The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Jan. 15, 2011

They've been ranked near the top of the nation.

Both started the season with multiple-game winning streaks.

But after a couple of slow starts out of the gate in the Scenic West Athletic Conference, the next four conference games - all being played at home at Rolly Williams Court - will go a long way in determining where the North Idaho College Cardinal men's and women's basketball teams will fly this spring.

WHEN THE season began, there were some high expectations for the NIC teams, which still remain very much a possibility. But as the season has progressed, both have hit a couple speed bumps on the way to the Region 18 tournament.

And in the Scenic West, it's a safe bet that on any given night, anybody can beat anybody.

For the Cardinals, they've walked around this season with a large target on their back, both the men's and women's teams.

Most teams play at their best when good teams are on the schedule, and that has been what the Cardinals have faced this season.

With the conference season beginning to heat up, games get tougher - no matter where you're playing.

ALL YOU have to do is look at the first round of games within the 5A Inland Empire League.

In a matter of days, the boys basketball race went from what could have been a three-team sprint to a four-team tie. After Tuesday's action Post Falls, Lewiston, Lake City and Coeur d'Alene all entered Friday night's action with 1-1 league records.

Two of those teams came out of Friday's action 2-1, while the others dropped to 1-2.

What you can take away from those games is that there is still plenty of work to be done between now and the time the four teams walk onto the floor at the start of regionals.

WITH THE way things are going right now, it could be anyone’s guess just how things wind up.

Some teams enter this point in the season a little beat up from injuries, or having other issues come up throughout the season.

If you’re attempting to pick a favorite in the race, chances are the front-runner won’t present itself for a couple more weeks.

Much like the SWAC, the IEL has four teams that could make a legitimate claim to winning the regional title, much less compete for a state title.

Both NIC teams could also have something to say about who comes out of the Region 18 tournament — although for the men’s team, whoever it winds up being, will still have to win a play-in game to reach the NJCAA tournament.

Meanwhile, the women’s champ advances directly to nationals.

All fans have to do is take a look at the tournaments from a year ago — neither SWAC champion (NIC’s men and Salt Lake’s women) advanced to nationals.

When it comes to seeding any of the tournaments, it might not make much of a difference where any of the teams wind up in the long run.

Jason Elliott is a sportswriter for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached via telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or by e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.