MBB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[sciac_is_fun]

41-40 Oxy    Final

In what must have been one of the quickest games ever (I got there at 8:30, and there were 12 minutes left), Oxy pulls out the win at home.  From what I heard, it was close the whole way.  Defense was obviously on display from both sides. 

CLU took the lead on a nice three-point play by Innis with under two minutes to go, but Oxy came right back with a bucket and the foul of their own (I think it was Mills, who then missed the free throw).  That put them up by one, and CLU couldn't convert on the next couple possessions.  CLU had to foul, and Zebb made a pair.  Bush had a rebound basket for CLU with about 6 seconds left, and they fouled Whitman.  He missed both free throws, giving CLU one last shot, which was Acerboni from just inside halfcourt.  Good distance, just wide left, off the rim and backboard and off. 

It was a good game.  It was pretty clear Oxy doesn't have superior talent, just more experience.  CLU is a fun team to watch, even in this defensive battle.  Miller had some nice baby hooks and an up-and-under down the stretch.  He's gotta find a way at the line, though.  He had a 1 and 1 with CLU down by 1, and missed the front end.

It's kinda funny to watch Whitman walk around like he's an 85 lb. Kobe Bryant

[sciac_is_fun]

Minor correction: Innis actually finished with 15 points. 

http://www.clusports.com/stats/mens_basketball/2006_2007/0214OXY.HTM

[DIIIghetto]

GrayFox, thanks for pointing that out, it must have just gone up.  Now, if that the League has the house built, it needs furniture.  Can anyone say, content. 

Big W at Hershey Park West that I'm still scratching my head over.  Defensive battle?!?  From the same Oxy team that enables Redland's backcourt to look like all-americans?!?  Hats off to them for doing something I didn't see coming.   Mills & Zebb seemed to be the guys who stepped up for Oxy.  Seniors and studs win games like that.   Betty was gloved.  SCIAC_is_Fun's comment about CW still has me laughing.  Kobe would have hit the two at the end.  The next game will show whether CW is the real deal or not. 

Two SCIAC schools now have figured out ways to stop Betty - exploit his softness.  I'll give their coaches and players credit.  But I also continue to scratch my head at the guy.  With his ability, even if they are concentrating on you so much when you get the ball, you should get 12 points in the paint on put-backs on effort alone.   I thought Betty had a chance to do some things that Oxy's QB did in football this year.  He hasn't shown the same will and desire.  The kid is so talented, however, that I always expect the next game to be his big breakout.  Maybe I have given him too many chances and need to accept that he should be lumped together in the large bucket of past-SCIAC players who are guys with talent to be larger than the conference but miss the inner drive to want to show that every night.   

Thing is, I saw him killing in the first half against McVeigh and UPS.  Then McVeigh decided the second half to show him how men play down low.  Do they have a weight program at Oxy?

[Browneagle64]

Congrats to the tigers on their win lastnight.

I understand ya on the point that you made about Betty, D3ghetto.
Although, it seems like other SCIAC coaches have found some way to glove this Man child, i still think within these next games he'll come out of no where and dominate like he did for the first 5 games Oxy played against good D2 teams. I am sure some one will mention to him that these are his last games as a tiger and that these count. Not only that, his old football mentality might help him out as well.

[Tiger Shark]

The guy is right, Betty is so soft. He would have been a great addition to the women's team.

[diehardfan]

Two SCIAC schools now have figured out ways to stop Betty - exploit his softness. 

I understand ya on the point that you made about Betty, D3ghetto.

The guy is right, Betty is so soft. He would have been a great addition to the women's team.

Please tell me this whole absurd thread doesn't really exist and that it will be gone tomorrow. The guy is an All American. Not a First Team All American probably, but an All American, nonetheless. Period. End of Story. 

[DIIIghetto]

OB, I am in your fan club so I feel compelled to set the record straight on my comment about Betty.   

My comment about calling his toughness and mental fortitude to task is based on the following:

a)  5-19 in the biggest game for the Tigers

b)  The announcers on the webcast, who I have always enjoyed listening to, highlighted that Zach Miller bullied him and blocked 4 of his shots

c)  For a 6'7" athlete to average 7 rpg in a bottom tier league???

Don't get me wrong, I am a big Betty fan, and have been impressed by the work this year he has put into his passing game.  But I was at UPS game, and it just has to be said that Betty needs to step up his game.

UR seems a good place to start for Betty to leave his mark.  No way he shouldn't get 15 boards and plenty of finishes.  The atmosphere will be very hostile and lots of former players will be there to try to send GS off with a W, beating the team they view as the conference titan.  I don't remember Oxy celebrating a tenth as much when they knocked off Amherst a year ago, or Virginia Tech for that matter the other night stealing one in Chapel Hill.  Memo to the next Redlands coach:  until our conference sends someone to Salem (or hopefully Hope someday soon), please let folks know (outside of the CMS/PP rivalry), that beating a SCIAC team is not yet a crowning achievement.

Betty and Oxy's guards should be poised enough and good enough to come through in that environment.   Kats earned my respect as the conference godfather by winning so many of those 'must' win games that inevitably become nailbiters.  Oxy's W over CLU was one of those games.  But now you have the type of atmosphere looming at Redlands that champions crave.  If Betty and CW can't step up there, we have no chance against the NW champ so we might as well send the TFS.

[RFB]

DIIIghetto:

Yep, Betty was 5-for-19 on Wednesday. He had a lot of touches and missed some easy baskets. But even though he had a bad night offensively (as did almost everyone else) he still had a quarter of Oxy's points and a quarter of the boards. Miller played him tough, and Betty played Miller tough on the other end.

Betty (19.1 ppg) is 4th in the league in scoring behind Mazarei (28.4 ppg), and just behind Maceira (20.8 ppg) and Knowles (19.3 ppg). Betty's second in the league in rebounding, third in FG%, 8th in assists (the 7 players ahead of him are all guards), and second in minutes played. Soft? I don't think so.

As for this Saturday's game, it's always fun to travel for a game at Redlands. From a scientific standpoint, I am very interested to see what it's like to be in Currier after Oxy sucks all of the air out of it.

OxyBob

Bob,

The atmosphere at Currier on Saturday should be electric. SCIAC basketball does not have a more hostile court/atmosphere then Currier. Wish I could be there to see Mazerai light up your Tigers for the third straight time.

[Browneagle64]

I think i need to clarify myself about what i was trying to get across about Mr. Betty. In no way was i trying to disrespect or even belittle an Oxy Player such as Mr. Betty. I'm just not that type of person. In addition, the guy was a former teammate on the Oxy football team.
To keep it simple, i was trying to say that although Mr. Betty did not have a good game on the offensive of side of the ball v.s. Cal Lu, i certainly know that he will come out on fire the next time around. This wasn't his greatest night.I know that this is the same Betty, who in the end, will prove all his critics and Doubters wrong when he comes and plays his best.
All i was trying to mention was that Wednesday night wasn't his best night and that the Cal Lu coaches and Miller did a good job at studying this player. I did not intended in any way to insult Mr. Betty. Just like any player that might be in a slump, in end, Mr. Betty will indeed and certainly play his best games towards the end of the season.

[pineconefan]

"I'm trying to arrange to have Jeff Gillooly and Shawn Eckhart go to the game with me." - OB

Great reference!  But the fact that those names are still recognizable after all this time represents all that's wrong with the media culture in this country!

[Tiger Shark]

Bob,

The atmosphere at Currier on Saturday should be electric. SCIAC basketball does not have a more hostile court/atmosphere then Currier. Wish I could be there to see Mazerai light up your Tigers for the third straight time.
[/quote]

RFB, CLU guard Deshion Inniss seems to think Oxy is the toughest place to play.

"That is by far the toughest place to play," Inniss said. "Their fans get into it."

http://www.clusports.com/news/3425/

We all know that Redlands isn't the toughest place to play a football game. Yeah, they have a nice stadium, but last year there were probably as many Oxy fans at the game.

[Tiger Shark]

OB:

That is a great point. Redlands offensive scheme was one of the worst I have ever seen at any level.

Rumor is Oxy is bringing a couple buses of fans to the game, it should be a good one. I think Redlands jumps on top early, but the Tigers pull it out. Conner goes for 20 and Betty scores 40. 116-108, Oxy.

[Tiger Shark]

Scores from tonight:

Claremont 64 Whittier 38
Oxy 116 Redlands 106
La Verne 85 Cal Tech 52
Pomona 69 Cal Lu 64

Oxy looks good to clinch conference. I would be interested to hear how the games went. No surprise Cal Lu lost.

[diehardfan]

What a huge night. Result FINALLY was posted, and Cal Lu lost. This means that Oxy is in sole possession of the SCIAC crown. The SCIAC will only be getting one team into the playoffs, unfortunately.

This win was huge for Oxy's QOWI... it's a 15pter which will boost their relatively low QOWI considerably in addition to the boost to their regional ranking. Since Oshkosh lost on Wednesday to Whitewater, this could be big for Oxy in that they may have a chance to move ahead of Oshkosh in the regional rankings.

Lewis and Clark will probably grab the slot Redlands left behind basically leaving Redlands with no shot at a Pool C... Mazarei will be playing his last games. Sad! He has been so much fun to watch!

[D O.C.]

Nice win.....if that 116 is indeed true.

I tried to go but my wife pulled the "You were busy Wednesday so aren't you
going to take me out tonight?"
"Sure. How about a drive out to Redlands?"
freeze