MBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Major_Fan]

For those interested, there's a good story today on the ncaa.com website about Centre College's basketball team and their fabulous season.

Was that one after the Millsaps story on the front page before the brackets were released with junior guard Chad Songy guarding a Pensacola Christian guy??

Sorry, couldn't resist.  The win over Centre was too sweet and if we'd hit more than 9-of-18 free throws (I know you guys shot like crap the whole game) down the stretch it might have been a 13 or 14 point win.

I do, however, wish both teams the best of luck this weekend and it's so nice to be hosting.  Let's just hope both get out alive...

[pbrooks3]

MajorFan, Millsaps is the SCAC champ - no question about it, but let's quit making excuses for why the margin of victory wasn't greater. I could say if Centre shot 35% instead of 27%, the Colonels win the game, but you'd just shoot that down. I hope both squads get through this weekend and get a chance for a 3rd meeting down the line in the D3 tournament.

[Major_Fan]

That's why I put that statement in parenthesis (I know you guys shot like crap), because I knew that would be the argument.  I agree you missed like 20 layups and that would have made a closer game, but the Majors' main fire came from an article in the paper the day before the championship that was praising Centre and giving Millsaps no respect.  Also, from a guy that knew nothing about either team.  Heck, Millsaps outplayed Centre in Danville but choked that away in the final seconds before the Colonels tied it and then won it in OT.  Millsaps earned the respect Sunday by holding the SCAC Player of the Year to 1-for-8 shooting and six points.  I'm curious if they'd waited about a week later to vote for All-SCAC and released it after the championship, would Edrick Montgomery of Millsaps won it.  He only averaged 21.7 points and grabbed 8.3 boards in three-straight days of competition and dominated the post.  Another rematch would be unlikely this season, but hey, you never know.

[pbrooks3]

I've said all along that now's the proving ground for Centre and Millsaps. To truly establish reputations, "who's the best" around the D3 nation, winning games in the tournament will enhance resumes and cement the SCAC as a conference of basketball integrity and strength. MajorFan, perhaps Millsaps didn't receive the acclaim they deserved this season. Centre benefitted from good play and a lot of good fortune I realize. They beat Millsaps in a storied game with an unbelievable finish and D3 providing audio. They established new records in the SCAC and an amazing winning streak. The D3 nation particularly took notice of Centre on the night of the overtime win against the Majors. At the same time the Colonels kept winning SCAC games one after another, many of the top rated teams began taking hits; Centre made a meteoric rise up the charts to #2 in the nation. Do I think Centre was really #2 in the country?  I doubt it. Probably Centre and Millsaps should be ranked side by side, not #4 and #14 respectively. It should be something like #8 and #9. I am an unabashed Centre fan first. However, I am an SCAC supporter, too and for this reason, I would like to see Millsaps go deep in this tournament. The Majors moved up 8 places this week in the polls. Win 2 games this weekend and Millsaps should gain additional respect and accolades from their basketball brethen nationwide.

[Pat Coleman]

No, they probably should be closer together, but it's also very hard to make a big move upward at the end of February. Millsaps moving from 22 to 14 is a big deal this time of year.

[frank_ezelle]

To be honest, I don't know where Centre and Millsaps rank among the teams in D3.  I just haven't seen much D3 basketball outside of the SCAC so I can't make a comparison. 

Do I think that Centre would be favored to beat all but 3 teams in head-to-head competition?  No, I think that's far fetched considering their lack of a strong post game.  Do I think that Millsaps would be favored to beat all but 13 teams in head-to-head competition?  My gut feeling is no, but maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.  It seems to me that these schools with 5,000-10,000 students and/or lower academic standards and/or lower cost should be able to field a stronger team than the typical SCAC school.  I have no illusions that being the best in the SCAC equates to being the best in the nation.

For me, Millsaps winning the SCAC crown this season was the goal.  Any success they have in the NCAA Tournament is icing on the cake.  What I hope most about the NCAA Tournament is that Millsaps plays to their potential.  If that's not good enough to win, then so be it, but I want them to leave the court Friday/Saturday knowing that they played their best, win or lose.

[pbrooks3]

Good post Frank; I am perhaps a little more ambitious about the D3 tournament given that Centre tasted it last season. The SCAC is what it is. If our teams can collectively advance a bit further this season, I'll be pleased.

[frank_ezelle]

I just saw where the Millsaps at Rhodes baseball game scheduled for Friday has been cancelled due to expected bad weather.  The baseball team really does a great job of supporting the basketball team so that will be nice to have their support for the tournament. 

I watched the local weather forecast this evening and they were talking about the possibility of 3-5 inches of snow in north Mississippi.  The forecast on Yahoo isn't so severe, but that still seems like we could have nasty travel weather for those coming to Jackson.  I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable trip to and from Jackson this weekend.

[OLD STUDENT/ATHLETE]

All three visiting teams are in Danville; Franklin, Ohio Wesleyan, and Heidelberg, but they might not get out. The weather forecast for Louisville up to Cincinnati is 12+" of snow starting tomorrow afternoon and snowing thru Saturday.

[mcalumnifan]

I will make this prediction about the Maryville vs. Millsaps game.  Maryville pretty much ALWAYS wins the first round games over the past 10 consecutive years.   Maryville lost 2 games this year.  One to Averett who is in the tournament at Guilford; and one to Emory who had one of the toughest schedules of the year and who beat the #1 team Rochester.  And Maryville destroyed Rust College in our favorite state to play Mississippi by 50 points!!!!  And I know all of you know from Millsaps how tough it is to win at Rust.  While the #2 school Centre lost to them.  Mark my words.  Maryville will sweep the first two rounds in Mississippi NO Question (they beat Mary Hardin last year in the 1st round) and get in the final 16.  They will probably play Guilford and if they get this far they could go all the way.  Division 3 basketball is always the same; any given day any team can beat any other.  Good Luck to all the teams.  Go Scots!!!

[lammersk]

Anyone planning to travel to Danville for the games: I just watched a couple of Lexington channels' weather predictions and it's not good.

The last weatherman pointed to an area which included Danville and said 6-10", "the worst snowfall in a decade."  By noon today they are predicting heavy snow and 32 degrees.  They also reported that roads are not being pre-treated because it's going to rain first and this would just wash it away.

[OLD STUDENT/ATHLETE]

mcalumnifan- How about a hot fudge sundae or steak dinner on the Millsaps-Maryville game. I have seen Millsaps demolish teams at home;very good teams, Centre among them. Your team had better not go there with the idea that they will have an easy time. Millsaps has great shooters, quickness, a tenacious defense, adequate deoth, and a senior dominated team that wants to keep playing. They will be tough at home, and I predict them to win their sectional.

[OLD STUDENT/ATHLETE]

lammersk-its about 7:15am here outside of Louisville, and its already started snowing. The prediction in Shelby Co. where I live is 4-8", with 12" along the river up to Cinncinnati. If you're planning on driving to Danville from the south or west, I think you will be okay. If from the North or East, you might be okay if you leave early, but you had better plan on staying awhile, at least thru Sunday. Its supposed to snow through Saturday, and the snow moving equipment in the rural counties is scarce, especially on the non-interstates. Danville will not get that much snow, its getting up I-75 or I-65 that will be the problem, and getting to them north of Danville.

[pbrooks3]

OS/A, thanks for the weather forecast - we in Memphis have decided to stay put and follow Dave McHugh's audio on D3 tonight.  Those of you who are going to tonight's games in Danville, we'll expect some exceptionally good posts from you on the action!  Sorry not to have a chance to meet the voice of Hoopsville.  Everyone who makes the trip to Danville for tonight's action - travel safely.

[OLD STUDENT/ATHLETE]

Greg Mason,Centre's successful coach and SCAC Coach of the Year for the second straight year, hopefully will be playing the winner of the Heidelberg-Ohio Wesleyan game Saturday night. I am in hopes that the winner of that game will be Ohio Wesleyan, whose coach is Mike DeWitt, a wonderful guy and great coach, who was the Head Coach at Centre when Greg was an assistant. It would be a great match up for two old friends!