While most believe the Cowboys will roll through the Southland Conference Tournament and earn their first NCAA berth since 2002, it may not be so easy.

The road to the big tournament has a couple of potholes that need to be avoided if McNeese State is going to complete this unprecedented season.

While the Cowboys are the clear favorite to capture the SLC championship which tips off Sunday in the Legacy Center, a few teams are awaiting to ambush McNeese despite its 28-3, 17-1 record.

“Anything can happen in one game so we will have to be ready,” said McNeese guard Shahada Wells.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the contenders in order of how the American Press views their chances.

4. Nicholls: The Colonels have a shooter’s chance but not much more. Two games against McNeese have led to two lopsided Cowboy victories. 

As the third seed in the tourney, Nicholls gets a bye but will likely have a tough game just to reach McNeese in the finals. The Colonels are, however, second in the league to the Cowboys in three-point shooting so if they get hot, maybe.

Diante Smith, Jamal West and Rob Brown all average over 13 points for Nicholls. 

But beating McNeese seems unlikely after two failed attempts already.

3. Southeastern: The only team to beat McNeese since Thanksgiving can’t be ignored. 

The fifth-seed would have to win two games before getting their shot at the Cowboys and would be playing their third game in three days while McNeese was rested. 

The Lions are third in the league in defense which keeps them in games. However they also finished dead last in offense so points are hard to come by.

Nick Caldwell is fourth in the league in scoring at 15.8 a game and second in field goal percentage. Roger McFarlane is second in the Southland in rebounding at 8.7 behind Cowboy Christian Shumate. So the Lions have weapons that get your attention.

2. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi: The Islanders are the second seed and some consider them to be the most likely championship game foe for the Cowboys. That is likely true because of the seeding since Corpus Christi gets the second double-bye.

At Corpus the Islanders led by 18 in the second half only to lose at the buzzer. The second game wasn’t as close, but still only a seven-point win.

The Islanders are second to McNeese in the league in defense and tops in rebounding led by Garry Clark at 8.2 a contest. Kalen Williams is third in the league in scoring at 16.2.

The Islanders are also second to McNeese in steals and not afraid to foul, so they will be physical once again against McNeese and try to muddy the game. How the game is officiated would be the key.

1. Lamar: The fourth-seed would be a tough opening draw for the Cowboys in the semifinals. McNeese needed a late three-pointer by Antavion Collum to win by two in Beaumont a short time ago 

The Cowboys did win by 19 in Lake Charles earlier but this is a rivalry that goes way back. 

The Cardinals are long, can shoot the basketball, and play physically. McNeese would be coming off rest and it would only be Lamar’s second game in six days.

Chances are good the Cowboys will have to play Lamar and Corpus both in back-to-back nights if they are to cut down the nets.

If they do, then they will have earned their NCAA berth the hard way.