Dynamic Debuts: ORU Aspires to Become 2nd School to Win SLC in First Year

Oral Roberts, after winning the Summit League regular-season title last season in its conference swan song, is a favorite to achieve the same feat as a new member of the Southland Conference this year. An outsider might be unsure if it's a sufficiently charismatic request warranting inclusion at the on-campus 200-foot prayer tower. But it won't be a miracle if ORU reaches the NCAA playoffs in 2013.

ORU could become the fifth school in the last 30 years to capture a regular-season conference championship in their inaugural campaign as a member after joining an existing league following their departure from another DI alliance. Texas-San Antonio went unbeaten in the SLC in 1991-92 when it was one of four titlists as a league newcomer.

Arkansas is the only school in this category to capture a power conference title (1992 in SEC after winning SWC in 1991). Following is a chronological list of schools capturing a regular-season league crown in their initial year as a member after joining an existing conference following their departure from another loop:

*Tied for first place.