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Stephen F. Austin Basketball
Gameday Predictions: Central Arkansas at Stephen F. Austin
The top two teams in the Southland Conference - New Orleans and Sam Houston State - lie ahead. SFA gets Central Arkansas today and could use a convincing victory both for the confidence and standings implications going into that two-game stretch this weekend.
The good news for the Lumberjacks is the walls of William R. Johnson Coliseum have been quite friendly this season. With the students finally back and a decent crowd expected, the home court advantage could be a big factor tonight.
UCA has dropped three-straight after a surprising 3-1 start in league play. Jordan Howard and company need this one too.
Have a prediction to add? Join the pick 'em contest right here.
THE GAME: Central Arkansas at Stephen F. Austin
THE TIME: 7:00CT
THE LOCATION: William R. Johnson Coliseum
THE BROADCAST: ESPN3 (or WatchESPN App), Lumberjacks Sports Network radio (Q107.7 in Nacogdoches, TuneIn App)
Isaac Niedrauer: SFA had an abrupt momentum killer in San Antonio this last weekend but were on a bit of a roll up to that point. The obvious theme in that mini three-game winning streak was the blowout victories at home. Clearly, SFA is not the same team on the road. That doesn't matter tonight.
Central Arkansas has lost three-straight by an average of 12 points. They're desperate and slumping, but also capable of scoring a lot of points. The Bears have averaged 75 per game, trailing just the fast-paced Northwestern State's 77 since conference play began. Everything they do starts and ends with superstar guard Jordan Howard, probably the league's best player with Rashawn Thomas suspended and Zeek Woodley injured.
Watching Howard play basketball is a treat when your team isn't his opponent. His 45% three-point percentage, 19 points per game (22 in league play), and ability to get to the line (where he knocks down 94%), can keep UCA in any game they have no business being in on a given night.
SFA has played great scoring guards a few times this season (See: Evans, Marcus) and generally done an impressive job holding their numbers down. Howard is as advertised and may go off like he tends to do. But if anyone can limit him and force the ball to go through the hands of other players, it will be SFA and this defense. Shutting down stars is their specialty.
The home court will be the difference, UCA will turn over the ball frequently forcing it to Howard, and SFA wins comfortably.
Final Score: 77-62 Stephen F. Austin
Jake Rhodes: This week, I officially gave up on my dreams for an SFA/UCA finals. Not that it would have ever happened but it sure would've been exciting.
This game, however, won't be the pushover game I'm expecting some of my colleagues to predict. UCA's backcourt is the best in the conference and teams with fast guard have been SFA's weakness. I expect a lot of turnovers from both sides in this one.
The X-factor here actually isn't a player at all but rather the venue. Nobody from the Southland Conference has won in William R. Johnson Coliseum since Barack Obama was president and gas was $3.49 per gallon. The Lumberjacks are unstoppable at home.
Final Score: 77-70 Stephen F. Austin
Austin Fenoglio: Another week passes and I'm no less confused by what I see. When SFA took the court against UIW, the game didn't look like it would be close. In fact, SFA really controlled most of it. The mistakes persevere though, easy shots aren't taken, and with 4 seconds left, they culminated in what this team really didn't need - another loss.
That said, I really think against UCA this should be an easy and convincing win. Should be. Don't let the UIW loss fool you, this team is still capable of dominance. I think they'll put in on display at home against UCA.
Blowout win - or a loss - for SFA. No inbetween.
Final Score: 75-60 Stephen F. Austin
Colton Albritton-Felts: Unpopular opinion: SFA will be beaten in William R. Johnson this year by a Southland Conference opponent. Will it be UCA? My gut says no.
The Bears' season is on the brink of going completely down the drain and although they're playing better basketball, picking against SFA at home after the heartbreaker in San Antonio doesn't make sense to me.
The Jacks will be looking to rebound in front of what's sure to be a good crowd. That alone will be enough for them to seal a victory. On top of that, this team can't afford back-to-back losses again, especially being back at home. There's a sense of urgency in the locker room. So long as they believe they can still win the SLC, they'll be playing with desperation. I like the Jacks in this one.
Final Score: 70-65 Stephen F. Austin
The good news for the Lumberjacks is the walls of William R. Johnson Coliseum have been quite friendly this season. With the students finally back and a decent crowd expected, the home court advantage could be a big factor tonight.
UCA has dropped three-straight after a surprising 3-1 start in league play. Jordan Howard and company need this one too.
Have a prediction to add? Join the pick 'em contest right here.
THE GAME: Central Arkansas at Stephen F. Austin
THE TIME: 7:00CT
THE LOCATION: William R. Johnson Coliseum
THE BROADCAST: ESPN3 (or WatchESPN App), Lumberjacks Sports Network radio (Q107.7 in Nacogdoches, TuneIn App)
Isaac Niedrauer: SFA had an abrupt momentum killer in San Antonio this last weekend but were on a bit of a roll up to that point. The obvious theme in that mini three-game winning streak was the blowout victories at home. Clearly, SFA is not the same team on the road. That doesn't matter tonight.
Central Arkansas has lost three-straight by an average of 12 points. They're desperate and slumping, but also capable of scoring a lot of points. The Bears have averaged 75 per game, trailing just the fast-paced Northwestern State's 77 since conference play began. Everything they do starts and ends with superstar guard Jordan Howard, probably the league's best player with Rashawn Thomas suspended and Zeek Woodley injured.
Watching Howard play basketball is a treat when your team isn't his opponent. His 45% three-point percentage, 19 points per game (22 in league play), and ability to get to the line (where he knocks down 94%), can keep UCA in any game they have no business being in on a given night.
SFA has played great scoring guards a few times this season (See: Evans, Marcus) and generally done an impressive job holding their numbers down. Howard is as advertised and may go off like he tends to do. But if anyone can limit him and force the ball to go through the hands of other players, it will be SFA and this defense. Shutting down stars is their specialty.
The home court will be the difference, UCA will turn over the ball frequently forcing it to Howard, and SFA wins comfortably.
Final Score: 77-62 Stephen F. Austin
Jake Rhodes: This week, I officially gave up on my dreams for an SFA/UCA finals. Not that it would have ever happened but it sure would've been exciting.
This game, however, won't be the pushover game I'm expecting some of my colleagues to predict. UCA's backcourt is the best in the conference and teams with fast guard have been SFA's weakness. I expect a lot of turnovers from both sides in this one.
The X-factor here actually isn't a player at all but rather the venue. Nobody from the Southland Conference has won in William R. Johnson Coliseum since Barack Obama was president and gas was $3.49 per gallon. The Lumberjacks are unstoppable at home.
Final Score: 77-70 Stephen F. Austin
Austin Fenoglio: Another week passes and I'm no less confused by what I see. When SFA took the court against UIW, the game didn't look like it would be close. In fact, SFA really controlled most of it. The mistakes persevere though, easy shots aren't taken, and with 4 seconds left, they culminated in what this team really didn't need - another loss.
That said, I really think against UCA this should be an easy and convincing win. Should be. Don't let the UIW loss fool you, this team is still capable of dominance. I think they'll put in on display at home against UCA.
Blowout win - or a loss - for SFA. No inbetween.
Final Score: 75-60 Stephen F. Austin
Colton Albritton-Felts: Unpopular opinion: SFA will be beaten in William R. Johnson this year by a Southland Conference opponent. Will it be UCA? My gut says no.
The Bears' season is on the brink of going completely down the drain and although they're playing better basketball, picking against SFA at home after the heartbreaker in San Antonio doesn't make sense to me.
The Jacks will be looking to rebound in front of what's sure to be a good crowd. That alone will be enough for them to seal a victory. On top of that, this team can't afford back-to-back losses again, especially being back at home. There's a sense of urgency in the locker room. So long as they believe they can still win the SLC, they'll be playing with desperation. I like the Jacks in this one.
Final Score: 70-65 Stephen F. Austin
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