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Central Arkansas at McNeese State, 2:00 PM Eastern, No TV
There are very few teams that will end their season with a win. The NCAA, NIT, CBI and CIT champions will do so. Almost every other team will end with a loss in one of those events or in their conference tournament. The only other teams with a shot are teams that do not participate in conference tournaments due to either failing to qualify or being ineligible (or playing in the Ivy League). Earlier this week, Florida A&M, who is ineligible for the MEAC tournament due to their APR, beat Savannah State to finish their season with a victory. On Friday night, Arkansas-Pine Bluff ended their season with a win at Mississippi Valley State. The Golden Lions are ineligible for the SWAC tournament or any other postseason play due to NCAA penalties. A handful of other teams will also do so, and today, Central Arkansas (ineligible due to APR) can join this list as well.
Central Arkansas enters the final day of their season at 2-15 in conference play and 2-26 overall. While they were a candidate all season for the coveted Centenary Award for the worst team in Division I Men’s Basketball, a win last weekend over Southeastern Louisiana, combined with their earlier victory this season over New Orleans, has risen the Bears above the other contenders, including two teams without a single D1 win this season (San Jose State and Grambling State). While this has certainly been a long and painful season for UCA, it will come to an end this afternoon and the Bears will have a chance to end their season in the elite company of teams that are on a winning streak as they start play next year.
UCA will be in Lake Charles, Louisiana today to take on the McNeese State Cowboys. The Cowboys enter play at 7-10 in conference and 13-15 overall. A victory today will clinch the #5 seed in the Southland tournament. Today is also senior day in Lake Charles, and the trio known as the “Lake Charles 3” will be playing their final home game of the season — Desharick Guidry, Kevin Hardy and Keelan Garrett. Guidry is averaging 11.3 rebounds on the season, Garrett is averaging 10.2 points and Hardy is ranked fourth in the entire nation in steals per game. This trio, combined with the celebration of Senior Day, make the Cowboys the overwhelming favorites to win our penultimate Under the Radar Game of the Day this season.