MBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[frank_ezelle]

It would take a lot of things happening just right for the 4M tournament to happen.  I'm not even sure if they would put MC and Mary Hardin in the same regional.  Plus, I'm still not counting 100% on Millsaps being a lock for the tournament--I'll feel much better if they beat Hendrix this week.  Hendrix is capable of playing very well and Millsaps has had some less than average games at home, so there's some work to do if Millsaps wants to almost guarantee an at-large bid.  The game against Hendrix will be Senior Day at Millsaps and I don't think those guys will want to go out with a loss in their final regular season home game.

Talking about a team taking a hit to graduation, here's a list of the Millsaps seniors:  Lorenzo Bailey, Edrick Montgomery, Rodney Rogan, Allen Odum, and Deonte Oscar.  That's a lot of points, rebounds, assists and leadership that will have to be replaced in 2008-09.

[pbrooks3]

If they only qualify for Pool C, I'm liking Millsaps chances, particularly if they win against Hendrix and get at least one win at the conference tournament.  Those were two nice wins over the weekend in Texas. 

[Ralph Turner]

It would take a lot of things happening just right for the 4M tournament to happen.  I'm not even sure if they would put MC and Mary Hardin in the same regional. ...

UMHB went to Mississippi College for a first-round game against Maryville TN in 2007.

[OLD STUDENT/ATHLETE]

Centre put in for a regional last year and didn't get it, and has applied again this year. If they win out, they should get it this year, and Capital and Wooster should be there again even if they don't win their conference tournaments. Defiance has a 3 or 4 game lead in the HCAC, and would replace Transy in that region. The Centre gym only seats 1500 but has many amenities, and where else can you get a cappucino double expresso latte.

[Ralph Turner]

That explains the football fortunes of the Centre football team.

They are just a bunch of cappucino double expresso latte wimps!

Trinity?  Real coffee, hot and lots of it!

"Make it an extra large, please!"

    8)

[pbrooks3]

It's good to see this week that two SCAC teams (Centre and Millsaps) are in the top 25, and one on the edge (DePauw).  Maybe by SCAC tournament time there will be 3!

[lammersk]

Centre #2 - Millsaps #24 - Depauw got the most points for a team not in the top 25 (31)

[pbrooks3]

Centre #2 - Millsaps #24 - Depauw got the most points for a team not in the top 25 (31)

Welcome aboard lammersk.  Come back often and keep the dialogue rollng.

[golden_dome]

It would take a lot of things happening just right for the 4M tournament to happen.  I'm not even sure if they would put MC and Mary Hardin in the same regional.  Plus, I'm still not counting 100% on Millsaps being a lock for the tournament--I'll feel much better if they beat Hendrix this week.  Hendrix is capable of playing very well and Millsaps has had some less than average games at home, so there's some work to do if Millsaps wants to almost guarantee an at-large bid.  The game against Hendrix will be Senior Day at Millsaps and I don't think those guys will want to go out with a loss in their final regular season home game.

Talking about a team taking a hit to graduation, here's a list of the Millsaps seniors:  Lorenzo Bailey, Edrick Montgomery, Rodney Rogan, Allen Odum, and Deonte Oscar.  That's a lot of points, rebounds, assists and leadership that will have to be replaced in 2008-09.

Frank, I think Millsaps is in with one more win this week. Their OWP and OOWP aren't great, but with just three regional losses they would get a bid. If MS College is able to win the ASC Tourney at UMHB, you could certainly see the 4M regional site in Jackson, but MC has lost their last two in Belton and the Crusaders would be a heavy favorite at home this year. A regional site with those four teams would be a lot of fun and good for DIII basketball in this area.

[Ron Boerger]

First, even though my guys are struggling this year, I wanted to say how good it is to see all of the new enthusiasm on the SCAC board.  Nothing like winning to get people talking 

(El Tea Gray---re: SCAC Basketball Tournament)

I may have missed this discussion at some point, but is Charles Houston expected to return form his injury in time for the SCAC Tournament? Trinity is a vastly better basketball team with him in the lineup. IMO the Tigers would have won their last three home games if Chuck had played (U Dallas, Hendrix and Millsaps). I have seen all of Trinity's home games this season; believe me at full strength they could possibly run the three game Tournament Bracket at Hendrix. Defense wins Tournament Basketball.

This from last Friday's Trinitonian {student newspaper}:

Though the Tigers are confident across the board they can continue to win without [Charles] Houston, there is a slim chance they won't have to do so. Houston had a walking-boot removed from his ankle on Wednesday, and is listed as day-to-day for this weekend's home SCAC contests against Hendrix College (Ark. 11-9, 4-7 SCAC) and SCAC Western division-leading Millsaps College (Miss., 18-3, 9-2 SCAC).

"It still hurts, to tell you the truth," Houston said. "I've been riding the bike and trying to stretch out the ankle and move it as much as I can, but right now I think it's going be a game-time decision. We're not going to rush it, but I'm going to try to go if possible."

Houston did not play in either game last weekend but if the article is accurate may return by the time the tourney gets underway. 

[Ralph Turner]

Does Houston really need to play this weekend?  TU has the tie breaker over Southwestern (head-to-head) in 2-way and three-way.  Hasn't TU clinched 4th?

Can TU beat AC and or Colorado College without him?

[DPULefty22]

Does Houston really need to play this weekend?  TU has the tie breaker over Southwestern (head-to-head) in 2-way and three-way.  Hasn't TU clinched 4th?

Can TU beat AC and or Colorado College without him?

My amateur bracketology skills have revealed to me that Trinity is in the tournament regardless of what happens this week. They can certainly beat Colorado College without Houston, although that's more a comment on the sad state of affairs in the Springs than it is on Trinity's depth. The Austin game might be a little trickier - Houston's probably the guy on that team best equipped to guard Kola Alade.

Houston's a heck of a tough player - really a solid glue guy, always around the glass, tenacious defender and rebounder. TU needs him 100% for the tourney. I'd imagine they'll sit him this weekend.

FWIW... I think the most likely scenario has the final three slots in the West shaking out Trinity-Southwestern-Hendrix. I think SU gets the sweep this weekend and edges out Hendrix for that third seed. There are more scenarios that favor Hendrix landing the three, but most of those are contingent on them beating Millsaps, which I don't think is going to happen.

[pbrooks3]

What you say may happen but Austin has a ton riding on this weekend.  If they can somehow beat Southwestern and Trinity both, things would change. Southwestern has got some momentum from this past weekend and has the chance to finish strong. 

[pbrooks3]

Renewing discussion on SCAC Player of the Year - did this past weekend's games generate any new thoughts on who should receive this award?

[DPU3619]

Renewing discussion on SCAC Player of the Year - did this past weekend's games generate any new thoughts on who should receive this award?

I don't think we've learned much of anything since the last time we discussed it.

King still leads in scoring and rebounding.  Moore's upped it to 17 and 6.4 assists per.  It's fairly likely he'll finish with an A/T over 2, unless he develops a case of the butterfingers up on the mountain this Friday.  Britt's still shooting 54% from the floor and 51% from deep.  I say again that his rate stats are neat (first in FG% first in 3%, first in FT%), but he scores less than Moore, passes less than Moore, gets fewer steals than Moore, and pulls down only .5 rebound per game more than Moore. 

But, then again, Nestheide won it last year and he didn't lead in a single statistical category.  Not one.  I think it's still close between Britt and Moore.  I think King's the best player in the league.  Flat out.  He does the most for his team.  But, he isn't on the best team, and neither is Moore. That may be a problem.