MBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[pbrooks3]

Big games today for both Millsaps and Colorado College.

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think Millsaps is planning on playing Wesley in a makeup game.  It would seem rather pointless to play if Millsaps doesn't qualify for the SCAC Tournament and if Millsaps does qualify, I'm sure they would rather spend that time preparing for the first round team.

As an aside, the Wesley roster has a former Millsaps player on the roster--as in former from 6 years back.  The NCCAA rules must be different from the eligibility rules used in the NCAA.

Thanks. I just thought I should ask because there is no indication on the Millsaps schedule as to what the status of that game is.

http://www.gomajors.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&schedule=72&;

[pbrooks3]

Looking like it's in Millsaps' hands as to who is the West's #4 seed in the SCAC tournament.  Hendrix is about finish out a season-ending win over Colorado College.  Less than 2 minutes to play and Hendrix is up 11 points.
Millsaps is down 1 point at the half to Austin.  If Millsaps wins, they are in.

[pbrooks3]

Millsaps wins 60-56 to sew up the last seed in the West.  This could be a crazy tournament.  Millsaps, in an ironically funny way, might be considered the favorite with the tournament played in their house.  Centre as #1 seed in the East will have first crack at the Majors.  Blake Martinez was the Majors' hero with 27 and he's come up big in their final two home victories.  That too may be yet a good omen for Millsaps as they march on.

[frank_ezelle]

Thank you, Hendrix!

Millsaps played their best game of the year against the team that I thought was their toughest opponent of the year.  Blake Martinez hit a critical 3-point shot towards the end of the game from the same spot that Chad Songy hit his 3-pointer that game Millsaps the regional title in 2008. 

While Blake's shot and his points will get the attention, that's what you would expect from a senior in a game like this.  What put Millsaps over the top was the play off the bench from a lot of guys who knew their role and did their part.  For me, this was just a memorable a win as that 2008 win in the regional finals. 

It's going to be a wild tournament next weekend--I'm glad Millsaps will be a part of the action.

[pbrooks3]

Ok, who is in the best shape to win this weekend's SCAC tournament?

[brave heart]

Well I think Depauw caught an unusual break getting the #2 seed and the bottom bracket. Centre as the #1 seed meets a very dangerous Millsaps on a roll at home... ouch ouch ouch Centre is a tough team (esp for Depauw)but Millsaps at home as the reward for taking the East doesn't seem like a bonus.Depauw did well vs Southwestern at home and will be a good game(nearly all will be).Austin looks to have a good draw to open.......Its just to close to call and I think experience is what it will come down to. Count the Seniors

[hendrixfan]

Yesterday's action at Conway was fun for the Warrior fans who have watched a tough season.  HC played inspired and worked as a team. 
The seniors truly went out with class.  (unlike Nick Rose of CC who gave a hand gesture to the student section after fouling out) 

I'm done for this year.  See you guys when we tip it off in November!

Good luck to the Lady Warriors in the SCAC tournament!

[pbrooks3]

Maybe the coaches voting POTY will take into consideration your comments.

[pbrooks3]

Well I think Depauw caught an unusual break getting the #2 seed and the bottom bracket. Centre as the #1 seed meets a very dangerous Millsaps on a roll at home... ouch ouch ouch Centre is a tough team (esp for Depauw)but Millsaps at home as the reward for taking the East doesn't seem like a bonus.Depauw did well vs Southwestern at home and will be a good game(nearly all will be).Austin looks to have a good draw to open.......Its just to close to call and I think experience is what it will come down to. Count the Seniors

Don't disagree, Brave Heart. However, DePauw doesn't need to take Southwestern lightly. Realizing the Pirates wrapped their regular season on something of a negative bender, they are capable when shooting it well. Think if Cox can get back on his game, DePauw will get some competition. I saw them take down Centre in Danville on a magnificent shooting night.

[frank_ezelle]

I've seen 7 of the 8 teams play this year since most of these teams played in the Hangar Dome during the regular season.  Millsaps certainly has an impressive record when playing against the field at home:

Wins (5):  Southwestern (69-59), Trinity (47-39), Centre (53-52), Oglethorpe (66-62), Austin (60-56)

Loss (1):  DePauw (65-67)

That 5-1 record could easily be 6-0 or 2-4, so we will have to see if Millsaps can continue to eke out wins at home against very good teams.  After having seen these 6 opponents, I'd give Austin the edge on the field.  They are very good and in a third game when legs are getting tired, their size will big a factor.  It's hard for a smaller team with tired legs to compete against such big bodies.

[frank_ezelle]

Just in case there are any photographers coming to the SCAC Tournament this weekend, here are the settings that I've been using all year with fairly good results.  If you know anything about camera settings, this is just verification that the lighting is rather poor at the Hangar Dome on the Millsaps campus (but it's just as poor at Belhaven College, D1 Jackson State University, and a few SCAC locations that I visited in the past):

Camera:  Canon 50D

6400 ISO
2.8 f-stop
1/500 shutter speed

On the color balance I've tried the AWB setting but it seems to turn out too yellow.  Mostly of the time I set the temperature to 3600K and that's fairly close.  I've had a more experienced cameraman tell me that they thought 3300K was correct, so try somewhere in that range and see what you think.

There is some odd lighting at the goal closest to the football field, probably a different type of bulb used when replacing the lights.  Some of those photos turn out too white/blue but that's just a fluke that I've tried to deal with in editing.

[FlightofthePetrel]

Maybe the coaches voting POTY will take into consideration your comments.

I have a feeling that after Oglethorpe's latest 77-70 win over Depauw that saw OU's Todd Ward score 12 points in the last 3:56 of the game, including a steal and acrobatic layup while being fouled to seal the game will no doubt garner him the honor of being left off of Coach Bill Fenlon's ballot.  While I don't have any "facts" to support this assumption but recent history leads me to believe that I might be fairly accurate.  Time will tell.....

[frank_ezelle]

Okay, I absolutely refuse to get lured into any discussion about the POTY honor.   I helped stir up some things a few years back but I've matured since then.

However, I would have been shocked if Blake Martinez didn't get the POTW award for his massive scoring outburst over the weekend, especially the 25 second half points against Austin when a SCAC Tournament berth was on the line.  Congratulations on winning this week's award:

http://www.scacsports.com/sports/mbkb/potw/2009-10/week13

[brave heart]

Don't have a obvious pick for POTY like there was last year.Ward played hard the last 5min of the Depauw game but I think it takes more than that to earn a POTY vote.Attitude has to play a roll in the voting and this will hurt Mr.Rose.Lets just wait and see.