WBB: American Southwest Conference

[golfniz1]

OK guys give me your honest pick as to who will win the ASC Tournament and why.

[Ralph Turner]

I don't think a loss to a highly ranked team, in the polls and regional rankings, will make as big of a difference as a loss to an unranked team in the South Region.  A loss to UT-Dallas, UT-Tyler or UMHB would hurt McMurry much more especially this late in the season.

Please remember that timing of the loss is not a criterion for the tourney.  I don't want to consider not playing three games in Tyler, but on the other hand, McMurry has too many pluses among the criteria to fall to the "22nd" Pool C team!  "Geographic proximity" may force another bracket like last year, where HPU hosts game two and the winner of Chapman and the SCIAC Pool A.  We need Trinity to do well in the SCAC tourney, if we want to have a four-team pod in Texas.

McMurry may jump Oglethorpe this week because of OU's loss to DePauw this week.  (However, OU's OWP might go up even tho' they lost to DePauw and beat Centre.)

Hoopsville will have the Men's National Selection Chair on as a guest.  Maybe he can answer some of your questions.

[dballa]

I love HPU's chances.  They've already shown they can beat everybody in the conference and have a lot of confidence going in.  It may sound biased but I believe they'll win it all.

McMurry can be dangerous but they need balanced and consistent scoring to go along with their great defense.

UT-Tyler is playing well right now, outside of their loss after clinching the East.  The host team is always dangerous.

Mississippi College has enough talent on their team to put a scare in anybody and could win the tournament. 

Hardin-Simmons is young and talented with nothing to lose.

It's going to be a fun tournament as always.

[mcmfan]

Our problem at McM is our consistency.  Tarra is the lynchpin of the team, but when she's double and triple teamed someone else has to step up.  That's usually happened, but there are no guarantees.  We trailed UMHB until the very end Saturday, even though UMHB only played 6 players.  We beat UT Tyler earlier in the season by only 3 points.  We struggled against Concordia.  If everyone was playing at her full potential, I'm sure we could beat HPU.  But since that's happened only in bits and spurts, we could also lose to the last team in the conference.  We seem to like to get into a hole and then dig out at the end.  That may have worked during the regular year, but it's not going to work in the tournament.  So, my take: we could win it all, but we could also lose in the first round.  I will be on pins and needles until the final buzzer of the tournament.

[CRUfan08]

I'm really looking for UMHB to go big...I'm calling for another tournament run like in the 2005-2006 season...what does everyone think?

[mcmfan]

CRUfan08,
I think 2005-2006 shows how unpredictable the NCAA selection committee can be.  You guys got to the final game where we beat you.  But HSU, which lost in the first round, got a post-season bid, as did HPU, which lost in the second.  That's why I think the only way McM (or anyone else except for HPU) can be sure of a post-season berth is to win that final game.

Incidentally, the word here is that the games will be webcast at

http://www.uttyler.edu/athletics/aschoops/

[JACKET84]

My prediction is the West will sweep the East.  HPU will be playing Hardin Simmons, and McMurry will be playing MHB in the semis.  HPU will play McMurry for the championship, with HPU winning.  For the conference it would be best if McMurry won the tournament, but I think HPU is just too strong this year.

[golfniz1]

The east is playing pretty good right now do not under estimate any team in this tourney.  Anyone  of these teams are capable of beating the other, after all this is for the conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA D3 Tournament!  Trust me each team will be out there giving their utmost 150% effort.   

[JACKET84]

OK guys give me your honest pick as to who will win the ASC Tournament and why.

I agree that the tournament brings out the best in teams.  What's your prediction on the semis and the final game?

[fanstand]

To me it's all about who is hot (from the outside) and who has the heart.  Everyone has skills and ability.  It's about luck and intangibles.  I'm picking McM LIB!!!! I think we will pick up our defense and playing on a neutral court, hopefully our outside shooters find the "sweet spot".

[BBenthusiast]

Luck and intangibles? I don't think so.  All of these girls on all of these teams who are playing in the tournament have worked hard.  The title of "ASC Confernece Champion" is a great prize and it will go to the team that executes their game plan above their opponents.  HPU has done that 25 times already this season.  I'm going with them for the next 3 games!

[inthepaint]

OK guys give me your honest pick as to who will win the ASC Tournament and why.

I assume the reference to "guys" is a gender inclusive invitation.  If so, I will present my honest pick. 

HPU will win the ASC.

At least one other team will be selected to continue in postseason play.  The most likely additional pick will be McMurray.

The unparalleled success of HPU can be directly attributed to Coach K's growing maturity.  The Little General has certainly done an amazing job in recent years!  That, or he discovered the high value of good nutrition through a balanced diet over the convenience of stale, vending machine Snickers bars!   

Jacket Pride all the way, baby!

[mcmfan]

I think we will pick up our defense and playing on a neutral court, hopefully our outside shooters find the "sweet spot".

But if we play UT Tyler in the second round, it won't be on a neutral court.

[inthepaint]

Wow there is so much anger on here!  Reminds me of the days arguing w/ "In the Paint" about Coack K's snicker bar meals. ha ha  though id say we both took each others comments with a smirk (even though i was ALWAYS right  ) ... i think everyone should sit back, relax, listen to some Beatles records, and remember...

ITS ALMOST TOURNEY TIME!!!   

You were ALWAYS right!    However, I remember Hoopsmom being the instigator of the Snickers Bar controversy.  Who knows where HPU would be today if Coach K had not been forced to deal with that nutritional nightmare? 

[fanstand]

I said everyone had skills and ability.  Luck comes in keeping everybody healthy from the flu and injuries.  And a little "magic".  Everyone playing obviously deserves to be there.  I have always said anything can happen on any given day, I never pick against my team, but I never doubt that each team is dangerous in their own right.  I'm not a bragger, just a fan who believes.