MBB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[stag44]

Huge games in the SCIAC tonight!! It's become pretty clear that the SCIAC will probably be a one-bid team this year. The only way that does not happen is if Chapman were to win out and then lose in the Conference tournament. Even then it could be a stretch. So, with that there are 7 teams that still have a reasonable shot at making the playoff (CMS, Chapman, CLU, Oxy, Whittier, Pomona, and La Verne). It seems like the last 4 will be fighting for the final spot while CMS, Chapman and CLU will be fighting for home court and the 1 seed.

What makes this race so compelling is also the players. You have arguably the best and most efficient player in the nation IMO (Gaffaney) along with 3 other All-Region and potentially All-American players in Zaversnick, Smith and McAndrews all competing with each other. With the exception of Smith who transferred, the other 3 have been going at each other for 4 years which adds to the fun and rivalry. See below for my previews for the 3 relevant games tonight!

Chapman (7-2) @ CMS (7-2)
Chapman comes into this game reeling from their first 2 losses of the year. While both games came down the last shots and were 1 possession games, both CLU and Pomona were comfortably ahead late into the 2nd half of both games. Credit Chapman for making games out of both with clutch shooting and big time plays down the stretch. CMS comes in off a great week after their devastating loss to Pomona - McAndrews's circus shot sent the Stags to an L after they were unable to close out the game. They beat down Oxy by 31 and followed that up with a solid win @ Whittier which always is a tough place to play.

I am going to take an aside here to discuss Tyler Gaffaney - I don't think most people realize how good he is. He is literally in the top 7 of ALL stat categories in the SCIAC besides blocks. I've run some figure on National PER and he is #4 nationally which is unbelievable. For a 2 guard to be shooting 56% overall and 51% from 3 is just stunning. He could be one of the only 55/50/80 players ever. It's not just his scoring efficiency though - he's still incredibly unselfish. I would love to see him take 25 shots a game, but he is always trying to make the right plays. This has made the Stags extremely efficient on offense.

Overall, I have a feeling this game is going to be a classic. They have played each other, have film and know that the winner has the inside track to the 1 seed in the conference tourney and generally the programs have developed a rivalry over the past years. Chapman won fair and square at home but I know looking at the film there are multiple defensive possessions the Stags would love to have back as Chapman got lay-ups or open 3s off their basic sets. At the end of the game they ran the same play over and over again to get one of the Young twins layups on multiple possessions off a simple diagonal upscreen. They should be ready for their sets even more this time. Chapman took control of the game with an 8-0 run in the middle of the second half sparked by a 4pt play. They shot 70% from 3 and had huge contributions from the Young twins (26pts on 9-11 shooting).

I have a feeling both teams are going to be nervous early on and the first 5 minutes will be tight. Once both teams get in the flow the game will be determined in the paint - whichever team can generate more paint touches (off the dribble or screen or post) will win. This will allow the team to get great looks either as layups or open 3s from penetration. The other key remains on at the free throw line. CMS is atrocious while Chapman is solid. CMS also needs to get to the line as they need to be aggressive and force the hand of the Panthers. Zaversnick and Hamasaki are below average defenders but their team defense and overall coaching is able to mask it and they scout and scheme well against teams. Against the Stags motion I think Chapman will try to be physical around screens and may switch on the side that Gaffaney is not on as James will be matching up agains Gaffaney. They will be every present and send help quickly on any drives so the Stags need to be ready to make 2 passes for open shots.

I'm excited and this will be a player's game. I have a sneaky feeling the Stags seniors will have huge games.

Stags win 68-64

Pomona (4-5) @ CLU (7-2)
Pomona is back and with a win here will be in prime position for the 4 seed. They are an entirely different team with Cohen and Eyen as both take the pressure off McAndrews to be the guard scorer. In their absence Brandon has come on strong and played extremely well. Farrone Collins looks healthy and with those 5 they have shown they can beat anyone in the SCIAC.

CLU is coming off a great week knocking off the previously undefeated Chapman and then working through CalTech. It's the Smith and Powdrill show with CLU and the duo does not disappoint. Their role players are starting to come into their own as well.

I expect this to be a very close game and while Pomona is hot and riding momentum, I give the edge to CLU at home.

CLU wins 62-56

ULV (3-5) @ Whittier (5-4)

ULV must win to stay on pace for the 4 seed, while Whittier is looking to put some space between it and the others at the 4 spot. This should be an up and down game and I expect Whittier to control it.

Whittier wins 78-64

[WoostAr]

Caltech takes down Redlands 49-47!!

KC Emezie with 21 pts including a contested layup with .7 seconds left to go...Ricky Galiani 3-3 from 3.  Big win for the Caltech program.

[CMSfan]

I am going to take an aside here to discuss Tyler Gaffaney - I don't think most people realize how good he is. He is literally in the top 7 of ALL stat categories in the SCIAC besides blocks. I've run some figure on National PER and he is #4 nationally which is unbelievable. For a 2 guard to be shooting 56% overall and 51% from 3 is just stunning. He could be one of the only 55/50/80 players ever. It's not just his scoring efficiency though - he's still incredibly unselfish. I would love to see him take 25 shots a game, but he is always trying to make the right plays. This has made the Stags extremely efficient on offense.

More love for Gaffaney: http://www.cmsathletics.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/201502058a6ycw

He's an absolute stud and pretty much the nicest guy you'll ever meet.

[WoostAr]

Caltech with a 15 pt victory over Whittier tonight. Largest lead was 21. Al Reyes with 21 pts 12 rebounds 6 blocks and 6 assists.

Caltech shot very well from 3 again....50% from 3 in the 2nd half.

At cms next Wednesday.

[CMSfan]

Caltech with a 15 pt victory over Whittier tonight.

And that is a Caltech SCIAC winning streak. Congrats to the Beaver faithful!

[Gregory Sager]

Break up the Beavers!

[WoostAr]

Last time the Beavers had a conference winning streak?....1960!

[WoostAr]

Coach Eslinger on hoopsville at 4:15 today.

[WoostAr]

I am going to take an aside here to discuss Tyler Gaffaney - I don't think most people realize how good he is. He is literally in the top 7 of ALL stat categories in the SCIAC besides blocks. I've run some figure on National PER and he is #4 nationally which is unbelievable. For a 2 guard to be shooting 56% overall and 51% from 3 is just stunning. He could be one of the only 55/50/80 players ever. It's not just his scoring efficiency though - he's still incredibly unselfish. I would love to see him take 25 shots a game, but he is always trying to make the right plays. This has made the Stags extremely efficient on offense.

More love for Gaffaney: http://www.cmsathletics.org/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/201502058a6ycw

He's an absolute stud and pretty much the nicest guy you'll ever meet.

Are you guys worried about his usage rate at all??  He plays 40 minutes unless it's a blowout (and then he plays 35 minutes) -- this should boost his stats a bit, but in March that is simply unsustainable.  He even brings the ball up fairly regularly...he literally gets no time off on the court -- in my opinion, that will not work against the best teams in the nation on back to back nights. (all of this, of course, presumes that CMS makes it to the post-season -- big assumption)

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Last time the Beavers had a conference winning streak?....1960!

No... first back-to-back SCIAC wins since 1954 when they won the SCIAC title!

[WoostAr]

Depends on how you look at it -- in 1960 they won back to back SCIAC games, but had a non-conference loss in between those games. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I was told that was in 1971.

[WoostAr]

Here it is straight from the horse's mouth:  http://gocaltech.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/releases/20150208yv770a

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Ok... we are confusing things clearly.

First back-to-back SCIAC wins in back-to-back games since 1954.
First back-to-back SCIAC wins since 1960-61 season.
First two SCIAC wins in a season since 1971.

I think we were talking about variations of the three - or at least I somehow got into that.

[WoostAr]

I think we got it straightened out now