WBB: American Southwest Conference

ShouldaBeenAnIndian · February 15, 2010, 08:04:54 PM

I haven't gotten to see any East teams play, but from the scoring I can't really even tell. Just by watching a West game though (i.e. HPU & McM Saturday) you can tell that the West has gone down a lot. HPU was National Champions a few years ago! McMurry was conference champions! They are not even close to that right now. What's gone wrong? Is it recruiting? Coaching? In some cases I think it has been a combination of those. Because I'm not as closely associated with the East, I can't really even say if they have gotten much stronger. I can say though that they West is significantly weaker than in recent years past.

JACKET84 · February 15, 2010, 08:22:36 PM

As for HPU, how often do you have a DIII Player of the Year, with Kim Hoffman & Stacey Blalock as your team mates. If it wasn't for HPU, McMurry would have gone very deep in the playoffs. It's hard to stay at that level every year. They have a lot of young players this year. They still have a shot at another 20 win season, so if that's down, there are a lot of teams that would like to have that kind of a down year!
Yes, the East is stronger, and there's more parity in the West. Let's see how the tournament unfolds.

mcmfan · February 15, 2010, 08:47:31 PM

The numbers get confusing pretty fast, but it looks to me like HSU not only has to win both of its last two games, but either McM or TLC have to lose both of theirs. If they both split, you get the 3-way tie where, according to Ralph's calculations, HSU comes out on the short end --- I think.

Ralph Turner · February 15, 2010, 08:48:23 PM

Quote from: JACKET84 on February 15, 2010, 08:22:36 PM
As for HPU, how often do you have a DIII Player of the Year, with Kim Hoffman & Stacey Blalock as your team mates. If it wasn't for HPU, McMurry would have gone very deep in the playoffs. It's hard to stay at that level every year. They have a lot of young players this year. They still have a shot at another 20 win season, so if that's down, there are a lot of teams that would like to have that kind of a down year!
Yes, the East is stronger, and there's more parity in the West. Let's see how the tournament unfolds.

I think that the conference is down overall, especially considering the "bust" that we had last season.

I would have expected us to win at least one tournament game.

I think that LaCollege is good enough to go deep. The question is whether they are sufficiently mature to handle the pressure, the first time out.

jmnaseum · February 16, 2010, 04:27:50 PM

WEST TEAMS WHO WILL BE IN THE TOURNEY:
UMHB - HPU - MCM - HSU

EAST TEAMS WHO WILL BE IN THE TOURNEY:
LC - UTD - MC - ETBU

millie · February 16, 2010, 11:36:36 PM

Well, it is official Louisiana College will be hosting the ASC tourney this year, after beating Mississippi College in over time. It was complete with cutting the net down and even signing autographs after the game. Welcome to the great state of Louisiana and the piney hills of central Louisiana. For those of you who complained about going down I-20 to Jackson Miss, hold on to your hats. Someone needs to ask if the can replace the lights that are out in the scoreboard, the 3's, 6's and 9's kinda look alike.

The Jinx · February 16, 2010, 11:43:42 PM

How is the conference tourney bracket set up? East v West, seeding, etc. Hope this makes sense.

JACKET84 · February 17, 2010, 09:09:27 AM

Quote from: jmnaseum on February 16, 2010, 04:27:50 PM
WEST TEAMS WHO WILL BE IN THE TOURNEY:
UMHB - HPU - MCM - HSU

EAST TEAMS WHO WILL BE IN THE TOURNEY:
LC - UTD - MC - ETBU

What about Texas Lutheran? Doesn't UT-Tyler have a chance?

mcmfan · February 17, 2010, 11:32:04 AM

I don't know about UT-Tyler, but TLU hasn't managed to beat a team with a winning record since the start of the season back in December, except for HSU (and that only by 1 point in OT -- and at a time in the season when HSU still had more conference losses than wins). This week, it faces both McM and HSU on their home turf, and while it needs to beat only one of them to get into the tournament, that could be a long shot.

ShouldaBeenAnIndian · February 17, 2010, 01:25:59 PM

Quote from: mcmfan on February 17, 2010, 11:32:04 AM
I don't know about UT-Tyler, but TLU hasn't managed to beat a team with a winning record since the start of the season back in December, except for HSU (and that only by 1 point in OT -- and at a time in the season when HSU still had more conference losses than wins). This week, it faces both McM and HSU on their home turf, and while it needs to beat only one of them to get into the tournament, that could be a long shot.

You say that about TLU, but look at the schedule. The only teams they have played with winning records since that HSU game are UMHB who leads the West conference, and HPU who is second. And they didn't get blown out by either of those teams. But they DID beat LC and MC at the beginning of the season, in Seguin granted, but beat them nonetheless. I'd say the games on both Thursday at McMurry and Saturday at HSU should be interesting. As it was once said, "Anyone can beat anyone on any given day."

mcmfan · February 17, 2010, 01:40:37 PM

True enough, ShouldaBeenAnIndian. This whole conversation is a mark of how power in the conference this year has shifted to the east. Instead of discussion about how far some west team might go in the playoffs, we're just excited about which west teams will even make it to the tournament!

millie · February 17, 2010, 02:07:16 PM

mcmfan, i agree that the east has become stronger this year (which is great for the entire ASC) but no way will I ever underestimate the west...and for the east to do so would be a BIG mistake...granted that HSU has not been the usual power house...we in the east would be fools not to take them serious...the west has tournament experience all the way to the very top!!! It has been shown every year that the west knows how to play the tournament....let the games begin and "let the good times roll"...I just hope it will be fun...

lcwildcatfan · February 17, 2010, 06:23:21 PM

Hats off the LADY WILDCATS! Great season! I knew we would eventually emerge on top in the East. Tournament is in the big city of Pineville this year!

BBenthusiast · February 18, 2010, 11:53:02 AM

Congrats to LC!! At least since I've been around, playing LC at home or there has always been a nerve racking experience because everyone knew that our team better get it together and be on their game or they could very possibly get beat. LC, you've worked hard and I'm glad to see you get rewarded by winning the east. The tournament is gonna be fun to follow!

DavidNichols · February 18, 2010, 10:50:22 PM

Tournament almost set! Any thoughts on favorites?

#1E Louisiana College vs. #4W Texas Lutheran/Hardin Simmons
#2E Texas-Dallas vs. #3W McMurry
#1W Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. #4E East Texas Baptist
#2W Howard Payne vs. 3E Mississippi College

Tie-Breaker Possibilities:
ETBU over Tyler (ETBU beat Tyler both times during regular season)
McMurry over both HSU and TLU (beat both teams twice during regular season)