MBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

pbrooks3 · November 08, 2009, 10:11:28 AM

Appreciate the Millsaps critique from Frank as the start of B-ball is close at hand for the SCAC. Maybe some other posters will chime in on their respective teams before the season kicks off.

jekelish · November 08, 2009, 04:59:57 PM

Season preview is up on AC's website, but here's the rundown:

After posting the best record in nearly a decade at 13-13 last year, the 'Roos have 8 seniors and a couple other returners with some talent, along with a few frosh who could be pretty solid.

Obviously you have to start with Kola Alade, who I think you'll see a career year from this season. Last season, for various reasons, he got a little worn down and really had to carry the load, but this year I think he stands a real chance of leading the conference in scoring. I'm not sure there's a guard in the conference as quick as Kola, from what I've seen. If he can keep his shot consistent, watch out.

We're also pretty loaded in the post, and should be one of the biggest teams in the conference. We've got 6-7 Sturtevant, who made honorable mention All-SCAC last year, and 6-8 Spencer Burke, who was among the national leaders and 2nd in the SCAC in blocked shots. Add in 6-7 Taylor Beatty, 6-6 Josh Saunders, 6-5 Scott Straley (who is also a heck of an athlete) and 6-6 Justin Martin, along with a couple big freshman (6-8, 6-6, 6-6 for the three frosh frontcourt players) and that's a big team.

It's a team with a ton of experience, and I think you could really see a jump in the production/contributions of Saunders and Straley this year. Straley, as I mentioned is a solid athlete who can finish in transition, and Saunders should be one of the team's best shooters and can really handle and pass the ball. To go off on a quick tangent, my brother played college ball (at Dickinson up in PA) and at 6-6 was basically a point guard in a power forwards body. Well, Saunders reminds me so much of my brother game-wise it's ridiculous.

Toss in returning contributors in the backcourt like Kyle Lintelman (who is tough as nails and a solid shooter) and Arron Mewbourn (small, but has an amazing handle), along with Nick Wade (outstanding three point shooter), and you've got a team that should be among the bigger, more experienced, and maybe most importantly, deeper teams in the SCAC.

phillipst · November 10, 2009, 02:13:25 AM

Rhodes Basketball lost to UT-Martin tonight 92-63. Game was close for the first 14 minutes, then UT-Martin used its quickness and athleticism to open a big halftime lead and never looked back. The game recap is on the Rhodes Website.

http://www.rhodeslynx.com/news/2009/11/10/MBBALL_UTMARTIN_RECAP.aspx

The Lynx will open their season on the road next Monday, November 16th, with Principia College.

pbrooks3 · November 10, 2009, 01:38:07 PM

Quote from: phillipst on November 10, 2009, 02:13:25 AM

Rhodes Basketball lost to UT-Martin tonight 92-63. Game was close for the first 14 minutes, then UT-Martin used its quickness and athleticism to open a big halftime lead and never looked back. The game recap is on the Rhodes Website.

http://www.rhodeslynx.com/news/2009/11/10/MBBALL_UTMARTIN_RECAP.aspx

The Lynx will open their season on the road next Monday, November 16th, with Principia College.

phillipst, are you going to tell us about your team? We know you've got some good young freshmen jumping in the mix. Enlighten everyone!

tarheelfan · November 11, 2009, 01:30:57 PM

Here's the SCAC Coaches Preseason Poll. I was surprised to see Austin get so many votes including a first place vote.
http://www.scacsports.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/releases/0910_preseason_poll

tarheelfan · November 13, 2009, 01:14:03 PM

Hendrix men open up with an exhibition tonight against cross-town foe Central Arkansas. Game counts as UCA's first official game and there should be a good crowd on hand.

pbrooks3 · November 15, 2009, 10:18:59 AM

Basketball for the SCAC teams officially cranks up this week. Talked briefly with the Rhodes coaches yesterday - they've got 3 games this week alone starting Monday night on the road @ Principia. Centre opens it up Wednesday @ home against a very solid Maryville team. Know other squads are in action this week. How does everyone feel about their respective team as the season begins?

jekelish · November 15, 2009, 10:39:47 AM

Austin College opens up today against #12 UT-Dallas. Well, at least we'll be getting a test early to give us an idea of what kind of team the 'Roos will be this season.

frank_ezelle · November 16, 2009, 12:57:59 PM

Austin represented the SCAC well with a 79-77 OT win over Texas-Dallas. That helped SCAC teams to an opening day split of 2-2 as Southwestern beat Dallas 48-46, but Trinity fell to Midwestern State 63-52 and Hendrix fell to U of the Ozarks 95-76.

Rhodes starts off today with their traditional early season victory over Principia, a team Rhodes has beaten 11 straight times. Trinity takes on Texas A&M-Commerce (not to be confused with Texas A&M-Agricultural) this afternoon at 4:30 and BSC hosts LaGrange this evening.

Millsaps opens up tomorrow night against a tough NAIA Belhaven team that has started off the season 4-0, topping 100 points in 3 of those games. I have seen Millsaps play once, the exhibition against a Jackson State University team that is the preseason pick to win the SWAC title. It seems like Millsaps has the potential to be much better this season, but it was hard to tell for sure against D1 competition. While Belhaven is also a team with scholarship players, I think they will be of the same caliber as the better SCAC teams so tomorrow's game should give some insight into how Millsaps will fare this season.

scottiedoug · November 16, 2009, 02:13:11 PM

The Centre-Maryville game Wed. @ Centre should be interesting. Maryville has had trouble with Centre lately but this year's Scots appear to be deeper and more seasoned than last year's team, especially for this early in the season. Maryville scored 94 points against Methodist yesterday while going 4 - 22 from 3 point land.

frank_ezelle · November 17, 2009, 12:56:54 PM

NOTE TO THOSE INTERESTED IN MILLSAPS COLLEGE WEBCASTS:

Almost 40 of the men's and women's basketball games will be webcast this season starting with the men's game vs. Belhaven College this evening at 7:00 Central time. The link to the webcast is:

http://www.sportsnation360.com/schools/webcast/Millsaps-College

pbrooks3 · November 17, 2009, 10:11:05 PM

Quote from: scottiedoug on November 16, 2009, 02:13:11 PM
The Centre-Maryville game Wed. @ Centre should be interesting. Maryville has had trouble with Centre lately but this year's Scots appear to be deeper and more seasoned than last year's team, especially for this early in the season. Maryville scored 94 points against Methodist yesterday while going 4 - 22 from 3 point land.

Believe last year the Scots were on the cusp of being very good. Another year with more experience and a deeper bench will make Maryville a huge challenge for Centre Wednesday night. I will expect a close game, and wouldn't see it being an upset if Maryville wins this one. Hopefully both squads can build off of this game.

pbrooks3 · November 18, 2009, 08:47:31 PM

Maryville has put it to Centre in the opening 20 minutes, leading 40-24. They lead in every key statistical category. Colonels are shooting 31%. Lloyd leads Centre with 8. Going to need to play defense and score a few 3's to have a chance in the 2nd half.

pbrooks3 · November 18, 2009, 09:55:04 PM

Centre drops their opener to Maryville 72-70. Colonels were playing catch-up the entire night and shot 40% for the game. Noll was held in check, and the Scots' depth and experience showed throughout. All 5 Centre starters finished in double figures. They were led by Crawford with 17. Ellis had 14 with 4 3's. Lloyd recorded a double-double as did Maryville's post, Hernandez. Valiant effort by Colonels to close the gap late, but it wasn't enough to earn a victory tonight.

scottiedoug · November 18, 2009, 11:10:46 PM

PBrooks3. Since you evidently saw the game, can you write a bit more about your impressions of the Scots? It sounded on the radio like they were really good in the first half and less so later. Also sounded like the Colonels, as usual, made a game of it even with Noll being controlled. They always know what to do.