Still the one
Cowboys earn top spot in JG Media
JGMedia | SLC Men's Basketball Preview
New faces, new coaches, and plenty of unanswered questions will make the Southland Conference men's basketball race interesting.
But when it comes to picking a favorite, JG Media sees no reason to look beyond Lake Charles, where the three-time defending champs call home.
McNeese remains the team to beat, with Larry Johnson and a bevy of talented transfers that should give the Cowboys more enough firepower to make another championship run.
Maybe that’s why a couple of league coaches were hoping to get the championship tournament moved from Townsley Law Arena in March. After last year’s sellout crowd, that wasn’t about to happen.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi looks to be the biggest challenger, with Sebastian Robinson and Dan Mukuna providing a strong foundation. However, shooting has always been a major issue with the Islanders, who win with tough, physical defense.
Stephen F. Austin, last year’s regular-season champ, has plenty to replace, while Lamar begins a new era under Jordan Fee with an entirely different roster and likely a much faster style of play.
UTRGV could be dangerous under former McNeese assistant and first-year head coach Brandon Chambers, while Houston Christian could surprise behind explosive scorer Max Alexander.
The rest of the league faces plenty of questions, including Southeastern Louisiana, which brings 11 newcomers to Hammond.
Surprises are likely, and the race could be tighter than some expect.
