MBB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[scandihoovian]

Jordis - I think the criticism comes from the fact that Redlands is a place well known for its support for athletics.  The system seems like a better option in a place where you might be likely to struggle otherwise (due to lack of resources, poor facilities, etc.).  That's not the case at Redlands.

[Browneagle64]

I finally had the opportunity to see the Oxy b-ball team on Tuesday night at Rush gym. I was a little dissappointed that they almost let La Serra come back. The last ten min. of the 1st half was all in Oxy favor. Yet, as soon as i left and saw the rest of the score on-line, seems like the boys were playing sloppy.

Oxy needs to improve on Offense. I hope that within the next week the get the scoring system in. Defense looks good so far and can press a bit better than what i have seen in the past. Looks like they should be ready when the play the Mustangs of Cal State San Luie.

[cawcdad]

Just got back from the Oxy - Stan State game. CSU Stanislaus 75 - Occidental 71. A pretty good game against a fair D-II team.

Some observations: Betty is a very good ball player. His short back in / drive and baby hook is deadly. Stanislaus couldn't stop it. The Tigers did not like the up tempo game the Warriors wanted to play and used two time outs early in the game to try to disrupt the Stan State game. I was surprised that Newhall used his last timeout with more than 5 minutes left in a back and forth game. Oxy stayed close, but much of it was thanks to many unforced turnovers and a ton of missed free throws by Stanislaus (except at the end when Oxy was forced to foul) while the Tigers made theirs. Oxy did an excellent job of boxing out on the defensive end and prevented Stanislaus for getting many second chances, especially in the first half. Oxy did a pretty good job also of breaking the Stanislaus press until the very end when, with the game on the line, the inbound passer tried to force a long pass and threw straight to a Stanislaus player. Good luck to the Tigers the rest of the season.

Bob, saying Turlock is the gateway to Chowchilla is like saying Carson is the gateway to Eagle Rock.

[cawcdad]

Connor Whitman was selected to the All-Tournament team and Sam Betty was the Tournament MVP
Modesto Bee Story

From the box score it looks like Oxy got off well, leading 12-2 after 4 minutes, but then gave it all back in the next 3 minutes.

That's when Stanislaus started to go up tempo.

Betty had 31, Whitman had 18, and everyone else had 22.  Kostic had 6 boards but only 3 points in 33 minutes. Someone else is going to have to score.

From seeing just one game, it seems to me that after Betty and Whitman, it drops off pretty fast for the Tigers. Kostic hits the boards hard but threw several passes away, including the game breaker inbounds pass. Again, good luck to Oxy the rest of the season.

[Browneagle64]

Having gone through two big test with teams like St. Johns and CS Stanislaus, expect to see the tigers hold on to the top spot in the SCIAC.

However, there are still more non-league test that will indeed show us all what type of team the tigers have this year. If the tigers can hold on to their early leads for more than 12 mins look to see a high rolling oxy team.

With the improving defense and up and coming offense that Oxy is using, i hope to see that as soon as the tigers meet the hens in league play, this will be billed as an awesome match.

[brandt40]

Did anybody catch any of the games at the Wells Classic?

[Browneagle64]

Looks like the tigers will be headed to yet another big test as they face the Mustangs of Cal San Luie. Is this the first time Oxy has been paired with d2 teams back to back???

By the looks of it, the mustangs are stacked with kids that are at least 6-5 and above, with the exception of a couple of kids. Should be a great game. 

[cawcdad]

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a D-I team.

[Redlands Rick]

After watching Redlands play the running system for years, I saw their first three games of this season.  Saw the blowout loss at Northridge, saw the big margin win over a undertalented West Coast Baptist team, then saw another blowout loss at Biola. While I am not a proponent or opponent of this system, as I think there are merits to it as well as drawbacks, as a fan, I have questions.

Why do the coaches have one or two guys shoot most of the shots,even when it is painfully clear to all of us in the stands that there are games that  the shots are not falling for the guys doing most the shooting?

Aren't there different plays or calls that can be made to get the ball into the hands of another shooter when certain guys are cold, as some of them have been at Northridge and again last Saturday at Biola?  In watching warmups before all the games, I noticed that some guys on Redlands could not make 40% of their shots unguarded, So I was not surprised when the same guys  who play a lot didn't connect very often when they were guarded.  And one or two guys that I saw hit 80-90% of their 3-pointers in warmups either played very little or not at all. Let's face it, making 20-something % from 3-point land with the same cold-hand shooters being sent out onto the floor time after time while at the same time giving up a ton of high-percentage shots on the other end tells me that adjustments on personnel or play calling are necessary.

Like I mentioned above, why are so many layups given up on the defensive end when the team is struggling on the offensive end?  Maybe that gets back to my question about personnel and adjustments.

Anyway, I know that the team is young and that the seaon younger.  As a fan, I can see flashes of some really great plays and good hustle.  Hopefully, some people can help with my questions, including those who may be more familiar with the system.

Redlands Rick

[dawg gone it]

RR,

I can assure you that there is a big difference between shooting around in warm ups with no on on you and shooting in the game.  Anyone can stand around and shoot....having to create a shot during the game and then geting the shot off can be a whole different story.  I have not seen UR play yet but I am familiar with their style of play.  I can probably still out shoot most of the UR players just standing around.  If they guard me....well I could not even get open to receive the ball.

I played in college and have coached at various levels and am a proponent of fast paced offense.  Pushing the ball down the floor prohibits the defense, especially a zone, from digging in.  I believe that if a "good shot" is available it should be taken rather than wait for a play to ...possibily develope.  My college, 2nd college, coach used to say, a play is designed to get someone open for a good shot, it can happen at any time, be ready, you dont have to wait for the entire play to develope to take a good shot."  Really, what is the difference between an open 12 or 15 foot shot....(and dont say 3 feet).

It doesnt appear that UR's problem is scoring, its the total lack of defense that is hurting them.  At least that is what it looks like just reading the box scores.  You cant win giving up 159 points, man is that an understatement.  There must be some balance between offense and defense to be successful.  I have always coached an agressive defense and a fast break type offense, push the ball up the floor style of play.  This is the philosphy of most college coaches today, at least at the major college level where there is plenty of talent.

The best example of what I am saying is Pepperdine's coaches style of play.  There was an article in the Daily News or LA Times on how coaches from all over the country are coming to learn his method.

[Redlands Rick]

Dawg,

Thanks for the reply, and I understand the difference between warmups and game.  But still, guys who can't hit in warmups usually can't hit in a game.

But as to my questions about personnel and adjustments?

Any help is appreciated.

Redlands Rick

[Browneagle64]

Thanks for the Correction Cawcdad.

I assume that they were d-2, based on their football program. In addition, as i was looking on their B-ball page, i found no indication that they were d1. So that made me believe in a d-2 status.

Anyways, this will be a huge game if the tigers pull out of a close game with the 'stangs. I say the tigers beat the mustangs by 4 pts., use a strong defense and take them by surprise. Just my opinion. 

[cawcdad]

You're welcome Browneagle64. Their football team is D-IAA, in the same league with UC Davis, North Dakota State etc and went to the playoffs last year and finished 14 in one poll this year. In basketball they are in the Big West Conference with Pacific, Irvine, Santa Barbara, etc. Good luck with Cal Poly, but they are a tough team to beat in their home. They beat a decent St. Mary's team on Sunday 72 - 59 and routed the Stanislaus team (91 - 72) that beat Oxy.

[Browneagle64]

Cawcdad

I saw the box scores for the games that you mentioned and still have high hopes for the tigers. You are right that they are tough and loaded with big kids, in the end all i hope is that Oxy pulls the upset and learns from the best. Its games like these that will help the tigers prepare for the likes of the dawgs, stags and hens when SCIAC games open up.  Plus, this will also get betty and co. a good insight into improving more on offense.

[DIIIghetto]

With a handful of games under our belt, time for the early predictions.

Predicted order of finish:

1.  PP - Kats back on top; not sure what in the heck happened last year.  Two Ls to CMS with everyone back and the SCIAC's best guard.  Don't expect that to sit well with CK.  Look for him to straighten the ship with the best recruiting class and a kid who will look to take the trophy that had Betty written all over it.
2.  CMS - lost so much that I am tempted to put them down but it looks like they brought in some horses who will help them be right there again. 
3.  Oxy - Could and really should be higher, but I'm not sensing any urgency coming out of the Rock in its early performances which suggests to me that losing Marvin and Zach hurts more than Betty's talent and the new guards will be able to overcome.  Never want to count out this coaching staff, who got a team that learned first hand about tightening cheeks in the 2nd half of league (culminated by some dude from Redlands dropping 80 on them in the Rock - do we call the Rock "Hersey, PA West" this year?) then turned around and beat CMS at home then went neck and neck with a tough UPS team in the playoffs.  Backcourt has to prove to me that it isn't the 5th best in this conference. 
4.  CLU - new gym is enough to get them right here.
5.  Redlands - should be lower but I expect a rally around GS in his send-off. 
5.  LV - no Greenlee but they look like they have some players.
6.  Whittier - talent to be where Oxy is but need to show they aren't afraid of the Big 3. 
7.  CT - you heard it here first, 2007 will be the year CT wins its first SCIAC game since they beat Popovich and the Hens!!!

Here is to hoping PP gets Wooster, Oxy gets Williams and LV and Whittier keep it under 10 against UPS.  National reps at stake here fellas.  Advance the cause.