Cardinal women favored to win Southland; Lamar men picked second
Published 3:48 pm Monday, October 16, 2017
If the prognosticators are correct, Lamar will hang another Southland Conference women’s basketball championship banner.
All five starters from last season’s 22-win team have returned to a program that is picked to win the regular-season championship, according to a poll the conference released Monday. The Southland held a media day for all women’s and men’s basketball coaches at the Toyota Center in Houston.
“We now have to live up to our expectations,” fifth-year Lamar coach Robin Harmony said in a news release. Her first team in 2014 is the most recent from Lamar to win conference. (Lamar last played in an NCAA tournament in 2010).
The Lamar men’s team last won the Southland tournament in 2012, and the Cardinals are predicted to contend for the regular-season title. They’re picked second only to Stephen F. Austin, which had won three straight Southland tourney crowns from 2014-16.
It’s the highest preseason pick for the Lamar men since 2007, when the Cards were picked to win the Southland’s East division. (The conference has since dissolved divisions.)
“I think every coach here will tell you they don’t put too much stock in preseason polls,” Cardinal men’s coach Tic Price said. “Whether we’re picked first or last, it won’t change how we approach each game. These polls are largely based off the players each has returning and the success you had last season. Nothing in this league will be given to you. Our guys understand that they have to go out and earn it in every practice and every game.”
To back Price’s claim, Lamar was 19-15 last season and returns swingman Colton Weisbrod, the former Lamar State NJCAA All-American from Nederland, as a preseason first-team All-Southland player. Some publications have named preseason Southland player of the year.
Guards Joey Frenchwood and Zjori Bosha and forward Josh Nzeakor are returning starters along with Weisbrod.
The lady Cardinals, who were unbeaten in 15 home games last season, feature three preseason first-team All-Southland players, Chastadie Barrs and Moe Kinard at guard and Kiandra Bowers at the post.
“We take pride in defending our nest at the Montagne Center,” Harmony said. “We get great fan support, and that is something we truly appreciate.”
Head coaches and sports information directors from each school in the Southland participate in the polls.
The Lamar women’s team will open the season Nov. 10 at Baylor. That’s when the Lamar men’s team opens up at Tulsa.
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I.C. Murrell: 549-8541. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews