Another week of my life spent watching ugly basketball. Most days lately it has felt like watching the battle for the 16-seed unfortunate enough to get an ass kicking from Kentucky in March.
Don't get me wrong, there have been some fun games. But unless things shift, nobody in the conference this season is making noise this spring. As for my rankings, there are only two things that I can guarantee are correct this week: New Orleans is the undisputed #1 and Northwestern State is the undisputed worst.
The other 11? Who. The. Hell. Knows.
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1. New Orleans
2016-17 record: 9-6 (4-0) | Last week's rank: 2
And the rotating door for the top spot continues. Unbelievably, the Privateers became the last undefeated team in conference play this week, a feat I'm sure even UNO fans didn't bet on. While they are the best team in the conference right now they look far from a lock. Ugly wins against Lamar and Incarnate Word this week showed this team has flaws. To the Privateers' credit, they showed this week that when it comes down to closing time they know how to finish.
2. Houston Baptist
2016-17 record: 7-7 (3-1) | Last week's rank: 5
Well this is certainly higher than I ever imagined ranking the Huskies, much like the rest of my top five. Last week I predicted that the Huskies would have more upsets this season and it didn't take long for them to take down undefeated Southeastern Louisiana in their next game. With a close loss to SFA being the only thing standing between HBU and an undefeated record in conference play, maybe it is time to start thinking about them as a threat? Probably not.
3. Sam Houston State
2016-17 record: 11-6 (2-2) | Last week's rank: 12
I may have unfairly punished the Bearkats last week. Definite overreaction by me. Regardless, the Kats rebounded nicely this week with wins over McNeese and Nicholls. They still look far from dominant but a matchup this week with New Orleans gives Sam a chance to show they are still the team to beat.
4. Nicholls
2016-17 record: 9-7 (2-1) | Last week's rank: 8
This is a stretch of a ranking for the Colonels and surely I’ll regret it next week - but these past seven days weren't the train wreck I expected. They opened the week with an “upset” over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (doesn't feel that impressive anymore) and followed it with a decent performance against Sam Houston. In a conference that is as big a dumpster fire as the Southland is right now, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that Frye and company could get hot when it counts.
5. Southeastern Louisiana
2016-17 record: 8-6 (1-0) | Last week's rank: 1
After last weeks' Power Rankings edition, I mentioned to other writers here at The Sawmill that I was sold on UNO but wasn't sure if SELA was the real deal. At least for now, I got my answer this week and they're not. While HBU is emerging as a strong contender (maybe), the loss to Lamar was a big step backward. Without a true star on this team, it’s getting hard to imagine the Lions dominating anything the rest of the season. But, as I mentioned before: dumpster fire.
6. Central Arkansas
2016-17 record: 3-12 (2-1) | Last week's rank: 7
I'm not afraid to admit, I'm becoming a Bears fan. But why can’t a team with all this talent just figure it out? If someone has to be good in this conference, it might as well be the team with the best player (Jordan Howard), right? A close loss to Lamar and a close win over ACU isn't making me feel great heading into a week with HBU and Corpus Christi - but I can’t wait to watch those match-ups.
7. Lamar
2016-17 record: 10-6 (2-1) | Last week's rank: 11
The Cardinals team I expected earlier this season is finally starting to show up. Breakout Player of the Year candidate Colton Weisbrod continued his dominance this week posting a 34 and 8 line against SELA. With an easy slate of games on the schedule this week, circle their game against Sam Houston as the game we find out who the real Cards are.
8. Texas A&M-CC
2016-17 record: 8-6 (1-2) | Last week's rank: 4
What the hell? First UNO then Nicholls. Thank goodness they had the Demons on their schedule. 1-2 in conference play is not where this team should be standing right now - but who knows what to expect anymore? The offense finally came around in the Northwestern State game, dropping 99 points behind 28 from Amin and 29 from Thomas. With 2 of their next 3 games against a slumping SFA team, it could be their time to avenge losses the last few years.
9. McNeese
2016-17 record: 5-10 (2-2) | Last week's rank: 10
The Cowboys dominated SFA last Monday. Most years that would be a stunning accomplishment but by the end of this season it might not mean all that much. Had McNeese followed that performance with wins over HBU or Sam they probably would have moved up in the ranks. I am still not a believer in this team. Beat SELA or UCA this week they might crack the top 8.
10. Abilene Christian
2016-17 record: 7-8 (1-3) | Last week's rank: 9
All that stands between ACU and the bottom spot is a win over SFA. Fans have to be feeling very low right now for a season that started so promising and has largely since fallen apart. If there is a bright side, it would be that players not named Jalen Franklin have started to emerge as threats.
11. Stephen F. Austin
2016-17 record: 6-9 (1-2) | Last week's rank: 3
Much like I overreacted to Sam's opening losses, I did the same with SFA's opening win against HBU. This team is bad right now. Remember when I said “It is not hard to imagine this team as the favorites to repeat?" I should punch myself in the junk for saying something that stupid. Ty Charles is back, TJ Holyfield is almost fully healthy and this offense still sucks. Looking at the schedule, there is a better than a 50-50 shot this in my mind that this team loses its’ next 3 game (A&M-Corpus Christi, Nicholls, A&M-Corpus Christi). Unless big changes, it'll be interesting to see how Jacks' fans handle a team that is a rebuilder, contender.
12. Incarnate Word
2016-17 record: 6-9 (1-3) | Last week's rank: 6
Tom Petty's “Free Fallin'” comes to mind. This is the song of the Cardinals' season right now. Just a single win in the last 7 games has this team looking for answers that don't exist. The shooting is there but the defense, well, that is a word they just don't say in San Antonio. Despite a narrow win over Northwestern State, it is possible that this team will be challenging for the bottom spot next week.
13. Northwestern State
2016-17 record: 6-8 (0-3) | Last week's rank: 13
I truly feel bad for this team. This could have been their year. SFA is down, Corpus Christi and Sam are mediocre - and yet it isn’t. West’s injury derailed the season before it could begin and the rest of the Demons' hope was stolen when Woodley went down. Injuries happen but it is a shame that two of the best players this conference has had in the past decade are not on the hardwood. As for the rest of the team, well, here is their home at spot #13.
