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Northwestern State forward DeQuan Hicks, shown here shooting against Florida in the NCAA tourney, returns in 2013-14 after averaging 14.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season. (Photo: Brendan Maloney, USA TODAY Sports)
Story Highlights Northwestern State led the nation in scoring during the regular season with 81 points scored per game Coach Mike McConathy runs a 10-man rotation, subbing five players in and out frequently The Demons' leading scorer DeQuan Hicks (14.0 points, 5.9 rebounds per game) returns
The first word: As a lightning-quick point guard at Louisiana Tech in his playing days during the 1970s, Mike McConathy averaged 20.7 points a game for his career and once showered in 47 points in a game.
As a coach, McConathy hasn't changed much. He still likes to score. He pilots Northwestern State, which led the nation in scoring during the regular season in 2012-13 - averaging more than 80 points per game. The Demons' Grinnell College-esque offense might be the most unconventional in the country, as McConathy runs a 10-man rotation - subbing five players in and out frequently - to make for a fast break-oriented scoring flurry that's dictated off pressure defense and speedy outlet passes. McConathy tells his players if they have a good shot, take it. Seven seconds is his preferred length of an offensive possession.
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Coach's Corner: "A lot of coaches ask me why we play the way we do (with an unconventional offense). It's because we've developed a philosophy, a formula that can set us apart. It's who we are, we've found a niche. Schools like us, in smaller mid-major conferences, need to think outside the box. That being said, you can't play smash-mouth football without smash-mouthplayers. Each year, it's up-and-down based on the personnel but we've got a formula that sets us up to do something special."
2012-13 in review: 23-9 overall, 15-3 (Southland second place), lost in second round of NCAA tournament to Florida.
Path to the Dance: Northwestern State will have to win the Southland Conference, as it did last season despite finishing second to Stephen F. Austin in the regular season. This season the league looks like a three-team race with Sam Houston State and Oral Roberts joining the Demons as leading contenders. If the Demons can get back to the NCAAs, they'll hope for a better matchup than they received last season against Florida. After the game was tied early in the first half, the Gators took over and dominated with a 79-47 shellacking.
Star watch: Northwestern State's leading scorer DeQuan Hicks (14.0 points, 5.9 rebounds per game) returns as one of the top scorers in mid-major basketball. He's a 6-7 athletic forward who shot 58% from the field last season. Another vital returner is point guard Jalan West, who averaged 10.2 points and 5.2 assists per game as a freshman. The Demons lose double-digit scorers James Hulbin and Shamir Davis, but Brison White and Patrick Robinson should see a boost in minutes and productivity. Marvin Frazier, 6-9, gives the team much-needed size.
Team strength/weakness: Just because offense is an emphasis, defense isn't ignored. Northwestern State's pressure is an area of strength, as the Demons ranked fifth nationally in steals per game, once notching a whopping 27. Controlling the glass is an area that worries McConathy, although the Demons did win a majority of rebounding battles last season. Basically, it's second-chance points that drastically hurt a team like Northwestern State. The players are ready to run on offense, the frantic pace can often cause players to lose focus in finishing out the defensive possession. In turn, that kills momentum, which the Demons thrive on.
X-Factor: Assist-turnover ratio is key. NW State averages more than 15 assists per game, but was plagued by double-digit turnover nights. Fast-paced is efficient, yet control must come first.
Cinderella watch: McConathy said the two teams he desperately didn't want to face in the NCAA tournament last year were eventual NCAA champion Louisville and the team Northwestern State drew in in the first round -- Florida. That's because the matchup of a run-and-gun team with bigger, stronger players can be a nightmare. But given the right matchup against an elite program, the Demons could be a lovely NCAA tournament Cinderella story: small mid-major, unique high-octane offense. The challenge is that although McConathy's offense is difficult to prepare for, there's still time to prepare, particularly leading into the NCAAs (Florida was said to have a giant poster board outlining all of Northestern State's tendencies). But if a BCS school were to come in not completely ready, as Georgetown did with FGCU last season, it wouldn't be a miracle to see this team win. It would simply be a hot shooting night.
Tweet that speaks volume: Things were close in the first half vs. Florida.
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Dance at a Glance: Northwestern State has made the NCAA tournament two other times, going 1-1 2001 and 2006. As a No. 14 seed in 2001, the Demons shocked Big Ten champion and third-seeded Iowa, rallying from a 17-point deficit in the final eight minutes.
Trivia: Coach Mike McConathy's father, John, played professionally and was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1951 NBA draft.
Basics: Northwestern State University is located in Natchitoches, La. Other campuses are in Shreveport, Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria.
On deck: Who is No. 65? This team went undefeated in its league in the regular-season but lost its conference tournament championship game.
About this post: Every week day, one of the 68 teams in USA TODAY Sports' projected NCAA tournament field will be dissected. The final bracket will be revealed in November. Read No. 68 and No. 67.***
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Scott Gleeson, a national college basketball writer/producer for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.
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