WBB: American Southwest Conference

[dballa]

AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE
2007-08 PRESEASON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
HEAD COACHES/SIDs/MEDIA POLL
West Division
Team (1st place votes) Pts. 2006-07 Record
1. Howard Payne (20) ............ 188............ 28-2, 20-1 ASC
2. Hardin-Simmons (3)............ 157............ 21-5, 18-3 ASC
3. McMurry (1)......................... 152............ 24-5, 19-2 ASC
4. Mary Hardin-Baylor ............ 121.......... 16-10, 14-7 ASC
5. Concordia-Austin ................ 87............ 8-16, 8-13 ASC
6. Schreiner ............................ 69............ 6-19, 6-15 ASC
7. Sul Ross State .................... 49............ 6-18, 4-17 ASC
8. Texas Lutheran .................. 41............ 1-24, 4-17 ASC
East Division
Team (1st place votes) Pts. 2006-07 Record
1. East Texas Baptist (16) ...... 141............ 22-5, 17-3 ASC
2. Texas-Tyler (2).................... 112............ 17-8, 14-6 ASC
3. Mississippi College (2)......... 107.......... 16-10, 11-9 ASC
4. Texas-Dallas ........................ 87.......... 11-15, 8-12 ASC
5. Ozarks ................................. 61............ 9-17, 7-13 ASC
6. Louisiana College (1) .......... 54............ 8-16, 6-14 ASC
7. LeTourneau ......................... 26............ 4-21, 1-19 ASC

HPU's Meia Daniels and ETBU's Sade' Stewart are the Preseason Players of the Year

[Ralph Turner]

McMurry women start with two In-Region games at Colorado College, St Thomas and St Olaf of the Minnesota IAC.

These teams will have some height to them, so we can see how McMurry responds.

[dballa]

HPU is heading out to California to start the season against the University of the Redlands and a rematch against Chapman. 

That is if those wildfires haven't blown through those areas.  Definitely have the people of California in your thoughts.



Have any teams had any unexpected surprises in camp as far as new players, loss of players, or current players coming back looking better than expected?

[golden_dome]

Just to give everyone a few tidbits on the Lady Choctaws, they brought in a very talented group of newcomers.

• They will be considerably bigger with nine new players over 5-10 including three MS JUCO players over 6-0.
• Four of the newcomers played in last year's MS JUCO All-star game.
• A Division I transfer who averaged 15 minutes and started two games at USM last year as a freshman.
• Six of the newcomers averaged double figures in the MS JUCO league last year.

They open the season with an exhibition game against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Here is a link to this year's roster  http://www.gochoctaws.com/roster.asp?path=wbball

[dballa]

http://www.wbca.org/DIIICoachesPoll.asp

The WBCA Preseason poll is out.  HPU ranked 3rd to start the season and even received 1 vote for first place.

It surprises me that McMurry didn't place in the Top 25.  I guess they expect there to be a big drop off with a new coach and a new point guard?

[Ralph Turner]

http://www.wbca.org/DIIICoachesPoll.asp

The WBCA Preseason poll is out.  HPU ranked 3rd to start the season and even received 1 vote for first place.

It surprises me that McMurry didn't place in the Top 25.  I guess they expect there to be a big drop off with a new coach and a new point guard?

Off the radar screen... that is good. 

[Ralph Turner]

http://www.wbca.org/DIIICoachesPoll.asp

The WBCA Preseason poll is out.  HPU ranked 3rd to start the season and even received 1 vote for first place.

It surprises me that McMurry didn't place in the Top 25.  I guess they expect there to be a big drop off with a new coach and a new point guard?

I notice that UPS coach Suzy Barcomb is on the panel of voters.

UPS knocked both McM and HPU out of the tourney.

[dballa]

So is Trinity's coach.  I'm wondering if she's the one that had the first place vote for HPU since she has played them the past few years including a big loss to start last season.

[fanstand]

Polls Suck.

[BBenthusiast]

Now there is a comment that the Fanstand that I have grown to know and love would make.  Where u been Fanstand?  You are usually mixing it up really good by now.

[fanstand]

I'm trying to be a grown up. Not working very well. I've been biting my tongue, of course, I have opinions. They will eventually come out, just trying to be civil at this point.  I can only be quiet for so long....... but I am ready for LIB to once again be a surprise.

[BBenthusiast]

I say..quit biting ur tongue and spit it out!  Let's get this party started.  I don't know about u but I find this "kinder, gentler" board a little boring!

[Ralph Turner]

Well BBenthusiast, there is not much smack that we can talk.

McMurry will be working thru a new coach and a new point guard.  We lost in the first round to a fundamentally better Puget Sound team.  All of the hype that we had last year did not help us against a team that wasn't even in the Top 25 before the playoff and made it as a Pool C bid.  The players are finding out what Coach Snow sees that needs work.

HPU was ranked second going into the playoffs, only to be beaten by that same fundamentally sound Puget Sound team on a neutral floor.  Meia Daniels and HPU did not score a breakaway goal until 4 minutes left into the game.  UPS showed a better defense, got more points from their bench and held HPU to a 0-8 from 3FG and only  23.7% FG  for the game.  UPS even came from a halftime deficit to beat HPU.

HSU missed the playoffs by the slimmest of margins, probably the early-season overtime loss to Southwestern.  The Cowgirls fell to HPU three times last year.

ETBU swept the East and yet did not have enough South Region (non-conference) games to earn a Pool C bid.  The Lady Lions lost their coach in the off-season.

Miss College has lost All-American Lacey Kennedy.  They probably have players who can fill that void, but they aren't going to be boasting in the pre-season.

UT-Tyler is eligible for the post-season for the first time.  We can see what they can do.

Not much smack for us to talk.

[BBenthusiast]

Thanks Ralph for breaking all that down for me.  Don't think I'm looking for smack....just looking for someone to show some enthusiam for their team.  Just knew I could count on Fanstand.....She is such an avid believer!   I BELIEVE that my team in particular will build on their shortcomings from last season and give their fans alot to be proud of!!!

[dballa]

now the d3hoops poll is out http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/

Definitely the highest HPU has ever started a season and McMurry is at #10.  No HSU in sight.