Nicholls basketball wrapped up their final home game Saturday against McNeese, setting up a trip to Katy, Texas, for the Southland Conference Tournament. The Colonels head to the tournament as the No. 5 seed with an 8-10 conference record, marking a team record fifth straight postseason appearance. Nicholls was pegged to finish eighth in the conference preseason poll.
The team split last week’s two games to determine their tournament position, picking up a win against Lamar, then dropping their regular season finally to McNeese in double overtime. The loss cemented a rematch to kick off the conference tournament on March 13.
Head coach J.P. Piper saw his team’s performance in a 90-63 win against Lamar, as a great example of what Nicholls is capable of achieving. The Colonels lead by as many as 37 points and shot 58 percent from the field in a game where Piper was able to give extended playing time to his bench.
“We seem like we are hitting on all cylinders on both sides of the ball,” Piper said.
The regular season finale saw Nicholls fall 91-88 in a game that with seven lead changes and nine ties. A last second three by the Cowboys sunk the Colonels in the second overtime.
Earlier in the season, Piper’s squad hoped to avoid playing four consecutive games in order to win the tournament. This will be the case now as the Colonels needed the fourth seed to clinch at least a first round bye. Despite not having an ideal schedule for the tournament, Piper remains confident in Nicholls’ chances.
“There were stretches at Oral Roberts where we were better than Oral Roberts,” Piper said. “We beat Northwestern on their floor. We went eight or ten minutes right there with Stephen F. Austin, but we broke before they did. None of that matters if we can get to Katy (Texas) and be the best team for 40 minutes.”
Rather than change their philosophy in the postseason, the Colonels will try to bring more consistency to their game, Piper said.
“Our focus right now has to be making ourselves better on every possession,” Piper said. “Let’s not focus on things we can’t control.”
Nicholls will likely rely heavily on senior guard Fred Hunter, who leads the team in points, rebounds and steals. The team hopes the All-Conference guard’s last run for the Colonels will lead to a conference championship.
“Obviously I’m biased, but I think he is the best player in this league,” Piper said. “He flirts with a double double every night. He gets double and triple teamed and still finds a way to score 20 or 25 points game. Hopefully he will give people fits in Katy, Texas.”
Perimeter shooting has been a strong indicator of the team’s success on a given night, according to Piper. Shooting 4-20 from beyond the arc compared to making six or seven could be the difference in the game. Against Lamar, the Colonels shot 41 percent on threes, while hitting them at a 22 percent clip against McNeese.    
“We try to get ball into Fred’s hands initially, but we are going to need the three-ball to compliment everything else we do,” Piper said.
With lingering injuries to starting point guard sophomore Shane Rillieux and junior guard Jeremy Smith, the Colonels will look to get healthy for the possible four day stretch.
If the Colonels defeat the Cowboys, they will face Southeastern for a chance to play top seeded Stephen F. Austin in the semifinals.