MBB: Southland Conference Power Rankings - Week 5

Compared to previous weeks, this past week of Southland Conference hoops was fairly quiet. But, this is where we normally start to see a little separation from top to bottom.

And despite a lot of games left, this is almost a nine-team race for the eight-team conference tournament. Week 5 presents some really big games:

1. Stephen F. Austin

2017-18 record: 16-3 (5-1) | Last week: 1 -

The Lumberjacks only had one game last week, but it was a solid road win against ACU. SFA quickly took a 10-point halftime deficit and turned it into a 10-point win with suffocating defense and offensive rebounding. Traveling to Conway won’t be easy, nor will a matchup at home with rival Sam Houston.

2. Southeastern Louisiana

2017-18 record: 12-8 (6-1) | Last week: 2 - 

The Lions had a pretty easy week, with home games against winless HBU and winless Northwestern State. Trips to Huntsville and Thibodaux presents a difficult, yet crucial week for SLU.

3. Nicholls

2017-18 record: 12-8 (6-1) | Last week: 4 

Nicholls State destroyed Corpus Christi A&M in their only Week 4 matchup to keep pace with the top of the Southland standings. The Colonels have their work cut out for them this week, traveling to Beaumont and then getting SLU at home.

4. New Orleans

2017-18 record: 9-10 (6-2) | Last week: 3 

UNO gets the fourth spot, perhaps because everyone behind them also lost. Because last week wasn’t pretty for the Privateers. An ugly 81-57 loss to UCA at home, followed by a four-point nail biter over winless Incarnate Word. UNO can’t afford to drop a game to NWST or UIW this week.

5. Sam Houston State

2017-18 record: 11-9 (5-2) | Last week: 5 -

The Bearkats finally played another team with a winning conference record - and they lost - giving up 51 second half points to Lamar. Still in the hunt for a tournament bye, but the Bearkats will need to start knocking off the conference leaders to do so. They get SLU at home, then travel to Nacogdoches where they can expect 5,000+ in purple.

6. Abilene Christian

2017-18 record: 13-8 (5-3) | Last week: 8 -

Beating SFA at home two years in a row would have been a huge boost for the Wildcats. Instead, they finished the week 1-1 after a solid road win over UCA. ACU travels to Corpus for their only game this week.

7. Lamar

2017-18 record: 12-8 (4-3) | Last week: 9 

Incarnate Word was exactly what the Cardinals needed. A blowout win in San Antonio, followed by an OT win over Sam Houston capped a good week for Lamar. They need wins against Nicholls and McNeese this week if they want to stay out of the bottom of the rankings.

8. McNeese

2017-18 record: 7-10 (4-3) | Last week: 7 

The Cowboys dropped a spot, mainly because their only game last week was a close win over Houston Baptist. A trip to Lamar is the only matchup for McNeese this week.

9. Central Arkansas

2017-18 record: 10-11 (4-4) | Last week: 8 

The Bears are just a mystery, it seems. Very dangerous one game, and very flat the next. UCA dominates UNO on the road, and then gets the same treatment at their own house from ACU. UCA gets a big mid-week game against SFA this week.

10. Texas A&M-CC

2017-18 record: 4-12 (1-5) | Last week: 10 -

As mentioned, it’s close to being officially a 9-team race for the top 8 tournament seeds, with the Islanders already 3 games back of 9th place. They get a good shot at getting their 2nd win when they host HBU this weekend.

11. Houston Baptist

2017-18 record: 4-16 (0-7) | Last week: 11 -

Who will be the first of the three remaining winless to get a victory? I’m going with the Huskies! HBU hosts UIW this week, then travel to Corpus. Can they get two?

12. Incarnate Word

2017-18 record: 5-12 (0-7) | Last week: 13 

The Cardinals got close, but ultimately fell to UNO despite having a halftime lead. Like above, UIW will get a good shot to break their losing streak when they travel to HBU, and then a rematch with UNO at home.

13. Northwestern State

2017-18 record: 3-15 (0-7) | Last week: 12 

Sorry Demon fans, you’re back on the bottom. After losing both games last week by a combined 55 points, there’s nothing really good going for them right now. Maybe a home game against UNO or UCA can get them in the win column. Probably not.