CBB Review hands out awards for each conference tournament in 2023. Up next: The Southland Tournament.
The Southland Tournament saw McNeese State and New Orleans wreak a little havoc before being reminded who the top two seeds were in the semifinals. From there, Northwestern State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi fittingly battled it out for the right to represent the league in the NCAA Tournament. Both teams played each other close throughout the championship, but ultimately Corpus Christi found a way to close out a victory for back-to-back trips to March Madness for the first time in school history.
CBB Review Southland Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Demarcus Sharp, Northwestern State
It’s not often that a player on the losing end of things earns an honor like this, but how often do you find a player that averages over 30 points per game in a tournament setting? Demarcus Sharp did everything he could to try and will his team to a championship. The Southland’s Player of the Year did not disappoint and showed once again why he is considered the best player in the league. Time will tell if Northwestern State will get a postseason bid to a smaller tournament, but if they do, he would make that tournament worth watching.
CBB Review All-Southland Tournament First Team
- G: Demarcus Sharp, Northwestern State – 2 games played (31.5 PPG, 8.0 APG, 1.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG)
- G: Jalen Jackson, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – 2 games played (15.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.5 APG)
- G: Christian Shumate, McNeese State – 3 games played (26.7 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 BPG)
- G: Jordan Johnson, New Orleans – 3 games played (21.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 RPG)
- G: Jalen Hampton, Northwestern State – 2 games played (12.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, 1.0 BPG)
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s NCAA Tournament Prediction
Round of 64
What Steve Lutz has done in just two years at Corpus Christi is amazing. The Islanders look like a better team this time around as they prepare for the Big Dance. However, let’s not get overzealous. What that most likely means is that they may not have to pack their bags for Dayton, but a 16 seed is still the most likely outcome. They can win an Opening Round game if they do get sent to Southwest Ohio, but pulling off the miracle upset after that is just too tall of a task.