So here we are, the Mavs playing for a three game winning streak, building some momentum going into the final day of play before the conference tournament. With a big come from behind win over WKU, having to play well to defend a lead against Troy, now a game against a South Alabama on the road…the Mavs are around the .500 mark in conference play, similar to 2007-2008…could this be a repeat of the NCAA tournament year?
At this point in 2007-2008, the Mavs were 18-10, 7-8 going into their final conference game against Texas State, a game which they would lose before defeating Lamar by 6, Sam Houston State by 6 and Nortwestern State by 3 in the Southland Conference tournament in Katy, TX to earn a berth into the NCAA tournament.
UTA won in double overtime thursday night…
http://www.troymessenger.com/2014/03/06/put-on-hold/
Game preview at USAJaguars.com:
http://www.usajaguars.com/news/2014/3/7/MBB_0307144520.aspx
A good article about USA’s star senior center Augustine Rubit’s final game at AL.com:
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/03/rubit_deserves_proper_sendoff.html#incart_river
Sun Belt standings as of Saturday morning, March 8:
Team | Conference | Season |
Georgia St. | 16-1 | 23-7 |
Western Kentucky | 12-5 | 20-10 |
LA-Lafayette | 10-7 | 19-11 |
Arkansas St. | 10-7 | 18-11 |
UALR | 9-8 | 14-15 |
UTA | 9-8 | 14-15 |
UL Monroe | 6-11 | 9-16 |
Troy | 5-12 | 10-19 |
South Alabama | 4-13 | 10-20 |
Texas St. | 4-13 | 8-22 |
Tonight’s games:
WKU at Georgia State
LA.-Lafayette at Ark. State
LA.-Monroe at UALR
UTA at South Alabama
Texas State at Troy
The top 8 teams make into the conference tournament.
http://www.sunbeltsports.org/custompages/champs/basketball/2014/14MBBChampCentral.html?path=mbball&
The way the tournament bracket is set up, the No. 3 and 4 get one bye, the No. 1 and 2 seeds get two byes…
Round 1:
5 vs. 8
6. vs. 7
Round 2
(5 vs. 8 winner) vs. 4…winner of this game plays No. 1 to determine one of two final game contestants
(6 vs. 7 winner) vs. 3…winner of this game plays No. 2 to determine one of two final game contestants