OxyBob, to the extent there are any results on the All-Region teams that don't make sense we only have to look at our SIDs.  Someone at Redlands was working hard on that guy's behalf.  Then again, maybe his dropping 57 on the Tigers at the Rock was enough to get that guy the 1st team all-region votes.   Either the guy is just that good or Oxy's guards defend that poorly.    

After watching the Oxy - PLU game I too wonder how Betty could have made it over McVey.  Betty had an unbelieveable 1st half against him but then McVey simply owned Betty in the second half.  Betty got in some foul trouble but it was clear that with the game on the line, which of those guys made the mental decision to step up.  McVey would have gotten my vote.   If Betty makes a decision to put the effort in that McVey does on the glass, he will be a 1st team all-america next year.

The beauty of this year is that everyone in the SCIAC got to see what I have been talking about for years on this thread: Salem is not a far-fetched dream.  Oxy beats Amherst, Final 4 team.  Oxy loses close one at PLU, who was within a couple of minutes and a few missed jumpers away from the Final Four.

A couple of more players for some of our teams and we can have several teams capable of making deep runs.  

Great game.  Loggers are a tough team.  Good shooters with a heck of a post player.   I wish them luck as they advance.   

Tigers played well.  The entire team showed up.  Their back up point guard was sensational.  Gets the game MVP for the Tigers.  We'll miss him and Zach, who will be difficult to replace.   Zach improved a ton in 4 years from the kid and accomplished a lot (3-1 in the NCAAs, UNLV, Cal St. Fullerton W, Utah St., USC).   

SCIAC fans, we advanced our cause this year.  With the NWC being as tough as it is, our road to Salem could very well lead us back to them.  And we showed this year we can play with them.   We have to shoot to get those guys at home because they will be tough to beat on the road.  As tough as UPS is, we are right there with them.  They play different than everyone in our conference; the most physical brand of basketball we'll come across.  For someone who hasn't seen their system before, I was very impressed by the D.  Lots of physical contact on the ball.  Reminded me of a DIII St. Josephs.   In a SCIAC gym or a neutral court they will have to make adjustments.  I'm sure they can, or they wouldn't have won as many games as they have. 

Good luck Loggers.  We'll pull for you.  Keep your big out of foul trouble and you can play with the beef eaters.  Get him in foul trouble and I'd be concerned.  Love your frosh point.     

We can play with the NWC on the road.  If Salem runs through them, so be it.

PC, always there to keep me in check.  Comforting to know you are there for me. 

Loggerfrontrunnerville, they said the same thing about Kats at Pomona.  Before he came on board the school had one only 1 SCIAC title in a century and wasn't that far removed from Cal tech.  Interesting to note that Popovich coached there a decade and won only 1 title and also that under Popovich, I'm pretty sure Pomona was the last varsity SCIAC team to lose to Cal Tech.  Would have been funny for Rick Reilly to note that this year in his article.  Might want to keep that in mind before you make a blanket statement about Pacific.  A great coach can do wonders.

Checked out the NWC's thread, pretty much dead.  Maybe it is because UPS has been so dominant everyone else has gone on to other things.  That or the kids would rather be sipping their latte's at SBucks staying out of the rain.  Interesting that UPS has been able to generate such a following.  3000 fans is legit, especially given that the regular hoops fans will be at the Dome watching 3A ball.  We can look to model ourselves after the NWC in some respects.  The NWC has been running their athletic operations at a different level for a number of years now.   Take a look at their conference Website and you will understand immediately that these institutions care about excellence.  

Smart of Pacific to tap into a Kats protoge for their future.  Look for Pacific in the Sweet 16 within 4 years.  

UPS program is on a different level.  Good coaches, tough talent, solid system and consistent institutional support.  You don't beat UC Riverside unless you are legit - even as bad of a D1 as they are.  Still, I'm not counting out Newhall & staff, because these guys are finding ways to get things done in the Tourney and against higher ranked teams that no SCIAC team has done.  UPS has a crazy system but I'm not sure it is more solid than Oxy's.  Just different.   I will say that I think UPS's system will run into some serious issues against the UW schools, where the talent gaps flip the other way.  

I'll be there pulling for our boys to give them a game.  And you never know, on any given night...



 

Fire up SCIAC fans!  Round 2 as the underdogs in the NW.  Tiger faithful are probably rallying pre-game at the Ram in Tacoma (8 minutes from the game) on 3001 N Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402-5306.   I'll confirm that tomorrow and post it so those who are travelling from down south log on and confirm.

Logger fans.  We've got no chance.  Maybe the Stags but Oxy shouldn't even have been in the Tourney.   Good guys.  Be kind to them.  Hope they can give you a better game than a bottom-tier team in your conference.  May want to think about limiting the minutes of your starters and avoiding injuries. 

 

Blackhawk-whalesaving-blowupthedamstosavethesalmon-parkawearing-UPSfan,

Amazing that you are even on this thread.  Kind of like a guy from UConn going on the thread and talking crap to the Davidson fans before they play them in the 1st round. 

Book your flight.  No SCIAC team has a chance at UPS.  Oxy's backcourt is too young and CMS can't beat Pacific (which granted, will be legit in a few years, but isn't yet).  Look at it like a nice, easy game for your varsity to tune you up for beasts you will face in the next round.  The SCIAC teams won't roll over but they won't be a very difficult W for you. 

Committee sent a message loud and clear to the SCIAC with letting Oxy host: do something out of your conference to get our respect.  PC and Sagers have been telling us that for years on this thread, and I for one have weakly tried to dispute it with anecdotal evidence about the competitiveness of our teams.   Playing well against Biola, Azuza and within our conference just doesn't mean anything outside of the Southland.  And really, if you think about it, should it?  We just have to win those non-conference DIII games, the few and far between that they are.  When the snowbirds come out, we have to do what Oxy did to Amherst.  CMS had a great, great SCIAC.  But they haven't done ANYTHING outside of the conference except beating 2 strong Cali NAIA teams and Augsburg.  The rest of the nation doesn't care about that as much as the losses to Wash U, George Fox and Pacific.

Oxy beats Amherst, Whitworth and Chapman.  They get the national nod.  

Don't like it, too bad.  Beat a DIII team note outside of an hour away from your dorm room.  

Preview of SCIAC tourney is coming Thursday.  Should be exciting.  I'm sure CMS guys are mad that they were punked by the Committee.  And Oxy, well, it might be fun for to watch them ruin CMS's parade and then wait for the whining here on the thread about how they didn't deserve to have to travel on the road to the Rock.  Unfortunately for them, deserve has got nothing to do with it.

Fo, we've missed you this year.  I expected you to come here early and woof about this team.  But you were notably silent; makes me wonder if you knew something that the rest of us didn't. 

Sam is right.  It sounds like bottom-tier bitching but it is deserved.  Nothing highlights that like the 20 point schlacking by Amherst this year the night before a less-talented and younger Tiger team handles the east coast prepsters.  Yes, it was at Oxy but it was a winter game and there weren't more than 300 people there. 

Kats has owned the conference and he just hasn't got it done outside of the conference.  As I have always said, he was good enough to be gone to a higher platform long ago.  Too bad for the rest of the conference and lucky for the Hen nation, who all understand that CK has easily been the greatest coach ever at PP.

And the balance of power has shifted.  2 Ls and a conference title prove it.  Maybe it won't be permanent, but they sent to Lloyd to graduate school with a couple of Ls. 

P.S.  What gives with the green light for Knowles?  I love the guy too but he was the first point I've ever Katz give that much of a green light.


 

Guru, thanks for beating me to the punch.  Also, if you are going to look at 4 years, why not look at 10, at 14.  Oxy, more than anyone, has knocked on the door of the Big 3 but year in and year out, since CLU joined the conference, this thing has been about the Big 3.  But as Sagers & PC know, I say that partly tongue in cheek because before Oxy's '03 run, the Big 3 is really a laughable concept outside of the southland.  The more appropriate moniker would be 'the Big Nada'.   Which, by default, would make everyone else 'the Nada de Nada'. 

But there is hope that the times are changing (notably Oxy trying to turn this conference national rep on its head) and I'm looking for the Stags to bring back a pair of wins from the Tourney this year.  Won't be easy and our conference's historical failings should make them a HUGE underdog no matter who they play.  CMS plays well in that position and just might be able to pull it off.        

PC, use your magic to get Oxy in and we'll do one better, we'll stay here all summer      8).

Sage, that imaginary conversation still has me on the ground.

OxyBob, I agree with you and love how you coined the Redlands's system as a travelling freak show. 

I'm going to revise my Betty opinion just based on one play alone.  When Lloyd went in to flush it on him last night and he blocked it with two hands and came down with the ball, I think he made a statement about the ongoing debate here this year about who is the better athlete.   Lloyd got the last laugh with the W but he'll be shaking his head about that play by Betty for some time.

Any bottom tier team that takes a game from Kats is a thorn in PP's side.  His won-loss record against Wh, Red & LV is sick.  Whittier got PP once this year and almost got them on the road.  Granted, a slight exaggeration on Betty (he should get some 1st team votes because he still is a monster on O who teams have to focus on).  Maybe I was harsh on Oxy but up until mid-way through SCIAC they raised the bar so high, it is difficult not to comment on the collapse.      

Another interesting year in the SCIAC.  Stags came out of nowhere, with inner turmoil and early season losses, to pull it together and play like Champions.  Great job by their staff.  Let's hope they lose the one-and-done-itis that plagues our conference.  If our 3rd best team can spank Amherst, maybe the Stags won't be as fearful.  

2006 Notes from the Sideline:

a.   Shocking conference performance by the Hens.  Two Ls to the Stags, enough said.
b.  Stags championship.  Brace yourself Hen fans, the balance of power among the big three just shifted across campus.
c.  Rare season where one of the Big 3 was knocked off its position.  Look for CLU to rebound next year and put Oxy back in the bottom tier.  
d.  Miles best player, hands down.
e.  Betty ties with PP's starters for biggest personal disappointment.  Strip out the Redlands game on the Road and any SCIAC coach who puts him on the 1st team only does so as an appreciation for his utter domination of Amherst.  The guy's average at best rebounding, defending and passing skills were exploited all conference long.
f.  PP's starters, 2 banners coming in to the year then two Ls to pretty much them same Stag team as last year, enough said.  
g.   Redlands W against Oxy unfortunately for all of us probably will keeps the system in tact.  Can someone please tell me why Coach Smith has Wooden status out there?
h.  Oxy guards giving up 57 to Redlands guard at home in a crucual game for the Tigers.  Yeeeouuchhh!
i.  Whittier continues to be thorn in PP's side.
j.  Oxy undefeated in 1st half of league, 4 Ls in the second half.  Thanks for giving us some national recognition boys, now give us your seat and get to the back of the bus.  
k.  With this board alive and bumping, what better time than a 3 or 4 team conference tournament!  

DJ is dead-on.  Scoring was not a problem for Oxy.  Their guards getting lit up Kobe-style was.  Like A Walker said, "Ain't no way some dude is getting that many off against me, I'd clothesline him."  Said from a guy who has the lateral quickness of a Sumo wrestler.  

Like I said, Oxy's guards are going to be having dreams about that for a long time.   I'm thinking about changing my name to "UsemeLikeI'maGuardFromOxy".    

I can hear Kats talking to his players at half if his backcourt was getting bombed like that:

Kats: Sagehen teams have put up more banners than anyone.  We own this League. How many titles have you guys won? Two?!? You think that is something?!?  You see, pals, this thing is bigger than you. And you guys walk in a gym and expect them to rollover because it says Pomona on your jersey?  Nice guys? I don't give a sh#!. Good students? F you -- go back to Honnold and find a desk!! You wanna play here? Guard someone!! (to Knowles) You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse? You can't take this -- how can you take the abuse you get playing the Stags at their gym?! You don't like it -- leave. I can go out there tonight with our JV team and defend those Redlands guards! Tonight! Can you? Can you? Go and do likewise! A-I-D-A!! Get mad! You sons of female canines! Get mad!! You know what it takes to win in this league?

Sad day.  Those at the game talk to me and tell me how the kid was lighting it up was driving, launching three's, doing anything he wanted.  57 against Oxy which has some young kids who can play D.  Hard to believe.   LV lights it up against them, now Redlands.  Those kids at Oxy are going to be haunted by that for a long time.  57?!?  I don't care if he was pulling from half court, get a stop.  Fortunately for them they have 3 more opportunities to show that they can guard someone without them having a career night against them.  This thing is ALL CMS.  Oxy's kids need to accept that they can win out and still not get a bid (probably not mathematical but a reality they should accept).  Too bad for them and the SCIAC.  Those Oxy kids have had such a great season for their school and really all of the SCIAC.  I hope they can realize the weight is off their shoulders and they can get back to playing like they have something to prove - like they did against Amherst and all of pre-league.  Those kids deserve to finish with their heads held high. 

Then Oxy and all of us can gear up for cheering for the Stags to shed the Big3-one and done-itis.