MBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[hendrixfan]

If Andrew King is such a beast and should be Player of the Year, why after an outstanding weekend was he not even nominated by his peers as Player of the Week after averaging 20 pts, 15 rbs? 

Was that necessary? 

While I agree that Andrew will not receive much consideration for POY, as Gus mentioned this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Warriors after the loss of a large part of their scoring from last season.

I applaud the coaches and players for the job they've done so far.  Don't forget how low this program was just a few years ago.

[frank_ezelle]

Actually, I think King will receive strong consideration for POTY and it wouldn't surprise me if he won.  It's just that in the history of the SCAC, the award has gone to a member of the 1st or 2nd place team in 13 of 15 years, and only once to a player whose team finished near or below .500 in conference play.

The Hendrix program has come a long way in just a few years and King has been a big part in that revival.  I don't think I need to remind anyone, but let's remember that these recent discussion about King, Devins, Churchwell, etc., are regarding how they rank among the very elite in the SCAC.

[Dave84]

I totally agree with you Frank.  I feel that in King's case this season, if Hendrix is able to finish in the top 3 or 4, POY will definitely go to him, he's made too big of an impact.  I can't see him winning if they finish lower than that because I feel as though most coaches have a similar opinion that a few of us in this argument do, winning Trumps all. 

Wes, I was meaning more of a Ringer type player, because he came in with great size for a freshman and put up something like 13/8 or 12/7.  He has been a very good player, but I thought he had the tools at a young age to bust out as a player we would be talking about as the "elite."  I'm not taking shots at him, I just think he should be in the mix for POY, even with good players around him.

[frank_ezelle]

the games this weekend:

8:00 PM  Sewanee at  Hendrix       
   8:00 PM  Centre at Austin  (Centre by 15)    
   8:00 PM  DePauw at  Colorado Col.   (DePauw by 12)   
   8:00 PM  Rhodes at  Trinity (Tex.)   (Trinity by 16)    
   9:00 PM  Birmingham Southern at  Southwestern (Tex.)  (Birmingham by 5)      
   9:00 PM  Oglethorpe at  Millsaps  (Millsaps by 8)    
Jan. 19  9:00 PM  Rhodes at  Southwestern (Tex.)  (Southwestern by 3)   
Jan. 20  2:00 PM  DePauw at  Austin  (DePauw by 15)    
   2:00 PM  Birmingham Southern at  Trinity (Tex.)   (Trinity by 6)   
   3:00 PM  Oglethorpe at  Hendrix  (Hendrix by 2)   
   4:00 PM  Sewanee at  Millsaps   (Millsaps by 12)   
   4:00 PM  Centre at  Colorado Col. (Centre by 15)

anyone else?

Getting back to the subject at hand, namely conference play, I see some interesting games on the schedule this week.  I quoted the above just to get the schedule in my post, not to specifically comment on Dave's picks.

I could understand the temptation of those who want to pick an upset to look for OU over Millsaps.  OU beat DePauw on the road and they are in 2nd place iin the East.  They also have the style that sometimes scores in a hurry and Millsaps will occasionally give up a big lead.  I think this will be a good game, but I think the more likely upset is DePauw at Colorado.  It's a long road trip, DePauw is playing inconsistent basketball, and I think Colorado must have gotten some confidence from the two fairly close losses last weekend.

I think BSC will lose both games in Texas.  As in football, there seems to be a gap between BSC at home and how they play on the road, a gap that might be a little larger than what you would see from a more veteran team. 

On Sunday, I'll take my chances with OU over Hendrix as the upset special.  I think OU is going to really motivated his weekend, wanting to keep that #2 spot in the East.  If they win at Millsaps on Friday, then they will really be pumped up to get the road sweep on Sunday.  If they lose Friday, then they will see the Sunday game as a must win.  Either way, I think they'll play very well in Conway on Sunday.

[Beans82]

I have been following the SCAC for some time now and recently learned of this website.  I would like to comment on the whole Devins, Churchwell, Morris, etc. thoughts.....First, I agree in complete with Dave, the one thing that the best players ever do is make the players around them better than they are.  Devins did that, Morris did that (hence the reason everyone seems to think he didn't improve is proposterous), Churchwell did not.  Stats are great, but they are a direct result of your competition, your team's style of play, and your coaching style.  To say that Churchwell is as good as Devins, Morris, Burt, Waguespack, Bettis, even P. Murray, is a long shot in my view. 

[spfan22]

I'll agree that in most cases style of play can enhance stats.. yes a player may score more.. but i think the most important factors to be considered are: 1) does the player make his team and teammates better.. and 2) how efficient is the player. (shooting %, turnovers and a few other stats)

Lets be honest: If a player is to be considered for player of the year.. they must play on a conference title contender and they have to put up respectable or good numbers..

Not trying to hide my identity.. (Andrew Tulowitzky OU, 07') But my teammates and I knew that I had no real chance of winning player of the year last year.   With Millsaps, Centre and Depauw dominating the conference.. it seemed obvious that Nestheide, Brown, or Montgomery would win the POY.  Turns out I was right.. All 3 guys put up good numbers.. (Montgomery's #'s probably being the best) and they played on the best 3 teams.. Chances are the POY is going to come from a team that is above 7-7 or 8-6 in conference play.. (haha.. I will add that we played the toughest conference schedule last year, we played the top 3 teams twice, that amounted to 6 of our 7 conf losses.. thus showing we were not an elite team)

I think King's numbers are great.. I think he is a very good player.. my guess however is that he wont win POY.. because I think Hendrix will finish middle of the pack.. and recent history suggests that for that reason he wont win the award. 

Back to conference play: OU always plays tough at Millsaps but I think Millsaps will hold on for a win there.. I think Centre will sweep.. Depauw will get back on track and sweep.. Trinity will sweep.. Hendrix and Rhodes will probably split.. I think it will be a competitive weekend.. should be alot of close games

[jekelish]

Major Fan:

By peers.. do u mean other players?? As i understand it, the coaches nominate a player for player of the week.. not other players

SID's typically are the ones who submit nominations, often with input from coaches, FYI.

[spfan22]

thanks Jekelish.. I was under that assumption.. but I was not 100% sure about that.. thanks for clearing that up for me

[pbrooks3]

the games this weekend:

8:00 PM  Sewanee at  Hendrix       
   8:00 PM  Centre at Austin  (Centre by 15)    
   8:00 PM  DePauw at  Colorado Col.   (DePauw by 12)   
   8:00 PM  Rhodes at  Trinity (Tex.)   (Trinity by 16)    
   9:00 PM  Birmingham Southern at  Southwestern (Tex.)  (Birmingham by 5)      
   9:00 PM  Oglethorpe at  Millsaps  (Millsaps by 8)    
Jan. 19  9:00 PM  Rhodes at  Southwestern (Tex.)  (Southwestern by 3)   
Jan. 20  2:00 PM  DePauw at  Austin  (DePauw by 15)    
   2:00 PM  Birmingham Southern at  Trinity (Tex.)   (Trinity by 6)   
   3:00 PM  Oglethorpe at  Hendrix  (Hendrix by 2)   
   4:00 PM  Sewanee at  Millsaps   (Millsaps by 12)   
   4:00 PM  Centre at  Colorado Col. (Centre by 15)

anyone else?

Here's what I like for the weekend:

Jan 18

Hendrix by 15 over Sewanee
Millsaps by 10 over Oglethorpe
Trinity by 15 against Rhodes
Southwestern wins by 3 over Birmingham Southern
DePauw over Colorado College by 12
Centre beats Austin by 11

Jan 19

Rhodes by 1 over Southwestern 9 (my upset prediction)

Jan 20

Trinity wins by 9 over Birmingham Southern
Oglethorpe by 5 over Hendrix
Millsaps beats Sewanee by 21
DePauw wins over Austin by 10
Centre beats Colorado College by 15

I'll see one live game this weekend - Hendrix hosting Sewanee Friday night.

[Ron Boerger]

Conference news ...

Steve Argo, the only full-time commissioner the SCAC has ever had, resigned today.   Current associate commissioner Dwayne Hanberry has been appointed interim commissioner.

Trinity AD Bob King has been named to a four-year term on the nine-member NCAA Division III Championships Committee, which supervises qualification and selection procedures for all Division III championships, as well as overseeing administrative issues related to the events.

[Major_Fan]

For those of you who are interested, the Oglethorpe/Millsaps games on Friday night at 6 and 8 p.m. CST will have live audio courtesy of OU.  Brick Faucette and Brett Wise will handle play-by-play.  Attached is the link.

http://www.oglethorpe.edu/athletics/listen_live.asp

My prediction with a strong OU press ... Millsaps 78, OU 73 (men)
On the women's side ... OU 80, Millsaps 63

[spfan22]

I thinks those are very solid picks.. Hopefully OU can keep it close.. not a big fan of moral victories.. but if an unexperienced OU team can hang tough on the road with a great team like Millsaps.. I would have to consider that some sort of moral victory

[tarheelfan]

If Andrew King is such a beast and should be Player of the Year, why after an outstanding weekend was he not even nominated by his peers as Player of the Week after averaging 20 pts, 15 rbs? 

Because Cal Rose was nominated by averaging 23 pts and being a momentum changer last weekend

[Major_Fan]

Good point.  The more you win POTW, however, I think gives you a slight, slight edge at the end of the season for Player of the Year consideration ... therefore I think King should've been nominated.  Rose did play well I see.  On another note, go Heels ... 18-0 ... I about crapped my pants last night watching the game.

[jekelish]

If Andrew King is such a beast and should be Player of the Year, why after an outstanding weekend was he not even nominated by his peers as Player of the Week after averaging 20 pts, 15 rbs? 

Because Cal Rose was nominated by averaging 23 pts and being a momentum changer last weekend

agreed.  despite King's big rebounding numbers against AC, for example, he didn't reach double figures scoring and really struggled with his shooting percentage...don't remember exact numbers, but he was something like 3-14, whereas Rose just hit big shot after big shot.