MBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[JJFlash]

I'm ready for things to start heating up on this board.  With practices to start within a week, I hope they do.

It's way too early to have any real informed opinions, but I think Trinity will be a very competitive team again this year.  They were inconsistent throughout the early stages of last year due to the extensive playing time the Sophomores got.  This really paid dividends in the end with their run in the SCAC tournament.  If these same guys put in the time during the summer, they should be ready to give anybody a game this year.  There is an earlier post about Trinity's lack of size.  4 out of 5 of their front line players are returning this year including Mike Gilb at 6'9" who is a graduate student this year.

I'm looking for good things from the Tigers this year!

[frank_ezelle]

I heard an interesting comment this weekend that has nothing to do with SCAC basketball.  While taking photographs at a cross country meet held at Mississippi College, I was talking to a MC staff member.  On the subject of their men's basketball team this season, I was told that the coaches have brought in 20 new players this year. 

That may seem like an exageration but it may actually be an understatement.  The MC website lists the 2007-08 basketball roster and there are 44 names on the list, 9 returning players and 35 new players.  I can remember years when Millsaps didn't have that many players out for football.

[golden_dome]

I heard an interesting comment this weekend that has nothing to do with SCAC basketball.  While taking photographs at a cross country meet held at Mississippi College, I was talking to a MC staff member.  On the subject of their men's basketball team this season, I was told that the coaches have brought in 20 new players this year. 

That may seem like an exageration but it may actually be an understatement.  The MC website lists the 2007-08 basketball roster and there are 44 names on the list, 9 returning players and 35 new players.  I can remember years when Millsaps didn't have that many players out for football.

Frank,
   Good to see at the meet, hope you were able to get some good shots. Twenty of the new players are transfer students.

[frank_ezelle]

Chris--I did get some good shots.  Cross Country is probably the easiest sport to photograph because you know exactly where the action will occur, when the action will occur, and usually the runners are spread out so you can get good shots of every runner.  The only hard part is getting from location to location in order to get multiple shots during a meet--it's embarrassing for an old man to try to jog from point-to-point when surrounded by so many talented runners.

Maybe I'll see you at the volleyball game this evening.

[brave heart]

Two adays going strong,sore to even walk,cuts are being made,its time to get the game on!!!Give me your top 5 team predictions for the SCAC.

[frank_ezelle]

I'd be surprised if anyone left DePauw, Centre or Millsaps out of their top 5 preseason picks.  All three teams should be outstanding and how one would order the three might depend as much on the unbalanced schedule as the talent.

As for the 4th and 5th spot, my guess is that most folks will put Trinity in one of those spots.  Trinity has too much past history of excellence to leave them out of the top 5.  That just leaves one other spot and I would put Hendrix in my top 5.  Andrew King gives them a very solid base and their program has been getting better each year under Coach ?? (his name escapes me and it isn't listed on the Hendrix website).

[HunterT]

is anybody willing to make a full conference prediction? I've seen it in the women's board, but curious to see how everybody thinks the men will shake out.

all I know is Rhodes will be better than last year. i've leave it there and let the ambiguity rule that predicition.

[brave heart]

If Trinity's basketball team can lateral like its football team who has a chance against them!!!

[daBulls]

Rhodes played an exhibition game last night at Div. I Austin Peay.  APSU returns all of there starters and key reserves from a team that won the regular season conference and was one win away from the dance, but had to settle on the NIT.  They are the overwhelming favorite to win their conference this year.  The two teams played last year and APSU blew Rhodes out from the tip.  Rhodes played APSU to a 16 point game and for much of the first half it was a 10 point or less game.  Even though it is early and a lot can change during the course of the season, I think this indicates that Rhodes has imporved greatly since last season.  Hopefully this will translate to a better finish in the conference for the Lynx.  I still say, don't be suprised if the Lynx finish in the top half of the conference.  Here is my preseason prediction for order of finish:
1.  Millsaps
2.  DePauw
3.Centre
4. Trinity
5. Rhodes
6. Southwestern
7. Hendrix
8. Oglethorpe
9. Sewanee
10.Austin
11. Colorado College
12. Birmingham Southern

[DPU3619]

Pre-season Top 25 is out.

DePauw in the ORV.  Only SCAC school with a mention.

DPU also had an exhibition game last night.  They were at D1 Indiana State.  DPU actually led late and they were tied with a minute to go before the Sycamores went on an 11-0 run.

Schott 19.  Werntz 14.

[spfan22]

Oglethorpe might suprise some teams this year.  I know they last quite a bit of scoring, but last night they played at d1 Samford and led at halftime 35-34.  OU didn't shoot the ball well in the second half and lost by about 10.  OU had a good recruiting class and a transfer guard who had 21 last night for the Petrels.  I could see them hanging around the middle of the conference this year.  They have talent, the only issue will be how their inexperienced players play at crucial times.

[FlightofthePetrel]

Pre-season Top 25 is out.

DePauw in the ORV.  Only SCAC school with a mention.

DPU also had an exhibition game last night.  They were at D1 Indiana State.  DPU actually led late and they were tied with a minute to go before the Sycamores went on an 11-0 run.

Schott 19.  Werntz 14.

Centre is 7 spots ahead of them at #28    Depauw is in the middle of the pack at #35.  I wouldn't be surprised to see those 2 crack the top 25 and for Millsaps to sneak in there with a strong start.  It's been a while since 3 SCAC teams have been ranked or received votes.

[DPU3619]

Centre is 7 spots ahead of them at #28    Depauw is in the middle of the pack at #35.  I wouldn't be surprised to see those 2 crack the top 25 and for Millsaps to sneak in there with a strong start.  It's been a while since 3 SCAC teams have been ranked or received votes.

Whoops.  Thought that said Central.  I'm as bad as an AFCA voter.   

[irion]

Sewanee will finish in the top half of the conference - The freshman class will  make some contributions and the team had good results from their off season conditioning program.  Still depth is an issue as always.  I just don't understand why more recruits don't want to come to an isolated mountain in the middle of nowhere with a brutal academic tradition....................hahaha


Rhodes played an exhibition game last night at Div. I Austin Peay.  APSU returns all of there starters and key reserves from a team that won the regular season conference and was one win away from the dance, but had to settle on the NIT.  They are the overwhelming favorite to win their conference this year.  The two teams played last year and APSU blew Rhodes out from the tip.  Rhodes played APSU to a 16 point game and for much of the first half it was a 10 point or less game.  Even though it is early and a lot can change during the course of the season, I think this indicates that Rhodes has imporved greatly since last season.  Hopefully this will translate to a better finish in the conference for the Lynx.  I still say, don't be suprised if the Lynx finish in the top half of the conference.  Here is my preseason prediction for order of finish:
1.  Millsaps
2.  DePauw
3.Centre
4. Trinity
5. Rhodes
6. Southwestern
7. Hendrix
8. Oglethorpe
9. Sewanee
10.Austin
11. Colorado College
12. Birmingham Southern
[/quote]

[warriordad]

That describes every school in the conference