kind of hard to put the Cardinals down this low, but they too have had a rough start to conference play. And last week Lamar dropped a tough OT game to UNO, and then fell at UCA. This week they have to travel to SLU, where both teams desperately need a win.
12. McNeese State - 5-12 (1-3): The Cowboys were very close to being higher in the rankings, last week they had their best chance for their top win of the season. But instead, fell by a point to ACU and then were handled by the Privateers. This week won't be easy against Nicholls and SLU, but at least they are both at their new home in Lake Charles.
13. Incarnate Word - 6-9 (1-2): Similar to last week, it's still difficult to place teams at the bottom. The Cardinals win over Nicholls looks like it could be a better one now, and even had a halftime lead over Sam Houston. Still a lot of work to do, with a tough week coming up, traveling to Conway and getting the Lumberjacks in San Antonio.
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