Sugar Bears-McNeese Showdown #1

The Sugar Bears got their win Wednesday night over a pesky Southeastern La. team to set up the first of two regular season showdowns with the reigning Southland Champions, the McNeese State Cowgirls. McNeese has won 7 in a row, sport the best record in the SLC (16-4), and are a perfect 6-0 this year in the SLC. The Cowgirls beat Nicholls State in Lake Charles on Monday night and have had a few extra days to prepare to make the trip to Conway.

McNeese State is ranked #11 in this week’s Colleginsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, and again feature the Baggett twins and Kendra Wells, MSU’s top rebounder. I believe both teams are ranked 1-2 in 7 or 8 categories in the SLC heading into the match up tomorrow. They finished 15-1 last year in SLC play, with their lone loss coming in OT here at the Farris Center. In fact, MSU’s last 2 SLC losses have come at the hands of the Sugar Bears.

UCA is now 15-4, 5-1 in league play, and sit 1 game behind the Cowgirls after the win over SLU. The Sugar Bears, ranked #17 in this week’s Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, are riding a 4 game winning streak, the third such streak this season, and are still perfect at home at 11-0. I hope the fans show up in force like they did for the Indiana and Alabama games, this is a big SLC battle to say the least. Tip off at the Farris Center is set for 2 pm, and the radio broadcast will begin at 1:40 pm on The Bear 91.3 and UCAsports.com.

Sugar Bears host Southeastern Louisiana

The Sugar Bears continue their three game home stand tonight at the Farris Center when they host the Lady Lions of Southeastern Louisiana at 7 pm. UCA enters tonight’s game 14-4 overall, and sit in 2nd place in the SLC East with a 4-1 mark, 1.5 games behind McNeese. (who comes to town on Saturday)  The girls have won 3 in a row since the SFA loss, 6 of their last 7 and 10 of  the last 12.

The Sugar Bears lead the SLC in several categories, and are even ranked in the top 10 nationally in defense in 2 categories, and top 15 in 3 different categories.   The Sugar Bears remain #17 in this week’s Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. McNeese is up to #11 now.

Meanwhile, Southeastern La. comes in on the opposite end of the spectrum. The Lady Lions (5-12, 0-4) have lost 4 in a row, and 8 of their last 9 games. They have only 1 win over a true Division 1 opponent (Jackson St.) and have another over a transitional team. (New Orleans) The Lady lions were swept by UCA last year and have lost 3 of the last 4 in this series. The Sugar Bears lead the series 6-5 overall. Also, UCA tries to remain perfect at home this season. (10-0)  So hopefully see you at the Farris tonight, 7 pm tip, 6:40 pregame on UCAsports.com (internet only)

SBs vs Lamar 1.21.12

Well the 13-4, 3-1 Sugar Bears finally come home for 3 straight games starting Saturday afternoon when Lamar visits in the first game of the doubleheader. Tipoff is at 2 pm and both games will be heard live on The Bear 91.3 and UCAsports.com beginning at 1:40 pm.

UCA is coming off the long trip and big comeback win over Nicholls, Lamar enters the Farris Center 9-8 overall, and 1-2 in SLC play with a full week off and a win at UTA in their last game a week ago Saturday.

The Sugar Bears have won 2 in a row in the series after the dominating defensive effort holding Lamar to a school SLC game record low 37 points a couple of weeks back in the 62-37 win at Beaumont.

Hope to see you guys there tomorrow afternoon! I know a great crowd would be nice to see after the 1st 3 of 4 SLC games have been on the road. Plus I’m sure the men wouldnt mind having a big crowd on hand either now that they’ve won 2 in a row as well!

MBB: Stephen F @ Home Wednesday

Not only is this the first conference home game, but it’s also on TV.
I’ve been granted the freedom to go by my boss, and I’m bringing two friends with me. The team could certainly use our support, and it nothing else, it’ll look good on TV if there are people there.

7pm, Farris Center
Bring your headphones to listen to the Sugar Bears when you’re not busy cheering.

SFA (8-7, 2-0)
UCA (5-8, 0-1)

SFA’s two SLC wins are over 0-2 teams. Our lone loss is to a 2-0 team. SFA has wins over not D1 Centenary, Wiley College, Texas College and UT Tyler. So, taking away those games, they are really just a 4-7 team. Taking away UCA’s non-D1 wins, we’re just 3-7.

The Lumberjacks were picked 4th in the West. We were picked 5th in the East. This should be a winnable game. In fact, our schedule has been so much more difficult than their’s that the Bears’ RPI is 217 to SFA’s 303. Lamar, who beat us up pretty good, is sitting way up there at 62. Oregon is the only team the Lumberjacks have played with an RPI better than 141.

RealTimeRPI.com actually puts us as the 11-point favorite (and that we’ll finish with six conference wins). You’ve got nothing to watch on TV tomorrow night, get out to the gym, make some noise and support the guys.

MBB: Bears in Iowa tonight

The Hawkeyes enter tonight’s game after a 82-68 Saturday win over Drake which improved their record to 6-5 this season. Tonight will be the Bears’ first game since the 7-point Arkansas State loss. In that game, LaQuentin Miles only scored three second-half points was held seven points below his average.

Iowa’s only quality win so far has been over Drake. On the other hand, UCA’s only win over a team with an RPI better than 200 was against Eastern Illinois. And if you’re wondering who UCA’s next opponent is – well, it’s Drake on Wednesday night.

Iowa plays 8-10 guys a night and has gotten balance throughout the stat sheet this season. Eight players average more than six points and only one, Matt Gatens, is averaging double-figures. Gatens is a 6-5 senior guard that’s averaging 14ppg. The same is also true of rebounding. The Hawkeyes have just one guy averaging more than 5 a game, but they are still out-rebounding their competition.

They have three guys who are 6-9+ but those guys are currently deeper on the bench. But this isn’t the same UCA team that’s been trotting out undersized players. With Tidwell, Henson, Borden and especially Harks as of late, we have some 6-8+ bodies to throw out there.

It will be important for UCA to take smart 3-pt chances (shooting an abysmal 23% so far) and limit Zach McCabe’s opportunities behind the arc. Equally important is keeping Gatens off the free throw line where he’s an 88.6% shooter.

Montana Trip