CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 15. Up next: The Southland Conference Tournament.
Last year in the Southland, it was Will Wade’s McNeese squad that went viral for manager Amir Khan’s walkout to a King Von song. The Cowboys went on to defeat Clemson in the Round of 64 before losing to Purdue.
But this season, McNeese isn’t atop the standings entering the Southland Conference Tournament. Instead, it’s Matt Braeuer’s Lumberjacks that compiled an impressive 20-2 conference record and the top seed in the tournament.
Both Stephen F. Austin and McNeese are in the top 100 in the latest edition of KenPom’s national ratings, setting the stage for what could be another instant classic in Lake Charles. Will home-court advantage play a role in deciding which team earns an autobid? And can upstarts UTRGV and Corpus Christi pull off a shocker? We’ll find out this weekend in Louisiana.
2026 Southland Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Keon Thompson, SFA
Freshman of the Year: Larry Johnson, McNeese
Transfer of the Year: Koree Cotton, UTRGV
Coach of the Year: Matt Braeuer, SFA
First Team:
- G: Jakevion Buckley, New Orleans (14.2 PPG, 5.7 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.7 SPG)
- G: Keon Thompson, SFA (18.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG)
- G: Davion Bailey, Incarnate Word (18.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG)
- G: Larry Johnson, McNeese (17.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.4 APG)
- G: Koree Cotton, UTRGV (13.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.1 BPG, 40.5 3PT%)
Second Team:
- G: Coleton Benson, New Orleans (16.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.7 APG, 92.5 FT%)
- G: Tahj Staveskie, Incarnate Word (17.3 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.9 APG, 37.3 3PT%)
- G: Micah Thomas, Northwestern State (17.2 PPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 RPG, 38.2 3PT%)
- F: Ronnie Harrison, East Texas A&M (14.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.2 SPG)
- F: Braden East, Lamar (12.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.0 BPG)
2026 Southland Conference Tournament Simulation
First round – Sunday, Mar. 8
5. New Orleans (14-17, 12-10) vs. 8. Houston Christian (12-19, 8-14) – 6 p.m. on ESPN+
New Orleans is a very confusing basketball team. They took down TCU in the non-conference portion of the schedule for the Southland’s lone Q1 win of the season. That’s phenomenal. They also went on the road and beat Tulane by 22 points. Again, phenomenal. Did we mention that they took Mississippi State to overtime and SFA’s most recent defeat is to the Privateers at home?
But they’ve taken losses to Pepperdine, Southeastern Louisiana, and were swept by this Houston Christian team in the conference portion of the schedule. If the Huskies are able to pull off three wins over New Orleans in a single season, it’ll be because of Demarco Bethea. The senior forward is averaging 12.6 PPG and 6.0 RPG over the team’s last five games, and they’re 3-2 in that span.
However, New Orleans is the better team between the two programs, despite the Huskies’ 2-0 record against the Privateers. As long as they don’t replicate their performance from their last time out, a home loss to Southeastern, New Orleans should advance behind strong efforts from Jakevion Buckley and Coleton Benson.
George’s pick: 5. New Orleans
6. Nicholls (13-18, 12-10) vs. 7. Northwestern State (10-21, 8-14) – 8:30 p.m. on ESPN+
In both games between these two teams this season, Nicholls ran out to a double-digit lead only to see the Demons erase it then give it right back to the Colonels. Just five total points separate these teams after 80 minutes of action.
What the Demons need to finally take down Nicholls is a good showing on offense from Micah Thomas and Willie Williams to hit the double-digit mark on the boards. In the first meeting between the two teams, Thomas scored 29 points and Williams had a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double. If that happens again, it’ll be hard for Northwestern to be denied a third time.
George’s pick: 7. Northwestern State
Quarterfinals – Monday, Mar. 9
4. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (17-14, 13-9) vs. 5. New Orleans – 6 p.m. on ESPN+
Corpus Christi enters the Southland tournament hot, having won three games in a row. But all three of those games came against teams with a losing conference record. In their two games prior, the Islanders fell to McNeese and SFA by 16 and 10 points, respectively. The Privateers also beat Corpus Christi in overtime in the last meeting between these teams back in February.
You never know which version of New Orleans is going to show up, but they have a higher ceiling than the Islanders, who are 1-5 against the top three seeds. New Orleans has wins over both SFA and UTRGV, and again, if Jakevion Buckley plays well, this Privateers team is dangerous.
George’s pick: 5. New Orleans
3. UT Rio Grande Valley (18-13, 14-8) vs. 7. Northwestern State – 8:30 p.m. on ESPN+
UTRGV is a great story this season, playing some of their best ball in recent program history in Kahil Fennell’s second year at the helm. The Vaqueros started 2-6 in Southland competition but are 12-2 since January 17. What’s been the catalyst for change? In that span, UTRGV is shooting 59.0% from inside the arc and 37.3% outside the arc, and they’ve slowed down their pace to 63.7 possessions per game from 66.8 possessions per game prior to January 17.
That span includes the season finale, in which the Vaqueros beat Northwestern State by 12 at home. Koree Cotton scored 21 points, and there’s reason to think UTRGV should win with that margin again. Vaqueros advance to the semifinals.
George’s pick: 3. UTRGV
Semifinals – Tuesday, Mar. 10
1. Stephen F. Austin (27-4, 20-2) vs. 5. New Orleans – 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Casual observers might not know that SFA actually holds the top seed in the Southland this year. The Lumberjacks have just four losses on the season, one each to Fresno State, UT-Arlington, New Orleans, and McNeese. Meanwhile, they’re one Round of 64 upset away from the 30-win mark.
Keon Thompson is the author’s pick for Southland Player of the Year, and he’s proven to be invaluable, scoring 20+ points in 10 games this season. The Lumberjacks are 9-1 in those games, but don’t forget about Lateef Patrick Jr., who is just as good on the offensive end. Patrick is averaging 20.2 PPG over the Lumberjacks’ last five games.
New Orleans is good, but SFA is simply a different animal. The Lumberjacks, rested, should get revenge on the Privateers and set up what will be a huge championship showdown.
George’s pick: 1. Stephen F. Austin
2. McNeese (26-5, 19-3) vs. 3. UTRGV – 9:30 on ESPN+
McNeese hasn’t slowed down much after Will Wade’s departure. In Bill Armstrong’s first season at the helm, the Cowboys are 26-5 with wins over George Washington, Murray State, and Rhode Island, beating them Rams on the road. They’re battle-tested, and freshman Larry Johnson has been a revelation. He leads the team with 17.2 PPG, averaging 20.0 PPG over McNeese’s last five games.
Just two weeks ago, Johnson had 20 points and eight rebounds against the Vaqueros in a 75-68 McNeese win. The big difference in the third matchup of these two teams is home field advantage. The two teams split their prior meetings with the home team winning each one. With the Southland tournament being played in Lake Charles, the advantage falls to McNeese.
George’s pick: 2. McNeeseÂ
Championship – Wednesday, Mar. 11
1. Stephen F. Austin vs. 2. McNeese – 5 p.m. on ESPN2
Whoever wins between SFA and McNeese has a decent chance of winning a 5-12 matchup just like McNeese did to Clemson last season. Both are deserving of an NCAA bid, but only one team can get it. In the first matchup this season between the Lumberjacks and Cowboys, McNeese escaped with a two-point win after holding Keon Thompson to eight points on 3-10 shooting. Larry Johnson led both teams with 18 points.
But in the most recent matchup, Thompson bounced back, scoring 21 points. The Lumberjacks held the Cowboys to just a 34.4% mark from the field in a defensive masterclass. That’s an entirely plausible scenario, but keep in mind that McNeese holds the home field advantage during the tournament. In a matchup that is essentially a coin-flip, the Cowboys punch their ticket.
George’s pick: 2. McNeese