Saddler has his Colonels team where they need to be heading into SLC play

Nicholls goes into the start of Southland Conference play 5-8, but coming off a pre-conference schedule that included a win over LSU and games against the likes of Mississippi State, Baylor, and Maryland, the Colonels are about where they need to be, according to first-year coach Tevon Saddler.

“I think the most important thing is just playing the games,” Saddler said. “I think a lot of the teams in this league, a lot of us play top 20 schedule in the country, so it’s hard to really grasp or articulate where we currently are.

“I know it’s analytics numbers per say but most important thing to me is actually planning the games. But I am a believer and we’re right where we need to be at.”

If nothing else, the game between Houston Christian University and Nicholls, set for 3:30 p.m. in Houston, is a contrast of coaches.

While Saddler, as the youngest coach in Division I basketball at age 28, is in his first season as a head coach, Ron Cottrell has been at HCU for 33 years.

“He’s been there longer than I’ve been alive, so I’m excited to play against Ron and just start the conference off 1-0,” Saddler said.

The Huskies play what Saddler characterizes as a West Coast style.

“I think it’s going to come down to getting stops, which is every game. So this game is no different than the other,” the Nicholls coach said.

Houston Christian enters Saturday’s game 2-9 on the season. After opening the season with six consecutive losses, the Huskies won two of their next three games. HCU has lost its last two games, falling to SMU 89-53, and Texas A&M 79-52.

The Huskies feature three double-figure scorers. Jay Alvarez is averaging 14.6 points per game, Marcus Green 14.5, and Michael Imariagbe 11.7.

Imariagbe paces the team in rebounds with 8.6 boards per game, with Bonke Maring pulling down 7.9 rebounds per game.

“Ron does a heck of a job of just giving his guys the ultimate autonomy to just go out and play. That always makes those guys tricky to scout,” said Saddler. “I’m just excited because I know if we come out and do, we’re supposed to do and focus on Nicholls brand of basketball, I think we’d be more than all right. He gives his guys the ultimate autonomy to go out and play, my guys have to be locked and then ready to go from the get-go.”

Nicholls counters with balanced scoring as five Colonels average in double-figures.

Jamal West leads the way at 16.5 points per game, and tops Nicholls with 8.8 rebounds per contest.

Diante Smith is averaging 13.6 point per game, Byron Ireland 12, Jalen White 10.9, and Robert Brown 10.1.

“I think that’s a beautiful part of the team. You don’t really want to have just one guy. I know certain teams doing it works that way. I’m a believer in having a team camaraderie and making it hard to scout. We have five guys that are averaging double figures, which means five guys are probably going to score the basketball, which keeps other head coaches up at night,” said Saddler.

Ireland, at 26.6 minutes per game, is the only player among the five to average less than 30 minutes per contest.

Saddler said he has no concerns about any lack of depth with his team.

“I think we’re deep enough,” the Nicholls coach said. “If you look at the average team that makes the NCAA tournament, they only play 7 1/2 guys. You do get 13 scholarships, but at the end of the day, playing 13 guys, that’s not realistic.

“When you have 13 guys, you can’t make everybody happy. For me, our goal is the NCAA tournament. I’m a deep person, I’ve studied deeply. I’ve been there last year, the average team in the NCAA tournament up to 68 teams played 7 1/2 people. I’m not really worried about the depth. I think we’re right where we need to be at. Of the seven guys we played, five of them average double figures. So we’re getting productivity, which is most important.”

The Colonels will make their conference home debut on Monday when Nicholls takes on rival Southeastern Louisiana at 6:30 p.m. on Broussard Court at Stopher Gym.

Southeastern Louisiana enters Monday’s game 5-8 on the season. The Lions have won three straight, defeating Murray State, Grambling, and Louisiana. SLU opens conference play at the University of New Orleans on Saturday.

Roger McFarlane leads SLU in scoring and rebounding, with averages of 13.5 and 6.9, respectively.

Nick Caldwell is second in both categories, scoring 13.4 points per game while pulling down 5.5 rebounds per outing.

The teams a pair of common opponents in pre-conference play in LSU and Louisiana Tech.

After giving up a 24-point lead, Nicholls held on to defeat LSU 68-66. Southeastern lost to LSU 73-66.

Both teams lost to Louisiana Tech. Nicholls fell 68-55, and SLU lost 89-60.