MBB: Southland Conference Power Rankings - Week 3

With three weeks of basketball season wrapped up and The Sawmill back in gear, it's time to unveil the first edition of our weekly Southland Conference basketball Power Rankings. Make sure to check back in for an update each Monday between now and the conference tournament.

The good news for the Southland Conference is that it doesn't seem to be the collective punching bag of years past (at least early) with some nice wins over good DI programs and quality losses to others. With perennial favorites SFA and Sam Houston State stumbling out of the gate a bit, could this be the season for a breakout champion?

Do you agree? Disagree? Should someone be ranked higher or lower? Sign up for a free account right here and join the conversation below. Share this with other Southland Conference fans and encourage them to join the discussion as well. Be sure to check back next week to see where your team stands.

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1. Texas A&M-CC

2016-17 record: 5-1 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

It’s finally that time of the year for Islanders fans when football season ends and their school finally joins the Southland conversation. TAMU-CC always expects to contend but there is a lot to love about this year's version of the team: a 90 point per game scoring average thus far, five of the top 20 scorers in the conference and a 3.6 turnover margin.

They've thrown up impressive numbers so far. The only problem? Their schedule has a lot to do with it. The Islanders have a real chance to prove they are a legitimate threat to real competition this week when they play the actual Texas A&M on Monday night.

2. Abilene Christian

2016-17 record: 4-3 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

While none of the Wildcats' wins have been terribly impressive, the losses have. Playing a good Oklahoma team and perennial tournament team in New Mexico down to the final minutes is encouraging for a group that is looking to build on an 8-10 conference record from last season.

Although the Wildcats are ineligible for postseason play for one final year (still completing DI transition), this team has potential to cause some shuffling in the Southland standings.

3. Sam Houston State

2016-17 record: 5-3 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

One could make the argument that Sam is the most talented team in the conference - if so, it's been hard to tell so far.

They've had three respectable losses but those five wins have been in less than impressive fashion. For a team with as many juniors and seniors as the Bearkats, they should be running lesser opponents out of the gym. In a season that has shown the beginnings of a potential down year for their biggest foe in SFA, now is the time for the Kats to make a run at an NCAA bid.

4. Incarnate Word

2016-17 record: 3-3 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

One of the better teams in the conference last year is again going to be in the conversation. After almost upsetting a Top 25 University of Texas team to open the season, the Cardinals quickly established that they can hang with anyone. The most recent win over LIU-Brooklyn was a quality win over what should be a tournament team in March.

Unfortunately, like ACU, they are in their final year of transition to DI. Still, the potential to play spoiler for some of the top teams in the league should be enough motivation for Ken Burmeister's squad.

5. Southeastern Louisiana

2016-17 record: 5-4 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

The Lions are the surprise team of the Southland to this point but a story of inconsistency can be told through their losses.

Looking at the couple bad defeats to Tulane and Louisiana Tech, it’s easy to believe that this team is in for another year of irrelevance. And yet, two very close games to Cal and Colorado State show they can play with some of the more talented in the nation.

Who the real Lions team is has yet to be figured out.

6. Nicholls

2016-17 record: 4-4 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

Opening the season with a win over an ACC team is a big deal for anyone in the Southland Conference - even if that ACC team is Boston College. If Ja’Dante Frye and DeAndre Harris can continue playing at the level they are, there is no reason that the Colonels can’t contend for a top-four seed in Katy.

7. Northwestern State

2016-17 record: 4-4 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

When the season started and Jalen West went down (again), so did the Demons' shot at the Southland title. It really seemed that pre-injury this team had a chance to make one final run during the West/Woodley Era - now it's hard to see them as more than middle of the pack.

To this point, the team has had some quality games including a down-to-the-wire loss to a good Mississippi State team. We saw what losing West did to this team last season though and again it seems as if it will be too much to make up.

8. Lamar

2016-17 record: 4-3 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

Although it's a winning record, 4-3 feels underachieving for this team. You would really expect 6-1 at this point considering their schedule. Admittedly, I have yet to catch a Lamar game on ESPN3 so I am basing their rank soley off of what I have seen statistically.

Speaking of stats, Colton Weisbrod has been impressive thus far, averaging a double double. Player of the Year candidate? Maybe, if Lamar can stay in contention for the Southland crown.

9. Stephen F. Austin

2016-17 record: 3-3 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

I struggled with this for awhile. My heart wanted me wanted to rank them in the top five; but my brain tells me ninth is where they belong.

While this team lost a lot of talent from last season, they also had the best recruiting class in the Southland. Six games in, nearly dropping matches to clearly inferior opponents in Longwood and Northeastern paired with an inexcusable loss to UL-Monroe, it’s hard to see this team as one of the top contenders at this point.

That could change quickly with a win versus UAB this Wednesday. If they can cut down on turnovers and finally gel, the Lumberjacks have the talent to be a top team.

10. New Orleans

2016-17 record: 4-3 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

Before getting started, let me admit something: UNO is another team that I have yet to watch. In fact, I am not even sure they've been on television at this point.

Analyzing the stats however, Erik Thomas seems to be enough of a reason to think this team can be in most games. The only player averaging over 20 points per game, this guy has carried the team to their four wins this season. If he can get some help around him, look for the Privateers to climb in these rankings.

11. Central Arkansas

2016-17 record: 1-7 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

Don’t let this record fool you - this is a very talented team. A brutal schedule has kept their record from indicating just how well they've played.

The Bears suffered an expected blowout loss to Wisconsin but followed it up with a strong performance against Oklahoma State, then tournament contender Arkansas-Little Rock.

With the best backcourt trio in the conference, Jordan Howard, Derreck Brooks and Mathieu Kamba, the firepower for UCA is going to make some noise in the conference this season.

12. Houston Baptist

2016-17 record: 2-4 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

With wins over Dallas Christian and Ecclesia paired with losses to Texas Tech, New Mexico, Marquette, and Rice, it is too early to make a good assessment of where the Huskies will fall in the conference.

The offense has looked balanced and on any given night there are six different players that could lead the team in scoring. On the other hand, defense has been lackluster. Giving up an average of 85 points per game could be a product of their schedule or a troubling sign for the season.

13. McNeese

2016-17 record: 2-5 | Week 2 ranking: N/A

Thus far this season, the Cowboys have the look of a bottom dweller in the conference. With both wins coming against non-DI schools and an embarrassing 10-point loss to Louisiana College, expect no more than five wins for this team in conference play.