Since Plato, humans have been fascinated by the thought of universes beyond our own. The multiverse concept, parallel universes separated only by discrepancy in a single decision or outcome, can be found littered through science fiction (and the occasional
Family Guy episode). Today, we're going to pretend it's real.
The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks will face New Orleans on Thursday in Lakefront Arena. It's a game that has been played once already this season and it was a double digit win for the Lumberjacks. But both teams are now winners of four-straight and there are a couple little venue-related items that probably indicate their earlier match has little impact on this one: Like, SFA on the road this time (where they're 3-8) and UNO at home (where they're 10-2).
In what is easily the biggest game of the year for the entire Southland Conference, a potential regular season title game (and yet won't be televised since naturally 4-10 Northwestern State is hosting the Thursday ASN game), the surprising and Cinderellaesque Privateers will battle the old bully Lumberjacks.
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University of New Orleans head coach Mark Slessinger.
Assuming voters cannot overlook the mid-season suspension of Rashawn Thomas (and they might), UNO's Erik Thomas is the runaway Player of the Year. Assuming voters value the overachieving Mark Slessinger over Willis Wilson's Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders finally becoming what we thought they already were early in the season, UNO has the Coach of the Year, too.
Folks, New Orleans was picked 9th (coaches) and 10th (SIDs) in the preseason polls. No matter how this shakes up in the final days, that is a heck of a story for the Privateers' faithful. Slessinger, a former assistant of Mike McConathy, doesn't play any of that run-and-gun style at Northwestern State. He's replaced it with tight defense and gritty post play. In other words, he did what the best coaches do; changed the style of play to fit his personnel.
Now, New Orleans hosts the SFA wrecking ball of the last few seasons, this year just a bit closer to earth. Like UNO, SFA lives and dies on the play of their defense. There just isn't enough potent scoring to win any other way. It's ugly, ugly basketball. It has also set them on a path where they've won six of their last seven to storm back into the championship mix.
So here we are. The game of the year. The most meaningful SFA regular season game in five years. Let's check in with what these universes will look like on Friday:
Universe #1 - New Orleans beats SFA
They're at home. They're playing for their first postseason berth in awhile. Things are great in the Big Easy. Out of [expletive] nowhere, New Orleans has ruined the Bearkats/Islanders/Lumberjacks basketball party. Where did these guys even come from? How did they get so much better with mostly the same players they had a year ago?
Nobody knows. What they do know, though, is the Southland Conference has a new champion. SFA is not coming back from two games down with three to play. Although not technically clinched, UNO needs to beat any of the following: Nicholls, SELA, Northwestern State, and they can officially cut down the nets.
For all intents and purposes, UNO dispatching the Lumberjacks ends the race for the top spot. The #DriveForFive is over. That isn't to say the Lumberjacks don't still have a lot to play for. In reality, that #2 seed is worth every bit as the top in the SLC tournament. But a guaranteed NIT berth (at worst) will make for a pretty great insurance policy as the Privateers cross the state line next month.
Universe #2 - SFA beats New Orleans
Everyone is
feeling pretty great in Lumberjack-land. A tie atop the SLC standings
and a season sweep against their partners on the throne. A share of a
championship is never quite as great as outright claiming the whole
thing, but it should be good enough for the #1 seed in Katy, assuming
both teams win out.
SFA Athletics
SFA's Leon Gilmore III battles in the post during an early season game versus Longwood.
SFA still has no room to slip up, though.
New Orleans has just this side of a cake walk to wrap up the season. The
Lumberjacks have to play at Central Arkansas, a team with a guy named
Jordan Howard who almost single-handily willed the Bears back from the
dead in Nacogdoches last month. We know how the Lumberjacks play
offense on the road. Can defense step up and make this a
game? Then its Northwestern State (who took SFA to overtime in
Natchitoches this season) and Sam Houston State (who beat SFA in
Huntsville).
Basically, nothing is decided. SFA will need to hang
on to share the title with New Orleans while the Privateers have a less
daunting task ahead in their remaining few. If anything, the Lumberjacks
beating UNO just further clouds the championship picture that now kind
of includes Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, too - just a game back. But even with nothing decided, a victory and now five-straight wins has everything looking pretty good for the fans of the purple and white.
So there you have it, folks. If SFA wins, the battle rages on. If New Orleans wins, it's probably game over.
Thursday's monumental status shouldn't be overlooked for either team, even if the television schedule has other plans. SFA head coach Kyle Keller says the pressure is always on the home team. Perhaps. But the Lumberjacks need this one just a little bit more than the Privateers. We'll find out tomorrow if that makes a difference in the outcome.
And by Friday, we'll know which of the two universes is ours.
