Frank,

Like you, I was a little confused with Scottiedoug's post... first, I didn't understand the "indifferent to accuracy" comment.  I noted that OU started 0-4 in conference games and have since won seven of eight (the conference games part was implied)... nothing inaccurate about that.  I also wondered what he was implying by saying that since OU had lost to LaGrange and Maryville, that was a hint of what might happen in the NCAA.  If he was comparing SCAC vs. GSAC, I think he has a losing argument, but I'd be happy to get into that with him.

Back to the SCAC, I see the home teams winning most of the games this weekend.  I agree with Frank that OU can beat Centre and DePauw, but I think that's much more likely on a neutral floor.  I've got Centre and DePauw winning two, along with Trinity.  Southwestern beats Austin and loses to Hendrix.  MC takes care of RC at home.  If that happens, the bracket would look like this:

DPU vs. Sewanee
CC vs. SW
MC vs. HC
TU vs. OU

I'd say right now Centre is my favorite, but that could easily change after this weekends results.

This post might be a week too early, but the tourney is getting close and the bracket is at least starting to take some shape.  Unless Rhodes wins at Millsaps and Southwestern loses both games at home, it looks like Southwestern will pick up the 8th and final spot (and with two home wins, they could actually move up to the 6 seed).  It looks like the top 3 seeds are still up for grabs amongst the top three, Oglethorpe and Trinity are pretty much fighting for #4 and #5, and the 6-8 seeds are all still up for grabs. 

Hendrix lost in overtime to DePauw and by one to Centre at home this weekend, so they at least showed they can play with the top two teams in the standings.  Sewanee actually beat DePauw earlier this year.    Southwestern lost to Millsaps earlier in the year on a buzzer-beater, so as Frank mentioned in an earlier post, this is shaping up to be a great tourney.

Surprise teams of the year?  How about Centre and Oglethorpe, and possibly Trinity?  Centre lost both the conference's leading rebounder and the Player of the Year, so with those two losses, logic would say they might be down a little from last year.  Right now they seem to be playing better than anyone.  Beating DePauw by 32 is pretty impressive, as is winning 14 of their last 15 games.  They seem to be a very well-balanced team.  Oglethorpe started 0-4 in the conference but have rebounded to win 7 of their last 8 with the one loss being a 4 point loss to Millsaps.  That's a pretty impressive turnaround and they are scoring in bunches.  We'll see what they can do when they take the toughest road trip in the conference this weekend.  Trinity lost all five starters from last year, but you knew they wouldn't drop to far.  They seem to be playing their best ball of the year, having won four straight including their last three conference games. 

I don't want to leave Depauw and Millsaps out.  I just don't think they are surprises.  DePauw is having a great year at 19-4 and has won 10 of 11, but I think everyone kind of expected that, based on who they had coming back.  Same with Millsaps.  They are having a great year also and have won 8 of 10, but I think people expected them to be good also. 

This weekends results should be interesting.  Once the bracket is final, I'm sure we can have a good discussion on predictions.