BEAUMONT, Texas – What is going on?! That is the question which has to be getting repeated numerous times a day at the Southland Conference office. A look of stunned disbelief, followed by a great deal of confusion and a sense of mass chaos is not out of the realm of possibility for those "in the know" when it comes to the Southland Conference men's basketball standings. Just two weeks into the Southland Conference season and it's pretty clear that "those in the know" really don't know anything.
Although still very early in the season, the Lamar University men's basketball team has played a major role in the chaos that is taking place. The Cardinals have opened the season with two wins, and their only loss coming in overtime to the one remaining team that is still undefeated.
Prior to the season getting started there is no way this could've happened. The preseason polls led everyone to believe that Sam Houston State would be the team to knock defending champion, Stephen F. Austin, off its perch but it would be a close battle – with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Northwestern State in the fight as well. The Cardinals were of no concern to anyone picked ahead only Nicholls. On paper, this season was already signed, sealed and delivered for the league's 'presumed elite.' Fortunately for the Cardinals, games are not won on paper and preseason polls are the pure definition of the word meaningless.
Heading into week No. 3 of league action, New Orleans (preseason No. 9) remains the Southland's only undefeated team followed by Houston Baptist at 3-1 (preseason No. 5) and a host of schools at 2-1. The list of those teams tied for third in the SLC standings includes LU (preseason No. 12), Nicholls (preseason No. 13) and Central Arkansas (preseason No. 11). On the flip side of that coin, each of the top three teams in the poll already have two losses, while the Demons are still looking for their first win of the season, 0-3.
There is still a long way to go in the 2016-17 Southland Conference chase, and anything can happen. By season's end, the polls may work themselves out and everything falls into place as predicted, or this could be one of those seasons where the underdogs steal the spotlight and the improbable becomes common place. Either way, it sets up for a fun chase to the title.
For the Cardinals to climb the next step on the Southland ladder, it will have to come against the team with the same name. The Incarnate Word Cardinals enter the week with a 6-9 overall record and just two games back of LU (10-6/2-1 SLC) in the conference standings. UIW enters the contest having dropped six of its last seven games, including a 15-point setback to New Orleans last time out. All of UIW's conference match-ups have been close, including a four-point victory over Northwestern State less than a week ago.
UIW brings a very strong offense to the Golden Triangle. Averaging better than 77 points per game, UIW is shooting better than 45 percent from the field, and 37 percent from three-point range.
While the Cardinals lead the Southland in scoring offense (79.5 ppg), LU proved against Southeastern Louisiana Saturday that it could get the job done defensively as well. Big Red held the Lions to less than 36 percent from the field and only four three-pointers, while forcing 22 turnovers, and blocking 13 shots.
The Cardinals will look the close the current homestand on a positive note before opening another long road stretch. LU had its win streak snapped in a heartbreaking overtime setback to New Orleans, but the Cardinals rebounded in impressive fashion 48 hours later to defeat a talented Southeastern Louisiana team by 20 points. Led by junior
Colton Weisbrod's 15 points and nine rebounds, the Red and White will go in search of its seventh win in its last nine games.
The game against the Southland's other Cardinals is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center in Beaumont. It can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI, and seen live on ESPN3. The game will also be televised on Spectrum Sports.
-LU CARDINALS-
