WBB: American Southwest Conference

[mcmfan]

The way things look I'm hoping HSU just makes it to the conference tournament!

I don't think you've got anything to worry about, inthepaint.  If you compare the scores of the games HSU and McM have in common so far, the point spread clearly favors HSU:

                 HSU                                       McM
LeTourneau 79-49     +30                       67-51  +16
ETBU 91-67             +24                       79-62  +17
LC  76-65                +11                       41-38   +3

The numbers tell me that HSU is playing better than McM at this point, or at least more consistently, which amounts to the same thing.  The smashing McM win over HSU was probably a one-time fluke.  I'm sure it won't happen again, though as a loyal McM fan I of course hope we still win the rematch, though with a closer score.  But even if we sweep HSU, I can's see them not getting into the conference tournament with these kinds of point spreads.

[mcmfan]

Before other McM posters jump on me for seeming to favor HSU over my own team, let me add that I think (hope) that last night's McM performance against LC was also a fluke in how bad we were.  I suspect some of our players logged their worst stats of the season then, particularly with the free throws, where players who are usually 100% missed one throw after another.  The probability of that happening again should be low.

[calhsu]

I can't believe you guys.  Talking about 4-6 games into the playoffs.   Lets get through the regular season first.  I realize that people like Ralph have been watching this stuff for so long that they like to get to desert as soon as possilbe. 
I think the wins that HSU have had since the blowout mean more than the blowout does.  If they were just a bad team this road trip would have been an easy place to lose.  The fact that the underclassmen are stepping up means that no one know yet what this team can do.  I'm not ready to say they can beat the big two but I am hoping that the two get cocky the next time they play.  The last time that happened was the year the Cowgirls went to the final four while they stayed in Texas.

[dballa]

HSU has only beaten one team with a winning record and that team is 1-3 in conference play, La. College.  HSU still has a lot to prove against better competition as does HPU and McM. 

The comments about the 4-6 deep into the playoffs were started earlier about the scoring record and not necessarily anybody saying their team was going to do that.  We all hope they do but just because we want it on here doesn't mean it happens on the court.

[Ralph Turner]

 

I can't believe you guys.  Talking about 4-6 games into the playoffs.   Let's get through the regular season first.  I realize that people like Ralph have been watching this stuff for so long that they like to get to dessert as soon as possible. 
...

Let me explain 4-6 games into the playoffs!

The worse case scenario would be McMurry not qualifying for the post-season tourney and HPU playing three games in the ASC and then losing in round one of the NCAA's (4 games).  Worst case scenario in that perspective would be HPU winning the NCAA in 6 games (nine more games in the season).  (Having a national champion coming from the "South Region" again would be very nice for the reputation of the conference!)

Another scenario would be the aforementioned 2006 HSU/McM scenario, in which HSU beat McMurry in the first round and then played 5 more games in the season!

[calhsu]

Dballa....the first thing is that I didn't say that HSU was a championship team yet.  I know it is hard to beat teams with a winning record by playing ASC teams. I have said for years that after the top tier the conference is weak.  HPU had to go to California  to play teams with winning records.
HPU and MCM have seasoned  players, they certainly have an edge.   We will see.

[bball fan 37]

I know everybody wants to talk about the big 3, butn let's look at the next four.  Concordia looks dangerous at 3-1, they can score with anybody and came back from 15 down against tyler after beating dallas on the road.  UMHB seems to have fallen off a little bit from last year, but they have still been competetive in there games.  Sul Ross has played Howard Payne closer than anyone else has this year and have the most underrated player in the league in Woods.  They can beat anybody on any day.  Then there is Schreiner.  Have more wins before christmas than they have had in at least 7 years.  Have won 3 of 4 and had a lead at half on Southwestern.
t
What does everyone think about who the third and fourth best teams are in the west? 

I know there isn't much to compare different teams, but you really can't look at point differential to state a team is playing better than another.  It may be match-ups work better or just one team playeed real well for a game.

[fanstand]

bball I agree that you can't really compare teams all the time, some games you got it, some games you don't.  I am a firm believer that ANY team has the potential for upset, usually  on their home court.  Sul Ross is always tough at home as well as Concordia, and UMHB.  Schriener is also tough at home especially the first half.  I'm not sure who will finish where or in what order.  I have yet to see the other teams play, except for McM and HSU but I think as the year progresses they will all be a threat.

[Ralph Turner]

Schreiner lost to Misericordia (Pennsylvania AC) in Honolulu, after beating a weak Pacific team (Northwest Conference) yesterday.

Concordia TX is playing #7 Messiah (MAC Commonwealth) in Cancun today and Carnegie-Mellon (UAA) tomorrow.  No score yet.

It is good that we are playing D3 teams around the country!  Represent the ASC well.

(None of these games are "in-region".)

[Ralph Turner]

#7 Messiah 77, Concordia-Austin 45

[Ralph Turner]

Nice win for Concordia-Austin over Carnegie-Melon (UAA), 65-56.  This is a non-region game, but the UAA is one of the genuine top-to-bottom power conferences in the country.  CMU has finished towards the bottom of the UAA, but a win over CMU by middle-tier ASC-West team is definitely good for the conference.

[WLCALUM83]

Carthage 69, Mary Hardin Baylor 64. (Carthage led for virtually the entire first half, in the second half it became a real dog fight but the WI squad hit free throws late to seal it, per Carthage press release.)

[dballa]

HPU 89 Div II UTPB 50 FINAL.

The game should have been even worse than that.  HPU lost their focus a couple times and left their best player open for some shots.  HPU also missed some wide open layups after getting offensive rebounds. 

It was a physical game that HPU needed to get prepared for the rest of the year.

Meia Daniels had 24 pts, Stacey Blalock 22 and Kim Hoffman had 15 pts.  Hope Hohertz had 11 rbs and finished 1 pt away from a double double.

[mcm_sid]

HPU 89 Div II UTPB 50 FINAL.

The game should have been even worse than that.  HPU lost their focus a couple times and left their best player open for some shots.  HPU also missed some wide open layups after getting offensive rebounds. 

It was a physical game that HPU needed to get prepared for the rest of the year.

Meia Daniels had 24 pts, Stacey Blalock 22 and Kim Hoffman had 15 pts.  Hope Hohertz had 11 rbs and finished 1 pt away from a double double.

I saw UTPB play Abilene Christian (DII) the other night. They might be the worst DII team I've ever seen. They have one girl that stands 6-0, the rest are below. They have one player, Crystal Johnson, and we'll call her the Allen Iverson of D2 Women's Basketball (225 FGA in 13 games). ACU beat them 25 points without playing any starters the final 10-12 minutes. Johnson had 37 points on 15 of 31 shooting.

However, that being said. I would like to see HPU against some better D2 teams. I hesitate to say this after working in both D2 and D3, b/c, don't misunderstand, there is a HUGE gap of talent & athleticism - but I'd really like to see HPU and ACU play each other.

[dballa]

Actually HPU didn't initially want to schedule the UTPB game or even the Dallas Christian game but they couldn't find anybody else to fill those two spots.  They would rather play DIII in region games than play DII or DI schools.

HPU did scrimmage Tarleton State a pretty athletic DII team.  They have only lost one game this year and that was to A&M Commerce.  HPU only lost the first 20 mins by 7 or 8 pts and won the 2nd 20 mins in which they had a lead of 8 or so with only a couple mins left.

If they didn't have so many conference games they could find some spots for some better teams.