Overview
Unless you're an alumnus or alumna of one of the schools in this conference, then you probably don't care much about it. The teams don't play on national TV often, they don't have any national championship contenders, and half the school names make you say "is that really a college?" To answer your question, yes, they are all Division I colleges, and they happen to play pretty decent football. Although you won't see any of these teams playing in BCS bowls, there is always the New Orleans Bowl, which invites a Sun Belt team to play in their bowl. Don't lie; I know you watch the New Orleans Bowl.
Team(s) With the Best Shot at a National Championship Bid
None
Like I said in the overview, none of the teams in this conference have a legitimate shot at playing for the national championship. The NCAA would like you to believe that every team has a shot when the season begins, but we know that that just isn't the case.
Out-Of-Conference Game To Watch
Middle Tennessee State vs. Georgia Tech (October 16th)
It may be a little late in the season for a team like MTSU to surprise a team like Georgia Tech, but you never know. The Blue Raiders have a talented quarterback in Dwight Dasher, who helped lead MTSU to a New Orleans Bowl win against Southern Mississippi last season. If he has an exceptional game and Georgia Tech comes in unfocused, then this one could be much closer than people expect.
In-Conference Game To Watch
Middle Tennessee State vs. Troy
This game will probably end up being the battle for conference supremacy. Troy has been the big dog in the Sun Belt conference for the past four years, but Middle Tennessee State will be chomping at the bit to rip the crown away from the Trojans. Troy lost a lot of starters from last season, so the time is now for the Blue Raiders if they finally want to beat the men of Troy.
Conference Predictions
1. Middle Tennessee State (8-4, [6-2])
2. Troy (8-4, [6-2])
3. Florida Atlantic (5-7, [5-3])
4. North Texas (6-6, [4-4])
5. Arkansas State (5-7, [4-4])
6. Louisiana-Lafayette (3-9, [3-5])
7. Florida International (2-10, [2-6])
8. Louisiana-Monroe (2-10, [1-7])
9. Western Kentucky (0-12, [0-8])
- K. Becks
Showing posts with label north texas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label north texas. Show all posts
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thank You Supporters
The title may be misleading, because this post isn't going to be a drawn out thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way. However, it is just a little shout out to everyone who has been promoting the blog during the last few days. I'm really anticipating the day when I get more than ten readers in one day. I really do appreciate all the help, guys.
As we continue to move right along in championship week, the excitement of March Madness keeps growing. I'm really looking forward to some of the major conference tournaments starting up in the next few days. However, as I promised, my focus will continue to be on the smaller conferences.
Horizon League
Automatic Bid: Butler
Projected Seed: Anywhere from 5 to 7
Probability of Being a Cinderella: N/A
Butler has been a tournament regular for the last decade or so now, which is an extremely commendable feat for a team from a mid-major conference. However, a five seed is probably the highest seed they could receive (even with their stellar record), due to the general perception of the Horizon League. Like Northern Iowa, I wouldn't consider them a Cinderella unless they make it past the Sweet 16. If they get a favorable region, they have the talent to pull that off.
Sun Belt
Automatic Bid: North Texas
Projected Seed: 15
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Unlikely
Although most people didn't get a chance to see this team play until their conference tournament final, they were very exciting to watch. They won their three conference tournament games by a combined 13 points. They have a balanced scoring attack (four players averaging double-digits in scoring), and are a sound defensive team. However, last time they made the Big Dance (in 2007), they were bullied by a more physical and athletic Memphis team. It is likely that they will have to face a similar team this time around as well. Their backcourt will have to play extremely well if they want to have a chance to move on to the second round.
Summit
Automatic Bid: Oakland
Projected Seed: 13 or 14
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Unlikely
The Grizzlies rolled through their conference schedule as well as their conference tournament, going 17-1 in league play and recording double-digit wins in all three of their conference tournament games. There is no doubt that they can score the ball (1st in the Summit league with 76.8 PPG), but the challenge for them will be stopping the other team from scoring as well. They have suffered blowout losses against Kansas, Michigan State, and Syracuse, in which they gave up more than 85 points in all those games. If they can find a way to stay with the opposing team on the offensive end, they may be able to make it interesting, but they will need to play better defense if they want to win.
Northeast
Automatic Bid: Robert Morris
Projected Seed: 16
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Very Unlikely
The representative from the Northeast Conference tends to have their "Welcome to the NCAA Tournament" greeting in the form of a sound beating by a top seed. The Colonials will be playing hard, but should remember take in the experience of an NCAA tournament game, one that many do not ever get to experience. Keeping the game moderately close would be a commendable effort. If they manage to keep it close for a half, then they will have done well.
West Coast
Automatic Bid: St. Mary's (CA)
Projected Seed: Anywhere from 8 to 10
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Good
Other teams from the conference that will probably be in: Gonzaga
The Gaels finally got the win against Gonzaga that eluded them in the regular season by beating them in the finals of their conference tournament. This was important, as their schedule did not really have a signature win before this point. Unlike many teams from mid-major conferences, St. Mary's relies on the down low presence of their big men. Senior center Omar Samhan, a big 6'11 bruiser who leads the team in scoring (20.9 PPG), will carry the team on both ends. In addition to being a scorer, he was the WCC defensive player of the year. If Samhan and the rest of the team can stay out of foul trouble, they have the potential to be the darling of the tournament.
Southern
Automatic Bid: Wofford
Projected Seed: 14 or 15
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Decent
Wofford comes in to the NCAA tournament with a lot of confidence. In addition to being the first Wofford team ever to go Dancing, they are riding a 13 game winning streak. It really depends on the seed they get for whether or not they can be an upset special. Another factor will be their free throw shooting, which has been suspect at times throughout this season. If they shoot the ball well and play tight defense (and that's a fairly big if), then they could surprise a lot of people.
- K. Becks
As we continue to move right along in championship week, the excitement of March Madness keeps growing. I'm really looking forward to some of the major conference tournaments starting up in the next few days. However, as I promised, my focus will continue to be on the smaller conferences.
Horizon League
Automatic Bid: Butler
Projected Seed: Anywhere from 5 to 7
Probability of Being a Cinderella: N/A
Butler has been a tournament regular for the last decade or so now, which is an extremely commendable feat for a team from a mid-major conference. However, a five seed is probably the highest seed they could receive (even with their stellar record), due to the general perception of the Horizon League. Like Northern Iowa, I wouldn't consider them a Cinderella unless they make it past the Sweet 16. If they get a favorable region, they have the talent to pull that off.
Sun Belt
Automatic Bid: North Texas
Projected Seed: 15
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Unlikely
Although most people didn't get a chance to see this team play until their conference tournament final, they were very exciting to watch. They won their three conference tournament games by a combined 13 points. They have a balanced scoring attack (four players averaging double-digits in scoring), and are a sound defensive team. However, last time they made the Big Dance (in 2007), they were bullied by a more physical and athletic Memphis team. It is likely that they will have to face a similar team this time around as well. Their backcourt will have to play extremely well if they want to have a chance to move on to the second round.
Summit
Automatic Bid: Oakland
Projected Seed: 13 or 14
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Unlikely
The Grizzlies rolled through their conference schedule as well as their conference tournament, going 17-1 in league play and recording double-digit wins in all three of their conference tournament games. There is no doubt that they can score the ball (1st in the Summit league with 76.8 PPG), but the challenge for them will be stopping the other team from scoring as well. They have suffered blowout losses against Kansas, Michigan State, and Syracuse, in which they gave up more than 85 points in all those games. If they can find a way to stay with the opposing team on the offensive end, they may be able to make it interesting, but they will need to play better defense if they want to win.
Northeast
Automatic Bid: Robert Morris
Projected Seed: 16
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Very Unlikely
The representative from the Northeast Conference tends to have their "Welcome to the NCAA Tournament" greeting in the form of a sound beating by a top seed. The Colonials will be playing hard, but should remember take in the experience of an NCAA tournament game, one that many do not ever get to experience. Keeping the game moderately close would be a commendable effort. If they manage to keep it close for a half, then they will have done well.
West Coast
Automatic Bid: St. Mary's (CA)
Projected Seed: Anywhere from 8 to 10
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Good
Other teams from the conference that will probably be in: Gonzaga
The Gaels finally got the win against Gonzaga that eluded them in the regular season by beating them in the finals of their conference tournament. This was important, as their schedule did not really have a signature win before this point. Unlike many teams from mid-major conferences, St. Mary's relies on the down low presence of their big men. Senior center Omar Samhan, a big 6'11 bruiser who leads the team in scoring (20.9 PPG), will carry the team on both ends. In addition to being a scorer, he was the WCC defensive player of the year. If Samhan and the rest of the team can stay out of foul trouble, they have the potential to be the darling of the tournament.
Southern
Automatic Bid: Wofford
Projected Seed: 14 or 15
Probability of Being a Cinderella: Decent
Wofford comes in to the NCAA tournament with a lot of confidence. In addition to being the first Wofford team ever to go Dancing, they are riding a 13 game winning streak. It really depends on the seed they get for whether or not they can be an upset special. Another factor will be their free throw shooting, which has been suspect at times throughout this season. If they shoot the ball well and play tight defense (and that's a fairly big if), then they could surprise a lot of people.
- K. Becks
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