WBB: American Southwest Conference

[Riley Zayas]

Can confirm the news is true...this from a few hrs ago. Completely unexpected to those of us who cover this program and university on a daily basis.
https://truetothecru.com/2023/01/24/mark-morefield-no-longer-head-coach-of-umhb-womens-basketball/

DCTB speculates an outburst after a practice injury in November (where Morefield [edit: allegedly] used profanity) contributed to this, but if coaches were fired every time they cursed there'd be a whole lot more turnover than there already is.  There have been some "it's about time" tweets by people (whose connection to the program isn't clear), so perhaps this was the last straw in a pattern of behavior the school found unacceptable.  We may never know.

The person on twitter stating "its about time" is the mother of a player who appeared on the roster for UMHB in 2020-2021 as a freshman.  She played zero minutes that year and has not been on the roster since then and appears to have left UMHB.

Yes, that person's daughter also posted a similar message, as did a player who was on the roster for 5 games last season before leaving midyear. For good reason, I haven't seen anything from anyone who has been involved with the program within the last 12 months. Everyone has stayed pretty quiet in terms of social media on this topic.

[Ron Boerger]

Coach Morefield is going to be on next Monday's Hoopsville to explain his side of the situation.  He also released a statement to DCTB (which is Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball for anyone wondering).  Both here:  https://twitter.com/d3hoopsville/status/1618676983654715402

[Etchglow]

Coach Morefield is going to be on next Monday's Hoopsville to explain his side of the situation.  He also released a statement to DCTB (which is Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball for anyone wondering).  Both here:  https://twitter.com/d3hoopsville/status/1618676983654715402

There is a video floating around on twitter of an incident that probably contributed to it.  I can see both sides to the situation here.  But then again, I grew up watching Bobby Knight and Kim Mulkey coach...

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Having now seen the video, I'm much more concerned with the overall incident than any individual words that may have been used.  I'm someone who believes a leader should be able to control themselves, even when experiencing extreme emotions.  There's a difference between yelling to motivate your team or wake them up and simply berating them.  This is very close to that line, if not over.

I'm not personally an advocate of yelling as a motivational technique.  If a coach does it too much, the players tune it out.

I would not want my daughter to be in the situation those players were in and I hope I'm raising her with enough confidence to walk out if she ever finds herself there.

All that to say, I don't think what he did in that video is outside the bounds of what could reasonably expected of a basketball coach.  I just personally don't think it should be in bounds for any basketball coach.

[jekelish]

Having now seen the video, I'm much more concerned with the overall incident than any individual words that may have been used.  I'm someone who believes a leader should be able to control themselves, even when experiencing extreme emotions.  There's a difference between yelling to motivate your team or wake them up and simply berating them.  This is very close to that line, if not over.

I'm not personally an advocate of yelling as a motivational technique.  If a coach does it too much, the players tune it out.

I would not want my daughter to be in the situation those players were in and I hope I'm raising her with enough confidence to walk out if she ever finds herself there.

All that to say, I don't think what he did in that video is outside the bounds of what could reasonably expected of a basketball coach.  I just personally don't think it should be in bounds for any basketball coach.

I agree with all of the above. And, while obviously I do not know for sure, I don't think it's a stretch to think that worse things were said and/or this was a pattern of behavior. I have only been in a gym with this coach a couple times, but one of those (in 2019) ended with him berating the opposing coach after the game to the point where the opposing coach's players stepped in between him and that coach because they thought he was about to get physical. This is something I witnessed firsthand, and not rumor or speculation.

[D3Navy]

I personally witnessed this type of unhinged behavior by this coach on the sideline of their game at Trinity a few weeks ago.  Now combined with this video it is clear that he needed to be removed. 

It's heart-wrenching that these young women had to suffer this when all they sought was the competition, camaraderie, and fulfillment of athletics.

I hope it is a warning to other coaches.

[Riley Zayas]

Game story from Alpine...I continue to be impressed by the job E.J. Lee Smith is doing at SRSU. Recruiting out there is difficult and yet she has brought in some transfers who are already contributing. SRSU will likely be ranked in R10 next week. Really competitive battle last night, but in the end, the Lobos came out with a 3-point win.

https://truetothecru.com/2023/02/02/sul-ross-state-77-umhb-74-umhb-womens-hoops-falls-in-asc-road-duel/

[Riley Zayas]

Really solid defensive battle in Belton tonight. UMHB pulls out a 50-43 win over UT Dallas...had a NESCAC-like feel to it, and UMHB held UTD to single digits in 3 of the 4 quarters, playing a very high-quality zone defense. Talked with both Kendra Foreman (UMHB interim HC) and Joe Shotland (UTD head coach) postgame. There's a lot of respect between the two programs as it always was with Polly at UTD and Mark Morefield at UMHB.

Recap below...
https://truetothecru.com/2023/02/09/umhb-50-utd-43-stellar-defensive-effort-gives-umhb-womens-hoops-key-victory/

[Ron Boerger]

Really solid defensive battle in Belton tonight. UMHB pulls out a 50-43 win over UT Dallas...had a NESCAC-like feel to it, and UMHB held UTD to single digits in 3 of the 4 quarters, playing a very high-quality zone defense. Talked with both Kendra Foreman (UMHB interim HC) and Joe Shotland (UTD head coach) postgame. There's a lot of respect between the two programs as it always was with Polly at UTD and Mark Morefield at UMHB.

Recap below...
https://truetothecru.com/2023/02/09/umhb-50-utd-43-stellar-defensive-effort-gives-umhb-womens-hoops-key-victory/

Have to wonder how the conference would have shaped up had Parris Kiser remained at UT-D.  She's had a huge impact at HSU and would have to think she would have continued her strong run of play had she remained at UT-D.  The Comets don't have that go-to player any more - nobody is averaging even 8 ppg, let alone double figures - and it shows in games like last night's. 

But the conference championship is obviously HSU's to lose.  UMHB is hoping UC-Santa Cruz stays regionally ranked and could really use a W against HSU in the final game of the regular season and/or one against ETBU in the ASC championships to boost their wins vRRO (as of this moment I have them at 1-5/.554 SoS).  With ETBU at 3-3 vRRO/.535 SoS, they have a better chance at a Pool C so the Cru might have to win the championship to get into the NCAAs, with HSU (3-2/.547) having a strong case for a Pool C if they get upset.

In all likelihood two playoff teams from the ASC would result in first two rounds of the NCAAs in San Antonio at Trinity (5-1 vRRO/.526 SOS), though another Tiger loss to Colorado College (or anyone else) combined with a SOS that's not going to get any better could change the equation if HSU wins out. 

[Ralph Turner]

Kendra Anderson Halsell, HSU head coach and former All-ASC, All-American and (WBCA) Wade Trophy winner for NCAA POTY as a Cowgirl, has to have a deep sense of gratitude to be hosting the ASC tournament.

[Riley Zayas]

Really solid defensive battle in Belton tonight. UMHB pulls out a 50-43 win over UT Dallas...had a NESCAC-like feel to it, and UMHB held UTD to single digits in 3 of the 4 quarters, playing a very high-quality zone defense. Talked with both Kendra Foreman (UMHB interim HC) and Joe Shotland (UTD head coach) postgame. There's a lot of respect between the two programs as it always was with Polly at UTD and Mark Morefield at UMHB.

Recap below...
https://truetothecru.com/2023/02/09/umhb-50-utd-43-stellar-defensive-effort-gives-umhb-womens-hoops-key-victory/

Have to wonder how the conference would have shaped up had Parris Kiser remained at UT-D.  She's had a huge impact at HSU and would have to think she would have continued her strong run of play had she remained at UT-D.  The Comets don't have that go-to player any more - nobody is averaging even 8 ppg, let alone double figures - and it shows in games like last night's. 

But the conference championship is obviously HSU's to lose.  UMHB is hoping UC-Santa Cruz stays regionally ranked and could really use a W against HSU in the final game of the regular season and/or one against ETBU in the ASC championships to boost their wins vRRO (as of this moment I have them at 1-5/.554 SoS).  With ETBU at 3-3 vRRO/.535 SoS, they have a better chance at a Pool C so the Cru might have to win the championship to get into the NCAAs, with HSU (3-2/.547) having a strong case for a Pool C if they get upset.

In all likelihood two playoff teams from the ASC would result in first two rounds of the NCAAs in San Antonio at Trinity (5-1 vRRO/.526 SOS), though another Tiger loss to Colorado College (or anyone else) combined with a SOS that's not going to get any better could change the equation if HSU wins out.

+1 Ron.

I have thought the same thing about Kiser. I guess the coaching change had a lot to do with it, though I've never spoken with her about it. She has been huge in running that offense. Parmer can shoot the lights out, Blizzard is as good as anyone in the post, and they have added depth off the bench. They're going to make a run this year if they can get past Trinity (which will be really tough...but then again, it's really hard to beat a team 3 times). Kiser has that connection to HSU through her husband's family, as Drew Kiser's father was a stellar player for HSU MBB back in the day. Drew ended up playing at UTD, as did his brother, Luke, who is still at UTD. If HSU is going to make a run, this is the year to do it. Getting a shooter like Parmer and a ballhandler like Kiser on the same team doesn't happen often.

I think UMHB has to win the ASC to get in...I don't see them getting a Pool C, though there is a path, despite their 1-5 RRO record (with the only win coming to UCSC as you mentioned). If HSU wins the ASC, and Trinity were to somehow lose the SCAC Tournament, I wouldn't be surprised to see the first weekend host in TX be HSU. We will have to see. But even ETBU getting in via Pool C will be tough. Saturday's loss to UTD I think ruined that possibility.

[Ron Boerger]

Joe Shotland one game from making a triumphant return to San Antonio for the NCAAs as his Comets pull off the huge upset of HSU in Abilene tonight, 73-71, for the team's fifth straight win.  One of those wins came against their ASC final opponent, ETBU.  UT-D was an efficient 5-9 from deep and overcame a 29-16 disadvantage at the stripe (and missing half of the few FTs they took).  HSU was an uncharacteristic 4-16 from beyond the arc. Jordan Maxwell hit a jumper as time expired after HSU turned the ball over with 4 seconds left.

[Riley Zayas]

Joe is a great dude! Have really enjoyed getting to know him this season and so glad to see his early success with UTD. To think this is his first year as a HC is crazy!

That was a wild finish too!! Great games in the ASC tonight. And for anyone interested, here's True To The Cru's game story on the action that unfolded in Abilene between UMHB and ETBU:
https://truetothecru.com/2023/02/24/umhb-womens-basketball-falls-to-etbu-in-overtime-in-asc-tournament-semifinal/

[Riley Zayas]

UMHB has a new head coach...
https://truetothecru.com/2023/04/14/breaking-hawaii-pacifics-katie-novak-tabbed-as-umhb-womens-basketballs-next-head-coach/

[Ralph Turner]

HSU should not feel badly about their performance in the Sweet 16. NYU trounced Scranton in the next round.