Score correction: Depauw 92 Oglethorpe 86

Ralph:
All HOPE DePauw runs the table except Centre, Oglethorpe, & Sewanee.
Keep the posts coming.
They are great.

Had a chance to meet Coach Pemper last winter when she came to Atlanta. Navy could not have made a better choice.

Pointlem:
I responded to you in the MIAA page as follows:

Pointlem:

Although you made some interesting points in your essay, some of your facts need to be verified. Like the one that the final four teams only faced one Top Twelve team combined (and I am assuming you mean HPU/Hope). If you look at Oglethorpe's road to the final four, you will see NO home games and a victory over #3 Thomas More on their home court and a victory over #10 Kean (who I think was a #3 pre-season) on their home court. Throw in a victory over #20 Wm. Smith and it's obvious which team took the hardest road without complaints. Oglethorpe did not show well in the Final Four and there has been much ado about lacking an inside game but they also showed they could win without an "inside game". It just didn't happen on the Final Four weekend.
One Fact you did get right: Hope College and the People of Holland, Michigan did an outstanding job putting on the event. A BIG THX from Hotlanta for your gracious Southern style hospitality.

Just realized your comments were based on an article in the Holland Sentinal. Sorry, did not mean to put words in your mouth but the facts remain as stated above.
THX

Pointlem:

Although you made some interesting points in your essay, some of your facts need to be verified. Like the one that the final four teams only faced one Top Twelve team combined (and I am assuming you mean HPU/Hope). If you look at Oglethorpe's road to the final four, you will see NO home games and a victory over #3 Thomas More on their home court and a victory over #10 Kean (who I think was a #3 pre-season) on their home court. Throw in a victory over #20 Wm. Smith and it's obvious which team took the hardest road without complaints. Oglethorpe did not show well in the Final Four and there has been much ado about lacking an inside game but they also showed they could win without an "inside game". It just didn't happen on the Final Four weekend.
One Fact you did get right: Hope College and the People of Holland, Michigan did an outstanding job putting on the event. A BIG THX from Hotlanta for your gracious Southern style hospitality.

PAT:
Your on your pet blogging machine at 3:13 am?
You must get your sleep! We need you fresh and alert during tournament season.
Tis the season when some go mad you know!

Pabegg:
Your ratings are very interesting and obviously you have spent quite a bit of time on this.
thx
In the south region, I believe McMurry is third in the NCAA Regional ratings and Oglethorpe is second.
I look forward to your updates every evening as these next few days are going to be very interesting as we approach Sunday evening.

Just wondering again about Oglethorpe? Stand corrected on Southwestern in region record but still 11, higher then the 10.316.
Other in-region opponents still in hunt in respective conference tounaments such as Ferrum, Maryville, Piedmont and SCAC winners. I guess conference tournament winners and losers probably should balance out.
Just looking for input.
thx

Just wondering?
Oglethorpe went from a 10.316 on Thursday to a 10.000 on Friday after beating Southwestern (13-12) which if my calculations are correct is worth 13 on the QOWI? Seems like a very large drop after a W.
I know you are busy Pat but if you get a chance, give it another look
thx

It's all about flights: timing and expense. OU could not secure a flight Sunday evening at a reasonable time and price.  Next season should be even more interesting with the addition of Colorado College and Birmingham Southern. The conference schedule goes to 16 games from 14 also. Pack your bags, the Petrels will be on the move!

Oglethorpe 81
Ill. Wesleyan 75
OU handed IWU its first defeat tonight. Very good bball game. Both teams went at it hard from start to finish. IWU has great outside shooters (they were 19 for 40 against Emory the previous night). OU made it difficult for IWU to hit the 3 pointer and were able to take it inside against post depleted IWU.
Congrats to DePauw on the 2 big W's out West.

Coaches should receive ballots this week and respond by the end of the week. The earlier fan's summation is pretty good. DePauw should be the odds on favorite. Trinity and Oglethorpe basically return the same teams. Southwestern should improve. Watch out for Rhodes! They are loading up. Austin is a newcomer and did ok in its previous conference. Hendrix has a good point but lost some key people as well as Sewanee. Millsaps lost Roser and a couple of others but have a new coach and Centre is building. KEY GAMES: Trinity plays DePauw away once and Oglethorpe once at home and Rhodes & Southwestern twice. DePauw plays at Rhodes Trinity & SW Home and OU home and away. OU plays Trinity & SW away, DePauw home & away and Rhodes home and away. Schedule advantages this year lean toward Depauw and they are also the best team. They will be hard to catch. Southwestern upset both Trinity and OU last season and they will be improved. And watch out for Rhodes. They have DePauw at home and they are hard to beat in Memphis.
Should be an interesting year.

I guess Oglethorpe's out of conference schedule really helped. Victories over Maryville, Bridgewater,  and Chapman who are all going dancing. It also is a reflection of what the decision makers think of the SCAC. Credit goes to Trinity who needed a strong conference tournament showing to make it in. OU needed the W over Rose-Holman.
So Trinity goes with an ever improving front line,  Depauw goes with the complete package and OU heads to the Big Dance with 13 wings and it's cast of freshmen. GO SCAC!

So sorry to hear about the young lady from Austin.
Rebecca Forsyth, the leading scorer and rebounder from Rose-Holman lost her 22 year old brother last week in a house fire. He was buried last friday. We mourn the passing of anybody but especially the young.

DePauw has jumped to a well deserved #5. Balanced, well coached team. Oglethorpe played them even for 20 min. and forced 24 turnovers well above DPU's average but OU could not execute in the second half and DPU did. Of course, DPU's defense had a lot to do with it. If OU gets a couple more pieces of the puzzle, watch out. Starting 4 freshmen and the first two off the bench are freshmen, they might not need any more pieces and next season Corbett returns after ACL surgery and she has two years remaining. It seems some additional depth inside would be the answer.