MBB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WoostAr]

Gray Fox: Cramer no longer on roster as a result of transfer to MIT...big loss for Caltech.

The game against chapman saw Caltech  play some great defense in spurts...Edwards seemed motivated to be a great defender...dikdn't get out of his defensive stance all night.  The Beavers also ran their offense well in spurts...cuts were hard, picks were good, open shots were had....they just didn't go in.  The turning point in this game was a tip slam, which was the start of the 15-2 run Old Chap referenced.  Caltech tried to push the pace after that which led to a few turnovers and a lot of easy buckets for chapman.  Caltech made a valiant effort, but never really got back within striking distance.

[WoostAr]

Eyewitness report Babson @ CMS

Babson got TROUNCED.  They did not play particularly well: they shoot 80% from the FT line, shot 1/7 in the first half...hit 25% from three from the game.......that said, even if they hit all of those shots this game wouldn't have been close.

Claremont simply doesn't make mistakes.  They don't turn the ball over, they take shots they know they can hit and they hit them, and they play great defense.  Last game I saw Blees play he was shaking off some rust, he clearly is back at the top of his game.  They shot 60% from the field in the first half, made it look easy and then played their bench most of the second half.

[Gray Fox]

Back to his Manhattan apartment, across the hall from Jerry Seinfeld.

I had no idea he was Caltech material.

[WoostAr]

Caltech played Babson at Caltech the other night.  Here's a pretty good re-cap http://gocaltech.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/20111231oz5jwp

Caltech played pretty solid D all game but didn't get their offense going until the second half. 

Andrew Hogue has been picking up a good bit of the slack in the offense.  His shot is on more and he is being more aggressive going to the hoop.  Caltech can use more of that from him.

Congratulations to Mike Edwards on reaching the 1000 point plateau....additionally, Edwards (again) brought a new found passion to the defensive end...he certainly has the length and athleticism to bother just about any shot.

Up next in 2012! Mt. St Mary's

[stag44]

CMS goes to 11-0 in non-conference play - not sure if/when the last time was that a SCIAC team was undefeated going into SCIAC play -

Very interesting trend I've noticed with the Stags this year - they seem to blitz teams out of the get go. They are +13pts/game in the first half and if you exclude their first game vs Pacifica they are +15/game. Once they get a lead, also, Scali's motion offense makes it very difficult and time intensive for teams to come back. They are able to grind down the shotclock to 10 and then still get a quality shot with Blees breaking down his defender and reading the open lane or man.

It's been remarkable the way they jump on teams early - and just as impressive has been their defensive prowess. I was skeptical of the team coming in and their will/ability to defend. In Maciera's first run he had some holes on the defensive end and given the lack of size in the middle there was concern they would have issues on the boards and keeping teams away from the paint. They have proved me wrong, holding teams to 56ppg and having a +12.7 rebounding advantage.

They look very polished and I'm really looking forward to seeing them live vs CalTech on Saturday. I've heard that CalTech has been at each of the last 4 CMS games scouting both the Stags and their winter-classic opponents. It's never easy to play in Braun and  I'm sure given the non-conference success of the Beavers they will be fired and continue their SCIAC winning streak

[oldchap]

CMS is no less than third in the Massey Ratings (http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cb&sub=11620) right now and even if this appears to be a tad overstated, they fully deserve to be ranked. Winning doesn't lie. Winning by a comfortable margin in most cases is even more impressive. In my opinion they aren't going to lose many Conference games this year (assuming they stay healthy) and the only team capable of challenging them seriously is PP for two reasons: they are archrivals and the Hens have many players who can light it up from downtown on a good night.

Now the question is: Can the Stags beat Whitworth and finally give the SCIAC a chance to shine in the playoffs?

[WoostAr]

Well, let's not get carried away....They haven't even won the SCIAC yet and certainly aren't guaranteed a berth in the playoffs...a lot can happen over the next two months.  CMS certainly is the early favorite....for that matter, anything can happen to Whitworth.

Stag44...maybe I'll see you at the game...it will definitely be a tall order for Caltech to keep this one close.  CMS has looked like a machine every time I've seen them...jump out early, finish strong.  Caltech has been playing some lower scoring affairs of late...their D has looked good...but their offense seems to come out of the gate sluggish and they dig early holes and then claw their way back.  They'll be in a heap of trouble if they let CMS run out to an early lead.

[stag44]

So now with all the non-conference games out of the way lets take a look at the first SCIAC matchups for this Saturday!

CMS @ CalTech
In the past this would be a nice warmup game for the Stags and get them an easy win to start conference. This is no longer the case as CalTech is 5-6 and has been competitive in most games. The Stags still should prevail in this game, but they will have to play well and know that CalTech will be prepared. I expect the Beavers to play alot of sagging man to man defense and force the Stags to win with the 3-pointer. Blees should expect a heavy dose of double and triple teams and I wouldn't be surprised if they face-guard him to start the game, trying to limit his touches in the half court. Edwards vs Blees should be a fun and interesting matchup, though I don't know if they will even guard each other.

On the other side, expect Caltech to try and grind out the clock and force the Stags to play 25-30 seconds a defense every possession. They only have a chance in this game if it stays in the 50s or 60s. I would also anticipate the Beavers crashing maybe 1 or 2 guys on the offensive glass while sending 3 or 4 back to protect the rim in transition. They have to prevent the Stags from getting out on the break and scoring easy baskets.

From the Stags perspective, this could easily be a trap game. They are riding high and off to a school record 11-0 start - it would be awful easy to overlook Caltech. But, knowing Scali, I know they will be prepared and ready for them. I think they will really be aggressive on Edwards and make him uncomfortable (catching at 28ft instead of 22, bumping him off screens, and taking away his dominant hand) and will probably show/double him if the right opportunity presents itself.

The Stags should control this game, but I think it will be closer than most people expect-

CMS wins 66-51

Oxy @ La Verne
This is a very interesting game. If you had asked me at the end of last year who would be in contention for the SCIAC crown this year, Oxy and ULV would have been at the top of the list. They returned alot of talent and were competitive throughout the year. Both have disappointed so far this year.

ULV has yet to win a game vs a D3 opponent with wins coming against very weak opponents. They look to be playing better of late as they lots by 2 to Chapman and were competitive in Las Vegas. Both Woodland and Napolitano are All-SCIAC caliber players and the core members of the teams have been playing heavy minutes the last 2 years. Woodland is an absolute dead-eye shooter and needs to be guarded from 25ft and in. Napolitano is a load on the block, especially when you allow him to get back to his right hand hook.

Oxy has the pieces as well, especially with Montoya back in their last game. I'm not sure where he was before (possibly study abroad or injury) but he should really help them out. Along with McCoy and Hanley who have both been major contributors, the team seemingly has all the  parts to be a very very good team and win some games in SCIAC. Also, you can never count out Coach Newhall who finds ways for his teams to be competitive.

I look for this game to be very physical and competitive and I think La Verne gets the win at the SuperTent.

La Verne over Oxy 64-59


Whittier @ Redlands
This has all the makings to be a shootout. Both teams have been impressive in the non-conference.

Redlands, even with losing SCIAC POY Mills and a large chunk of their production have reloaded and been very competitive. It looks like they score by committee and can win defensive battles. Ducey is a great coach and has always had great schemes going back to his time as the women's coach. Though Redlands will probably still be on winter break, Currier should be loud as usual for this Saturday tip. If there was a sleeper to knock off CMS I would pick Redlands. The were one of the only teams to beat CMS last year and should be solid again this year.

Whittier is LIGHTING up the basket. I usually have to double take when I see their box scores. They have scored over 100pts in 4+ games and are seemingly putting the ball in the hoop at will. The most impressive part has been how balanced the scoring has been. While Menez leads the team in scoring, Preer, Easterman, and others have all had 20+ pt games. I have yet to see them play, but would be curious if their scoring is due to a pressing system, similar to UPS or Whitman under Bridgeland or if it is more like Redlands style offense. In any case, I'm very curious to see how they react to a team who has scouted them and plays solid defense.

In a barn-burner, I have Redlands winning at home.

Redland over Whittier 87-82.

P-P @ CLU
This should be a good old-school SCIAC battle. Alot of the past PP CLU games have been incredibly hard fought and often times down to the wire. I think alot of that comes from Kats and Rider being around so long they really know how to game plan for each other.

With Pomona, after at down year, they look to be back and very good. As usual, the team is filled with very accurate 3-pt shooters, long-lanky "dirk" like forwards, and a defense that bends but does not break. They are shooting 3s at a very respectable 39% clip and over 30% of their fga are 3s. Very standard for Kats teams.

CLU is led by 4 year starter Aron Van Klaveren who is averaging 15 and 10. The guy is a beast and looks to be playing very well this year. I'm not sure how much he has around him, but they will keep teams close and are always difficult to beat at home. The trip from PP takes about 90 minutes without traffic, and I remember when CLU had to come to CMS and we had to hold the game for 15 minutes as they were stuck. Fickle LA traffic.

I have PP winning a defensive slugfest

PP over CLU 58-54

Those are my total guesses on the weekend. Let's hear some other views on games this weekend!!

[etule]

Great breakdown of the games and I agree on most but Whitter vs Redlands to going to be a great game! Whitter has been putting up big numbers if they can play decent D they could easily win ! I think that is the best game of the weekend.
Fun! CMS will handle Cal Tech not surprising anyone anymore!

[WoostAr]

Caltech might not surprise anyone, but they're a solid team and can win any game they play....that said, I agree with STAG 44 that they really need to keep the game in the half court...Keeping CMS from getting easy buckets in transition is a must.  CMS hasn't been in a tight game in over a month...if Caltech can hold tight early, they have a fighting chance.  Of course, CMS is #19 in the nation for a reason and they should be favored in this game.

La Verne seems to really be missing Wolpe...anyone know what's happened to him??...I heard something about a knee inury? Oxy has looked off balance when I've watched them play this year...they don't seem to be on the same page.  they have talent, size and speed....they just haven't gotten them coordinated together (when I've watched).  Of course, that's what pre-season's for. I think these two teams should be pretty evenly matched (based on their pre-season scores against common opponents)...probably a squeaker....give the nod to the home court advantage. 

Haven't seen the other four teams yet this season...

[Howlinwolf]

Per the question re; Oxy's Montoya: he's back in action after sustaining an injury in the pre-season. Oxy has a short bench and some shooting limitatons. His return should alleivate, if not solve, both problems.

[cmsme]

For new parents that are just coming into this college basketball:
there are some website that use computer data to rank all the teams and make predictions on who will win future games. Massey ratings is one of these websites.  (LInk is below.)

Based on Massey prediction for each game, CMS has a 22% chance of going undefeated during league games.

http://masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cb&yr=2012&sub=NCAA III&mid=1

[etule]

Cal Tech is solid just like they were last year and they won a game in league against a short handed OXY team. CMS is at full strenth and I would not be surprised if they blow out Cal Tech! Looks like there is a lot of fire power in the league this year. Redlands and Whitter can put points up. Have an off night against either of those teams and they will beat anyone in the league! I don't think CMS will go unbeaten in league but there is probably a 22% chance. Did not know about the Massey web site. Pretty cool!

[oldchap]

Eyewitness from La Verne, University of La Verne vs. Chapman University:

Chapman knew that playing "under the tent" was going to be much harder than the last two contests and this impression proved to be true. Although the Panthers led for the vast majority of the game, they could never muster a run that would put them up in double digits. Every time CU would score, the Leopards would answer in kind. La Verne, you could tell, was focused, motivated and intent on not losing yet another game against the Panthers this season.

On the defensive end, the Leopards were tight, contested every shot, double teamed when it was appropriate and generally did an excellent job at shutting down the players who generally put up big numbers. Offensively, they moved the ball quickly to find the open man, showed a lot more accuracy especially outside the paint and at least early on demonstrated that they could shoot the three. In fact, they went 4 for 6 from downtown in the first half, which helped them keep the game very tight going into the second half. Score after 20 minutes: Panthers up 29-28.

We saw more of the same in the second half, although as time went by both teams started to make mental mistakes due to fatigue. Chapman managed to bring the lead up to 7 points on several occasions, but the Leos kept clawing back into the game consistently.

The end of the game was quite exciting. Chapman was in the lead 51-45 with a little over 7 minutes to go, on a clutch and contested 3 point shot by Lin. That would be the last field basket they would score for the rest of the game. ULV chipped away at this lead and took the lead by one point for the first time since the very beginning of the first half with a little less than 3 minutes left on the clock.

The last 2 and a half minutes were quite interesting. Two free throws brought Chapman back in the lead. Then both teams turned the ball over, back and forth until the Leos had to foul with 5 seconds left. Garret made both free throws giving Chapman a comfortable 3 point lead. La Verne then attempted to lobe the pass up to the front court on the next inbound and the ball went out of bound on the other side. Then it was the Panthers' turn to miss their inbound, but this time Napolitano came out with the ball, pulled up to shoot the three and was fouled in the process with less than a second left on the clock. He made the first free throw, missed the second and purposely missed the third to try and catch his own rebound. A scuffle for the rebound ensued but the clock expired as both team tried to get possession of the basketball. A basket would have sent the game into overtime.

In short, I believe that La Verne is much better than what their pre-conference record shows and are capable to beat any of the SCIAC teams on a good night, especially at home where the crowd is loud and they know their way around the court.

As for Chapman, they have two more division III games against UC Santa Cruz to complete their record. Their schedules having been decided long before they were accepted in the SCIAC, they also have to play a number of non D3 teams to finish the season. Due to the special status they are in right now (part of a conference but not eligible for an AQ), their only shot at a spot for the playoffs is through a Pool C bid. Although many people think (me included) that it's highly unlikely, there is still an outside chance that it could happen, assuming that they win their last two D3 regional games. Let's keep our fingers crossed. A rematch against CMS would certainly be fun in the first round, just like two years ago!

[OxyBob]

So now with all the non-conference games out of the way lets take a look at the first SCIAC matchups for this Saturday!

Ah, finally some SCIAC b-ball and games that count.

Redlands 103, Whittier 91: UR led Whittier by 9 at the half and had a double-digit lead the entire second half. For UR, Tristan Kirk scored 21, and Jack Colston had 21 and 12 rebs. For Whittier, all 5 starters scored double figures.

Claremont 77, Caltech 42: No contest.

Pomona 61, Cal Lutheran 56: Pomona led 30-16 at the start of the second half. CLU tied it up at 48 with 5 minutes left, but the Sagehens went 7-0 over the next 2 minutes and the Kingsmen couldn't get over after that. For Pomona, Michael Cohen scored 14, and John Weiss had 10 points and 11 rebs. For CLU, Martin Flowers scored 26.

Per the question re; Oxy's Montoya: he's back in action after sustaining an injury in the pre-season. Oxy has a short bench and some shooting limitatons. His return should alleivate, if not solve, both problems.

Kris Montoya led Oxy with 18 points and 3 assists in the Tigers' 69-67 OT win at La Verne. ULV's Trevor Woodland hit a 3-ball to tie the game at 67 with 12 seconds left, but Jake Copithorne got the winner with a reverse layup with 2 seconds to go. For Oxy, Jack Hanley scored 16, Deshun McCoy had 14, and Conrad Liebowitz scored 10. For ULV, Woodland scored 22 and Austin Napolitano had 20.

Wednesday's SCIAC schedule:

La Verne @ Claremont
Pomona @ Redlands
CLU @ Whittier
Caltech @ Oxy

OxyBob