Southland Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview, predictions

Southland Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Kevon Harris #1 of the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks celebrates against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first half in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – MARCH 21: Jaylen Franklin #0 of the Abilene Christian Wildcats (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Teams to watch

Favorite – Stephen F. Austin

There is no question that the Lumberjacks are the prohibitive favorite entering the Southland Conference tournament. The Lumberjacks ended the season one point away from finishing with an unblemished conference record after a 73-72 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Southland is another conference where defense seems to be optional, four teams in the top-27 in the country in points per game and the Lumberjacks lead the way at eighth-best in the country at 80.6 per game.

They are also the 2nd best defensive team in the conference in points per game with 67, but offense is their calling card, despite having just three double-digit scorers, they rank in the top-45 nationally in field-goal percentage (49.7), three-point field goal percentage (36.2), rebound margin (7.6), turnover margin (3.9), offensive rebounds per game (13.19), and are the No. 1 team in the country in steals per game (10.5) and turnovers forced per game (21.61).

Top contender – Abilene Christian

The main threat to the Lumberjacks has to be the defending champion Abilene Christian, who in any other season with a 15-5 league mark might be good enough for the regular-season title, but they have to settle for the No. 2 seed. The Wildcats are led by senior guard Payten Ricks who pours in 14 per game and the reigning champs are the most balanced team in the conference on offense and defense.

They are also the only team in the conference that ranks in the top-65 in the country in both points scored (75.9) and points allowed (65). With just one freshman on the team, the Wildcats have been through the rigors of a do-or-die situation and facing a juggernaut like Stephen F. Austin will not phase them.

Possible darkhorse – Lamar

Picking a team to make an unexpected run in this conference is difficult, but I’ll take on of the hottest teams in the conference not named Stephen F. Austin, the Cardinals of Lamar. Tic Price’s squad has won four of their last six entering the conference tournament with the losses coming at the hands of the No. 1 seed and the team they will face in the first round, McNeese State.

The Cardinals have five players in double figures and senior guard T.J. Atwood leads the team in scoring with 16.7 points and he is 2nd on the team in rebounding with 6.9 and shoots 51% from the field. The Cardinals could be one team in the conference that could ride their end of the season momentum into a surprising run in the tournament.