Southland Conference 2007-08 Preview
One year after the Southland Conference’s representative in the NCAA Tournament pulled off one of the most notable upsets in the NCAA Tournament, it nearly happened again. In trying to follow Northwestern State’s lead, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi gave Wisconsin all it could handle in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before succumbing. Not only was it nearly another big win for the conference, but it was also big for the school, which made it to the NCAA Tournament in its first year in the conference after several good years as a Division I independent.
The Islanders don’t appear ready to repeat this season even though they have the reigning Player of the Year back. Chris Daniels is their only starter who returns, and they have a new head coach. That opens the door for teams like Lamar and consistent winners Northwestern State and Sam Houston State, along with dark horses like improving Stephen F. Austin and UT-Arlington. The Islanders won’t be down for long, though, as they have a solid recruiting class and should win a few key games late in the year as their newcomers round into form. The East Division looks to be the stronger of the two divisions, but not by a wide margin.
One interesting note about the conference is that many of the best players are in the frontcourt, which is unusual. It’s not that teams lack backcourt talent, but at this level, good frontcourt players can be more imposing since many teams don’t have a great deal of size compared to teams in BCS conferences. Additionally, a number of teams lost starting guards from last season and some of the returning guards are on teams that project to finish too low for their best players to be likely all-conference selections, at least on the first team.
Only one team had a coaching change after last season. As mentioned earlier, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi saw Ronnie Arrow leave to take the head coaching job at South Alabama and begin his second go-round at that school. In his place is Perry Clark, whose last job was as the head coach at Miami.
Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Lamar Sanders, Lamar
Top Newcomer: Kenny Dawkins, Lamar
Top Freshman: Shannon Shorter, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Defensive Player of the Year: Shamir McDaniel, Sam Houston State
Best NBA Prospect: Jermaine Griffin, UT-Arlington
All-Southland Team
Jarvis Bradley, Sr. F, McNeese State
Ryan Bright, Sr. F, Sam Houston State
Chris Daniels, Sr. C, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Jermaine Griffin, Sr. F, UT-Arlington
Lamar Sanders, Sr. F, Lamar
East Division
Lamar Cardinals (15-17, 8-8 Southland)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Kenny Dawkins (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Darren Hopkins (13.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Sr. G Currye Todd (10.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Sr. F Lamar Sanders (12.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 3.3 apg)
Jr. F-C Lawrence Nwevo (4.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Consecutive November matchups with Wyoming and Summit League contender Oral Roberts highlight the eight-game home slate in non-conference play. They have road dates with Mississippi, Brigham Young and Texas Tech. In Southland play, they have a stretch in February with four of five at home, and they lucked out with inter-division games as they get Sam Houston State and UT-Arlington at home only.
Outlook: The Cardinals have the most talent in the conference and plenty of experience as they bring back four starters. The one starter not back is a talent, but James Davis was suspended multiple times last season and thus his loss is addition by subtraction, especially since they have the talent to offset it. As if the four returning starters are not enough, they have talented newcomers such as Dawkins and Brandon McThay in the backcourt and Jay Brown in the frontcourt, all of whom will get plenty of minutes right away and push the holdovers to get better. Hopkins will be better playing off the ball, while Sanders should be the conference’s top player by doing a little of everything. Dawkins and McThay must do one thing in particular, which is take good care of the ball as the Cardinals had the worst turnover margin in the conference last season and averaged nearly 17 turnovers per game.
Northwestern State Demons (17-15, 10-6 Southland)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Keithan Hancock (6.4 ppg)
Sr. G- F Colby Bargeman (11.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.9 spg)
Sr. F Gerrell Thomas (5.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Sr. F Trey Gilder (12.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.3 spg)
Sr. C Jerry Moody (6.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Demons open the season in the Basketball Travelers Classic at Stanford, where their opponents include Big West favorite UC Santa Barbara and the host team. Then they come home for four straight home games, then have two more after a trip to Centenary. They close out non-conference play with a tough road stretch with games at LSU, Arkansas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. In Southland play, they have two three-game road trips, the first of which is a little more difficult as it begins with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and ends with McNeese State, and the next game is against Lamar at home.
Outlook: Mike McConathy’s teams have done plenty of winning lately, and now he has a team with plenty of experience despite some key personnel losses. Since the Demons routinely go deep into the bench, that experience pays off this season with plenty of options at the point, where Hancock will be pushed by Michael McConathy and Dominic Knight. Bargeman and Gilder are the leaders, while Moody is a steady middle man and Thomas a role player on the wing. There is some depth, so the Demons will be tough to beat again. The Demons will need to improve on defense, where opponents shot 48 percent from the field last year. That can negate the more than 20 turnovers per game they forced.
McNeese State Cowboys (15-17, 9-7 Southland)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G John Ford (11.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.9 spg)
So. G Diego Kapelan
Jr. F John Pichon (6.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. F Jarvis Bradley (15.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
Sr. C Kleon Penn (2.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Cowboys have six home games on tap in non-conference play, highlighted by Coastal Carolina. They’ll go on the road to play at Texas A&M, LSU, Missouri, Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech, and they have an in-season home-and-home with Lipscomb. Although Southland play begins at home, it can’t be much tougher as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sam Houston State are in town.
Outlook: Four starters return for the Cowboys, including two of the conference’s best players in Bradley and Ford. Ford is the floor leader at both ends, while Bradley should put up his share of double-doubles, especially if Penn gets better in the middle. Pichon helps Bradley on the glass, while Kapelan is one of several candidates to take over at shooting guard. The offensive end is the prime area for improvement if the Cowboys are to contend, as they were next-to-last in the conference in scoring, field goal percentage and assist/turnover ratio.
Nicholls State Colonels (8-22, 7-9 Southland)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Justin Payne (5.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.6 apg)
Jr. G Gil Verner (7.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.2 spg)
Sr. G Adonis Gray (13.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.1 spg)
Jr. F Ryan Bathie (12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.3 apg)
So. C Mitch Boyce (5.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Just two home games are on tap in a very tough non-conference schedule that features a trip to Las Vegas for the Duel in the Desert at the end of December. There, the Colonels will play Minnesota, host UNLV and Kennesaw State. They open the season at Florida State, then a stretch of eight straight on the road includes Tulane, California, St. Mary’s, LSU and Alabama, and they play at North Carolina before heading to Las Vegas.
Outlook: The Colonels might be a year away from contending and have a big personnel loss to absorb in leading scorer Stefan Blaszczynski. There is something to build with, though, as the four starters include good scorers in Gray and Bathie and a steady floor leader in Payne. Gray is the only senior on this squad and is joined by nine freshmen (one redshirted last year). An important place to improve is on defense, as only one team allowed more points and opponents shot nearly 47 percent from the field against them, and they had the worst rebounding margin.
Central Arkansas Bears (10-20, 4-12 Southland)
Projected Starters:
So. G Marcus Pillow (11.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Sr. G Nate Bowie (10.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.2 spg)
Jr. F Mitch Reuter (8.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Sr. F Durrell Nevels (12.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.3 bpg)
Jr. C Landrell Brewer (junior college transfer)
Schedule Highlights: The Bears have seven home games in non-conference play, including half of two in-season home-and-home series with Jacksonville State and Idaho. They open the season in the 2K Sports Classic at Kentucky, then later travel to Tulsa.
Outlook: The Bears had some good moments in their inaugural season in the Southland en route to 10 wins overall. While they won’t be a contender this season, they should improve and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they knock off a contender or two along the way. There are just two seniors on the roster, but both will start and play key roles. Nevels anchors the inside and will get help from Brewer, while Pillow and Bowie are a nice backcourt combination that will need to cut down on turnovers. Reuter is the best marksman from long range on the team. A bright side is that the Bears were solid at the defensive end, as they led the conference in field goal percentage defense and were third in rebounding margin. If they repeat that performance, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine them pulling off a .500 record in Southland play.
Southeastern Louisiana Lions (16-14, 8-8 Southland)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Dekyron Nicks (3.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Fr. G Derrio Green
Sr. G-F Kevyn Green (8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Jr. F Warrell Span (junior college transfer)
So. C Patrick Sullivan (4.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.7 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference schedule has seven home games, including three straight after an early trip to LSU. They’ll play two more road games against SEC foes, at Alabama and Mississippi State, and will also travel to UTEP and Iowa. In Southland play, the Lions have a chance to get some momentum going about halfway through, as they have a stretch with six of seven games at home. After that, they close with a tough stretch: at Northwestern State, at McNeese State, and home against Lamar.
Outlook: The Lions lost three starters and seven players overall from last season’s team, and with them a great deal of scoring and rebounding. Eight newcomers will try to fill the void, led by Span and Derrio Green. Kevyn Green should be the team leader, while Nicks is the likely starter at the point. Sullivan had a good freshman season and will now be counted on for more in the middle, and with his size he should be able to give them that. If they are to avoid a long season, one thing they could repeat from last year is taking good care of the ball, as the Lions turned the ball over less than any other Southland team.
West Division
Sam Houston State Bearkats (21-10, 13-3 Southland)
Projected Starters:
So. G Ashton Mitchell (3.0 ppg, 2.1 apg)
Sr. G Shamir McDaniel (5.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.3 apg)
Sr. F James Barrett (7.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Sr. F Ryan Bright (14.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.8 spg, 1.5 bpg)
Jr. F Reggie Rawlins (4.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Bearkats open the season with four straight home games out of their eight in non-conference play. The highlight is the second game of the season, when Texas Tech visits, while Fresno State and Central Florida also come to town. The most challenging road game looks to be at Saint Louis. Southland play begins with four of six at home, but the two road games will be a little more difficult since they are at McNeese State and Lamar. That’s also one way in which they didn’t make out well with inter-division opponents since that is the only time they play both schools.
Outlook: The Bearkats lose three starters from last season’s team, but still have a senior-laden nucleus and also get back forward John Gardiner after an injury forced him to redshirt last season. Mitchell will likely run the show now, while McDaniel started every game last year and will be counted on for more offensively. Bright is one of the best in the conference and does a little of everything and will be the man everything goes through. They will need more out of Barrett as a complementary player, and Rawlins will need to improve inside as he moves into a starting role. With their personnel losses, the Bearkats will be hard-pressed to match the 77.3 points per game they scored last season, so a repeat of their good defense and even some improvement there will be essential to coming out on top.
UT-Arlington Mavericks (13-17, 8-8 Southland)
Projected Starters:
So. G Rog’er Guignard (10.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg)
Sr. G Rod Epps (9.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Sr. F Larry Posey (8.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Jr. F Anthony Vereen (11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Sr. F Jermaine Griffin (13.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 2.0 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Mavericks will play eight home games in non-conference play, including four straight and six of the first seven. Road highlights are at Wichita State and Oklahoma State. In Southland play, they have two three-game homestands, including one after they start the season after the road. With inter-division games, they get Northwestern State and Lamar on the road only.
Outlook: The Mavericks return all five starters and their top ten players, and that group closed out last season playing good basketball. Griffin and Vereen form the conference’s best duo inside, while Guignard and Epps are an underrated backcourt. Brandon Long and Tommy Moffitt are the key reserves along with forward Matt Read, who can come in to give the forwards a breather. If the Mavericks are to take the next step, they will need to cut down on turnovers as only one Southland team had more than they did, and improving on the more than 76 points per game they allowed is a must as well.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (26-7, 14-2 Southland)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Matt Slatnick (2.9 ppg)
Jr. G Tim Green (junior college transfer)
Fr. G Shannon Shorter
Fr. F Isaiah Jackson
Sr. C Chris Daniels (15.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.6 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: After opening with Texas Southern at home, the Islanders head to College Station for a challenge in the NIT Season Tip-Off, where they play UTEP and either Oral Roberts or Texas A&M. They later host the Islander Invitational, which includes Atlantic 10 contender Rhode Island, and have road dates with DePaul, Oklahoma State and Auburn. The highlight of the six-game home slate in non-conference is a December 21 game against Mississippi State, and the Islanders also have an in-season home-and-home with Troy. In Southland play, they get a break in inter-division games, as they get Lamar and Northwestern State at home only.
Outlook: The Islanders have a new look this season with only Daniels and Slatnick back among key players, as well as a new head coach. Perry Clark doesn’t inherit a bare cupboard, however, as Green, Shorter and Jackson are all part of a fine recruiting class that will keep the talent level high. Daniels was the conference’s Player of the Year last season and could win it again, although a slip in the standings might hurt him there. He will also be the center of opposing team’s defenses even more so this season with new complementary parts in the lineup. Don’t expect the Islanders to lead the conference in scoring again with all that they lost, but leading in rebounding margin is possible with Daniels back.
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (15-14, 8-8 Southland)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Eric Bell (junior college transfer)
Sr. G Gerald Fonzie (4.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Jr. G Josh Alexander (13.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.2 spg)
Sr. F Scott Weaver (3.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Jr. F Matt Kingsley (12.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Lumberjacks have seven home games in non-conference play, including part of an in-season home-and-home with Jackson State. Road games of note include Texas Tech, Oklahoma and the SMU Tournament. In Southland play, they get a bit of a break with inter-division games as they get Lamar and McNeese State at home only, and will play them in consecutive games in mid-January.
Outlook: The Lumberjacks might be the sleeper team in this conference, although they will count on a newcomer at the key point guard position. If Bell and freshman Preston Davis can run this team right away, Fonzie can move off the ball and become a better scorer to complement Alexander on the wing. Kingsley anchors the team inside and Weaver will be counted on for a little more in his complementary role. The Lumberjacks allowed the fewest points in the conference last season, but teams still shot 44 percent from the field against them. The Lumberjacks have ten newcomers on the roster, and they’ll have to integrate with the holdovers quickly if they are to contend.
Texas State Bobcats (9-20, 4-12 Southland)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Brent Holder (9.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Sr. G Brandon Thomas (5.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 spg)
Jr. G-F Brandon Bush (14.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. F Dylan Moseley (9.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.2 spg)
Fr. C Ty Gough
Schedule Highlights: The Bobcats open the season with three straight at home and later play three more in San Marcos, with Rice being the highlight of it. They head to Kennesaw for the 100 Club Classic and later play in the SMU Classic, and have road dates with Texas A&M and Texas. The Bobcats also have an in-season home-and-home with Texas-Pan American. In Southland play, they have three straight at home early on and close the regular season with three of four at home.
Outlook: The Bobcats return four starters, but they return from a team that struggled and the one starter gone is a key one. A gaping hole is now present at the point guard spot, with Holder and newcomers Corey Jefferson and Ryan White likely to battle for the starting job. Gough is one newcomer who should start right away, and he’ll inject some size into the lineup and move Moseley to power forward. Bush is at the center of it all as a versatile wing and one of the conference’s best players. Although they will need to cut down on their league-leading turnover total, offense isn’t a big concern as they led the conference in scoring last season. Rather, the defense is an area of much concern as they allowed over 85 points per game and allowed opponents to shoot nearly 51 percent from the field last season, both of which were dead last in the conference.
UT-San Antonio Roadrunners (7-22, 3-13 Southland)
Projected Starters:
Fr. G Devin Gibson
Sr. G Melvin Smith (12.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.1 spg)
Sr. G Isaiah Allen (10.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Sr. F Andrew Francis (10.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.5 bpg)
Sr. F-C Keith Spencer (8.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.1 spg)
Schedule Highlights: Six home games are on tap in non-conference play, as well as a game against Navy at the Alamodome. The most notable home game is against SMU to close a three-game homestand. Notable road games include Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma State.
Outlook: The Roadrunners return four starters and also get forward Travis Gabbidon back after he was forced to redshirt last season. They’ll have scoring punch on the perimeter with Smith and Allen, but losing Kurt Attaway is not a minor blow. Gibson should be the only non-senior in the starting lineup, and while he is talented he won’t immediately reproduce what Attaway did last season. Francis and Spencer are a solid, if unspectacular, duo inside that will do the dirty work. Although there are a few areas for improvement, the biggest one is at the offensive end, as the Roadrunners were last in the conference in scoring and field goal percentage, and only two teams turned the ball over more.
Conference Outlook
Lamar has the most talent in the conference and has good experience, a combination that makes the Cardinals the favorite to come out on top. It won’t be easy, as Northwestern State has an experienced team and Mike McConathy has continued to win there, while teams like McNeese State, Sam Houston State and UT-Arlington can’t be counted out. TAMU-CC will be talented but young, meaning they will be dangerous late in the season.
Perhaps best of all for the conference, many of the bottom teams should be better this season, which bodes well. As long as the top teams remain strong and the bottom teams improve, the conference gets better. Several teams may have a freshman start right away, and while that is partly by necessity in some cases, it also speaks to the talent the teams brought in.
