MBB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[WoostAr]

For the first time in my memory, Caltech has a pre-season All-American honorable mention: http://gocaltech.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20161108kul0ez

[Gosox]

Ryan Elmquist...2011----based on Academics as well as play...

[WoostAr]

Not pre-season and a different organization doing the award, but still a heck of a player.

http://thesciac.org/sports/mbkb/2010-11/news/acad_all_america

[Howlinwolf]

Oxy handily takes down The Beav in the "110 Freeway Rivalry." Undersized Austin Dewitz neutralized the pre-season HM All-American center for CT, and the Tiger defensive energy overall made offensive life challenging for the homers. SCIAC notables Miller and Johnson provided the bulk of scoring for Oxy, as expected.

Not a bad road start for a team relegated to the bottom of the heap in the SCIAC's coaches' poll.

[Jack Parkman]

Coach Rider stepped down at Cal Lu.  Great guy that had been there a very long time.

http://www.clusports.com/news/12830/

[gordonmann]

FYI, this week's Around the West column focuses on Cal Lutheran and the coaching change

http://www.d3hoops.com/columns/around-the-region/west/2016-17/cal-lutheran-changes

[stag44]

How is everyone feeling about the SCIAC this year? There have been some good, bad and ugly results so far!

CMS looking good, as is CLU... I'm confused about Chapman given who they return, but I guess losing Hamlin is hurting them in the backcourt. Let's see what happens post holiday break!

[WoostAr]

Caltech has not looked good this year...

High expectations coming into this season with a talented crop of freshman and a solid list of returners.  Caltech did lose Emezie to graduation...Laurence Lee is also no longer playing.  The biggest loss might be that of Assistant Coach David Briski who was coaching the defense last year.  Caltech's defense has not been the same this year, and their offense has been anemic.  Of course, there have been some injuries and illnesses which have cost Andrews, LeBaron, Kawashima and Cahill games -- it's still early, we will see if Caltech can turn this around.

In other news:

Is Cam Haslam hurt still?  Saw him play Pomona -- looked like his has a small hitch in his stride.  Airballed a couple shots (of course he made some others) -- doesn't look quite the same player as last year

Pomona's zone is stupid long...imagine they will stay in a lot of games because of their D.

[Gosox]

Watched Laverne last night as they played  Carthage.  Carthage played solid, #20 dropped 38 points and was a very impressive player with a lot to his game...Laverne started slow and allowed a large lead...but climbed their way back to make it an exciting game...they do seem to have a "never say never" attitude...which can be attributed to their coach...just watching them...you can tell he gets the most from them...and they love getting him excited...a lot of team chemistry on this club..from the starters to the bench...

Carthage's center started well...but soon learned he may need to work on his left...as Laverne shut him down by denying anything right...he struggled...which led to Laverne getting going again....

With approximately about a minute left...Laverne had a chance to tie things up being down 73-76....but a couple untimely turnovers led to having to foul and put them at the line...finally losing 80-73...

Exciting to watch as fans as both teams battled...Laverne has gained some valuable lessons from these last couple losses which hopefully will turn into some wins for conference....

Best of luck to all....

[D O.C.]

It appears LINFIELD will do pretty good in the SCIAC this year. 

[RFB]

It appears LINFIELD will do pretty good in the SCIAC this year. 

SCIAC basketball is the equivalent of Whittier football, which means they stink. I thought Redlands would right the ship when they got rid of Gary Smith, but boy was I wrong.

[WoostAr]

Caltech has beaten Occidental and Whittier this past week and heads into a Saturday night unbeaten in SCIAC against (also unbeaten in SCIAC) CMS.  Caltech has been playing better of late, but from the looks of it CMS is in dominant form again -- we will see if Caltech can make a game of it.

[Gosox]

Absolutely agree.  CMS is definitely firing on all cylinders and Caltech seems to have made the necessary adjustments to be competitive once again...they will need the stars aligned to make this work....but hey....they are scientists!   

[middhoops]

Not sure how widely known this is yet, but Occidental picked up a transfer from Middlebury (VT) College, Zach Baines. 
Baines is a 6-5 player with superb athletic skills, great shooter, blinding fast and a good kid.
We hate to see him go, but wish him the best in the SCIAC.

[Gray Fox]

Not sure how widely known this is yet, but Occidental picked up a transfer from Middlebury (VT) College, Zach Baines. 
Baines is a 6-5 player with superb athletic skills, great shooter, blinding fast and a good kid.
We hate to see him go, but wish him the best in the SCIAC.

Thanks for the info.  My friend's son is a baseball player at Middlebury.

I checked stats.  He did well as a freshman last year but hasn't played at all at Oxy.  Perhaps he is injured.