Note: The following piece was prepared by Dean Keener, who provides commentary on Southern Conference men's basketball broadcasts.

Keener played collegiately at Davidson before embarking on a successful 20-year coaching career. He served as head coach at James Madison from 2004-08. You can follow him on Twitter: @DeanKeener1

The Dean's List
Feb. 21, 2018

I. Inside the SoCon
There is simply nothing like league play, and this year has been no exception in the Southern Conference. Until last week, it looked like ETSU was the clear-cut favorite as we headed to Asheville, but then UNCG ended the Bucs' 16-game winning streak. Then on Tuesday, The Citadel beat the Bucs in Johnson City! So, ETSU still controls its owns destiny as it relates to the regular-season title, but things have certainly gotten more interesting.

Mercer is the hottest team in the league, having won six straight. With just a handful of games remaining until the conference tournament, there is still a lot to be determined as it relates to seeding. It will be interesting to see how things play out in the final week of regular-season play. No doubt, every game matters.

As we enter late February, I recall feeling how important it was to “coach” the players' minds as much as their bodies. No doubt, everyone is banged up, and as a coach, you need to be aware of nagging injuries and tired legs, but equally important is the ability to coach the players' minds. Regardless of whether you're winning or losing, this time of year can be a grind in college basketball and you must understand the mental frame that each player is in. Good teams – and good coaches – generally find a way to win. Tough teams show their resilience by getting better in the dog days of February, and much of this has to do with players being in the right mental state.

It will be interesting to watch the final week of regular-season play. Who will have the momentum – mentally and physically – to win multiple games in Asheville? 

II. Did You Know
• For the first time, the NCAA will reveal its tournament bracket on TBS
• Mercer's Ross Cummings is one of the hottest players in the Southern Conference. During the first six games of conference play, he scored just 11 points. In fact, he did not play in two games. Over the last 10 games, he is averaging 16.0 ppg while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from 3-point range. This begs the question: Is he worthy of all-conference? This will be very interesting to watch next week when the media and coaches' all-league selections are announced!
• Last Saturday, Fletcher Magee had 45 points in Wofford's win over Chattanooga. His career high was the most by a Southern Conference player this season and tied for sixth-most scored in the NCAA this season
• Magee leads the nation in 3-pointers made per game at 4.45
• Samford senior Demetrius Denzel-Dyson reached the 1,000-point plateau Saturday. By achieving this feat, he became just the third player in school history to accomplish the deed in just two seasons at Samford
• With Mercer's Demetre Rivers hitting the mark Tuesday against Western Carolina, there are currently 12 active 1,000-point scorers in the Southern Conference
• The Citadel is currently second in Division I for 3-point field goals per game. The Bulldogs are third nationally in steals per game

III. Why College Basketball is better than the NBA
Basketball at any level can be fun, but I'm biased and truly believe that the college game is better than the NBA for the following reasons:
• Style of Play - While the NBA has the greatest athletes in the world, there is significantly less one-on-one in the college game
• Facilities – If you're a basketball fan, forget about the Staples Center and other NBA arenas except for Madison Square Garden. You need to have Phog Allen Fieldhouse, Cameron Indoor Stadium and Hinkle Fieldhouse on your bucket list
• Atmosphere – The NBA is really good with its marketing (timeout and halftime entertainment is outstanding), but the atmosphere at the college level is unreal, especially where the student body is into the game. I don't recall fans sleeping outside days before a big NBA game for tickets?
• More teams – Because there are over 350 Division I teams (and over 1,000 college teams) people can become part of the college community in any small town in the country
• Traditions – The bands, the chants, the whiteouts and all the other crazy traditions in the college game simply make it better
• Rivalries – Because of free agency, the NBA can rarely keep rivalries. Yes, Duke and North Carolina is one of the best in all of sports, but even the hatred between teams in the SoCon makes for some great theatre
• March Madness – Say what you want, but even the most ardent NBA fans zero in on college basketball during March Madness. It's simply the best three weeks in sports

IV. Being Evaluated
When college coaches attend high school or travel team games to evaluate players for their program, they don't just look at talent and skill level. Yes, that is important, but they are also extremely conscious of the on-court red flags that can cause them to end the recruitment and move on to the next prospect on their list. 

As we near the heart of high school state tournament season as well as the travel season (spring and summer), I reflect on a few things that scouts often look for. Keep in mind, no one is perfect, and emotions can run high in a competitive game, but I've listed are a few behaviors that I always deemed critical. As a former college coach, I know that not adhering to these doesn't sit well with a coach trying to decide whether to extend a scholarship offer:

1. Warm up like you mean it – Get yourself mentally and physically ready to play regardless of the circumstances 
2. Play like you want to make someone's team – Work hard, run the floor and play like every possession is your last
3. Play for your team, not anyone in the stands – Remember, you are part of a team and you owe it to your coaches and teammates to play within the system. Don't change just because a recruiter is in the stands
4. Be positive in your communication – Talk with your teammates and coaches. Let your play bring attention to you, not verbal outbursts or emotional flare-ups
5. Body language is key – Run off the court; remain positive even if something happens that you don't agree with6. Don't take bad shots – Coaches evaluate the “total player.” Don't feel like you need to score a ton of points to make a good impression with a college coach or scout
7. Show your basketball IQ – Similar to what was mentioned above, show that you understand the game
8. Get to the next play – Regardless if you are involved in a great play or a turnover, get to the next play. Contrary to what the young generation likes to do by “self-promoting,” coaches will be able to see if you hit a 3 or made a nice pass. There is absolutely no need to bring attention to yourself

V. The SoCon Ladder
We are headed toward March and that means things are starting to shape up for the conference tournament. Here is the final SoCon Ladder of the 2017-18 regular season:
1. ETSU – The Bucs had their 16-game winning streak stopped last week by UNCG. But the loss to The Citadel (without Desonta Bradford – ankle) is tough to figure based on what was at stake. The Bucs are still on top of the ladder, but there is clearly an opening for others as we head to Asheville
2. UNCG – The Spartans have learned how to defend and that's been the difference. This team may not win the regular-season title, but they will be right there in Asheville
3. Furman – The Paladins are as solid as any team in the SoCon. In fact, they picked up their 20th win on Tuesday. They have back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1979 and 1980! 
4. Mercer – Who poked the Bear? This resilient group is the hottest team in the league and has turned the corner. The Bears are playing winning basketball at the right time
5. Wofford – Any team with Fletcher Magee has a chance to win a championship
6. Western Carolina – Larry Hunter and staff have done a terrific job with this group. They continue to get better and will be very dangerous come tournament time
7. VMI – The Keydets are young – very young, but they are capable of playing good basketball. They're ranked ahead of The Citadel based on their season sweep of the Bulldogs
8. The Citadel – What a week. Lose at home to VMI and then beat ETSU in Johnson City 72 hours later. They've proven they can compete with the best. Now they need to keep that edge before they get to Asheville
9. Samford – It's now or never for the Bulldogs
10. Chattanooga – Although limited, the Mocs have enough firepower to beat anyone in the league. That said, they need to prove it

Until the next “Dean's List” on Feb. 28, follow me on twitter: @DeanKeener1