MBB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[oldchap]

I wasn't at the CU-CMS game so my comments are second hand from other observers who were at the game.

This time the Panthers put together a decent showing in defense, unlike what they did against PP. For proof, they held Claremont to only 57 points (CMS averages more than 70 points per game) and their All-American graduate star player Chris Blees, to a pedestrian 12 points and 8 rebounds (he averages more than 15 points per game and he has had games in the low 20s). Chapman even managed to out-rebound and out-block a team well known for their strength in this area of the game. They could not however muster any type of offensive rhythm. They went cold from downtown, only making 2 of the 13 attempts for the entire game and shot a dismal 50% from the charity stripe, converting only 5 of 10 free throws. In fact,the free throw difference (-13) pretty much corresponds to the margin of victory for CMS. The Panthers simply fouled too much, which disrupted their offense.

The Stags all-too-famous suffocating defense certainly contributed to the Panthers low shooting percentage, but our guards missed plenty of open shots too. Dragovich had a game high 12 points on 6 of 9 shooting. He isn't afraid to challenge bigger than him and has become a nice offensive weapon under the basket.

The Stags well deserve their thunderous start of the season: they are a well-balanced and solid team with respectable offensive and defensive skills. However for some of the spectators and to some of the Panthers, it wouldn't have been impossible for the Panthers to win that game (unlike let's say, a team like Whitworth). I see the Stags as probable SCIAC champions (Chapman isn't eligible to participate in the Conference this season), although I doubt they will sweep all teams. A team like PP will probably give them fits.

I will write about the CLU-CU game next.

[oldchap]

Eyewitness from Orange, Chapman vs. Cal Lu.:

This time, the Panthers made some needed adjustments on both ends of the floor, especially in defense and apparently these changes paid dividends, as Chapman came away with a good win.

The panthers sprinted to a very fast start helped by a very hot Lin. It was 7-21 about halfway through the first half and the lead even reached 16 points. But the Kingsmen clawed their way back into the game to within 10 points when CU went cold for the second part of the first half. In the last 8 minutes, Chapman only managed one made basket and a pair of free throws.

The second half saw similar dismal shooting from the Panthers. Another 8 minutes went by with only one made basket. The only chance Chapman was having is that Cal Lu was fouling too much and some of their key players were in foul trouble.

About halfway through the second half, the Kingsmen had managed to cut the lead to 6 points though. They were hanging in there and the Panthers couldn't muster any kind of run to put them away.

The end of the game was pretty exciting. With 6 minutes left in the game, the Panthers were ahead by a respectable 10 points. Cal Lu slowly and deliberately cut the deficit down to 2 points with 38 seconds to go, and then again with 18 seconds left on the clock. At that point, CLU could only press and foul. Lin stepped up to the line, having made 6 of his first 7 attempts and low-and-behold, missed his two free throws. On the second miss, the ball bounced to the corner and a diving Ricard grabbed it and called a timeout (you can actually see a cool action shot of this key rebound on the Chapman Athletics website). On the next inbound pass, Lin got fouled again and this time made both free throws. He finished the game with a career high 20 points, with 8 of 11 from the charity stripe. In fact, free throws weighed heavily in the balance, because the Kingsmen shot a poor 40%, converting only 6 of the 15 they were given. Had they been a little more disciplined in this exercise, the game could have taken a different turn.

The Panthers come away with a nice win, with a very good performance on the defensive end of the floor, although Cal Lu held the edge in rebounds. But their big man Van Klaveren couldn't really turn on his offense (he has had several games in the 20s this year and averages nearly 16 points per game), although he finished with a respectable 12 points, 8 rebounds. Nettles had a key 3-pointer to cut the lead to 2 at the end of the game.

This young Chapman team is still in construction. They continue to show grit, intelligence and decent skills. This game showed that they have made a tremendous amount of progress in learning to play as a team, although it was still far from perfect. The end of the season is a little easier, which is too bad. They may become complacent.

The next game however is Redlands, who won the Lee Fulmers Tournament and despite the Panthers early win against them, is sure to give them fits this time around.

[WoostAr]

Eyewitness report from Minnesota; Caltech at Macalaster.

Heading out east was definitely a test for Caltech...the talent in the MIAC is undeniable (they have the reigning D3 champs in their conference).  Macalaster has played some very stiff competition this year already, and their win-less record has come at the hands of some stiff competition.

Macalaster did not have Chris Quinn tonight, their starting point guard and one of their scorers.  They did have Pierce Peters and Sam Marshall.  Both are excellent players: Marshall is a bruiser down low and Pierce can shoot lights out....he seemingly didn't miss...contested shots were just going down like water....5/6 from three and 10/16 for the game with ten rebounds.

The game started with a lot of scoring as you might expect from two teams that didn't really know each other's tendencies.  Caltech got some great early offense from Pan Wang.  Later in the half Todd Cramer and Mike Edwards got a two man game going. The half ended with a buzzer beater from Cramer just inside the arc to give Caltech a 1 point advantage at the half.  Cramer ended the half with 9 assists! and Edwards with 15 points.  Pierce Peters hit for 17 in the first half.  Caltech's offense hummed: the ball zipped, they hit 3 back doors for lay ups which opened up their shooters who hit some threes.

The second half was more physical than the first and the refs did nothing to dissuade this.  Everyone banged this game and I'm sure everyone went how with lots of ice on.  Caltech was able to extend their lead to 8 once and again later to 7 but Pierce Peters seemed to have an answer each time and bring the game back to a 2-3 point margin.  Macalaster focused more on Cramer and Caltech focused more on Peters.

Peters hit a three to bring the Scots within two with 1:57 left, but Edwards blocked a Sam Marshall shot on the next trip and then hit two free throws on the other end of the floor to put Caltech up by 4.  From there, Caltech got enough stops and  Wang, Edwards, and Hogue hit enough free throws to seal a 71-65 victory.

Cramer finished the game with 19 pts, 10 assists and 4 rebounds; Edwards finished with 22 pts (and one huge block); Wang finished with 12 points and 3 steals.  Pierce Peters finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds and was certainly the best player on the floor.

Also of note, Mike Paluchniak made his first appearance of the season.  He needs to shake off a bit of rust I'd say, but he hit a three, showed that he still has a strong desire and ability to play defense and was active as a leader.

Big win for Caltech....they continue to learn how to win....Hamline tomorrow...looking forward to it!

[stag44]

Stags into the top 25 at #22 in the nation!!!

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2011-12/week3

If memory serves me right, the last SCIAC team ranked was Oxy in 07-08 with Connor Whitman.

Usually SCIAC teams get rather beaten up during the non-conference slate playing GSAC and travelling to play other D3s, and then even a stellar run through conference doesn't get them into the rankings.

Great to see the Stags in the top 25; it is well deserved and to be honest I think that it is still low for them.

[dahlby]

stagg44,
AGREED!

[WoostAr]

I would agree with that sentiment as well....Wooster is definitely receiving the "Duke" treatment -- been good for so long they get votes just because....I went there and root for them, and I don't understand how they're still in the top 25 after how they played this week.  I assumed Claremont will only move higher if they keep up their winning ways.

Great for the SCIAC to have a team ranked!!

[etule]

Clairmont is very good this year ! And deep!

[oldchap]

If memory serves me right, the last SCIAC team ranked was Oxy in 07-08 with Connor Whitman.

Well since it is now part of the SCIAC, Chapman was the last team ranked last season and the season before. However, technically they weren't part of the Conference then...

[WoostAr]

Eyewitness report from Hamline:

Caltech went into this game tired -- they traveled, played a banging game against MacalEster and then less than 24 hours later went in to play Hamline and their uptempo style in a HOT gym (80 degrees?? talk about a home court advantage!)

Caltech started out the game sluggish on offense -- shots were in and out and they looked like they were being forced to play a little faster than they might prefer.  Fortunately their defensive scheme worked for the first 10:30 -- they played a zone to start out against Hamline's drivers and then switched to man when the second unit of shooters came in.  In the first 10:30 of the game, Caltech gave up 12 points and we're hanging in there.

Caltech's defense was predicated on keeping Hamline in the half court, but about 10 minutes in, they started having trouble not getting back to set up in their half court d...ten point lead for Hamline at the half.

The second half was ALL Hamline....they poured it on and never relented.  Caltech was clearly exhausted and could not get back on D (or make a shot).  Hamline's first three possessions of the second half went lay up, 3 pointer, DUNK! and the route was on.

Final score 88-48 (Hamline scored 76 points in the final 30 minutes)...credit to Hamline, they put the screws to Caltech and beat them up good.

[OxyBob]

If memory serves me right, the last SCIAC team ranked was Oxy in 07-08 with Connor Whitman.

It is great to see a SCIAC team in the Top 25. The 2006 Oxy team which lost in the second round to Puget Sound was ranked as high as No. 12. The 2007 team was the one which lost in the playoffs to Mississippi College in the first round. I don't recall if that team was ranked. I'm pretty sure that the 2008 team with Whitman which lost to Whitworth was ranked at some point. PC would probably know.

There was a previous post about Claremont's rebound margin. The Stags are currently ranked 5th in D-III at 12.1; McMurry is No. 1 at 18.0. They're also No. 16 in scoring defense at 56.8 ppg; Rose-Hulman is No. 1 at 50.4 ppg.

Caltech went into this game tired -- they traveled, played a banging game against MacalEster and then less than 24 hours later went in to play Hamline and their uptempo style in a HOT gym (80 degrees?? talk about a home court advantage!)

Ah, the old "we had to travel on a plane" excuse. Always a classic. Often used by the CCIW whiners when they lose.

Hot gym?! Hahahahahaha! I guess you've never been to a game in the Temple of Doom at Claremont. I think one of stag44's team duties was to personally crank up the thermostat.

OxyBob

[etule]

I m pretty sure the 2008 Oxy team was in the top 25 for a couple weeks . Lost to a very good Whitworth team without their big guy who was injured. 2007 team also lost in the tourney without the big man in 2007 also out with injury who was also POY and all region.
NWC because of Whitworth is getting respect! Whitworth lost to a team that had lost four games and did not drop very much. Oxy or Clairmont whould have been out of the top 25! IMO

[OxyBob]

I suggest you check out the Cal Tech web site.

P.S. It's Caltech, not Cal Tech.

Oxy or Clairmont whould have been out of the top 25!

It's Claremont, not Clairmont.

OxyBob

[etule]

And its Occidental not Oxy! lol

[stag44]

There was a previous post about Claremont's rebound margin. The Stags are currently ranked 5th in D-III at 12.1; McMurry is No. 1 at 18.0. They're also No. 16 in scoring defense at 56.8 ppg; Rose-Hulman is No. 1 at 50.4 ppg.

Hot gym?! Hahahahahaha! I guess you've never been to a game in the Temple of Doom at Claremont. I think one of stag44's team duties was to personally crank up the thermostat.

Great to see the Stags up there in rebound margin and that NCAA has stats up now.

HAHAHAH, well played OxyBob - I can personally attest that the gym was MUCH hotter during practice than during games. But without question Ducey is the hottest gym I've every played in. Actually, in 04-05 the gym was so hot and muggy during the CMS-PP game that during FTs and timeouts the floor had to be wiped down because there was coat of moisture on the court.

The closest it got to that during my time there was 05-06 when Oxy came to visit during the Claremont Parent's weekend and we cut down the nets after defeating Oxy for the SCIAC championship.

But without question the Temple of Doom may have an malfunctioning thermostat 

[OxyBob]

The closest it got to that during my time there was 05-06 when Oxy came to visit during the Claremont Parent's weekend and we cut down the nets after defeating Oxy for the SCIAC championship.

That was a disappointing loss for Oxy fans. Claremont won the conference, and went on to the first round of the NCAA playoffs. But I forget, so remind me, what happened in that first round playoff game?

OxyBob