Sun Belt 0-2 Last Night Vs. Southland

[Censored by Laurie]

Take our loss last night for what it was: a road game against an experienced team, an off night shooting without our best shooter, our inexperience showing...and things aren't that bad.

Take UL-Monroe's loss for what it was: a road game against a team whose only loss came at Texas Tech and returns four starters.

Put them together on the same night...and man this just kills Sun Belt credibility...especially considering these are supposed to be two of the elite SBC teams.

UNT - 64 UTA - 72 - Most of you were either at the game or saw it...I did neither so most know better than I why we lost. I am, and will continue to be a big Ben Bell fan...I feel he needs to be on the floor, he was second on the team in rebounds last night, but I'm not liking his role this season. JJ seems to be playing him in an off-guard role as evidenced by his 12 shots tonight. Josh White has yet to have a favorable assist:turnover ratio and thats got to improve. 67% free throw shooting isnt terrible...but how did we only get 9 free throw attempts?

ULM - 68 SFA - 71 - Orlando Early may want to consider scrapping the four guard line up for a while when a 6'5" 215 pound freshman pulls down 16 rebounds like Nick Shaw did last night for the Lumberjacks. Tony Hooper continues his solid play for Monroe, scoring 23 on 50% shooting, but his backcourt mates have yet to find the touch they had last season. Jonas Brown and Jordan Payne both went 3-12 from the floor; Payne did get to the line 9 times and was perfect at the stripe and finished with 15.

This is a bad showing for a conference who already has wins against the ACC, Big 12, Mountain West, and West Coast Conferences...and a couple of strong showings against the SEC (not MTSU).

On a positive note: FIU improves to 2-0 with their 83-74 win over Kennesaw State. Alex Galindo had a double double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, post Russell hicks added 18 and FIU got 31 points from its bench in the victory.

A couple of important SBC games tonight:

Western Kentucky vs. Gonzaga - WKU talks a big game...now do something to back it up...a win would do wonders for our conference...and give temporary credibility to the constant WKU bitching about how they're mirred in a lousy conference...atleast until they bow out in the tourney semi-finals.

South Alabama vs. Miami (OH) - Miami (OH) is 1-0 with a two point win over Xavier, and fresh off an NCAA tourney appearance after they banked home a winning three last year in the MAC championship.

2-0 tonight would go a long way...go Toppers, go Jags!