WBB: American Southwest Conference

Ron Boerger · March 13, 2006, 11:01:17 AM

Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 13, 2006, 10:55:48 AM
Good morning, Ron!

With the extra Pool C bids, I can see the ASC and SCAC getting 1-2 Pool C bids every year.

And, unfortunately, along with the resulting Texas subregional that will eliminate all but the strongest. Southwestern will get into the mix in the next year or two ... Coach Ruder is too strong for that program to be down for long.

Such is life in D3 ... if the eventual winner goes as far as HSU this year, I guess that's OK.

Josh Bowerman · March 13, 2006, 11:07:57 AM

Just to lighten things up...

Forget DIII--is there a better name than TonTon Balenga in all of college sports? This, of course, with all due respect to Pops Mensah Bonsu and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute!

thejungle · March 13, 2006, 11:30:17 AM

I need help...I'm trying to organize a trip to the Final Four this weekend. Where should we fly into? Looks like there's no airport in Springfield.

Help!

Ron Boerger · March 13, 2006, 12:13:59 PM

Quote from: thejungle on March 13, 2006, 11:30:17 AM
I need help...I'm trying to organize a trip to the Final Four this weekend. Where should we fly into? Looks like there's no airport in Springfield.

Help!

The host website might help:

http://www.springfieldcollege.edu/ncaa/championship.nsf/index

as well as the local tourism site:

http://www.valleyvisitor.com/

Not like this is a very big area. How about flying into Providence RI where Southwest flies? 85 miles away. Hartford, CT is even closer, 30 miles (and SW flies there, too). Boston is 90 miles but I hate driving through downtown Boston.

Josh Bowerman · March 13, 2006, 12:51:59 PM

I was going to suggest Hartford--that's the closest and most convenient.

Stay out of Boston Logan at all costs.

Worcester would be better than Providence--can't get there from here sort of thing.

thejungle · March 13, 2006, 01:17:03 PM

Thanks to both of you! You've been a lot of help. Gonna fly into Hartford.

Pat Coleman · March 13, 2006, 01:21:32 PM

There's a big huge box on the front page with flight info. One for Salem (fly to ROA) and one for Springfield (fly to BDL).

GAVA · March 13, 2006, 09:27:35 PM

Quote from: Ralph Turner uote

GAVA, the Championship Handbook does designate the location of the hosting for the Sectional. Next year, we, the South Region, will be paired with the Great Lakes Region in the Sectionals.

As for hosting, the hosting rotates between Regions.

In 2003, HSU (South Region) hosted, paired with the Central Region.
In 2004, UW-SP (Central Region) hosted, paired with the South.
In 2005, RMC, paired wiht the West.
In 2006, PLU, paired with the South.

Quote

Thanks for the info Ralph. So it sounds like it will be years before we are paired with the West again.

fanstand · March 15, 2006, 12:38:14 AM

Just saw the All-region list. I'm happy that Tarra was on the first team, but no where is Symbri Tuttle. That is wrong. She leads the DIII nation in assists (8.1 per game) that is at least 16 pts per game, and no mention of her. We won the west outright and the conference championship, but that won't be what we hear about. Guess just fuel for the fire. Oh well.....

calhsu · March 15, 2006, 11:04:23 AM

Fan, got the cheese and bread for all that whine.

Get Over it. No one gets two people on the first team. You are talking about the best in the country. One stat doesn't make it. And I did hear that little complaint. "We won the conference but all we are going to hear is about HSU going to the final four." Maybe now you will understand the intensity of the pressure that HSU went through in winning all those championships and going on in the big dance. It is hard enough to win the west, then you the playoffs. You won that, MCM will have that written into their records for all time. Enjoy it. But HSU went 2-1 against MCM and HPU for the year. That is why they got to go to Washington and do something that no ASC team had ever done. Over the years since the Texas teams went DIII the school always fought hard in league, but when the rep was selected they closed ranks. Last year you didn't hear the cowgirl fans disrespecting HPU. In fact when MCM won the ASC no one had anything but respect for the deserving champ. But the season wasn't over. Let us enjoy what HSU has earned.

fanstand · March 15, 2006, 11:28:42 AM

You know cal, I didn't say she deserved first team, but no mention....I haven't said anything against HSU and their accomplishments. I have not made excuses or blamed anyone but ourselves. McM had 3 and only 3 losses this year, twice to HSU, once to HPU by 1 point. We also had a great season, but you don't live in this place. McM will not get the recognition around here, in the paper or on the tube for the next year. I read the paper and watch the news, that's not your fault you don't see and hear. Give it to HSU, they made it. I have been relatively quiet about our loss after the tourney, no excuses, but one thing remains with me. I made the trip to Mississippi. I watched all the games. HSU lost on Friday, they are home Saturday, sleeping in their own beds, we are playing two more games, then traveling late Sunday and not arriving home until late Monday afternoon. Its a long trip, it took me two days to recover and I didn't play any basketball, yes I'm old, but still it's hard to come back. So HSU had the advantage, I've given their coach props, so it's no excuse, but our team had an exceptional year also. When someone like Symbri is as consistent all year, every game, and broke all kinds of records, I don't see why she was not on the list, not 1st, 2nd or even 3rd. I'll take your cheese and bread and toast my team anyway!

hsufan · March 15, 2006, 12:09:11 PM

McM had a great year. They won the West title. They had the best record in McM history. They were the team to beat for most of the games played. That is a terrific accomplishment. And no one can take that away from them. However, HSU has done something no other ASC team has. They may have gotten in by the back door but they have proved they SHOULD be in the running. The girls did think their season was over in Mississippi and did a lot of soulsearching. When Hauk went down, she was the team's leader. Two days later, the team gets the news that Conaway's sister was killed. These girls are a very caring bunch and it was kinda like they were shell shocked for the next few games. According to the weekly press release, no one was READY to step into Hauk's shoes. When the powers that be decided to give HSU an at-large bid, all the girls had something to prove. Mentally, they were changed. Cisneros has had a terrific tournament. And, fanstand, I do know how it is in Abilene. HSU does get a lot of press coverage and the press didn't mind sharing the losses either. There is a lot of competition for air time/print coverage when you have 3 colleges within a 10 mile radius. Since you were in Mississippi, did you see the McM girls STANDING AND CHEERING for ETBU when they beat HSU??? Or after the sub-sectional game, Coach Nichols heading to the locker room without shaking the HSU girls hands?
On another note, sometimes they give awards that don't make sense. Danielle Furr (from SulRoss) got the ASC defensive player of the year award. Hauk had more steals and assists in less games than she did but Furr scores more points. The coaches or whoever votes for these awards don't take into account things that aren't in the stat book -- like leadership, hustle, or shutting down an opponents top player.

fanstand · March 15, 2006, 02:40:58 PM

Thanks hsufan, not only for what you said, but how you said it. Yes, I did see the girls cheering for ETBU, I know HSU players would be cheering for them (ETBU) too. I believe that is part of the rivalry, they didn't want to face each other, I believe that to be part of the competitiveness. I try not to cheer for or against another team, unless we are actually playing them. I sit and watch and not cheer either way. I did not see what Coach Nichols did after the game, sorry, so I can't really comment on that, he was probably pretty emotional but that wouldn't be an excuse for that. I think we all do things in the heat of the moment. No matter what happens this weekend, I know next year will be as intense in the ASC, West and East, and hopefully, finally we have come to be a force to be reckoned with nationally, not only from one team but 3 or 4 teams. There is plenty of room on the top for all of us.........

calhsu · March 16, 2006, 02:04:59 AM

I only have one more comment about this past years MCM team. They had a great year, they get to put up a conference banner that they have earned.

Now as for HSU. If any of the players read any of this I just want to say you have really made all the purple and gold fans really proud.

Facing three teams that all have won twenty or more games in a row is sort of scary. But on the other hand you have to think that none of them have any respect for you and the Cowgirls can use that. No one in Tacoma had any respect either and now they are back at home. Just two more.

Ralph Turner · March 16, 2006, 08:07:11 AM

Good luck to the Cowgirls.

Two things that the media types will try to say are a factor: travel and crowd.

Travel--the bus trip to LaCollege and MissColl is a real road trip. That was a verrryyyyy lonnnnnnngggggggg ride home from Clinton last month. Now that is a road trip. You have just had a flight to an interesting part of the country.

Crowd--The Blake Center holds 2000. You play before 2000 very vocal fans very frequently. Just imagine that the loud obnoxious ones are from HPU or McM!

Good luck to the Cowgirls!