Sun Belt Roundball Roundup (2/23/14 – 3/1/14)
Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Howdy folks! It is once again that time of the week here at WTRT when we discuss the SBC as a whole. So let us cut the chase and get started!
Another week of statements were made…and with the the race to New Orleans gets closer and closer. The first game I want to highlight is the Georgia State Panthers storming into Arlington Texas and showed no mercy to the veteran Mavericks. Guard play is what normally drives the Panthers to success…but the leading force wasn’t among the guards…it was forward Manny Atkins. Atkins always shows his presence…but thursday he went well above his average…boasting 27 points as well as grabbing his normal 7 boards. Atkins added 2 steals and 2 blocks to his stat line as well. Georgia State would halt UTA to just 36% shooting as well as 13% from behind the arc. The Panthers themselves would shoot 52% from the floor and 42% from three point land. Georgia State dominated the Mavs with a final score of 77-49 and continue to sit atop the horizon as the best team in the Sun Belt.
Next up is the Red Wolves trip to Little Rock to try and complete the season sweep…but the Trojans wouldn’t go down so easily. Despite the average play the Trojans normally bring to the court…they were able to put together a complete game as a team…giving them the power to stop A-State from stealing a win with a score of 74-67. The Trojans had quite the stat line…knocking down 46% from the floor…19 of 21 from the charity stripe…16 assists…6 six steals…and 3 blocks. Trojan standout was forward James White as he saw 8 of 12 of his shots fall through the bottom of the net accumulating 20 points. UALR went 2-0 on the week and look to continue their little win steak in to the conference tournament.
Last but not least is the show down in Arlington…if you could even call it that. Despite having a 17 point lead in the first half…the Hilltoppers would fall atop that hill and surrender a late lead to the Mavericks. UTA would capitalize on the Tops failure to close out the game and would secure the win on Senior Night with a final score of 80-73. WKU would feature poor defensive play as the Maverick senior stars would begin to shine on the night. Reger Dowell and Brandon Edwards would show up and dominate the game and will look back on the night as one to remember forever. To get the full game break down CLICK HERE.
That is all for the recap! Now let’s head in the direction for final opportunities for statements to be made as we enter the home stretch on the regular season!
Man…do we have an interesting week ahead of us here in the SBC! First up is the Panthers traveling up to Jonesboro to take on A-State. The Red Wolves have a prime opportunity to defeat a top Sun Belt opponent…and make a climb towards WKU and that number two spot…which is attainable as they have 3 match ups this week to close out the regular season. It will be a great ball game as the Red Wolves try and complete the upset! Things go down Tuesday at 7:05!
Next up is a game that can either be a flop…or one of the best games the Sun Belt has seen all year…the Ragin Cajuns coming to BG to take on Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers hold that prime number two position in the SBC rankings…and ULL is right there in third. This game could be the sole factor of who gets the spot and gets a day off in the SBC tourney. Look for this one to be a great one…and one that you WON’T want to miss! The action on the Hill tips at 7PM sharp thursday!
Now for the Saturday match ups! Right off the bat this day opens with once again…a flop…or one of the best games in the SBC. Number 2 ranked Tops travel to Number 1 ranked Georgia State…and if you watched the previous game between these two schools you will understand why I say it could be a flop. If WKU comes out with intensity and plays like the team they could be…then it will be a phenomenal game…and a HUGE upset in the SBC! My eyes will be glued to the TV with this contest and yours should be too! Things start early saturday afternoon at 1:30!
The Ragin Cajuns make their own visit to Jonesboro to see the Red Wolves and will create a 3rd ranked verses 4th throw down. Both of these teams want that prized possession number two seed…and both will have to battle it down to the wire to get it! This intense matchup tips of Saturday evening at 7:05!
I don’t know who made the SBC schedules…but whoever did I am very thankful that we get four top 4 match ups in the final week of the regular season! This will be a very fun week in the Sun Belt and we couldn’t ask for better games before the conference tournament.
All I know is that it is March…and in March anything…ANYTHING is possible! Enjoy what the SBC has to offer folks! Until next time…keep things Sunny Side Up!