Quick Takes: Tough day in the Sun Belt

If you’re a fan of the Texas-Arlington Mavericks or Arkansas State Red Wolves, it’s a tough Sunday morning.  And if you’re a “Mid-Major” fan who hopes to see non-power conference teams earn at-large bids in March, it was a tough Saturday in the Sun Belt.  Teams lose conference road games, regardless of conference.  But we also know there’s a greater impact when those losses are to teams toward the bottom of the league – or in the RPI (and other metrics).  So when Arkansas State drops at game at Coastal Carolina (No. 205, RPI) and UT-Arlington one-ups them by falling at Texas State (No. 290), it makes the path toward an at-large bid that much tougher.

That said, it’s one game for both teams, which doesn’t define either’s season.  The Mavericks still own an impressive win at Saint Mary’s (and at Texas) and Arkansas State won at Georgetown and beat Chattanooga.  For those to hold up on Selection Sunday, both of these programs need dominant league performances.  Saturday’s losses just make the margin for error that much thinner.