2021 Southland Conference Tournament Info, Facts, & Preview Links

First Round (Katy, TX; Leonard E. Merrell Center)

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Game 1: (9) McNeese St. 68 (10-14 overall; 4-10 conf) vs. (8) SE Louisiana 71 (8-17 overall; 5-10 conf) at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Game 2: (10) Houston Baptist (5-18 overall; 4-11 conf) vs. (7) Incarnate Word (8-13 overall; 5-9 conf) at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Second Round (Katy, TX; Leonard E. Merrell Center)

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Game 3: (8) SE Louisiana vs. (5) New Orleans (9-14 overall; 8-7 conf) at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Game 4: (10) HBU/(7) UIW winner vs. (6) Lamar (8-17 overall; 6-10 conf) at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Quarterfinals (Katy, TX; Leonard E. Merrell Center)

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Game 5: (8) SE La./(5) UNO winner vs. (4) Northwestern St. (10-17 overall; 9-7 conf) at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Game 6: (10) HBU/(7) UIW/(6) Lamar vs. (3) Sam Houston St. (19-8 overall; 13-3 conf) at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Semifinals (Katy, TX; Leonard E. Merrell Center)

Friday, March 12, 2021

Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. (1) Nicholls St. (17-6 overall; 14-2 conf) at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Game 8: Game 6 winner vs. (2) Abilene Christian (21-4 overall; 13-2 conf) at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Championship Game (Katy, TX; Leonard E. Merrell Center)

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Game 9: Championship Game (Auto Bid) at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Tournament Winners (last 10 years):

2020: Cancelled due to the scourge known as COVID

2019: (2) Abilene Christian (27-7 overall; 14-4 conf)

2018: (3) Stephen F. Austin (28-7 overall; 14-4 conf)

2017: (1) New Orleans (20-12 overall; 13-5 conf)

2016: (1) Stephen F. Austin (28-6 overall; 18-0 conf)

2015: (1) Stephen F. Austin (29-5 overall; 17-1 conf)

2014: (1) Stephen F. Austin (32-3 overall; 18-0 conf)

2013: (2) Northwestern St. (23-9 overall; 15-3 conf)

2012: (3) Lamar (23-12 overall; 11-5 conf)

2011: (7) UTSA (20-14 overall; 9-7 conf)

NET ratings through games of 3/8/21 (347 teams)

Abilene Christian-85

Stephen F. Austin-148 (ineligible for postseason)

Sam Houston St.-156

Nicholls St.-181

New Orleans-292

Northwestern St.-310

Lamar-311

Central Arkansas-321 (did not qualify for tournament)

SE Louisiana-328

Incarnate Word-329

McNeese St.-335

Houston Baptist-336

Texas A&M-C.C.-339 (did not qualify for tournament)

Kenpom ratings as of 3/8/21

Abilene Christian-93

Stephen F. Austin-152 (ineligible for postseason)

Sam Houston St.-175

Nicholls St.-192

New Orleans-287

Lamar-313

Northwestern St.-320

Central Arkansas-330 (did not qualify for tournament)

SE Louisiana-334

Incarnate Word-340

McNeese St.-341

Texas A&M-C.C.-344 (did not qualify for tournament)

Houston Baptist-345

Here are some links for previews of the 2021 Southland Conference tournament and the official tournament championship page (in no particular order):

Official Southland Conference Tournament page: https://www.southland.org/tournaments/?id=158

FanSided/Busting Brackets tournament preview link: https://bustingbrackets.com/2021/03/09/southland-basketball-2021-conference-tournament-preview-predictions/

Three Man Weave tournament preview link: https://www.three-man-weave.com/3mw/southland-tournament-preview-2021

Sports Betting Dime tournament preview link: https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/ncaab/2021-southland-conference-tournament-odds-bracket-predictions/

The Game Haus tournament preview link: https://thegamehaus.com/college-basketball/southland-conference-tournament-bracket-breakdown/2021/03/09/

My brief take on the 2021 Southland Conference tournament: Stephen F. Austin is ineligible for the postseason this year, and therefore is not playing in the Southland Conference tournament. They have won 4 of the last 6 SLC tournaments and had a team that could have won another if not for the eligibility issue. 1 seed Nicholls St. has won seven in a row, but I still like the 2 seed Abilene Christian to win this thing. Enjoy!