The Southland Conference title race is officially over. For the first time in Coach Hooten's 9-season head coaching career with Bearkats, he has a regular season title. And it couldn't have come at a better time. We can go back to my pre-season rankings hinting at an uneasy feeling Sam Houston fans had about their program. Still some work to do of course in Katy, but the Bearkats have been a big surprise, and give the Southland the best chance of a decent seed in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Hooten should be a unanimous choice for Coach of the Year.
Today I'll list out the current Power Rankings (same as the current standings) with just 2 game days to go, along with upcoming game schedules and predictions and finally my predicted tournament seeds.
1. Sam Houston State - 20-9 (15-1): The Bearkats have wrapped up the SLC title and the top seed in Katy (as well as automatic NIT bid if they fall in the Southland tournament). But I wouldn't expect them to pack it up just yet, especially with a game in Nacogdoches.
Remaining Schedule: UCA (W), @SFA (W)
Predicted Finish: 17-1, #1 Seed
2. Abilene Christian - 23-6 (12-4): Credit the Wildcats for hanging tough. After losing Jalone Friday and B.J. Maxwell and dropping a game to SLU, they've rattled off 2 consecutive wins to remain in position to grab the double-bye. But the standings are tight and no room for error.
Remaining Schedule: SFA (W), UIW (W)
Predicted Finish: 14-4, #2 Seed
3. New Orleans - 17-11 (12-5): The Privateers really could have used a win at home vs Sam Houston, but UNO has had a solid season holding at the top of the table. They've only got one game left, which could make or break their seeding in Katy...and perhaps their season.
Remaining Schedule: @SLU (L)
Predicted Finish: 12-6, #5 Seed*
4. Southeastern Louisiana - 15-14 (11-5): I've mentioned it before, but Coach Ladner has done a terrific job turning around the Lions from a rough start in conference play. Still a chance at the double-buy, but I think they come up just short.
Remaining Schedule: UNO (W), @Nicholls (W)
Predicted Finish: 13-5, #3 Seed
5. Lamar - 18-12 (11-6): Tic Price and the Cardinals deserve some praise as well. Lamar started SLC play losing 5 of their first 7 games, seemingly on their way to a rough season. Now they have won 9 of their last 10 and in prime position to grab one of the single-byes.
Remaining Schedule: McNeese State (W)
Predicted Finish: 12-6, #4 Seed*
6. Stephen F. Austin - 14-14 (7-9): SFA played well last night, much better than in previous weeks, but still couldn't find a way to get the win at Lamar. A game the Lumberjacks very much needed, who have now dropped 6 of their last 9, putting them in a dangerous position to miss the Southland tournament for the first time since the 2004-2005 season.
Remaining Schedule: @ACU (L), Sam Houston (L)
Predicted Finish: 7-11, 9th place**
7. Texas A&M - Corpus Christi - 12-17 (7-9): A very up and down few weeks for Islanders, but came back and got a crucial OT win at UIW on Saturday leaving themselves in a very good spot to make the tournament.
Remaining Schedule: @McNeese State (W), Houston Baptist (W)
Predicted Finish: 9-9, #6 Seed
8. Houston Baptist - 11-16 (7-9): I don't think many people expected much from the Huskies this year, but they've been a thorn in the sides to many Southland teams. Winners of 5 of their last 8, HBU is battling for another trip to Katy.
Remaining Schedule: UIW (W), @Corpus (L)
Predicted Finish: 8-10, #7 Seed
9. Central Arkansas - 11-18 (6-10): Even with losing Jordan Howard, I thought the Bears would still have enough fire power to compete in the league, but they've been far too inconsistent. This last week might put an end to their season.
Remaining Schedule: @Sam Houston (L), @Northwestern State (L)
Predicted Finish: 6-12, 10th Place
10. Northwestern State - 11-18 (6-10): The Demons are another quite team, as far as pre-season expectations, but they've been around this position in the standings basically all season and have played well enough to stay in contention for one of the last tournament bids.
Remaining Schedule: @Nicholls State (L), UCA (W)
Predicted Finish: 7-11, #8 Seed**
11. Nicholls State - 12-17 (5-11): The Colonels had a ton of new faces, and while they have a very talented and experienced roster, that lack of overall chemistry just hasn't really come together.
Remaining Schedule: Northwestern State (W), @SLU (L)
Predicted Finish: 6-12, 11th Place
12. McNeese State - 9-10 (5-11): Several national writers picked the Cowboys as a dark horse to compete in the Southland. I think there's a lot to look forward to in Lake Charles, but this wasn't the year to make the noise.
Remaining Schedule: Corpus (L), @Lamar (L)
Predicted Finish: 5-13, 12th Place
13. Incarnate Word - 6-23 (1-15): Very tough year for the Cardinals, but they've played better than the record indicates. Especially when they played at home. UIW has a young team, and I think the future looks positive in San Antonio.
Remaining Schedule: @HBU (L), @ACU (L)
Predicted Finish: 1-17, 13th Place
*If New Orleans and Lamar both finish at 12-6, Lamar would be seeded above UNO. Due to Southland Conference tiebreaker rules, head-to-head matchups are not taken into account to break standing ties if the two teams have only played once [face palm]. Instead, you go down the standings to find the highest ranked team that the two tied teams have each played twice. And in this case, it's Texas A&M Corpus Christi where Lamar took 2 games from the Islanders, and UNO split their series.
**If Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin both finish at 7-11, the Demons get the tie-breaker based on beating the Lumberjacks twice.
So there we have it. For now. Again, this is all just my speculation and predictions for now. If you follow college hoops, and especially Southland hoops, then you know anything can happen. And, normally something unexpected.
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