NATCHITOCHES – Two of the deepest teams in the Southland Conference will face off Wednesday when Northwestern State welcomes Nicholls to Prather Coliseum for a 6:30 p.m. tip.
 
The Demons (12-12, 9-6 SLC) have a chance to essentially wrap up an SLC Tournament bid with a win, while also putting themselves in a position for a single bye or within reach of a double bye.
 
NSU, which is in fifth place after a four-game winning streak, is chasing second-place Nicholls (17-9, 11-4 SLC) for a double bye and No. 3 Abilene Christian (15-10, 10-4 SLC) and No. 4 Sam Houston State (17-9, 10-5 SLC) for a single bye in the tournament, which takes place March 11-15 in Katy, Texas.
 
Five regular-season games remain as teams jostle for one of eight tournament slots, and NSU has a three-game edge on ninth-place Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (10-16, 6-9 SLC).
 
"I'm very encouraged to be in the position we're in, and we had some chances to be in even better position," said NSU coach Mike McConathy, who's guided a roster in which six of his top seven scorers are newcomers. "We've been working to get better for March, and we're continuing to improve each day.
 
"I'm proud of these guys, and they've responded well in trying to do the things we're telling them. We're continuing to care for our teammates, love them and competing hard with them."
 
Fans in attendance will be treated to Mardi-Gras themed festivities, including throws. Supporters can also watch and listen to the action on 95.9 FM The River or on nsudemons.com with Patrick Netherton calling the action.
 
NSU's top four scorers are all newcomers on a Demon squad that's one of McConathy's deepest in recent memory.
 
Junior Chudier Bile (14.2 points) leads the way, but a total of six players average at least six points per game. Eleven players average at least 10 minutes per game with one more that receives regular playing time.
 
"We used to play 11-12 players in our rotation, but we've had to squeeze that down in the past couple of seasons," McConathy explained. "So it's much better when you have a large rotation because you can match up with your opponents better.
 
"(McNeese coach Heath Schroyer) said we had been playing with one post and four guards in the last couple of games, but against them (Saturday), we came out with two posts to match their bigger lineup. That's an example of what depth does for you – you can move pieces around based on matchups."
 
Junior Larry Owens provided an interior spark by contributing 11 points, three rebounds and two blocks in an 84-79 win against McNeese.
 
"Coaches told me to push the ball and get into our flow, make things easier for the guards, and that's what we did," Owens said. "The depth we have this season means a lot because we have so many more guys who can make open jumpers.
 
"We're really hard to beat when we rebound and run in transition. The bigs run the floor, and if they double in, we're smart enough to kick out for the open jumper."
 
Creating more open looks in transition has been key for an NSU offense that's shot at least 45 percent from the floor in each of its last six games, including an SLC-high 52 percent against McNeese on Saturday.
 
"We're taking better shots, and ball movement makes a difference," McConathy said. "If we run the ball up the floor and share it, we're pretty good. That starts with defensive rebounding (NSU leads the league in rebounding with 39 per game).
 
"We struggled when we get locked down in a halfcourt game and the ball doesn't move. We've been more efficient offensively because we're moving the ball, going to the basket, and making the extra pass after we grab a defensive rebound and push the ball."
 
Nicholls counters with depth of its own with five Colonels averaging double figures led by Dexter McClanahan (13.6 points per game).
 
NSU knocked off the then SLC-leading Colonels on Jan. 15 in Thibodaux, thanks in part to a Bile 3-pointer at the buzzer that helped the Demons erase a four-point lead with 11 seconds remaining.
 
The Demons survived 28 turnovers but outrebounded the Colonels by 28. NSU has just 13 turnovers per game in its last four after averaging 18 per game this season.
 
"It's really important to take care of the ball because it allows us to make more shots," McConathy said. "Nicholls is a tough team because they like to attack you and are very aggressive offensively and defensively.

"They play the way we used to play here, but I'm liking the way we're playing right now because it allows you to play better defense. (Nicholls point guard) Kevin Johnson is one of my favorite players to watch in this league, and they have a lot of long and athletic players on their team. We've learned how to win by winning tight games, and this one should be a great game Wednesday."