The Road To The Elite Eight--A Quick Preview (Women)

After almost a week to decompress, here's how the match-ups for the NCAA Division II women's basketball Elite Eight came to be for Southeast Regional champion Clayton State, and South Regional winner Delta State. First of two parts. The men's match-up between Augusta State and Christian Brothers will be featured in the next installment.

Southeast (at Hickory, N.C.)

After a second-place regular season finish in the Peach Belt Conference, followed by a semifinal exit from the PBC tournament, it seemed as if very few people, if any, gave the Clayton State University Lakers much of a chance to advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

But the Lakers proved all of the experts wrong, as their women's basketball team advanced to the national quarterfinals for the second time in three years after being seeded third for the Southeast Regional bracket.

After holding off a scrappy squad from Carson-Newman, 68-66, in the first round on Mar. 13, the Lakers knocked off No. 2 seed Tusculum, 79-68, in the first regional semifinal contest the following night. No. 4 seed Francis Marion ensured an all-Peach Belt regional final later that evening by pulling off the 93-74 upset of top-seed and host Lenoir-Rhyne.

But in the end, it was Clayton State that pulled off the biggest "upset" of all, as the Lakers cruised past the PBC regular season champion Patriots in a 89-73 win that clinched the program's second regional crown in three seasons. They'll now face an Alaska-Anchorage program that won the West Region with a 54-43 win over Seattle Pacific. Oh, by the way, the Seawolves come into Wednesday's game as the nation's second-ranked team, according to the WBCA NCAA Division II poll. A very tall order for the Lakers indeed. But don't bet against them at this point.

South Regional (at Cleveland, Miss.)

Unlike Clayton State, the expectations were very high for the Delta State University Lady Statesmen going into the NCAA Division II women's basketball regionals (after all, they have won six national championships over the years, with the last coming in 1992). And they met those expectations with mostly flying colors.

The DSU women advanced to the regional finals with double-digit wins over eighth-seeded Valdosta State (58-48) and Arkansas-Monticello (80-56). Still, the Lady Statesmen have to stave off a strong challenge from Gulf South Conference West Division rival and seventh-seeded upstart Ouachita Baptist (50-49) to advance to their 13th Elite Eight, thanks to a tip-in by Courtney Wilson in the game's closing seconds. Next up for the Lady Statesmen is a battle with West Texas A&M, who won the South Central Regional title with a 65-52 victory over Central Oklahoma in the title game last week.

So, what will it take for Delta State and Clayton State to meet for the national title game. Both teams, Clayton State especially, must pass the first test come Wednesday: defeating West Texas A&M and Alaska-Anchorage, respectively, then win Final Four contests with other battle-tested teams and underdogs alike, to create perhaps one of the most unlikely match-ups in the history of championship games, regardless of the sport.

NCAA Division II Regional Finals Preview--Men

Monday night, it was the ladies decided which teams would go to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight (That starts Tuesday, March 24, in San Antonio, Tex.). Now, it's the men's turn to decide who'll punch a ticket to Springfield, Mass. for their national tournament. First, though, let's quickly recap the women's regional finals turned out. Just click the highlighted link (s) below.

Southeast Women (at Hickory, N.C.)

Clayton State 89, Francis Marion 73

A career-high 22 points from senior Lisa Jackson helps lift the Lakers to second their Elite Eight appearance in three years.

South Women (at Cleveland, Miss.)

Delta State 50, Ouachita Baptist 49

A basket from Courtney Wilson in the closing seconds sends the Lady Statesmen to San Antonio.

And now, let's preview tonight's men's regional finals...starting with the...

Southeast Men's Final (at Hickory, N.C.)--Tuesday 7 p.m. EDT

#1 Augusta State vs. #2 USC Aiken

It's the match-up that many fans in the Southeast Region (especially those in the Peach Belt Conference) have been waiting for: the top two seeds playing each other for the right to go to the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Elite Eight at Springfield, Mass. Obviously, most fans in the Central Savannah River Area, or CSRA (which includes Aiken, S.C., as well as Augusta, Ga.) for short, don't need any reminders as to how huge this game will be.

Article courtesy of the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle

South Men's Final (at Lakeland, Fla.)--Tuesday 7 p.m. EDT

#1 Florida Southern vs. #2 Christian Brothers

As big as the Augusta State-USC Aiken contest is, there are also seven other regional titles that are to be decided tonight. One of those match-ups is on the campus of Florida Southern College. That's where the top-seeded (and host) Mocs from the Sunshine State Conference will do battle with the second-seeded Buccaneers from the Gulf South Conference. FSC rallied late to win a dramatic overtime thriller over Arkansas Tech, 95-92 to get to the Sweet 16, while CBU rolled past an outstanding Claflin, 72-53. It's one of those games where it's a shame that someone has to lose.

NCAA Division II Regional Finals Preview--Women

The stage has been set for Monday's regional finals in both the Southeast and South Regions, respectively, and both have a "D-II South Nation" flavor to them. Let's quickly preview both regions.

Southeast (at Hickory, N.C.)

#3 Clayton State (25-6) vs. #4 Francis Marion (27-4)--Monday 7 p.m. EDT

Both teams pulled off upsets over the top two seeds to set up this "all Peach Belt Conference" title game. The third-seeded Lakers downed second-seeded Tusculum, 79-68, while the fourth-seeded Pacers tripped up top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne, 93-74, to advance to the Sweet 16. It's only fitting that the two best women's basketball teams in the PBC during the regular season (FMU won the regular season title, while Clayton State came in second) are meeting with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. It's too bad only one of these teams can punch their ticket to San Antonio, Tex., where this year's national tournament will be played.

South (at Cleveland, Miss.)

#1 Delta State (28-6) vs. #7 Ouachita Baptist (23-8)--Monday 7 p.m. CDT

This match-up has a Gulf South Conference West Division flavor to it, as the Lady Statesmen play host to the upstart Lady Tigers. DSU earned its way into the Sweet 16 with wins over No. 8 seed Valdosta State, 58-48, on Friday, followed by an 80-56 rout of fellow GSC West rival Arkansas-Monticello on Saturday. As for OBU, the Lady Tigers have played the "Cinderella" role perfectly so far, as they upset No. 2 seed Fort Valley State, 69-55, and No. 3 seed Tampa, 77-74, to bring themselves to within one win of their first-ever Elite Eight.

NCAA Division II Tournament Review--Women's Regionals

So much to report, so little time, so let's get started.

Southeast Regional (at Hickory, N.C.)

The top four seeds held serve in round one after Friday's action. The day got off to a rough start for the Peach Belt Conference, though, as No. 7 seed Lander fell to No. 2 Tusculum, 87-70. The second game of the day saw No. 3 Clayton State having to hold on to edge No. 6 Carson-Newman, 68-66. The Laker women will face the Pioneers in Saturday's regional semifinal. No. 4 seeded Francis Marion had a relatively easy time in disposing of fellow PBC rival and No. 5 seeded USC Aiken 101-83. The Patriots will face top-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne in the other Southeast Regional semifinal. The Bears advanced to round two with a 69-58 win over No. 8 seeded Anderson (S.C.)

South Regional (at Cleveland, Miss.)

The SIAC had a quick exit from the NCAA tournament after losing its only two first round games. No. 7 seed Ouachita Baptist pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the postseason so far, as the Tigers downed No. 2 seed Fort Valley State, 69-55. No. 3 Tampa ensured that no SIAC teams would advance any further in postseason play, as the Spartans eliminated No. 6 seeded Clark Atlanta, 70-63. It'll be OBU and UT in one semifinal at Delta State. Speaking of DSU, the top seeded Lady Statesmen advanced with a 58-48 win over No. 8 seeded Valdosta State. They'll face No. 5 Arkansas-Monticello, whose Cotton Blossoms pulled off sort of a mild upset with a 78-66 win over Rollins in the final game of the first round.

NCAA Tournament Preview and Quick Analysis--Part 2 (Men)

NOTE: Here's Part 2 of our NCAA Division II tournmanent preview here at D-II South Sports. This installment features the men's bracket in the South and Southeast Regions. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

Southeast Region (at Augusta, GA)

Tournament Website

Bracket

Augusta State vs. Tusculum: The Jaguars took a major step towards advancing to the Elite Eight by winning the Peach Belt Conference tournament over archrival USC Aiken in dramatic fashion. But in order to punch a return ticket to Springfield, Mass., they must defeat a Pioneers team that finished the regular-season in a three-way tie for second place, only to give Catawba all it could handle before losing in the finals of the South Atlantic Conference tournament. In other words, Tusculum isn't your average No. 8 seed. Then again, at this point in the season, there's no such thing as an average game. It'll be interesting to see how top seeded Augusta State will respond in this contest.

GC&SU vs. Barton: The Bobcats of Georgia College & State University and senior shooting standout Shaun Keaton do battle with the Bulldogs of Barton College from Wilson, N.C., who won a surprise national championship in dramatic fashion just two years ago. Now, the Bulldogs square off against the Bobcats in this intriguing 4-5 match-up. What storylines might eventually come from this? We'll find out this Saturday.

Armstrong Atlantic State vs. Catawba: The Pirates face off against the Indians in the 3-6 game. AASU looks to move on to round two after losing a four overtime thriller to USC Aiken in the semifinals of last weekend's Peach Belt Conference tournament. Catawba enters this contest as the No. 6 seed after winning the South Atlantic Conference tournament for the second straight year.

Lenoir-Rhyne vs. USC Aiken: The second seeded Pacers--who finished as the PBC tournament runners-up after losing to Augusta State last weekend, does battle with the Bears, who are seeded seventh. After a first round upset loss to Clayton State last season, the USCA men will try to get over the hump into the second round this season.

South Region (at Lakeland, Fla.)

Tournament Website

Florida Southern vs. LeMoyne-Owen: The top-seeded Mocs enter the South Regional as the lone representative from the Sunshine State Conference. They'll face the eighth seeded Magicians, who pulled off upset wins over regular season champion Claflin and third seeded Lane to win the SIAC tournament. LeMoyne-Owen is one of three teams from that league to advance to the NCAA tournament.

Arkansas Tech vs. Benedict: The Wonder Boys take on the Tigers in the 4-5 contest. Fourth seeded ATU is coming off its first-ever Gulf South Conference tournament title, while fifth seeded Benedict hopes to regain the form that helped them to advance to last year's regional final, losing to North Alabama.

Valdosta State vs. Claflin: The Blazers battle the Panthers in the 3-6 game. Both teams have one thing in common: they won regular season conference (or division titles), only to fall short in their quest to win their respective conference tournaments. VSU lost to Arkansas Tech in the Gulf South Conference tournament finals last weekend, while SIAC newcomer Claflin couldn't advance past the semifinals of their conference tournament. Now both teams face off against each other in a "one-and-done" situation.

Delta State vs. Christian Brothers: The Buccaneers and Statesmen both finished the regular season 1-2 in the Gulf South Conference West Division. Now CBU and DSU both square off with their respective seasons at stake. Not a typical No. 2 vs. No. 7 match-up.

NCAA Tournament Preview and Quick Analysis--Part 1 (Women)

NOTE: Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

The selections have been made, the pairings have been set, and all of the time in the world has been taken for everyone to catch their breath. Now, it's time to talk "bracketology", the "bracketology" that's the NCAA Division II basketball tournament in the South and Southeast regions. So, without further ado, let's get started. First up are the women. All games will played Friday, Saturday, and Monday.

South Region (at Cleveland, Miss.)

Tournament Website

Bracket

Delta State vs. Valdosta State: The 1-8 game features a re-match of a Gulf South Conference tournament semifinal game between the Lady Statesmen and Lady Blazers. DSU won a hard-fought 55-52 thriller over VSU to advance to last Sunday's final,and eventually claim a well-deserved conference tournament title. Come Friday, these two perennial GSC powerhouses will hook up once again, only this time with the winner moving on, the loser going home.

Rollins vs. Arkansas-Monticello: The Cotton Blossoms come into this contest as the No. 5 seed in the South bracket. UAM gave Delta State all it could handle before losing in the GSC tournament finals, 53-51. The Tars look to re-group after being stomped by Tampa 55-29, in last weekend's Sunshine State Conference tournament final.

Tampa vs. Clark Atlanta: The No. 6 seeded Lady Panthers do battle against the No. 3 seeded Spartans in a battle of 20-plus win teams. CAU (23-4) is coming off a 79-69 loss to Fort Valley State in the SIAC tournament title game, while Tampa (24-5) to build on its momentum after the Spartans routed Rollins by 26 points en route to winning the SSC autobid.

Ouachita Baptist vs. Fort Valley State: The No. 2 seed Wildcats enter the NCAA tournament not having a lost a game since the calendar changed from 2008 to 2009. They'll try to extend their winning streak to 23 straight games against the Tigers, who are seeded seventh going into the South Regional.

Southeast Regional--at Hickory, N.C.

Tournament Website

Bracket

Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Anderson (S.C.): The top seeded Bears advance to the NCAA tournament for only the second time in program history, with their only other trip coming in 2003. They'll face an Trojans squad that earned its way into the Southeast Regional by winning the automatic bid from Conference Carolinas. It finished the regular season fourth in that league.

Francis Marion vs. USC Aiken: The Patriot women and Lady Pacers are two of four teams from the Peach Belt Conference to earn bids to the Southeast Regional. It's too bad only one of them will get to play against the winner of the Lenoir-Rhyne/Anderson contest. Both squads, though, have one thing in common. They both lost to eventual PBC tournament champion Lander. Again, one of them will have a chance at redemption come Friday.

Clayton State vs. Carson-Newman: It's the Lakers taking on the Eagles in the 3-6 contest. Clayton State enters the contest as the third seed after losing to USC Aiken in the semifinals of the PBC tournament, while C-N comes seeded sixth after losing to Tusculum in the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference tournament.

Lander vs. Tusculum: The Lady Bearcats are coming off their second straight Peach Belt Conference Tournament title after coming into that tourney as the No. 5 seed. They'll face a Pioneers squad that'll enter the NCAA tournament with an overall record of 25-5. The Pioneers fell to Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC tournament title game last Sunday.

Conference (Tournament) Calls--Day 4 In Review

What happened on "Semifinal Saturday"? Well, you're about to find out right now!

Peach Belt Conference (at Aiken, S.C.): Folks call it "March Madness" for good reason. While the men's bracket went exactly according script (with top two seeds Augusta State and USC Aiken) playing for all of the marbles there, it's a completely different story on the women's side, as No. 3 seed and host USC Aiken plays No. 5 seed Lander for the PBC autobid. Both the Lady Pacers and Lady Bearcats pulled off a pair of upsets to get there. Oh, and the USCA men needed four overtimes to finally beat Armstrong Atlantic State, 90-87, in what ranks as one of the best conference tournament games of all-time anywhere.

SIAC (at Birmingham, Ala.): It's the opposite situation in the "Magic City", as both No. 1 Fort Valley State and No. 2 Clark Atlanta meet as expected for that league's automatic NCAA tournament bid on the women's side. CAU outlasted Kentucky State 64-54 to advance to Sunday's final game, while FVSU held off Tuskegee 68-63 in Saturday's other semifinal contest. But it's the men's bracket that provides the most unlikely of all match-ups, as both of the top two seeds were upset in Saturday's semifinal action. No. 3 seed Lane (22-7) stunned No. 2 Benedict 64-63, while No. 4 seed LeMoyne Owen shocked No. 1 Claflin 65-61 in overtime.

Gulf South (at Southaven, Miss.): March Madness has spread in this tournament, too! West No.1 seed Delta State advanced to Sunday's title game with a 55-52 overtime win over Valdosta State, while West No. 2 seed Arkansas-Monticello knocked off East No. 1 seed West Georgia, 67-65, also in overtime. The men's semifinals, though, didn't have as much drama, as East top seed Valdosta State advanced to the finals with a 78-61 win over Delta State, while Arkansas Tech moved on to the title game with a 73-63 win over Harding.

Conference (Tournament) Calls--Day 3 In Review

A little late, but better late than never. Here's what happened on Day 3 of the fortnight called March Madness in D-II South Nation.

Gulf South Conference (at Southaven, Miss.): Harding scores a huge upset in men's quarterfinal action Friday. Valdosta State, Delta State, and Arkansas Tech also advance.

SIAC (at Birmingham, Ala.): Overtime thrillers, heartbreaking losses, and even one blowout thrown in just for good measure.

Peach Belt Conference (at Aiken, S.C.): All top four seeds in the men's quarterfinals advance to Saturday semifinal action (Augusta State, USC Aiken, Armstrong Atlantic State, and GC&SU).

Conference (Tournament) Calls--Day 2 In Review

So much to talk about, so little time. Let's get started.

Gulf South Conference Women's Quarterfinals (at Southaven, Miss.): The higher seeded teams all held serve in Thursday's all-ladies session. But the first two games were close until the end, as GSC East top seed West Georgia held off West No. 4 seed Ouachita Baptist, 67-64, while East No. 2 seed Valdosta State broke a close game open down the stretch against West No. 3 seed Arkansas Tech, and set the Golden Suns 56-47.

The other two games weren't as close, as West No. 2 seed Arkansas-Monticello eased past East No. 3 seed North Alabama 84-69, while West top seed Delta State had no trouble rolling past West No. 5 seed Harding 79-53.

SIAC (at Birmingham, Ala.): In the men's bracket, top seeded Claflin managed to move on, but not without a struggle against Miles, as the Panthers pulled out a 70-65 win Thursday. In fact, that contest was one of four games decided by five points or less. No. 6 seed Clark Atlanta rallied in the second half to defeat and eliminate No. 11 Morehouse 50-49. No. 10 seed Kentucky State pulled off the upset of the SIAC tournament so far, as No. 7 seed Albany State found itself on the wrong end of March Madness after the Golden Rams season ended with a 64-59 loss. And No. 5 seed Fort Valley State held off a scrappy No. 13 seed in Paine, as the Wildcats pulled out a 79-75 win.

On the women's side, No. 1 seed Fort Valley State carried over its winning ways from the regular season to the postseason, as the Wildcats downed ninth-seeded LeMoyne-Owen 80-60 to advance to Saturday's semifinal round against Tuskegee. The fifth-seeded Tigerettes punched their ticket to the semis after knocking off No. 4 seed Claflin, 58-54.

Peach Belt Conference Women's Quarterfinals: Except for one game, all of the higher seeded teams advanced to semifinal action with wins Thursday. Top seeded Francis Marion surprised very few observers in moving to Saturday's semifinal round with a convincing 80-61 win over No. 9 seed North Georgia. No. 5 Lander had just as easy a time in downing No. 4 seed Armstrong Atlantic State 83-63. In the night session, No. 2 seed Clayton State rallied from an early 10-point first half deficit to defeat No. 7 seed Columbus State 55-52, while third seed and host USC Aiken pulled away from No. 6 seed Georgia College & State University to claim a 62-48 win.

Conference (Tournament) Calls--Day 1 in Review

So much to talk about, so little time. 13 was a lucky number for one team Wednesday. So was 9, 8, and of course, 7. Read on to find out what happened on a busy first day of conference basketball tournament action in D-II South Nation.

Gulf South Conference (at Southaven, Miss.)

Good day for the state of Arkansas, not so good for the state of Alabama. GSC run ends for both Montevallo teams with loss.

Peach Belt Conference (at Aiken, S.C.)

Clayton State men take first step towards defending tourney title. Lander men outlast Columbus State. North Georgia women stun UNC Pembroke. CSU women hold off Augusta State.

SIAC (at Birmingham, Ala.)

13 a "lucky" number for the Paine College Lions. No. 9 Le-Moyne-Owen women edge No. 8 Benedict in thriller. Tuskegee women move on, men don't. Find out more by clicking here.

Conference (Tournament) Calls...Before The Madness!

Is it March (Madness) yet? Yes, it's here! It's time of the year again. The time of the season where the unexpected can be expected.

The season where the underdogs come out of nowhere, and pull off one upset after another, until they win their conference tournament, and get what's usually an elusive to the NCAA tournament.

Speaking of which, for some teams, they're hoping at least one of two teams in their conference tournament, in solidifying their chances of advancing to the Division II big dance.

For other squads, the conference tournament basically becomes a one-game season and Final Four all wrapped into one.

And still a select few squads, such as the Georgia Southwestern women, UNC Pembroke, and even the West Georgia men didn't even earn the privilege of playing in their own league tourney, much less winning a game there.

So, with that in mind, let's take a quick look at each of the championship fortnights (or days) if you will, in each of the three conferences of D-II South Nation.

Peach Belt (at Aiken, S.C.): After an exciting regular season, especially on the men's side, it all comes down to just five days, starting Wednesday. While No. 1 seed Augusta State and No. 2 USC Aiken are obvious to win the men's title, teams such as Armstrong Atlantic State and Georgia College & State University are capable a strong run, while North Georgia and Francis Marion could come out of nowhere to pull off one upset after another. On the women's side, FMU coasted to a regular season title, but Clayton State could give the Patriot women a run for their monedy.

SIAC (at Birmingham, Ala.): Unlike their other brethren in D-II South Nation, the SIAC will have all 25 of its teams (13 men, 12 women) compete in this marathon of a March Madness affair. The Fort Valley State women (23-4 overall) accomplished one of the hardest, if not impossible, of feats in all of sports: finish conference play a perfect 22-0. Oh, and the Wildcats haven't lost so far in 2009 either. But don't count out Clark-Atlanta, whose Lady Panthers were the only other women's team in the league to finish the regular season with at least 20 wins (24-3 overall, 20-2 SIAC).

As for the men, it was a two-team race during the regular season as well, with newcomer Claflin (23-2, 22-2) finishing first, and defending tournament champion Benedict (23-4, 21-3) coming in a close second. Another team to watch is Lane, whose Dragons (20-7, 18-6) enter the SIAC tourney seeded third. But the sleeper team to pay attention just might be Albany State (13-14, 12-12). Although the Golden Rams have been up and down all season, they've won five of their last six games to close out the regular season.

Gulf South Conference (at Southaven, Miss.): This could be among the most competitive conference tournaments in all of D-II, as seven of the 10 teams in the women's bracket have won at least 18 games overall, while nine of the 10 teams in the men's bracket finished the regular season with a .500 or better overall record.

While No. 12 (NABC) Christian Brothers is favored to win the autobid to the NCAA tournament, there are plenty of teams that want take home the title, like GSC East champion Valdosta State (22-5), Delta State (20-7), Arkansas Tech (19-8), and Arkansas-Monticello (19-8), among others.

Oh, and the women's bracket doesn't lack any drama either, as West Georgia (21-6) and Delta State (23-6) could very well find themselves playing in the title game come Sunday, while Valdosta State (20-7), Arkansas-Monticello (18-7), and Arkansas Tech (19-8) could be the teams that disrupt that order.

So, there you have it. March Madness. Will the favorites go all the way, or will there be chaos the between now and Selection Sunday? Those will be among the obvious questions that will be answered over the next five days. So sit back and enjoy all the fun that is the postseason in NCAA Division II basketball.

Regional Rankings Analysis--Men

NOTE: Our "Countdown To March Madness" continues with a brief analysis of the regional rankings in NCAA Division II men's basketball. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

South

1. Claflin

2. Christian Brothers

3. Benedict

4. Florida Southern

5. Delta State

6. Arkansas-Monticello

7. Rollins

8. Valdosta State

9. North Alabama

10. Arkansas Tech

Analysis: D-II South Nation is tops in the South Region once again, as eight of the top 10 teams ranked come from either the Gulf South Conference (six teams) or the SIAC (two). Valdosta State has come on strong in recent weeks, as the Blazers have won five straight games going into the final day of the regular season (Saturday). VSU might be that one team few opponents want to play come tournament time.

Southeast

1. Augusta State

2. USC Aiken

3. Armstrong Atlantic State

4. Georgia College & State University

5. Barton

6. Lenoir-Rhyne

7. Tusculum

8. Mount Olive

9. Newberry

10. Catawba

Analysis: This week, the top four teams in this week's Southeast Region poll hail from the Peach Belt Conference. But it'll be Augusta State and USC Aiken (both at 16-3 in conference play) heading into the final weekend of the regular season battling for not only the No. 1 seed in next week's PBC tournament, but also the right to potentially host an NCAA regional tournament. Don't be surprised if both ASU and USCA end up playing each other for either crown.

Regional Rankings Analysis--Women

NOTE: D-II South Sports continues its road to the NCAA Division II basketball tournament with its weekly look at the regional rankings. This installment with the women's polls. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

South

1. Delta State

2. Fort Valley State

3. Rollins

4. West Georgia

5. Tampa

6. Arkansas-Monticello

7. Arkansas Tech

8. Clark Atlanta

9. Florida Southern

10. Ouachita Baptist

Analysis: D-II South Nation once again rules the roost, with seven of the 10 teams ranked coming from either the Gulf South Conference or the SIAC. The GSC, however, has five of those teams represented in the poll, with four of those coming from the ultra-competitive West Division. Don't be surprised to see the GSC get at least four teams in the NCAA tournament, if not more.

Southeast

1. Francis Marion

2. Lenoir-Rhyne

3. Tusculum

4. Clayton State

5. Carson-Newman

6. USC Aiken

7. Georgia College & State University

8. Barton

9. Newberry

10. Lander

Analysis: While Francis Marion and Clayton State seem to be locks to get no worse than maybe the No. 4 seed, the other three Peach Belt Conference teams ranked in this week's Southeast Regional poll find themselves on the bubble heading into the final weekend of the regular season. Perhaps those games, as well as next week's PBC tournament, could go a long way towards deciding which teams out of trio, if at all, could end up playing in the NCAA tournament.

The Last Week...Part 2

Without further ado, here's Part 2 of the end of the regular season basketball round-up here at D-II South Sports. This installment focuses on the Peach Belt Conference, where a lot of ties may have to be broken come Saturday. The following article mentioned here should explain things much better than this blog can.

The Last Week...Part 1

As the title of the post implies...this is the last week of the regular season, in NCAA Division II basketball. Throughout the rest of the week...as often as possible...D-II South Sports looks at some of the scenarios and/or storylines that will shape the final days of regular season action. First up is the Gulf South Conference.

Women: In the GSC West, Delta State (21-6 overall, 11-1 in GSC) has already clinched the title in that division, with a 73-60 win over Arkansas Tech (18-7, 8-4) on the road Saturday. Speaking of the Golden Suns, they'll play host to archrival Arkansas-Monticello (17-6, 9-3) in what basically amounts to a battle for the No. 2 seed in the West come this Thursday.

As for the East, as this blog entry was being written, West Georgia (20-5, 9-1) can lock up first place there with a victory over either Alabama-Huntsville Tuesday night, or a win at North Alabama (14-12, 7-4) in the season finale Saturday. UNA can finish in a tie for second place with Valdosta State (18-7, 8-3) with a win over UWG, plus a Lady Blazer loss to West Florida this weekend.

Then there's the battle for the remaining spots in the Gulf South Conference tournament. Montevallo (8-18, 4-7) hosts West Alabama (10-16, 4-7) in what could be a potential battle for the No. 4 seed in the GSC East. But UWF (8-18, 3-8) entertains VSU in hopes of stealing one of those final two berths. Depending upon what happens in Tuesday's game between UWG and UAH, there could be possibly be a three-way tie for that final spot in that division for next week's GSC tourney.

In the West, Delta State (No. 1 seed), UAM, ATU, and Ouachita Baptist have all clinched GSC postseason bids. That leaves just one spot left to fill between Harding (19-7, 5-7) and Henderson State (10-14, 4-8). The Lady Bisons, though--must win one of their final two games--both on the road, or have the Lady Reddies lose one of their final two games, in order to secure the No. 5 seed from that division. HU plays at Delta State on Thursday, followed by the season finale at OBU Saturday.

Men: Valdosta State (20-5, 8-3) has won four straight games, and has built some all-important momentum going into the Gulf South Conference tournament. But the Blazers have just one more obstacle to clear, clinching the top seed in the GSC East. That can be accomplished with a win at West Florida on Saturday. Still, while the VSU men have gone unbeaten at home in conference play (6-0), they've struggled on the road in league action, as they've gone 2-3 away from the confines of the P.E. Complex. It'll be interesting to see if the Blazers can overcome those traveling jitters this weekend. On a side note, a VSU loss to UWF, plus wins by North Alabama (17-9, 7-4) and Alabama-Huntsville (16-9, 7-4) would create a three-way tie for first place. That would lead to way too many scenarios to break that tie, too many to mention here.

In the West, Christian Brothers (21-4, 10-2) can clinch that division title outright with either two wins, or a Delta State (19-6, 9-3) loss in one of its final two contests. The Statesmen can finish on top by itself with back-to-back wins, plus back-to-back losses by the Buccaneers. Arkansas Tech (18-7, 8-4) can clinch the third seed with a win at home over Arkansas-Monticello (18-7, 7-5).

As far as filling out the remainder of the men's bracket is concerned, West Florida (13-11, 5-6) can all but assure itself of finishing no worse than fifth in the GSC East with a win over VSU this weekend, while West Alabama (12-14, 4-7) can force a three-way tie for the final two spots in the GSC tourney from the East with a win over Montevallo (14-14, 5-6), plus a UWF loss to VSU. Harding (15-10) and Southern Arkansas (11-13) enter the final week of the regular season tied for the fifth and final conference tournament from the West at 5-7 in GSC play. Both teams need a win and help to advance to the GSC tournament.

Regional Rankings Analysis--Men

EDITOR'S NOTE: Our "Countdown To March Madness" continues with an analysis of the NCAA Division II men's basketball regional rankings. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

South

1. Claflin

2. Florida Southern

3. Benedict

4. Christian Brothers

5. Delta State

6. Arkansas-Monticello

7. Rollins

8. Alabama-Huntsville

9. North Alabama

10. Valdosta State

Analysis: D-II South Nation rules the roost in this week's South Region rankings, as six of the eight teams ranked in the poll either are from the Gulf South Conference or the SIAC. As expected, first-year SIAC newcomer Claflin took over the top spot in this week's rankings after Benedict's upset loss to Miles last week. In the GSC, Delta State (19-5 overall) just might be one of the nation's hottest teams at this moment, as the Statesment won their eighth straight game after demolishing Southern Arkansas, 93-66, on Thursday night. Three teams (UAH, UNA, and VSU) could find themselves not only battling for the GSC East title, but also maybe the eighth and final spot in the NCAA tournament.

Southeast

1. Augusta State

2. USC Aiken

3. Armstrong Atlantic State

4. Georgia College & State University

5. Barton

6. Tusculum

7. Newberry

8. Catawba

9. Mount Olive

10. Lenoir-Rhyne

Analysis: The race for the top four seeds in the Southeast bracket is almost a mirror image of the Peach Belt Conference, as teams from that league currently hold all of them. The Feb. 28 meeting between GC&SU and USCA at Aiken, S.C. could at least shed some light as to not only how the standings in the PBC will turn out, but also which of those four squads could finish as one of the top four seeds for the NCAA tournament, if at all.

Regional Rankings Analysis--Women

EDITOR'S NOTE: Here's another installment of the "Regional Rankings Analysis", leading to the selection of teams in the 2009 NCAA Division II basketball tournament. This edition features the women's teams in the South and Southeast Regions, respectively. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

South

1. Rollins

2. Delta State

3. West Georgia

4. Fort Valley State

5. Florida Southern

6. Tampa

7. Ouachita Baptist

8. Clark Atlanta

9. Arkansas-Monticello

10. Harding

Analysis: Delta State and West Georgia all but seem to be locks to get no worse than a No. 4 seed in this year's South Regional draw. The one thing that's drawing the most interest in this week's rankings is the fact that Clark Atlanta is ranked No. 8 despite having just two losses so far this season. Also, the Gulf South Conference is once again flexing its muscles, particularly in the West Division. That's where four teams (DSU, Ouachita, UAM, and HU) all hold spots in this week's Top 10.

Southeast

1. Francis Marion

2. Lenoir-Rhyne

3. Tusculum

4. Clayton State

5. Carson-Newman

6. GC&SU

7. USC Aiken

8. Mount Olive

9. Barton

10. Newberry

Analysis: Had it not for a loss to USC Aiken earlier this season, the Francis Marion women could very well be undefeated right now. At the point, the No. 1 seed and potential host role in the Southeast bracket is Patriot women's to lose. But FMU just might a strong challenger in Clayton State, whose Lakers have an eight-game winning streak going into this weekend's action. Both teams will play each other on the final day of the regular season, Feb. 28. Before then, though, the Patriot women must play at GC&SU, followed by a home finale against Armstrong Atlantic State next Wednesday.

Regional Rankings Analysis--Men's Basketball

EDITOR'S NOTE: D-II South Sports look at the analysis of the NCAA Division II basketball regional rankings continues with an installment on this week's polls in the men's game. Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are marked in BOLD type.

South

1. Benedict

2. Claflin

3. Christian Brothers

4. Florida Southern

5. Arkansas-Monticello

6. Delta State

7. Rollins

8. North Alabama

9. Arkansas Tech

10. Harding

Analysis: While the SIAC has the top two teams ranked in this week's poll, the balance of power in the South Region is solidly in the Gulf South Conference, as six teams from that league cracked this week's rankings. Of those squads, five are from the ultra-competitive GSC West Division. That includes NABC No. 8 Christian Brothers, whose Buccaneers are ranked third in the regional poll. But Claflin could be in line take over the top spot in the South after Miles upset Benedict 83-81 in overtime earlier this week.

Southeast

1. Georgia College & State University

2. Augusta State

3. USC Aiken

4. Armstrtong Atlantic State

5. Tusculum

6. Catawba

7. Barton

8. Newberry

9. Mount Olive

10. Mars Hill

Analysis: The Peach Belt Conference may have the top four teams in this week's Southeast Regional rankings. But this is also a league where any team is capable of knocking off the other on any given night. That was proven on Wednesday, when No. 4 (Southeast) Armstrong Atlantic State traveled to Milledgeville, Ga., and pulled off the upset over No.1 (and NABC No. 14) GC&SU, 68-60, while just last weekend, North Georgia knocked off current NABC No. 15 (and Southeast No. 3) USC Aiken, 77-67, at home. The outcomes of those games themselves should make for an interesting race down the stretch for the PBC men's regular season title.

Regional Rankings Analysis--Women

EDITOR'S NOTE: For the rest of the regular season, until the week of March 4, D-II South Sports will have a brief analysis of the men's and women's basketball rankings, in both the South and Southeast Regions, respectively. The women's rankings will be studied each Thursday, followed by the men on Friday.

Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are listed in BOLD type.

South

1. Rollins

2. Delta State

3. West Georgia

4. Fort Valley State

5. Arkansas-Monticello

6. Florida Southern

7. Tampa

8. Clark Atlanta

9. Arkansas Tech

10. Florida Tech

Analysis: Four Gulf South Conference teams were ranked in this week's South regional poll. They were led by Delta State, whose Lady Statesmen remained No. 2 despite losing last week. Arkansas-Monticello, though, should provide a strong challenge for DSU down the stretch. On the other hand, Fort Valley State and Clark Atlanta are carrying the banner for the SIAC, as the regular season starts to wind down.

Southeast

1. Francis Marion

2. Lenoir-Rhyne

3. Carson-Newman

4. Tusculum

5. Clayton State

6. USC Aiken

7. GC&SU

8. Newberry

9. Mount Olive

10. Barton

Analysis: Francis Marion (20-1 overall, 13-1 in Peach Belt Conference) has been the class of the Southeast region so far this season, as the Patriot women have lost only once this season, to No. 6 USC Aiken. But Clayton State and Georgia College & State Universities have been gaining strength, as both teams have won six and eight straight games, respectively.

Shake-ups in the Gulf South Conference...and more...

Here are we...the first full weekend of February, and things are already getting tense and tight on the basketball court...

That's especially the case in the Gulf South Conference, and the East Division in particular. That's where things tightened up after the action of Thursday night.

We start in Florence, Ala., where North Alabama swept Valdosta State in critical GSC twinbill. The Lions crushed the Blazers 91-68, while the UNA women handed the Lady Blazers their second straight setback in a 74-73 thriller in the opener.

The loss to North Alabama proved especially costly for the VSU women, as West Georgia (16-5, 6-1) moved into sole possession of first place in the GSC East with a 70-61 home victory over West Florida. On the men's side, the Lions (15-7, 5-2) moved into a tie for first place after Alabama-Huntsville (14-7, 5-2) fell on the wrong end of a 79-76 upset loss at home to Montevallo.

The surprises in the GSC weren't limited to the East. The West Division also saw its share of shake-ups Thursday night, as No. 25 (WBCA) Delta State (17-6, 7-1) was knocked off by Ouachita Baptist 64-58. On the other hand, the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms (15-4, 7-1) might find themselves in the national rankings after they outlasted Christian Brothers 81-72. It was the sixth straight win for the UAM women.

Finally, No. 10 (NABC) Christian Brothers (18-3, 7-1) established itself as the team to beat in the GSC West men's race, as the Buccaneers won their fourth straight game with a 51-43 win over No. 22 Arkansas-Monticello. But be on the lookout for Delta State (16-5, 6-2) going down the stretch. The Statesmen moved into sole possession of second place in that division with a 77-70 win over Ouachita Baptist.

The big games on Saturday...

NOTE: All times local to home team

WOMEN

Valdosta State (15-6, 5-2) at West Georgia (16-5, 6-1)--5:30 p.m. EST

The Wolves look to win their sixth straight game, while the Lady Blazers hope to avoid their first three-game skid of the season.

Honorable mention: Columbus State (12-10, 5-7) at Lander (12-7, 7-5), UNC Pembroke (10-10, 6-7) at Armstrong Atlantic State (12-8, 7-6), Albany State (8-11, 8-6) at Tuskegee (8-10, 8-5).

MEN

West Florida (11-9, 3-4) at North Alabama--3 p.m. CST

Lions look to keep momentum going against the Argonauts.

Honorable mention: Clayton State (12-8, 5-8) at Augusta State (16-4, 10-3), West Alabama (10-11, 3-4) at Alabama-Huntsville (14-7, 5-2).

Baseball and Softball seasons have arrived

Lost in all the hoopla and hype of Sunday's Super Bowl was the arrival of the 2009 baseball and softball seasons, respectively, in D-II South Nation. Click the following link (s) below to find out how and where your favorite team (s) will finish this year.

Gulf South Conference Baseball

Gulf South Conference Softball

Peach Belt Conference Baseball

Peach Belt Conference Softball

Regional rankings...and looking ahead to Super Bowl weekend

While the rest of the U.S. is getting ready for the Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, there are a lot of things going on within D-II South Nation this weekend, at least as far as basketball is concerned. As January fades into February, the contender--slowly, but surely--are starting to be separated from the pretenders. Let's take a brief analysis of the regional rankings in NCAA Division II hoops, then take a look ahead to Saturday's key match-ups.

South Women: The Gulf South Conference leads the way in the initial South Region poll of the season, with four teams ranked in the Top 10, led by No. 2 Delta State, followed by No. 4 Valdosta State, No. 5 West Georgia, and No. 9 Arkansas Tech. The SIAC put two teams into the regional rankings for Week 1, with Fort Valley State ranked No. 6, while Clark-Atlanta is No. 10.

Southeast Women: If there's any doubt that the Peach Belt Conference has arrived as one of the premier conferences in all of NCAA Division II, it's very evident in the first regional rankings of 2009. Francis Marion has proven to be a team to be reckoned with in the Southeast Region, as the Patriots are ranked No. 2 only behind No. 1 Lenoir-Rhyne. USC Aiken also will prove to a serious force in the PBC title race come February, as the Lady Pacers come in at No. 5. Clayton State comes in at No. 6, while Georgia College & State University rounds out the rankings at No. 8.

South Men: For the first time in recent memory, men's teams from the SIAC grabbed the top two spots in this week's South Region poll. No. 2 Benedict, though, may be in line to claim the top spot in the South after knocking off No. 1 Claflin, 55-45, on the road Thursday night. While the GSC has five teams regionally ranked (No. 4 Christian Brothers, No. 5 Arkansas-Monticello, No. 6 Arkansas Tech, No. 9 North Alabama, and No. 10 Delta State), the balance of power just might reside in the West Division, as four of those squads come from that side of the league. The proof in the pudding came Thursday night, as UAM rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat ATU 56-53. CBU, on the other hand, eased past Southern Arkansas 60-46.

Southeast Men: It was a history-making week for the Peach Belt Conference as far as making its presence felt in basketball polls goes. Not only did the PBC place four teams in the NABC/Division II Bulletin rankings for the first time in conference history, (No. 7 Augusta State, No. 12 Armstrong Atlantic State, No. 14 USC Aiken, and No. 24 Georgia College & State University), it also put six teams in the first-ever Southeast Region poll. As an added bonus, the league also dominated the top four spots on the charts, led by No. 1 ASU, No. 2 GC&SU, No. 3 AASU, and No. 4 USC Aiken. Further showing the strength of the PBC, Clayton State came in at No. 7, followed by North Georgia at No. 8.

Key games this weekend

WOMEN

North Alabama (10-10, 3-2) at West Georgia (14-5, 4-1)--Saturday 5:30 p.m. EST

The Lions face the Wolves in a crucial GSC East contest.

West Florida (7-13, 2-3) at Valdosta State (15-4, 5-0)--Saturday 2 p.m. EST

The Lady Blazers hope to extend their win streak to seven straight games against the Argonauts.

Also keep an eye on: Harding (13-5, 1-5) at Ouachita Baptist (12-6, 2-4), Henderson State (9-9, 3-3) at Delta State (16-5, 6-0), Armstrong Atlantic State (11-6, 6-4) at USC Aiken (15-5, 7-3), and UNC Pembroke (9-8, 5-5) at Clayton State (13-4, 7-3).

MEN

#7 Augusta State (14-3, 8-2) at #24 Georgia College & State University (14-2, 8-2)--Saturday 4 p.m. EST

#12 Armstrong Atlantic State (15-2, 8-2) at #14 USC Aiken (13-4, 8-2)--Saturday 7:30 p.m. EST

The top four teams in the Peach Belt Conference square off against each other this weekend. When the dust finally settles, at least two of those teams will be tied for first place in league play.

#17 Christian Brothers (16-3, 5-1) at #22 Arkansas Tech (14-5, 4-2)--Saturday 6 p.m. CST

The Buccaneers need a win to keep pace with No. 16 Arkansas-Monticello (16-3, 5-1) in the GSC West, while the Wonder Boys look to snap a two-game losing streak.

Also keep an eye on: Francis Marion (11-5, 4-5) at North Georgia (9-7, 3-7), West Florida (10-8, 2-3) at Valdosta State (15-4, 3-2), and Harding (12-7, 2-4) at Ouachita Baptist (12-7, 2-4)

Thursday Night Showcase--D-II Style

Wow! Are we almost three full weeks into 2009 already? Yes, it's hard to believe, but true.

Having said that, how about Thursday night basketball action in D-II South Nation.

Due to a small gas explosion on the campus of the University of West Alabama, tonight's basketball contests between UWA and Valdosta State have been postponed. Those games are expected to be made up Saturday, unless otherwise noted. The twinbill between West Alabama and West Florida, at UWF in Pensacola, Fla, will be played on Sunday instead of Saturday.

As for the games that will actually be played, speaking of UWF, both the Argonauts and Lady Argos will travel to central Alabama one last time, as they'll face lame-duck Gulf South Conference member Montevallo in a critical GSC East doubleheader tonight. All four teams at both schools enter that twinbill with identical 1-2 records in conference play, with the Argos and Lady Argos sporting 9-7 and 6-12 records, respectively, while both UM squads have respective 9-10 and 5-13 overall marks.

All eight GSC West schools have their hoops teams in action tonight. That includes the three teams ranked in the top 20 of this week's NABC Division II Bulletin men's poll: Harding at No. 12 Christian Brothers, Ouachita Baptist at No. 17 Arkansas Tech, and Henderson State at No. 19 Arkansas-Monticello.

Finally, in the Peach Belt Conference, Armstrong Atlantic State goes west to Columbus, Ga. to face Columbus State. The women's game should be of particular interest on this Thursday night, as the Lady Pirates are 10-4 overall, and 5-2 in the PBC, while the Lady Cougars are 11-6, and 4-3 in conference games.

Looking ahead to the weekend on the hardwood

While ESPN has a "Blockbuster Saturday" at the NCAA Division I level, D-II South Nation has its share of critical college basketball games in the Division II ranks, too. Here are the games of interest this weekend.



WOMEN



Gulf South Conference



Harding (13-1, 1-1) at Arkansas Tech (12-3, 2-0)--4 p.m. CST



The Golden Suns enter this contest looking to stay unbeaten in GSC West Division play, while the Lady Bisons hope to win their second league contests after splitting their first two contests. One of HU's losses, however, came to a Henderson State (7-7, 1-1) squad that's been up and down for most of the season. It'll be interesting to see how the Harding women will fare against the No. 21 ATU women.



North Alabama (9-9, 2-1) at Valdosta State (12-4, 2-0)--1 p.m. EST



The Lady Blazers managed to stay unbeaten in GSC East after edging archrival West Georgia (11-5, 2-1) to gain sole possession of first place in the division after playing only two league games. As for the UNA women, the Lions must re-group quickly after losing to West Florida 76-71 on Thursday.



Peach Belt Conference



Columbus State (10-5, 3-2) at USC Aiken (12-3, 4-1)--5:30 p.m. EST



The Lady Pacers play host to the Lady Cougars in this critical PBC contest. While USCA had Wednesday night off, CSU needed overtime to defeat a scrappy North Georgia team 69-65. Which goes to show that nothing is easy in the PBC.



Honorable Mention: Georgia College & State University (8-4, 3-2) at Francis Marion (11-1, 4-1), Lander (8-4, 3-2) at Clayton State (11-1, 5-0)



SIAC



Clark-Atlanta (12-1, 8-0) at Kentucky State (9-3, 8-1)--1 p.m. EST



This is perhaps the game of the weekend in this league, the Lady Panthers putting their 12-game winning streak on the line against the Thorobrettes.



MEN



North Alabama (13-5, 3-0) at Valdosta State (13-3, 1-1)--4 p.m. EST



The Lions hope to run their record to 4-0 in GSC East play, while the Blazers look to go over the .500 mark in league games after splitting their first two contests (a loss at Alabama-Huntsville last weekend, followed by a win at home over West Georgia Thursday).



Delta State (11-4, 1-1) at Christian Brothers (13-2, 2-0)--5 p.m. CST



The No. 17 (NABC) Buccaneers will be going for their eighth straight win against the Statesmen, who hope to bounce back after a tough loss to No. 24 Arkansas-Monticello 75-70 on Thursday.



Honorable mention: Alabama-Huntsville (10-5, 3-0) at West Alabama (8-8, 1-1), Harding (11-4, 1-1) at No. 22 Arkansas Tech (12-3, 2-0), Ouachita Baptist (10-5, 0-2) at Arkansas-Monticello (12-3, 1-1)



Peach Belt Conference



Georgia College & State University (9-2, 3-2) at Francis Marion (10-2, 3-2)--4 p.m. EST



The Patriots play host to the Bobcats in a showdown of two-loss teams.



Honorable mention: Augusta State (11-2, 5-1) at North Georgia (8-4, 2-4), Lander (7-4, 3-2) at Clayton State (9-3, 2-3)

The Night That Was...and The Night Ahead

It was an exciting Wednesday in the Peach Belt Conference, as one of that league's last unbeaten women's teams fell hard, while the Gulf South Conference opens league play in the East Division Thursday night.



First off, in the PBC, the Francis Marion Patriot women's quest to run their record to 10-0 fell by the wayside, thanks to Meredith Legg and her game-high 23 points, as the USC Aiken Lady Pacers cruised to a surprisingly easy 75-57 win over FMU. The USCA women improved to 11-3 overall, and 3-1 in conference play with that victory, while the Patriots fell to 9-1 and 2-1 in Peach Belt contests.



In other PBC action, Garrett Siler scored 22 points, while collecting 10 rebounds, as the Augusta State men crushed UNC Pembroke 81-46, while the Clayton State women staved off a strong challenge from Columbus State in pulling out a hard-fought 71-68 win at home. The Laker women stayed unbeaten in PBC play at 4-0, while improving to 10-1 overall, with the win.



Finally, teams in the GSC East officially open Gulf South Conference play Thursday, as Montevallo begins its final season in the season in that conference paying a visit to West Georgia. In other games, Alabama-Huntsville hosts West Florida in a battle of men's teams with identical 7-5 records, while the North Alabama men take their 10-5 overall record into the start of conference play against 6-7 West Alabama.



Remember to watch the D-II South Sports Newsbar for more college sports coverage. So long for now.

Augusta State tops USC Aiken, Lakers fall to Bobcats

In a game that lived up to its billing, No. 7-ranked Augusta State stunned No. 2 USC Aiken 87-76 Monday night. On that same evening, the Georgia College & State University Bobcats handed the No. 25 Clayton State University Lakers their first loss of the season in a 58-49 upset win on the road.

Article courtesy of the Peach Belt Conference

Aiken, Augusta meet for 50th time

The No. 2 University of South Carolina-Aiken Pacers and the No. 7 Augusta State University Jaguars meet for the 50th time in men's basketball Monday night. It's the first time the Peach Belt Conference has had a regular season match-up of nationally ranked teams in the Top 10.

Article courtesy of the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle

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USC Aiken, Augusta State get set for historic showdown

NBCAugusta.com

ASU and USC-Aiken Prepare For Rivalry Game

wrdw.com

First wins of 2009 twice as nice for Tuskegee

A New Year brings a pair of first wins of the season for both Tuskegee's teams...at Albany State's expense Saturday night.

Article courtesy of the Albany (Ga.) Herald

Georgia Southwestern upsets Francis Marion men

The Georgia Southwestern State University Hurricanes ended the Francis Marion University Patriots dream of an undefeated season, as they pull off the upset at home, 92-79 Saturday.

Article courtesy of scnow.com

A "Peachy" first Saturday of 2009!

A new calendar year means the start of the conference play in earnest, and the Peach Belt Conference will set out to prove that's one other toughest NCAA Division II conferences in the nation once again.

In women's action, Augusta State (3-5) will look to improve to 2-0 in the PBC against Clayton State (7-1, 1-0) on the road. Meanwhile, in Aiken, S.C., preseason favorite USC Aiken hopes to bounce from an upset loss to Armstrong Atlantic State, and face a North Georgia squad that's also 0-1 in conference play. Francis Marion (8-0) will look to continue its perfect season against Georgia Southwestern State, while Columbus State (7-3) hosts Lander (6-2) in the league opener for the Lady Cougars. The Lady Bearcats, won their first PBC contest on Dec. 15, a 72-58 win over GSW.

The men's side isn't short on key match-ups. One of those contests pits Augusta State (7-1) against Clayton State (8-0). Both the Jaguars and Lakers enter this critical game at 1-0. Augusta's archrival--USC Aiken (6-2) hosts a North Georgia team that's 6-1 overall, but that one loss has come in PBC play, a tough 80-77 setback to Francis Marion on Dec. 15. Speaking of the Patriots, they'll hope to join their female counterparts in running their record to 9-0 at Georgia Southwestern this weekend.

Looking ahead to the new year...

With 2008 now in the rear-view mirror, it's time for basketball teams in D-II South Nation to start focusing on 2009...



For the most part, there's no more beating up on teams like Allen University. Or Carver. Or St. Thomas (Fla.). Or even Voorhees, for that matter. The start of a new calendar year usually means conference play starts in earnest. With that in mind, let's take a brief look at how the three conferences covered by D-II South Sports are shaping up going into the remainder of this season.



WOMEN


Gulf South Conference: Despite three losses, Arkansas Tech is the lone team to be nationally ranked, as the Golden Suns are ranked 20th in the most recent WBCA poll. The lone undefeated squad going into the new year, however, is Harding. The Lady Bisons enter 2009 at 11-0, and are one of six teams in the West Division that have winning records going into GSC play. On the other hand, Valdosta State (9-3) and West Georgia (8-4) are the only East Division teams to have winning records going into the new year.

Peach Belt Conference: Unlike the Gulf South Conference, all but one of the teams in the PBC have played at least one league contest prior to New Year's Eve. Armstrong Atlantic State (7-2) is currently in first place at 2-0, while Francis Marion, Clayton State, Lander, and Augusta State are all 1-0. Columbus State (7-3) is the only PBC team that hasn't started conference play. Of the quartet that's 1-0 in the PBC, Francis Marion is the only team with an overall undefeated record at 8-0.

SIAC: Four teams are unbeaten in league play going into 2009. Preseason favorite Kentucky State (5-2) is 4-0, while three other teams; Clark Atlanta (7-1), Fort Valley State (4-4), and Albany State (3-3) aren't that far behind at 3-0.

MEN

Gulf South Conference: Valdosta State (12-2) has exceeded the expectations of many observers in the East Division so far, as both of the Blazers have come by a combined of three points, to Sunshine State Conference foes Florida Southern and Lynn, respectively. That's not to mention the VSU men are also tied for the No. 25 national ranking with Clayton State in the most recent NABC/Division II Bulletin poll. But the balance of power in the GSC just might be in the West Division, as Arkansas-Monticello is sitting at No. 5, Arkansas Tech at No. 20, while Christian Brothers, Harding and Ouachita Baptist received votes.


Peach Belt Conference: Unpredictability might be the name of the game on the men's side of the PBC, as nine of the league's 11 teams have at least a .500 or better record coming into the New Year. One of the league's surprise teams thus far is Francis Marion, whose Patriots are off to their best start since the 2003-04 season at 8-0. Defending conference tournament champion Clayton State is also off to an 8-0 start, while preseason favorite (and currently No. 2 nationally ranked) USC Aiken has lost back-to-back games after a 6-0 start. Defending national runner-up Augusta State is 7-1 so far this season, and goes into 2009 ranked No. 7 in the NABC poll.

SIAC: As expected, Benedict (3-1, 2-0) has been leading the way thus far, as the Tigers currently hold sole possession of first place in the men's standings. As for SIAC newcomer Claflin, the Panthers have held their own in this underrated league, as they're off to a 9-1 start, in overall as well as conference play. In fact, Miles handed Claflin its first loss of the season in a 66-58 upset loss on Dec. 30.