So, I write these previews for the home conference games that typically go in the Log Cabin Democrat, but they didn't make it in there today. So I guess I'll just put them here since they aren't getting published anywhere else. Obviously the readership here isn't as high as the Cabin's, but at least it's something. Enjoy. Also, for those who won't be at the games tonight and will be tuning in at home with a computer nearby, I'll be posting a running diary of the goings-on in the women's game, and Kai will follow with the men's. Maybe I'll be able to tell you something Monty didn't, or if the stream just isn't working and you've got no other means of keeping up, then I'm your guy.

Anyway, on to some preview.

SUGAR BEARS VS DELTA STATE

They’re all big come conference time, but the stakes look a little higher for tonight’s meeting between the UCA Sugar Bears (12-4, 4-1) and the Delta State Lady Statesmen (14-1, 3-1).
Delta enters the game as the South Region’s No. 2 team, and UCA is right behind them at No. 3. The two teams are battling to catch up to top-ranked Henderson State not only in the regional poll, but in the conference standings, as the Sugar Bears hold a half-game lead over the Lady Statesmen for second place.
“It’s a big game, but every game is a big game for us,” UCA coach Checola Seals said. “We tell our kids to prepare one game at a time and we know we’ve got to play our ‘A’ game and we’ve got to play hard.”
The Sugar Bears enter tonight’s game coming off an 88-76 win at Harding Monday night, the highest offensive output for UCA all season. Delta State, on the other hand, has topped 70 only twice.
“They’re not really a fast-breaking team,” Seals said. “If they get a steal they might fast break some, but other than that they’re going to set up and run their offense. We’re going to try to push the tempo, but they are very athletic. I can’t say they’ll get into a running game with us, but at times they’ll be able to score at will because we’re going to take some chances.”
DSU, who averages 62.7 points per game and allows a paltry 47.1 on 30.2 percent shooting, presents a clear contrast to the Sugar Bears’ preferred brand of basketball, but Seals said her team isn’t concerned with anybody but themselves.
“We’re going to play our normal game and not try to do anything fantastic or just to counteract what they’re doing,” she said. “Mostly we’re just worried about us and doing what we’re supposed to do, and everything will fall into place. We’re going to concentrate on us and getting our kids where they need to be. If we score that, we score that. I don’t care if it’s 60-59 as long as we win.”
The Sugar Bears have been getting plenty of scoring from GSC West Player of the Week Caronica Randle, who averaged 27 points in a loss to Henderson State and a win at Harding in the past week to claim the award for the third time this season. Randle is the only player for either team in tonight’s game averaging double figures in scoring.
Delta is led by Jennifer Rushing’s 9.8 points and Wyconda Thomas’ 9.4.
“They’re a balanced team with very balanced scoring,” Seals said. “They’re solid guard-wise and post-wise, and they’re all able to score. Any of them can give you 15 to 17 points on any given night, or they can give you their usual eight or nine. They all k now their roles and distribute the ball well and they take care of it.
“Rushing can be deadly at times and she’s got the quickness of [UCA guard] Shamille [Taylor], so you have to be conscious of that. And they’ve got Wyconda Thomas they like to dribble penetrate with, so we’re going to have to try to combat that. They’ve also got a couple big posts we’ve got to watch out for.”
With the two teams being ranked so high in the regional poll, a quality win in a game like tonight’s could have major implications come tournament selection time in March – when the top eight teams from each region advance. But that’s of no concern to Seals just yet.
“It’s about winning one game at a time,” she said. “You’ve still got to play this game to win, and play as hard as you can. The rankings don’t mean anything to me right now. They don’t, but they do since we have to be there to go to the tournament. But we’re trying to get to that No. 1 spot. If you keep winning and taking care of business, all that works out.”

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BEARS VS DELTA STATE

The coaches and players say it all the time – every game in the Gulf South Conference is tough. With the run of tight games the Bears (11-4, 4-1) have played thus far, that would seem evident.
Tonight, with Delta State (13-1, 4-0) coming to Conway, the Bears will find out just how tough it can be.
“There’s no doubt Delta’s the most talented team on our side of the conference,” UCA coach Rand Chappell said of a Statesmen team ranked 14th nationally and No. 3 in the NCAA South Region poll. “I think the consensus is that Delta State is on top and everybody else is battling from behind. Unless we can prove otherwise, that’s the way it looks.”
Last season the Bears and Statesmen split the GSC-West crown with 11-5 conference records, splitting their season series with each team winning on its home floor. UCA beat DSU 78-66 in overtime in Conway, and DSU prevailed in Cleveland, Miss. 64-60.
However, both teams have been overhauled and tonight’s game will present a whole new challenge for the Bears.
“They’re very talented all the way through,” Chappell said. “The guys they have as role players would probably be stars on other teams. I know they’ve had some NBA people talking about a couple of their guys. We’re going to have to have our best game of the year to have a chance to be in it.”
The catalyst for DSU is a name probably familiar to UCA fans – forward Jasper Johnson, who shares a name with the starting safety on UCA’s football team. And just as UCA’s Jasper is an all-conference player, DSU’s is even better. Johnson is averaging 22.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and nearly three steals a game. He’s shooting 60 percent from the floor, 41 percent from beyond the arc, and 80 percent from the free throw line.
“He’s probably the best player we’ve seen in the league the last few years,” Chappell said. “He’s the leading scorer in the conference at about 23 points per game, and at 250-260 pounds he scores well inside. He can also shoot the 3 well, and he’s got a nice in-between game.”
The Statesmen also rely heavily on swingman Jeremy Richardson, a key member of last year’s team who is averaging 18.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 50 percent on 3-pointers.
“He was a first-team all-league guy a year ago and he’s probably the top returner from last year,” Chappell said. “He’s shooting the 3 well and at 6-6 he’s an excellent athlete.”
Point guard Travis DeGroot is another player who Chappell says can cause the Bears problems.
“They’ve got a lot of size, and DeGroot at 6-foot-4 is probably the best athlete we’ll see at this level,” he said. “He was considered a mid-to-high major recruit coming out of JUCO.”
The Statesmen are plus-11 in rebounding margin, are averaging nearly 90 points per game, have shot 100 more free throws than their opposition, and have committed 30 fewer turnovers than they’ve forced.
“They’ve been pretty dominant,” Chappell said. “We’re going to have to play a very efficient game and we can’t afford to turn the ball over very much. I think that, obviously, we’re proud of the win at Harding, and our guys have showed the ability to battle hard for 40 minutes. We expect them to do that again tonight. Hopefully if we play our best game we’ll have a chance to win, but it’s going to be a giant challenge.”