MBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The off season has hit August and with it has come news of Division III Fall Championships being canceled for the same reason Winter Championships were derailed and Spring Championships pulled earlier this year: COVID 19 Pandemic.

The decision came on the heals of a vast majority of DIII institutions curtailing fall sports and many pushing winter sports starts on their campuses until January at the earliest.

What does this mean for the 2020-21 season of college basketball? Specifically what does it mean for Division III? Will there be a basketball season? Will it be a six-week-or-so-sprint? Or is there a way to adjust things?

On the Mid-Summer edition of the Hoopsville Podcast, we try and get some answers to those questions. We talk to one coach who actually has put together a proposal to start the season in January, with some changes to make it work including crowning a champion in April. And we talk to an administrator who also serves on the DIII Management Council to better under stand the decisions made to cancel championships and if shift a season like basketball is even possible.

Plus, we honor the best of the best in the last decade of Division III women's basketball. Gordon Mann joins us to discuss how the 2nd D3hoops.com Women's All-Decade came together (and hints of work on the men's list).

Guests include:
- Philip Ponder, Oglethorpe men's coach
- Jason Fein, Bates Athletics Director and DIII Management Council member
- Gordon Mann, D3hoops.com Senior Editor

And of course, there is always the Hoopsville Notebook. A few things we take note of that have made headlines since the beginning of July. We also tip our hat to a few of those who have always helped the show be it's best.

You can listen to the podcast here: https://bit.ly/3kGZ962

Hoopsville broadcasts from the WBCA/NABC Studio. All guests are featured on the BlueFrame Technology Hoopsville Hotline. The offseason plan is to do a podcast each month. The shows will be audio-only leading up to the start of the 2020-21 when we will restart the video shows.

If you have questions, ideas, or want to interact with the show, feel free to send them to hoopsville@d3sports.com or use any of the social media options available.

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[Ron Boerger]

While this story focuses primarily on the Trinity's SAA football schedule there is some discussion of SCAC scheduling and a timeline (around Thanksgiving):   https://www.trinitonian.com/at-long-last-sports-on-the-verge-of-returning-to-trinity/

[Ron Boerger]

Continuing a proud tradition of talking to myself (and maybe @d3hoops), the SCAC is apparently about to complete a rebranding from a number of recent twitter posts recently made by the home office (e.g. https://twitter.com/SCAC_Sports/status/1333853264937422848).

[Pat Coleman]

From the looks of that, I am guessing we are talking about a new logo? Can't imagine they move away from the SCAC name as it has some longevity and is still pretty accurate.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Maybe with the CAC changing to the C2C the SCAC sees the chance to move back to CAC ... LOL

[Ron Boerger]

From the looks of that, I am guessing we are talking about a new logo? Can't imagine they move away from the SCAC name as it has some longevity and is still pretty accurate.

Maybe with the CAC changing to the C2C the SCAC sees the chance to move back to CAC ... LOL

They're using #SCACNewEra as a hashtag so can't imagine they'd be changing that, but I guess we'll find out soon enough.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Although, it would set us up for some good headlines if anyone repeats as champion this year:

Back to Back in SCAC to CAC!

[Ron Boerger]

#SCACNewEra is a slightly refreshed logo and related materials.  But now I know the official Pantone SCAC Blue and Gold colors.     https://www.scacsports.com/news/2020-2021/scac_new_logo

[Ron Boerger]

SCAC pre-season poll is out:

https://www.scacsports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/releases/PreseasonPoll

1.   University of St. Thomas (5) - 59
2.   Texas Lutheran University (3) - 58
3.   Centenary College (1) - 49
4.   University of Dallas - 35
   Trinity University  - 35
6.   Schreiner University  - 34
7.   Southwestern University  - 22
8.   Austin College - 21
9.   Colorado College - 11

[Ron Boerger]

Both Schreiner/Southwestern games this weekend have been cancelled (due to COVID protocols, per Schreiner's web site), so Trinity and St. Thomas will kick off the men's season tonight at 7pm CST in Houston.  TLU at Centenary and Dallas at Austin will tip off an hour later.

[jekelish]

I mean, I guess we had to know this was coming but the very first day of games... woof. And potentially impacts next weekend, too, since you would think the team with positives is going to need to go on pause for 10-14 days, which knocks out next weekends slate. At least, that's the assumption I'm working under.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I mean, I guess we had to know this was coming but the very first day of games... woof. And potentially impacts next weekend, too, since you would think the team with positives is going to need to go on pause for 10-14 days, which knocks out next weekends slate. At least, that's the assumption I'm working under.

I am told not all teams are doing the full team isolation thing. I can't speak to these teams at all, but I've been told some are just isolating those who tested positive.

[jekelish]

Exciting game in Sherman tonight. Austin College led for 39:57 out of 40 minutes, but needed a buzzer beating three to win since Dallas picked what seemed like the perfect time to take their first lead with 2.7 seconds left.

[Ron Boerger]

The Jimmy Smith era is off to a promising start at Trinity.  After yesterday's somewhat disappointing ending, where the team led deep into the fourth quarter but could not hold off pre-season favorite St. Thomas, today saw the Tigers keep it close down the stretch and convert their free throws while taking advantage of Celt misses in a 77-73 win.  Sophomore Kaleb Jenkins was the main beneficiary of late free throws, converting 9-11 on the day on his way to 19 points.  First-year Tanner Brown added 17 including 4-6 from distance.    Both came off the bench, which contributed 52 of 77 points in the victory. 

Trinity returns home next weekend for a pair of games against Colorado College, who will open their season in San Antonio. 

[jekelish]

Another good win for Austin College over Dallas. The Crusaders were down a couple players, but still two good wins for the team picked to finish 8th over the team picked to finish 4th. The 'Roos don't have a lot of size, but they are FAST and if you can't either run with them or dictate the tempo yourself, you could be in a little bit of trouble.