MBB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[etule]

Some coaches adapt better to the personal they have than others. CMS lost the POY and another key player and they struggled some in pre season but found a way to adjust and be successful. Oxy is just not as good at adjusting to their personal! Their defense is going to have to improve to give them any chance! Handly and McCoy can carry them offensively but the team defense has got to get better!

[Ralph Turner]

Truly the sky is falling.

I wonder if this is an omen for strange happenings in the SCIAC this season.

[cmsme]

I think Oxy's problem is psychological.  They are probably in shock at having started this way.  They just need to breathe. 

It seems in the SCIAC, you just need to make the tournament for a successful season.  And once you are in the tournament, anything is possible. 
Claremont has won the tournament and the league the last two years and it has been a lot of fun, but the games were all so close that any of the 4 teams could have won.

That is what I would tell those Oxy players--you don't have to win it all, you just have to be above 50%. 
But, I also say GO STAGS--crush OXY.

[Gray Fox]

Eyewitness from Dallas at the Independents Round Robin Tournament.

SCIAC wannabe Chapman 63 UCSC 52.

I was one of 78 fans to watch the game.  Chapman was in the lead from the start.  They built a 13 point lead in the first half, but UCSC cut it to 32-24 at the half.  UCSC got it down to 3 in the second half but ended up losing 63-52.  Chapman looks like a two man team with good supporting staff.  The Slugs were just a good supporting staff.  Even though the fouls were about even, Chapman got 12 more points from the line.

Chapman is now 15-3.  UCSC is 7-11.

I'm not planning to attend tomorrow because U of Dallas only has two wins this year.  I was hoping some of the Chapman posters would be in attendance.  I met the mother of a freshman.  She said she reads these boards.

[CMSfan]

Stags 79, Caltech 43
Box score: http://www.gocaltech.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/files/cms-cit.htm
Recap: http://www.gocaltech.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/releases/201101234lknkn

Other SCIAC action:

Redlands 83, Whittier 66
Box Score: http://www.goredlands.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/boxscores/20110122_rpfy.xml)

OXY 42, P-P 30
Box Score: http://www.oxyathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/boxscores/20110122_ssn3.xml
Recap: http://www.oxyathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/boxscores/20110122_ssn3.xml

La Verne 48, CLU 44
Box Score: http://www.clusports.com/stats/mens_basketball/2010_2011/ulv-clu.htm
Recap: http://www.clusports.com/news/7205/

Also, some Claremont McKenna students put together a nice video recap of Wednesday's game vs. P-P.  Here's the link for those interested: http://vimeo.com/19024501

[OxyBob]

Here is Wednesday's schedule, all games 7:30 p.m.:

Caltech (4-12, 0-5 SCIAC) @ Oxy (7-9, 1-4)
Claremont (9-6, 5-0) @ La Verne (9-7, 4-1)
Redlands (7-9, 4-1) @ Pomona (6-10, 2-3)
Cal Lutheran (8-8, 2-3) @ Whittier (7-9, 2-3)

Huge opportunity for La Verne. The Leopards already have 3 road wins at Oxy, Redlands and CLU. A win at home against Claremont would give them a first place tie with the Stags and a leg up on Claremont going into the schedule turn. Pomona only scored 30 against Oxy?! That's gotta be the least number of points ever scored in a SCIAC game by a Coach Kat coached team. The only game I could find where the Sagehens had that kind of offensive nonput was in a 91-23 loss to UC Irvine in 2002.

OxyBob

[cmsme]

Probably Pomona was worn out from playing CMS, it seemed like a very intense game--or maybe Oxy took my advise and just breathed.   
CMS was lucky to play Caltech the game after Pomona.

[greyskies]

Tonight will be telling

I believe big game is La Verne vs Claremont.  Teams are evenly matched respect to shooting, with slight height advantage to La Verne.  Battle between centers  Alex Wolpe and Patrick Lacey will factor big. I give edge to Patrick.  My prediction is Claremont by 4

[stag44]

Big night in the SCIAC

Game of the Night: CMS @ La Verne
HUGE game for both teams - CMS has a chance to get to 6-0 at the Super Tent. The key for the stags will be controlling the paint. Napolitano is brash and a bruiser in the post, trying to use his physicality to almost intimidate opponents. Wolpe is an inter-SCIAC transfer from Redlands who is athletic and skilled near the rim. I'm sure that La Verne will emphasize the post tonight and try to play off it. On top of that they'll probably pitch Woodland near the bigs for kickout 3s and to create.

The Stags will counter with a heavy dose of Lacey. He has been their horse since winter break and has seriously stepped up in the absence of Blees and Blue. He commands a double and will make you pay for single coverage. Also by having a commanding post with the Stag motion, driving lanes are open and bigs coming to help are a half step late. This has allowed Pinson, Mivshek, Anderson and Davis to drive lanes. When the double comes its allowed for Heidrich, Sullivan and Smith to bomb from 3 in a stationary position. They have really started to come around with the motion and will continue to improve.

I look for La Verne to try and speed up the game, trap guards, and double the post to get the Stags uncomfortable. Offensively, La Verne will try to use their size and athleticsm to create mismatches and go inside on the Stags. Unfortunately, I think the Stags will be composed and ready for the challenge and methodically pick apart the Leopards.

Stags win 68-57

In the other games, we get a great matchup between Redlands and Pomona. Most would think that Pomona would be 4-1 while Redlands would be 2-3, but its the opposite and Pomona is desparate for a conference win after losses to CMS and a woeful 30pts vs Oxy. They'll return to the friendly confines of Raines and will pull out the upset over Redlands in an ugly low scoring affair. PP 57-53

Cal Lu travels to Whittier in a battle to get to .500in conference. Both teams have had difficulties this year, but I think that CLU is primed for another 2nd half rally and are clicking with Grimm Fisher and Van Klaveran. CLU wins 75-66

Oxy and Caltech battle with last place on the line. Oxy will roll - seems like Caltech has run out of steam. Oxy 81-57

[WoostAr]

I think CMS game will not be as close as you think....ridiculously soft rims there will seriously advantage CMS shooters that don't miss much in the first place.....post plays to a draw, that will be the difference.

I acknowledge my bias, but Caltech has the talent to go toe to toe with anyone in the SCIAC if their shots will ever fall (wide open shots just not falling last two games)....if they get the lid off early tonight look out!

Should be a fun evening.

[cmsme]

OK.  My guesses--no point spread.  I would put $10 down if I could.
CMS over La Verne
Redlands over Pomona
Whittier over Cal Lu
Oxy over Caltech

It is hard to root for Caltech because I think everyone realizes how painful it will be for the team that looses (and hopefully it won't be us.)  There is too much pressure with a 20 year record.  Did the league consider kicking them out after 10 years of no wins?

However, I am not suggesting such a thing now--things are different.  Caltech looks like they will be competitive.  No team will take their game for granted. 

[greyskies]

I have Cal Lutheran winning tonight

[OxyBob]

Eyewitness report from Eagle Rock:

Oxy 53 Caltech 43

Competitive game between Oxy and CIT. Definitely the most Caltech fans I've ever seen at a game played at Oxy.

Oxy led 24-14 at the half. The Tigers led by 13 with about 10 minutes to go. Caltech got it down to 5 a couple of times, but that's as close as they got. Oxy's defense did a great job denying Ryan Elmquist the ball and held him to 6 points. Caltech came into the game as the best FT shooting team in the SCIAC, but the Beavers clanked several 1-and-1s.

Kris Montoya had a great game for Oxy with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Deshun McCoy and Jack Hanley were steady as usual with 16 and 12 each. For Caltech, Mike Paluchniak and Todd Cramer each scored 12, and Mike Edwards had 11.

Caltech has improved its game, and even has some swagger and attitude, and a couple of chippy players. It was fun to see so many CIT fans there cheering them on, hoping to see Caltech finally break its SCIAC losing streak, which is now up to 303.

Saturday's schedule, all games 7:00 p.m.:

Redlands (8-9, 5-1 SCIAC) @ Claremont (10-6, 6-0)
Oxy (8-9, 2-4) @ Cal Lutheran (8-9, 2-4)
Caltech (4-13, 0-6) @ Whittier (8-9, 3-3)
La Verne (9-8, 4-2) @ Pomona (6-11, 2-4)

OxyBob

[Hoopsallthetime]

Eyewitness Report

CMS 68  Laverne 59

The CMS Stags once again show that even though you lose the 2-time player of the year Chris Blees and your back up center in Greyson Blue, that you can still compete for a SCIAC Championship with great players and I believe the best coaches in the league. The Stags came out firing last night and proved to be the best team in the league. The Stags started the game on a 10-0 run that left Laverne wondering if they even had a chance to win the game. Laverne pushed there way back into the game with the incredible play of Trevor Woodland. Woodland is one of the best players in the league, but showed some flaws in his game that most SCIAC coaches probably already know. The kid can shoot there is no doubt about that, but has trouble creating his own shot when someone is in his grill. The Stags were in his grill the entire night, which is why he shot 6-18 for the game.
The Laverne kids kept the game close in the first half shooting with Woodland scoring 10 of his 18 points, and keeping them close. The first half was very close, with both teams going at each other, but the Stags controlling the lead throughout the game. The half ended with a 20-18 score, a score I'm sure Coach Reid was very happy about.

The second half was a different story. The Stags took control from the beginning with great 3 point shooting, and baby hooks from Patrick Lacey and Co..... While the Stags continued to open a lead, I was surprised my Laverne's lack of patience on the offensive end. Laverne ended up shooting themselves in the foot with one on one plays and bad shots all around. With 5 minutes to go the Stags opened up a 18 point lead and never looked back. After 3 minutes of a hack a Shaq mentality, the Stags finally pulled out a victory and start 6-0 in the conference.

The Stags shot 50% (4-8) from the arc, and 78.8% (26-33) from the Charity stripe.  The stags shot an amazing 63% (10-16) from the field in the second half, 43% for the game. Stags were led in scoring by Sr. Patrick Lacey with 14pts..7 rebs, and Remy Pinson with 13pts. Off the Bench, Mivshek lead w/ 10 pts and Alex Smith had 9. A great all around game from everyone involved. The Stags go the Redlands on Saturday where I'm sure they will meet a very hungry 5-1 Redlands team and a hostile crowd. See you all Saturday!!!

[OxyBob]

Oxy-Caltech article in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune:

http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/ci_17211987

OxyBob