College Basketball Conference Preview #3 - Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is down to eight members having lost five teams as well as a slew of players to the transfer portal. The remaining eight teams will all vie for a spot in the NCAA Tournament next March. Look for New Orleans to set the pace and finish in 1st place in the Conference. The Privateers return three starters and have two players - senior guards Troy Green and Derek St. Hilaire - who could both be 1st Team All Conference Players this season. Head Coach Mark Slessinger also brings in five transfers to help with depth and versatility. Southeast Louisiana also returns three starters and will be led by senior guard Keon Clergeot who may be the Southland Conference Player of the Year this season. Sophomore forward Nick Caldwell and junior guard Joe Kasperzyk will also contribute as the Lions should press New Orleans all season for 1st place in the Conference Standings but will fall short and finish in 2nd place. Nicholls will challenge both teams at the top and is the dark horse to win the Southland Conference Tournament next March. The Colonels won the Southland Regular Season Championship in 2020-21 but were denied a spot in the NCAA Tournament by Abilene Christian. Nicholls returns two starters in senior guard Ty Gordon and senior forward Ryghe Lyons and has a bevy of transfers arriving as well. Look for guards Devante Carter (Norfolk State transfer) and Latrell Jones (Portland transfer) to have an immediate impact for Head Coach Austin Claunch's team. Incarnate Word will do their best to finish in the top half of the final Conference Standings this season and has the talent to do just that. The Cardinals welcome back two starters and will be carried by junior guard Brandon Swaby. Expect junior guard Drew Lutz and sophomore forward Logan Bracamonte to have bigger roles this season. I predict Incarnate Word to finish in 4th place this season.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi returns three starters and has a new Head Coach as well. Steve Lutz is the new Head Coach for the Islanders and will lean on senior guard Myles Smith and junior forward De'Lazarus Keys. Watch out for junior guard Simeon Fryer as he could be a difference maker. I predict Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to finish in 5th place in the final Conference Standings. Houston Baptist returns three starters and will lean on several newcomers as the Huskies lost several players to the transfer portal. Sophomore guards Brycen Long and Za-Ontay Boothman will lead the way while sophomore center Zach Iyeyemi will contribute as well. I predict Houston Baptist to finish in 6th place this season. McNeese may be in for a long season as the Cowboys only return one starter in sophomore guard Collin Warren. McNeese has a new Head Coach as well - John Aiken. Aiken did well in the transfer portal as center Brendan Medley-Bacon (VCU transfer) and TJ Moss (South Carolina transfer) both arrive. If the holdovers can mesh well with the newcomers the Cowboys could surprise a few teams this season. I predict McNeese to finish in 7th place in the final Conference Standings. Northwestern State is in for a tough season as the Demons lost their top three scorers to the transfer portal. They return two starters in senior center Larry Owens and senior guard C.J. Jones and will need several experienced returnees to contribute as well. Look for freshman guard Carvell Teasett and sophomore center Kendal Coleman to play prominent roles this season after both were reserves in 2020-21. I predict Northwestern State to finish in 8th place this season. Regardless of which team wins the Conference Tournament it will be a great season in the Southland Conference. Enjoy all of the games!
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