Here's what to look for in the season's second half

Matt Kingsley (44) and Josh Alexander are a major reason why Stephen F. Austin is off to a 15-2 start. AP

MAILBAG Seth Davis will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his Hoop Thoughts column. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Don't look now, Hoop Thinkers, but we're officially midway through the 2007-08 season. For the last few years, I've contributed a Five-Minute Guide to the season for the SI college basketball preview issue. Now, for the first time, I offer the a midseason edition. Enjoy.

Cinderellas

South Alabama

The Jaguars are off to an impressive 7-0 start in the Sun Belt and ranked No. 29 in the RPI. However, they have no wins against teams in the top 50 of the RPI, and nobody on their remaining schedule is in the top 100. An at-large bid would be hard to come by.

San Diego State

It's a down year in the Mountain West, but Steve Fisher's Aztecs, led by Louisville transfer Lorenzo Wade, are the most athletic bunch in the league.

Drake

Or "The Drake," as the Bulldogs shall be known (props to SI.com's Cory McCartney for exhuming the Seinfeld reference). Shockingly, the Bulldogs are still undefeated in the Valley, and their only loss outside the league was at St. Mary's.

Stephen F. Austin

It's a school, not a guy. The Lumberjacks' 15-2 start (3-1 in the Southland) includes a road win at Oklahoma. Juniors Josh Alexander and Matt Kingsley are scoring a combined 33 points per game.

VCU

Since losing three of four in November (including a bad one at Hampton), the Rams have won 11-of-12 to ascend to the top of the CAA. You know about Eric Maynor, but his backcourtmate, Jamal Shuler, is a dynamic scorer on the wing.

Under the Radar

Jason Thompson, 6-11, senior forward, Rider

Thompson leads the nation in rebounding (11.2) and is 17th in the in scoring (19.9). He's clearly the best mid-major player in America.

Bo McCalebb, 6-foot, senior guard, New Orleans

A combo guard who is hard to guard, McCalebb has been remarkably consistent, failing to reach 20 points just five times. He's ranked sixth in the nation in scoring (22.3 ppg).

Courtney Lee, 6-5, senior guard Western Kentucky

Has the size and range to be an NBA two-guard. The Hilltoppers hung tough with Gonzaga, Tennessee, Southern Illinois and South Alabama before losing to all four by a total of 23 points.

Stefon Jackson, 6-5, junior guard, UTEP

Went from scoring 8 points a game as a freshman to 23.6 this year, including a 27-point effort in a loss to Texas A&M. If he ever learns to shoot the three (26 percent this year), he'd be unstoppable.

Charron Fisher, 6-4, senior guard, Niagara

Not only is Fisher ranked fifth in the nation in scoring (26.9 ppg), he's also one of the best rebounding guards in the country (9.1).

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