Looking at the SBC

It is conference time. I will not really look that hard at the East because we all know that WKU, USA, and Middle are strong.

Middle just went into Mo. St. and ***** slapped them, so don't let the 7-5 record fool you. They are as good as advertised.

WKU has some really nice wins over: SIU, Georgia, @USA and Louisville. Valdez, their point guard is playing really good this year.

USA is a little closer to us in wins and losses. No real nice wins but no bad losses.

The West

Arkansas State we have already got a look at. In the past I would just write off the game in Jonesburo but they did not look as good as their 9-3 record. I would give us a 50/50 shot at winning up there.

Denver is 5-6 but on a 4 game win strike, all at home. We all know how hard it is to travel out there and win. Then throw in the knuckle ball style they play. It is a hard place to win. In the conference I would be shocked to see them finish above .500.

ULL is 4-6 and just awful this year. La Tech beat them so means you are really bad They beat ORU in over time. There are a couple of 3pt shooters on the team but not a lot of assists. They have a 6-8 200lbs kid grabbing 6.5 rebounds a game.

ULM is 3-8. I think Early is a good coach and did a lot with a little two years ago in his 1st year in the SBC but this is bad. The wins are all close games, as is, some of the losses. Hooper is only scoring 10 a game but they have 5 kids pretty much averaging double figures. Hooper still shots the ball too much .256 percent from the field.

New Orleans is 5-6. They have lost to Savanna State, need you say any more than that? They started with 4 losses but are 5-2 in the last 7 games, so they may be better than they have showed so far. Bo is gone but they have a couple of 16 ppg scorers filling the void. They have a 6-10 center for Czech Republic grabbing about 6 boards a game.

Last and not least is NTU, the only team I see giving us any run for the money in the West. We have owned them over the 5 years I have been here and are 12-4 all time against them. One of the few teams we own in the SBC. They have no wins that jump out at me and have lost to the only good teams they have played: Houston and OK St. In the years past they have played streetball and it has gotten them to the NCAA tournament but I still see us out lasting them to claim the West.

Pappy, post up

Despite what I thought, it appears that the East still once again the stronger division. You summed it up pretty well, I thought. I am still afraid of North Texas, because on a given night they can be pretty good. But right now there is no one in the SBC that is scaring much of anybody. Wide open. Who wants it the worst?

North Texas and Arkansas State are basically in the same boat. They win the games they should, they lose the games they should. Sort of like the old football coach joke. You need three yards from him, he'll get you three yards. You need 5 yards from him, he'll get you three yards.

I don't know what Yima getting eligible does to Arkansas State but the Red Wolves are just plugging along. UNT under Johnny has historically won a couple that surprise you and balance it by losing some odd games you wouldn't expect. Seeing them consistent this year may not be a good sign.