Hey Look, Stephen F. Austin is on Another Winning Streak
Posted by Tommy Lemoine on January 23rd, 2015Stephen F. Austin lost to East Tennessee State last season on November 23 — falling to 3-2 overall — then proceeded to win 29 straight games on its way to the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament. Not only did the program record its first-ever victory in the Big Dance – an improbable comeback win over VCU – but Brad Underwood took home the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year honors as the top first-year head man in college hoops. As for this season? Things are looking awfully familiar. The Lumberjacks were blown out by Baylor on November 24 — falling to 1-3 overall — and, you guessed it, haven’t lost a game since. With tremendous team balance, a pair of match-up nightmares and 14 straight wins already in hand, the question must be asked: Can Underwood’s bunch again streak into March? Considering SFA’s track record and the overall dearth of legitimate Southland competition, it’s becoming a stronger and stronger possibility – one that may ultimately come down to Saturday’s trip to Sam Houston State.
Is SFA bound for another long streak? Sam Houston State could stand in the way. (Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports)
Despite losing their top scorer from last season (Desmond Haymon), the Lumberjacks’ excellent balance and spread-motion attack – predicated on finding the highest percentage shot via heavy ball-movement – means they haven’t missed a beat offensively. Upwards of 10 guys play 10 or more minutes per game and six different players average between 6.7 PPG and 13.9 PPG, including four newcomers. Those new faces – two JuCo transfers, Samford transplant Clide Geffrard, Jr., and freshman Ty Charles – have adapted well to Underwood’s offensive approach, each capable shooters willing to swing the ball around and work for the best look. In fact, the defending conference champs have recorded assists on a whopping 64 percent of their made field goals so far this season. Still, the biggest problem for opposing defenses is trying to handle Jacob Parker and Thomas Walkup, the team’s versatile leading scorers. At 6’6’’, Parker (the reigning Southland Player of the Year) technically plays the four or five in most games, but possesses guard-like quickness off the bounce and exceptional accuracy from behind the arc, currently shooting an absurd 46 percent from three. Likewise, Walkup is an undersized forward who serves as the Lumberjacks’ grittiest banger in the paint (6.1 RPG) and one of its best passers (3.2 APG) while leading the team in scoring. Both players are multi-faceted ‘tweeners who present unique match-up problems on a nightly basis, enabling SFA to become an even more efficient offense this season.
And it’s a similar story on the other end. Underwood, who coached under Frank Martin at Kansas State and South Carolina, preaches a team-oriented, pressure-denial defense that’s highly conducive to forcing turnovers in the half-court (the team boasts the third-best defensive turnover rate in college basketball). The Lumberjacks move their feet extremely well, deny passing lanes and constantly harass ball-handlers, both on the perimeter and down low. On December 5, SFA held a good Long Beach State team to 0.76 points per possession, forced 19 turnovers and won by 29 points. Though Walkup made the all-Defensive team last year and point guard Trey Pinkney might be the league’s best on-ball defender, that kind of success says more about the team’s overall alertness and mindset than any one or two players.
Wrap that offensive and defensive prowess in a bow and what do you get? Easily the most balanced unit in a conference otherwise heavy on speed and offense. There are actually two Southland teams with better offenses than the Lumberjacks – Northwestern State and Incarnate Word – but with nine of the league’s 13 teams ranking 299th or worse in defensive efficiency, no other team holds up on both ends like they do. They can score with anybody and are simply better at making stops. As a result, Underwood’s group is the highest-ranking conference squad in KenPom and strongly favored to win every remaining game on its schedule… except for one. And that’s where things get interesting. SFA heads to Sam Houston State Saturday to take on the only team which has been stingier that it on defense this season. In fact – while middling on offense – the Bearkats currently boast the 15th-most efficient defense in America, holding opponents to under a point per possession in 16 of 18 games this season. They lack overall size up front but are an excellent offensive and defensive rebounding club, thanks in large part to 6’11’’ forward Michael Holyfield (8.1 RPG). They are the Southland’s most experienced team, with four seniors in the starting lineup. And above all else, they will be at home against the Lumberjacks, a place they have seldom lost over the past two years.
If SFA manages to leave Hunstville victorious on Saturday, its odds of winning out in the regular season will jump from 9.2 percent to 21 percent – which is substantial. The Lumberjacks have all the pieces to streak into Selection Sunday and pull off a bit more magic in March. If Sam Houston State wins, however? Well then it’s time to talk about the Bearkats. After all, they have won nine in a row.
