{"id":4624,"date":"2014-01-10T19:40:34","date_gmt":"2014-01-10T23:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=4624"},"modified":"2014-01-10T17:19:11","modified_gmt":"2014-01-10T21:19:11","slug":"part-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=4624","title":{"rendered":"The New Year Report – Conference Previews, Part Five"},"content":{"rendered":"

Continuing with the New Year Report, we have Part Five today, which includes three VERY underrated conferences – the Summit League, the Sun Belt, and the Big West – and a conference in total transition that might be better than people think, the WAC.<\/p>\n

SUMMIT<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Gone was Oral Roberts last year and Oakland defected this year.\u00a0 The league is hurting with the departure of its two best programs, but they have some up-and-coming programs there to take their places, including the addition of a real up-and-coming program in Denver.<\/p>\n

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  • Preseason Favorite:\u00a0 North Dakota State<\/em>
    \n<\/strong>The Bisons were expected to be one of the best mid-majors this year and are the clear favorites in the Summit.<\/li>\n
  • Most Impressive:\u00a0 North Dakota State<\/em>
    \n<\/strong>Though they did lose at IPFW in their conference opener just last night, the Bisons were really solid throughout the non-conf slate, including wins over Delaware, Towson, and the big one – at Notre Dame.<\/li>\n
  • Most Disappointing:\u00a0 South Dakota State<\/em>
    \n<\/strong>Any time you lose a guy like Nate Wolters, you are going to take\u00a0a step backwards, but the Jackrabbits looked lost at the beginning of the year.\u00a0 They have started to pick up the pieces and might be tough in conference play, but they are no longer dominant without Mr. Wolters.<\/li>\n
  • “My” Favorite:\u00a0 Nebraska-Omaha
    \n<\/em><\/strong>A lot to choose from here because there are some good under-the-radar teams here this year.\u00a0 But, I’m going with a team that isn’t even eligble for the postseason this year – which might be a good thing for the rest of the SL, as the Mavericks look ready to compete for a bid.<\/li>\n
  • Potential Sleeper:\u00a0 IPFW
    \n<\/em><\/strong>Even before their big win over NDSU last night, I had pegged this team as a real sleeper in the Summit because they went 12-5 against a decent non-conference slate.<\/li>\n
  • Also Relevant:\u00a0 Denver
    \n<\/em><\/strong>This Denver team was supposed to be the only challenge to NDSU this year, but with IPFW and Omaha emerging, it is clearly at least a 4-team race with the Pioneers clearly in the middle of it.<\/li>\n
  • Dregs: IUPUI<\/em>
    \n<\/strong>How far this program has fallen since their shoeless coach took them to the Dance.\u00a0 They are really bad this year.<\/li>\n
  • The Pick:\u00a0 North Dakota State
    \n<\/em><\/strong>While the race is going to be a lot tighter than originally expected, the Bisons are still relatively heavy favorites, and I would NOT want to see them next to me on Selection Sunday.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    SUN BELT<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

    Massive changes to one of the most stable leagues this year, as the Sun Belt was raided\u00a0by Conference USA, who stole Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Florida-Atlantic, and Florida-International.\u00a0 The Belt struck back by grabbing two decent programs in Georgia State and UT-Arlington and one potential sleeping giant in Texas State (who is starting to just pour money into the athletic department).<\/p>\n