SoCon Tournament bye still in play
In a season in which 9-9 could very well win a coveted first-round bye for the Southern Conference Tournament, Appalachian State still has a chance at getting one of two byes available to the North Division.
For that to happen, the Mountaineers (7-9) will most likely have to win both of their remaining regular-season games – at The Citadel (2-14) and at Western Carolina (6-10) – and need both Elon (8-8) and Samford (8-8) to lose at least one of their remaining games.
Elon has games remaining at Davidson (14-2) and at home against UNC Greensboro (10-6). UNC Greensboro has locked up one of the two North byes.
Samford has two games remaining, both on the road, at Western and Chattanooga (4-12).
In the event of a three-way tie for second between ASU, Elon and Samford at 9-9, Samford would get the bye as result of a tiebreaker. If ASU ties only Samford for second place at 9-9, the Mountaineers have the tiebreaker edge and would get the bye. The tiebreaker edge if only ASU and Elon tie for second at 9-9 is still to be determined.
The most bizarre scenario in regard to a tie for the second bye remains a possibility. If Western Carolina wins its remaining games against Samford and ASU; Elon and Samford both lose their remaining games; and ASU beats the Citadel….
Four teams would be tied for second at 8-10.
We’ll save that tiebreaker picture for another day.
This week’s Southern Conference rankings (teams get two points for a road win, one point for a home win, minus-one for a road loss and minus-two for a home loss in conference games only):
1. Davidson (18 points)
2. Georgia Southern (12)
3. UNC Greensboro (6)
Wofford (6)
5. College of Charleston (0)
Elon (0)
7. Samford (-1)
8. Furman (-3)
9. Appalachian State (-4)
10. Western Carolina (-5)
11. Chattanooga (-12)
12. The Citadel (-17)
North vs. South: South Division leads 26-16.
Hot and Cold: Georgia Southern has won six straight games; Elon has lost four in a row.
North Division Intra-division records (counting only games between North Division teams):
UNC Greensboro 6-3
Appalachian 5-4
Samford 4-4
Western Carolina 4-4
Elon 4-5
Chattanooga 3-6