Ranked #85 in the NET, the Wildcats are in the midst of a 10-1 run. The fifth and sixth seeds are waiting for the winners of the 7-vs-10 and 8-vs-9 matchups.Ĭontenders: Nicholls State (17-6, 14-2) Sam Houston State (19-8, 13-3)Ībilene Christian has emerged as the Southland’s best squad. If you are seeding third or fourth, you directly go to the quarterfinals. The top two seeds are already through to the semi-finals. The Southland is using the “stepladder” format that I love. Austin is serving a postseason ban due to the violations hinted at above. This season, Central Arkansas and Texas A&M – CC didn’t make it due to their record. They won them.įormat: Ten of the 13 schools make the field. While those wins have been “vacated,” you should know by now that I find the vacating of victories rather silly. Austin won NCAA Tournament games in both 20. The glory days of Lamar are gone (one tournament appearance over the last few decades), but the Southland can still produce winners.
Louisiana Tech left the Southland after the 1987 season. He coached at Washington for four seasons after leaving Tech, compiling a 61-62 record. Unlike Tubbs, Russo didn’t become a household name. Coached by Andy Russo and led by future NBA Hall of Fame forward Karl Malone, the Bulldogs lost to top-seeded Oklahoma by two in the Midwest Regional semi-final. In 1985, Louisiana Tech rose to #7 at one point in the AP poll. That squad had Billy Tubbs as their coach, best known for his run-and-gun days at Oklahoma. The league has won 16 NCAA Tournament games, highlighted by a pair of runs to the Regional Semifinals. History: The Southland Conference has produced its share of winning programs.