MBB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[samiam]

Okay, I'm going to speak up for Redlands. I loved the town when I use to visit there. Wonderful downtown, great amphitheater, and a beautiful public library.

Public library.... that's awesome man, thank god.  Who knows where I would have done my reading.  Sounds like Redlands is the Mecca of the Western United States.

Maybe you should publish a book with your ideals and philosophy, Oswald.  It might make the reader long for such classics "The Autobiography of Tara Lipinski", or "Political Insights from Miss America".

"I received the fundamentals of my education in school, but that was not enough. My real education, the superstructure, the details, the true architecture, I got from the public library."  - Isaac Asimov

"You must live feverishly in a library. Colleges are not going to do any good unless you are raised and live in a library every day of your life.  There's no use going to school unless your final destination is the library."  - Ray Bradbury

"Democracy depends on an informed population. And where can people get all the information they need? At the Library."  - Elliot Shelkrot

Now see what your ignorance has caused? I just lost a karma point.

[OXY Oswald]

HAHA I realize that librarys are there to expand our knowledge, my point was that everywhere has a library.  And I mean everywhere. 

Thanks for the words of wisdom though.

[fosheezie]

Very disappointed in the PP hoops team.  I thought they had all the pieces going in to repeat.  Knowles, Wexler-Beron, Hollo, Lloyd, and most importantly Kats.  I know Kats is doing everything he can to motivate the troops and Knowles is playing well, but the frontline is disappointing.  The stat line from last night's CMS game says it all.  If you can't get up for that game, something is wrong.  Pick it up guys, you're seniors, show some pride.

[samiam]

HAHA I realize that librarys are there to expand our knowledge, my point was that everywhere has a library.  And I mean everywhere. 

Thanks for the words of wisdom though.

Alright, I'll get off my high horse. Sorry. I would blame it on getting up on the wrong side of bed, but I think it was the same side I arise from each day.

Anyway, my original point was to point out that every place has good and bad in it. I remember Redlands, however, as a beautiful small city--in a not-so-beautiful surrounding. And, for a small city, there was a lot of culture in it.

I would go to Redlands for some arts and entertainment. I'd stay in Eagle Rock for food though. I never found a Leo's equivalent in Redlands.

[dj_hyphen]

Very disappointed in the PP hoops team.  I thought they had all the pieces going in to repeat.  Knowles, Wexler-Beron, Hollo, Lloyd, and most importantly Kats.  I know Kats is doing everything he can to motivate the troops and Knowles is playing well, but the frontline is disappointing.  The stat line from last night's CMS game says it all.  If you can't get up for that game, something is wrong.  Pick it up guys, you're seniors, show some pride.

I don't think it's a lack of pride...but I do agree that the front line didn't perform their best for the CMS game.  Hopefully the big 3 up front will be able to finish up strong, they have all been huge players for PP over the past 4 years.  Speaking of another senior, I gotta shout out Evan Flagg for playing a great game against CMS...granted, he hasn't been a huge threat offensively this year, but he's contributing all the intangibles real well...he played some serious lockdown D on Parsons and Taylor this past game (both of them had their success when he was switched off them). 

Watching that game firsthand was great, as the rivalry is as big as ever...although I think CMS players/fans might want to count up the SCIAC championships over the last 15 years before they talk too much smack.  Get it done this year and I'll congratulate though, they definitely have a solid team.  Maceira absolutely BEASTED on PP...first time seeing him...Brian Skinner lookalike (taylor = casey jacobsen by the way)...he was all over the tip ins on the offensive glass.  Him and Jolly were great JC finds for them...strange route for a SCIAC school to go, but more power to em.

PP fans might be in for a long year next year...we'll be rebuilding and my boy Dave will have to do his best Kobe impersonation.  I'm thinking 25 ppg might have to happen for them to stay in games.  It's clear that he's more talented than any other guard in SCIAC, and an additional 2 inches/20 pounds and he would have been small D1 probably (although I assume you could say that for most of the top SCIAC players over the years).  He played the whole game against CMS, and never seemed to wilt under the full court pressure, dismantling it with ease every time up...40 minutes, 0 turnovers...VERY impressive for handling the ball as much as he did.  Next year will be a test though, he should see every sort of gimmick defense until one of the underclassmen takes some of the scoring load

anyway, hopefully PP finishes strong and perhaps helps out CMS by beating Oxy?  We'll see

[WestCoastWhiner]

PomAlum, rare season for Kats.  Clearly the bigs have been disappointing but this same squad won two in a row.  CMS is better.  Oxy has had the best year.  But PP had everyone back and getting swept by CMS?!?  That isn't acceptable in a down year, let alone in a year where the Hens have the best talent.  Kats will reload.  They need to find someone like that one kid who got the MVP a few years ago but averaged only about 10 a game.  He was the glue and he never would have let the team perform like that.  

7 days and this thing will be decided.  Hats off to both CMS & Oxy.  The former squad has overcome some serious adversity and has salvaged the season.  The W against P. Loma & Westmont were turning points.  Great job by a coaching staff.  The season could have easily gone the other way.     

And Oxy has given us all a season to be proud of.  They put our conference on the national stage and knocked on the door of the top 10.   Newhall & staff have been the only coaching staff in the past several decades who have refused to believe the belief outside of our fishbowl conference that the SCIAC is a bottom-tier hoops conference.   Are they content to be able to tell everyone that they got some fun ink, spanked Amherst, competed with Utah St. and Azuza, and got as highly ranked as #12?  I hope for their sake that aren't because their system and their bigs gives Oxy a real chance to do some more damage.  

7 day season for CMS & Oxy.  Expect them both to bring it.   CMS has the MVP and the edge, and maybe that will give Oxy enough of a chip on their shoulder to overcome the adversity you face on the road. 

How good would a SCIAC Tourney be this year? 

SamiAm, you write too well for this thread.  Are you an Amherst fan who developed a respect for the SCIAC in your time last month in the Rock? 

[samiam]

SamiAm, you write too well for this thread.  Are you an Amherst fan who developed a respect for the SCIAC in your time last month in the Rock?

That's very kind of you, WCW. But, no, I'm just an ignorant fan of basketball at any level. I do, however, have an affinity for the SCIAC and Oxy in particular.

That said, I'm a bit disappointed in the Oxy play of late. It seems that each team is bring its A game to Eagle Rock and Oxy is just hanging on. I think they have the capability to put a team away in the 2nd half, but they sure haven't been doing that.

Obviously, you can't argue with the record. But it's going to be interesting--and nerve racking--to see how they handle this next week. At CMS and at PP. Sheesh.

As a SCIAC fan, it would be nice to see two representatives in the post-season, a scenario that means CMS wins over Oxy. As a selfish Oxy fan, I sure would like them to win out.

[Browneagle64]

Congrats to the tigers for their recent rank for west-coast teams and to the other teams that are upthere as well.

Anyways, I have been reading these post and catching up on the outcomes of games. Sounds like a lot of teams are having a heck of a season and doing well as the regular season comes to an end.

Just hearing out the sagehens, the stags and tigers battling it out for the top inside gyms full of excited fans just give me goose bumps. All these teams have come a long way since their first games. Should seem interesting if the SCIAc can send two teams into post-play and have them end up past the sweet 16.

[Liger Hoops]

That said, I'm a bit disappointed in the Oxy play of late. It seems that each team is bring its A game to Eagle Rock and Oxy is just hanging on. I think they have the capability to put a team away in the 2nd half, but they sure haven't been doing that.

I think that Oxy has yet to play their best team game.  Unfortunately, one of the better games they played as a team came when the other team(La Verne) wouldn't miss a shot and the Tigers fell in a close one. In Oxy's (and CMS') defense, it's a tough place being atop the conference with a bulls-eye on your back.  Every team brings their A game and it's difficult to play to your absolute potential everytime you go out there. However, I think that Oxy has handled this "slump" exactly the way any coach would want them to;  When teams have been able to slow down Betty/Phillips in the paint, Whitman and McBride have been able to hit the big shot and when it's not working from the perimeter, Oxy's big men and the defense take control.

Is there any team in the SCIAC that goes as deep in their lineup as Oxy? The next 4 (Marvin, Alexander, Mills, Kostic) could be starting/getting huge minutes on any other team in conference; all average about 12 mpg for Oxy. Any thoughts?

What's the MVP race looking like? First of all, who votes for it? And if Oxy wins out and Phillips continues to be Oxy's backbone with teams doubling and slowing down Betty, you think Phillips and Betty would split the vote and someone from P-P or CMS would be crowned MVP? Who are the favorites?

Can't tell you how excited I am for this weeks games. Redlands at home will be a blast. I'm hoping can repeat his 47 point outing against the Dawgs; this time in front of a home crowd.  P-P and CMS are obviously the games that get the attention but Redlands can come out and put 110+ on anyone.

[dj_hyphen]

the coaches vote...and, in my opinion, the only logical people in the race right now are Betty and Taylor...whichever team ends up winning league, that player will probably win POY

[samiam]

I think that Oxy has yet to play their best team game.

I agree. I wish they would play a bit better so I wouldn't get so dang nervous toward the end of each game.

You're right about La Verne that night too. I think at one point they were shooting 60%; unbelievable.

And as far as depth, I'm really impressed with Oxy's bench. It's a talented team, with a good mix of experience and up-and-coming players.

This is going to be a nerve-racking and fun week.

[sciacguru]

High-minded ideals for small minds, apparently.
OxyBob

Hey Oxy Bob,

Get off your high horse.  Oxy and their fans are not pure at heart.  In fact, at times, they are worse than any fans in the SCIAC....especially at other events.  I have witnessed women's volleyball matches at Eagle Rock where your beloved FB players have been absolutely brutal in their commments that go against Oxy's "Equity" cornerstone:

Respect for and the practice of justice, fairness and integrity—the belief that no attribute such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, age or physical ability should impair anyone's access to or enjoyment of any feature of Occidental College.

Where women are scared to walk out to their vans after a match.  I dont think this falls under the Community cornerstone either:
"Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the College all empowered to help create and sustain a campus environment characterized by a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation based upon our common vision and shared values."

I am not condoning what the CLU fans have said, but I am sick of reading how the Oxy FB players/fans are golden boys and are the mold of what fans should be.  So before you start degrading people's intelligence, read YOUR SCHOOL'S MISSION STATEMENT and follow through.

"Thus equity necessarily entails welcoming the presence of all forms of diversity into the pursuit of excellence."  - (look familiar Oxy Bob?)

So lets get back to talking hoops and cheering to get 2 (maybe 3) teams in the tourney (Oxy & CMS) with Chapman as a pool C.  It would be nice to wreck some havoc and get some respect for the SCIAC.

[Liger Hoops]

Get off your high horse.  Oxy and their fans are not pure at heart.  In fact, at times, they are worse than any fans in the SCIAC....especially at other events.  I have witnessed women's volleyball matches at Eagle Rock where your beloved FB players have been absolutely brutal in their commments ...

I am not condoning what the CLU fans have said, but I am sick of reading how the Oxy FB players/fans are golden boys and are the mold of what fans should be.  So before you start degrading people's intelligence, read YOUR SCHOOL'S MISSION STATEMENT and follow through.

I don't know the History of past football teams cheering at other events here at Oxy but I can say with the upmost confidence that NO current FB player would have been present at the events you claim to have witnessed. If any of them were, shame on them but not the entire Oxy fanbase.  I think the reason why Oxy's fans are getting the whole "what a fan should be" thing is because they truely are just great fans. Oxy fans travel better than any other fans in the SCIAC and did the same last year.  Heaven forbid that there are fans that are constantly Loud, Proud and most importantly (El Tigre's favorite word) Classy. The crowd at Rush Gymnasium is a main reason why Oxy is 18-2 the past 2 seasons at home (with the one loss against La Verne this year and a loss against Trinity (CT) in 2004).

[sciacguru]

I don't know the History of past football teams cheering at other events here at Oxy but I can say with the upmost confidence that NO current FB player would have been present at the events you claim to have witnessed. If any of them were, shame on them but not the entire Oxy fanbase. 

It only takes a small number to hurt the whole of the group....and the fans to which I am referring (see how to spell that word Rick Vaughn?) were FB players....not this year...but the last 2 years, when I was present.

[El Tigre]

I have witnessed women's volleyball matches at Eagle Rock where your beloved FB players have been absolutely brutal in their commments that go against Oxy's "Equity" cornerstone.

sciacguru,
I will come out and take this one.  I have been a football player for the past four years.  I was in attendance at the game you are referring to.  I truly apologize for the years because we were really bad, but those seniors have long since left.  Not saying that the actions of my fellow players were in any way right, but that was two years ago and we are doing a lot to change that aspect of how we act.  As Liger said we are trying to be classier and so far I think we have done just that.  This year's seniors (21 to be exact) are doing a lot to change how people view us and the rest of our school.  We have been commended by our Athletic Director, Dean of Admission, Faculty, Alumni, and to be honest representative from other schools.  I guess what we are trying to say is rather then merely that we are the best at oxy is that oxy is setting an example of how student support should be portrayed at an athletic event.  I think if you came out to a basketball game today you would be beside yourself at how we have changed the way business is dealt with on and off the court.

OxyBob,
Trust me we are doing everything in our power to get as many people to this Saturdays game as we can.  Oswald, Eye of da Tiger and I have some tricks up our sleeve that we think will work in getting people to go.  I hope to see you there this Wednesday against Redlands.  Hey if you want to ride the party bus to CMS this weekend we can put you on the list.  j/k ... hope to talk to you this week.

Eat'em up tigers!!!