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:

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