Sun Belt

[Censored by Laurie]

It is definently too soon to be terribly concerned with RPI (currently 54)...but until January we need to be pulling for the Sun Belt to win big non-conference games like we won tonight...some more big wins for our conference mates like this and the Sun Belt will be inching closer to the possibility of a second NCAA bid...and with UNT being among the SBC elite, a second bid would mean that both the conference and our program has turned a huge corner toward national respectability.

What you might have missed last night whilst celebrating -

ULM - 65 12. Michigan State - 83 - Michigan St. had a 12 point half time lead that ULM cut down to one early in the second half before the Spartans distanced on the shoulders of Drew Neitzel's 15 and freshman Chris Allen's 17. Jordan Payne was the only Warhawk in double figures, scoring 26, and knocking down 7 of 16 from 3. Orlando Early may want to consider a slightly bigger line up against a physical team like MSU...he started his typical 4 guard line up and ULm got out-rebounded 48 to 19.

Troy - 133 Paul Quinn - 131 OT - Shootout doesn't even come close to describing this game...82 combined 3pt field goal attempts, 41 each, combining for 264 total points. Justin Jonus led the way for Troy with 44, including 8 three pointers and a game tying free throw to force overtime. SMU may have their hands full...both times they play the PQ Tigers who were paced by the 42 point performance of guard Damien Chisolm.

UNO - 72 NW State - 66 - Joe Pasternak opens his career at UNO with a W...and a balanced score sheet. JUCO transfer Kendall Dykes led the Privateers with 19, all conference guard Bo McCaleb chipped in 16 and post Ben Elias added an unexpected 14 on 6 of 6 shooting to lead the way for UNO who have a big match up with 18. N.C. State on Sunday.

ASU - 63 Utah Valley St. - 67 Bad loss for the SBC as ASU falls to the D-1 Independent Wolverines in Jonesboro. Only six players scored for the Indians, and only 3 of those scored more than 4 points led by Adrian Banks 25. ASU is going to need to find more balance if it wants to contend in this conference this season.

UL-Lafayette - 79 North Alabama - 67 - The Cajuns opened up their season with a victory over D-II North Alabama on the shoulders of Elijah Milsap's double double (21 points, 10 rebounds). UL-L will know if it is a contender as it enters a tough four game stretch with road games at La. Tech, Oral Roberts and Tennesse with a home game with UAB sandwiched in between.

UNT's win last night is clearly the biggest in the conference at this early juncture...Denver's win against Wyoming is big for their program and for the Belt as its a win against a two-bid conference, same can be said for UALR's blow out win against Loyala Marymount. Strong showings by Troy against Alabama, USA against Ole Miss and FAU against Boston College should help these programs in later games. UL-Monroe may be the biggest disappointment so far...1-2, their losses by a combined 47 points to Kansas and Michigan St...while wins were unlikely, more competitve showings for a team picked near the top of the conference would've done a lot for appearance...these are the kinds of losses that severely hurt a mid-major conference.

[GreenBat]

Troy - 133 Paul Quinn - 131 OT - Shootout doesn't even come close to describing this game...82 combined 3pt field goal attempts, 41 each, combining for 264 total points. Justin Jonus led the way for Troy with 44, including 8 three pointers and a game tying free throw to force overtime. SMU may have their hands full...both times they play the PQ Tigers who were paced by the 42 point performance of guard Damien Chisolm.

Paul Quinn is a DIII college in Dallas. Here is the History.

[CMJ]

MTSU loses by 1 to San Jose State tonight. Not a good loss for conference rep IMHO.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

--- They are on SMU's schedule...tough game... bet they lose. ...hahaha

[Mo Green]

PQ is from W...A...C....O, its the other big college there.

[GreenBat]

PQ is from W...A...C....O, its the other big college there.

Paul Quinn College is located at 3837 Simpson Stuart Road, Dallas, Texas, 75241.

[CMJ]

Sunbelt goes 2-2 on the night.

Florida Atlantic 68

Stetson 62

LA Tech 64

LA Lafayette 54

Tulsa 75

Arkansas St. 59

MTSU 68

Lipscomb 62

[CMJ]

Including us, the Belt goes 3-3 on the day..

South Florida 100

Florida Atlantic 69

Western Kentucky 87

Murray St. 63

South Alabama 76

Grambling St. 56

Appalachian St. 84

Middle Tenn. St. 79

Northern Colorado 64

Denver 46

MTSU is really dragging us all down. They have some lousy losses so far.