MBB: Southland Conference Power Rankings - Week 7

If there's one thing we know after a weekend of Southland Conference play, it's that we know nothing. What a wild few days. Texas A&M-CC started off with a shocking loss to New Orleans, Nicholls earned a big win over Incarnate Word, and Sam Houston…well they suck, apparently.

I told the other writers for The Sawmill last week that if Sam lost to HBU, I'd put them in last based on the fact that I saw HBU as a bottom three team. I didn't actually mean it - until Saturday. Starting 0-2 is acceptable only if the Kats started with SFA and TAMU-CC. Starting 0-2 against HBU and Central Arkansas? Yikes. Jason Hooten may want to start filling out job applications if this continues.

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. Southeastern Louisiana

2016-17 record: 8-6 (1-0) | Last week's rank: 3

The easiest decision this week bumping the Lions up to #1. To this point, they have looked like the best team in the conference. A 22-point win over a talented ACU team was an announcement to the rest of the conference that they are going to compete this season. If opposing teams don't bring their best effort, the Lions have a defense that will win a lot of games.

2. New Orleans

2016-17 record: 7-6 (2-0) | Last week's rank: 7

I said that the Privateers were going to be my surprise team for 2017 and although the new year just started, they finished off 2016 with a bang upsetting TAMU-CC 73-72 in overtime. The only 2-0 team in the Southland should be 4-0 by this time next week with game against both Cardinals team on deck.

3. Stephen F. Austin

2016-17 record: 6-7 (1-0) | Last week's rank: 8

New coach, new players, same dominance over the Southland through one game this season. The 26th-straight conference win overall for SFA didn't come easy against a pesky Huskies team - but a win is a win. With the performance of the rest of the Southland this week, it is not hard to start viewing the Lumberjacks as a favorite to repeat.

4. Texas A&M-CC

2016-17 record: 7-5 (0-1) | Last week's rank: 2

It was a tough loss for the Islanders to open conference play - but not a loss to be ashamed of. With games versus NSU and Nicholls on tap this week, TAMU-CC should right the ship quickly and be ready for their heavyweight matchup with SFA next week.

5. Houston Baptist

2016-17 record: 5-7 | Last week's rank: 11

Huskies fans have to be thinking “that went well” for the most part after this weekend. Opening that season versus the preseason conference favorite could have ended in disaster, and it did - for the Bearkats. Thankfully for my own sanity, SFA then edged them out on Saturday. It wasn't easy, though. This team has some size that is going to cause problems for a lot of teams. It wouldn't surprise me if they have more upsets in store.

6. Incarnate Word

2016-17 record: 5-7 (0-1) | Last week's rank: 5

Overrated was right. This Cardinals team has been slumping for quite some time now and Saturday's 10-point loss to Nicholls was just another disappointing setback. Playing at SELA on Monday isn't going to be an easy chore, but a win could put this train back on the rails.

7. Central Arkansas

2016-17 record: 2-12 (1-0) | Last week's rank: 13

Nobody was happier about the Bears win on Saturday than this guy. 1) Because they beat Sam Houston. 2) Because I have been high on this team all year until last week. They have the talent and finally showed it against one of the best teams in the conference. If you haven't watched a Bears game yet this season put it on your list. Kamba, Howard, and Brooks put on a show.

8. Nicholls

2016-17 record: 7-6 | Last week's rank: 10

Deandre Harris, JaDante Frye. That is a summary of Nicholls victory over Word on Saturday. The seniors combined for 65 of the Colonels 94 points. Unfortunately, this week they face the two “conference favorites” who are desperate for a win in SHSU and TAMU-CC. Enjoy the victory, Colonels fans. It could be a long week.

9. Abilene Christian

2016-17 record: 6-7 (0-2) | Last week's rank: 4

To paraphrase Dennis Green's opposite: “They are not who we thought they were!” The Wildcats opened the season with back to back losses to UNO and SELA by an average margin of 15-points. The defense is gone and the offense was never there. This ship is sinking fast and with games again UCA and SFA on the slate next, the bottom could be near.

10. McNeese

2016-17 record: 4-8 (1-0) | Last week's rank: 12

Any conference win for the Cowboys is nice, but when the other team is missing their star player it takes some of the shine off it. Also, Northwestern State just isn't a very good team, and by March this win probably won’t be terribly impressive. But with how weak the top teams have looked so far, it may be the difference in sneaking McNeese into the SLC tournament.

11. Lamar

2016-17 record: 8-5 | Last week's rank: 9

The only team yet to play a Southland game this season falls three spots coming off of a win. That isn't a reflection on the Cardinals as much as it is a reflection of the play from the teams below them this week. Mondays opener versus UCA looked like an easy W last week. Now, it would seem the Cards are the underdogs.

12. Sam Houston State

2016-17 record: 9-4 | Last week's rank: 1

Remember, these Power Rankings aren't about how good a team is, but rather how well they've played lately. You don't open the season against my #11 and #13 teams, lose and live to tell about it. This is embarrassing on many levels for the Kats who expected this to be their season. Credit to the Huskies and Bears, but those were not games they should have won. The calls on KatFans.com for Jason Hooten's job were easy to laugh off the last few seasons. A few more losses like these and they may have a point.

13. Northwestern State

2016-17 record: 6-6 (0-1) | Last week's rank: 6

Last week I said how much I wanted to move this team up in my rankings but I couldn't quite justify it yet. Nailed that one. I also said that NSU would go as far as Zeek Woodley could take them. Well, two points for me. Without Woodley (who is expected to miss the better part of two months), the Demons failed to handle a lowly Cowboys team while shooting a putrid 30% from the field and 11% from beyond the arc. Welcome to the basement, Demons.