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MBB: Southland Conference Power Rankings - Week 10
Week 10…the final week of the Southland Conference regular season is here and a new champion be crowned. A lot of tournament seeds still up for grabs, including the top spot.
1. Nicholls
2017-18 record: 20-9 (14-2) | Last week: 1 -
The Colonels are in prime position to win this year’s Southland Conference. But it will come down to the last game of season when they travel to Southeastern Louisiana. Their two losses have come against the 2nd and 3rd place teams, so it’s not over yet.
2. Southeastern Louisiana
2017-18 record: 19-10 (13-3) | Last week: 2 -
The Lions are sitting in a great spot, to not only have a chance at the title, but at the very least receive a crucial double-bye in the conference tournament. But this week will decide that, as they first travel to UNO before the showdown with Nicholls, all played in the dark shadow cast by off-the-court events that saw one player arrested and another shot.
3. Stephen F. Austin
2017-18 record: 23-6 (12-4) | Last week: 3 -
Lamar once again broke the hearts of SFA fans, now out of the title race after dropping a rare home game. They still have hope for the #2 seed, but need to win against ACU and Sam Houston, as well as for SLU to drop their two games. It’s possible.
4. Sam Houston State
2017-18 record: 18-11 (12-4) | Last week: 4 -
The Bearkats survived a late rally from shorthanded UNO, and have a daunting task this week. They can’t look ahead to hosting rival SFA on Saturday, traveling to UCA could put them in a battle for the Top 4 (with a 2 game lead on Lamar).
5. Lamar
2017-18 record: 19-11 (11-6) | Last week: 6
The Cardinals beat SFA twice in one season, and that’s impressive. They’ve now won 6 of their last 7 to bring them within striking distance of getting the last single-bye for the tournament. They’ll need some help from Sam Houston to do so.
6. New Orleans
2017-18 record: 14-14 (11-6) | Last week: 5
I think I saw this coming, but UNO has struggled against the current Top 4 (0-5). Now, they're without their best player (who is suspended for unknown reasons) as they try again. They’re in the tournament, but a win over Southeastern Louisiana could provide some momentum. As well as have implications for everyone else.
7. Central Arkansas
2017-18 record: 14-15 (8-8) | Last week: 8
The Bears were hammered in Nacogdoches, but follow up with a buzzer beater win at ACU—a crucial victory to remain in the Top 8. UCA gets Sam Houston at home, then travels to Northwestern State to wrap up the season.
8. Abilene Christian
2017-18 record: 15-12 (7-7) | Last week: 7
Basically the opposite of above, the Wildcats really needed that win against UCA. They are now tied with McNeese State for the last spot in the tournament. A game at SFA won’t help their cause, but a game at UIW does.
9. McNeese
2017-18 record: 10-16 (7-9) | Last week: 9 -
The battle for the final spots is a tight one. The Cowboys finish at Corpus and at home versus surging Lamar. They need to win both.
10. Texas A&M-CC
2017-18 record: 9-17 (6-10) | Last week: 10 -
Technically the Islanders are still in it, by being just a game back of ACU and McNeese. They’d need a lot of help, and, that loss against previously winless Incarnate Word does not give me much hope for them.
11. Houston Baptist
2017-18 record: 6-23 (2-14) | Last week: 11 -
The rest of the bottom has been out of the race for a while, but they can still play the spoiler role this week. The Huskies travel to UIW and get Corpus at home.
12. Incarnate Word
2017-18 record: 6-20 (1-15) | Last week: 12 -
The Cardinals host HBU and ACU this week.
13. Northwestern State
2017-18 record: 4-23 (1-15) | Last week: 13 -
They did it! The Demons REFUSED to go winless in the league this year. Could they provide the shocker of the year with a win over conference favorite Nicholls State IN Natchitoches?!?!