MBB: Southland Conference Power Rankings - Week 15

With just a week to go, there's less to be decided in the conference than most think. The top six seeds are locked into the postseason and the #7 seed can likely clinch even by losing out. So to keep things interesting, I am going to make a bunch of bold predictions that will probably be correct because I am almost always right.

Finally, since most of our readers are of SFA fan variety, I will make this unpopular statement: The #DriveForFive is still dead. Don't let Isaac's optimism sway you (or his confusing article from yesterday). It won’t happen.

Now that I've handed out my weekly dose of pessimism, it's on to the ranks:

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. New Orleans

2016-17 record: 17-10 (12-4) | Last week's rank: 1

The Northwestern State loss came out of nowhere, especially after the drubbing that the Privateers put on SFA days before. But that loss was doesn't take way from the fact that UNO should still walk to the conference championship. Bold prediction: After looking past Northwestern State, this team is going to be fully focused their next two games to lock up the championship.

2. Texas A&M-CC

2016-17 record: 18-9 (11-5) | Last week's rank: 3

Bold prediction: the Islanders win out get the #2 seed, make the NCAA tournament, and are bounced as a 15 seed. Not much about that is actually bold, however. They are going to win out (HBU and Incarnate Word left), I think Sam will beat SFA at home (giving A&M the #2 seed), and after 11-straight wins, Corpus will roll through SFA #3 and New Orleans #1 in Katy.

3. Houston Baptist

2016-17 record: 15-12 (10-6) | Last week's rank: 4

With Corpus Christi coming to town this week, the Huskies and Islanders will put the two longest winning streaks on the line. Unfortunately for the Huskies, they can't earn a top two seed, but winning one of their remaining two will lock up a bye in Katy. My bold prediction: HBU loses two of two, giving Sam Houston State the #4 seed and bye week.

4. Stephen F. Austin

2016-17 record: 16-12 (11-5) | Last week's rank: 2

I don’t have much to add about the awful SFA loss in New Orleans last week, so I’m going to move past that. As for the win in Conway, I was hoping they would just end it in a tie to save me the agony. Right now the Jacks look far from the unbeatable force everyone expected by this point in the season. My bold prediction for SFA: See Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

5. Abilene Christian

2016-17 record: 13-14 (7-9) | Last week's rank: 6

The Wildcats' winning streak came to an end at the hands of Corpus Christi this week, but they bounced back with an upset (?) of Sam Houston State. ACU has been playing very well recently and I think that will continue this week. Bold prediction: ACU finishes the season winning seven of their final nine games. Going into next season they will be a top five team all the way through.

6. Sam Houston State

2016-17 record: 18-11 (9-7) | Last week's rank: 5

Last week, I wrote of Jason Hooten. This week, I’m doing the same. For the past almost-month, the Bearkats seem to have adopted tanking as a way of life. Maybe it’s because I’m sleep deprived or maybe I am just saying this for the sake of a bold prediction, but I think Sam beats SFA at home on Saturday. I think the Kats can get up enough to pull out one huge upset. My other bold prediction: They lose to UNO in Katy, and Hooten is fired.

7. Lamar

2016-17 record: 16-13 (8-8) | Last week's rank: 7

A rough stretch, with five of their last six games against my top five teams left. Lamar is sitting at 8-8, good enough currently for the #6 seed. With Nicholls and McNeese on tap this week, the Cardinals should have no trouble locking themselves into a tournament slot. Bold prediction: They make the tournament. Nothing bold here.

8. Nicholls

2016-17 record: 14-15 (7-9) | Last week's rank: 12

A two-game winning streak put the Colonels back in the hunt for the #8 seed. But with games against Lamar and UNO remaining, I think they have a better shot of missing the tournament than making it. My bold prediction: the Colonels lose their last two and will be on their couch next week.

9. Southeastern Louisiana

2016-17 record: 15-14 (8-9) | Last week's rank: 9

Losing to Nicholls this week could be the mistake that keeps the Lions out of the tournament with just a game against the league-leading Privateers remaining. The Lions have not played well lately and will lose to UNO. Not much of a bold prediction, but I see the Lions making the tournament as the #7 seed.

10. Central Arkansas

2016-17 record: 8-22 (7-10) | Last week's rank: 8

The loss to SFA was heartbreaking for the Bears, not only because they blew a 13-point lead but also because their shot at the tournament is likely blown. With only a game against Northwestern State remaining, Central Arkansas will need a win to finish 8-10 and just squeak in as the #8 seed. My bold prediction shouldn't be a surprise here: with a team that should return most of their nucleus, the Bears will compete for a top-four seed next season.

11. Northwestern State

2016-17 record: 11-16 (5-11) | Last week's rank: 11

The season highlight for the Demons happened this week, and it wasn't their win over the Privateers. Zeek Woodley finally returned to the court and gave fans a glimpse of what could have been, dropping 28 points and the game winner against New Orleans. Who knows where the Demons would be right now if Woodley didn't miss most of the conference season, but my bold prediction is that they would have been a top-four seed in the conference. Good luck proving that one wrong.

12. Incarnate Word

2016-17 record: 11-16 (6-10) | Last week's rank: 10

Maybe a spot lower than they deserve, but their recent win over Sam Houston State becomes less impressive every day. My prediction is much like the Cardinals season: not very interesting. The Cards lose their final two.

13. McNeese

2016-17 record: 7-20 (4-12) | Last week's rank: 13

Two more losses for the Cowboys to make it six-straight. Not much to see here. Bold prediction: eight losses in a row to finish the season.

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So lets recap how the tournament will look and how I see it playing out:

1. UNO
2. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
3. Stephen F. Austin
4. Sam Houston State
5. Houston Baptist
6. Lamar
7. Southeastern Louisana
8. Central Arkansas
 
Round 1:
HBU over UCA
SELA over Lamar

Round 2:
SHSU over HBU
SFA over SELA

Round 3:
UNO over SHSU
A&M-CC over SFA

Finals:
A&M-CC over UNO

NCAA Tournament:
A&M-CC loses as a 15 seed by 29 points.

Bet.