MBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[DPU3619]

That's a good win for Trinity.  Chicago's a good team. 

We might get to compare some notes fairly early.  Chicago and DePauw may square off in the tourney DePauw hosts this weekend.

[JJFlash]

Wes,

I look forward to, as you say, "comparing notes".  Two games a season does not make, but two road wins has to make the Tigers feel pretty good.

[frank_ezelle]

It's great to see so many solid non-conference wins this early in the season and it points to a heck of a year in the SCAC Conference this season.  After watching Millsaps play a scrimmage against MS College and then watching the first game against Pensacola Christian, I believe that Millsaps will be a better team this season than last.  It is basically the same guys as last year but the bench is stronger and there seems to be more of a comfort level than at the beginning of last season (at the start of last year I think they were still sorting out the roles everyone needed to fill after Tyler Warren graduated).

I feel certain that the SCAC will have an NCAA at-large bid this season, but I find it unlikely that they'll have two at-large bids.  Right from the start you have DePauw, Centre, Trinity and Millsaps as teams thinking they should get to the NCAA and the reality is that only two probably will make it.  It just points out how important these early games are because they will probably be what determines which non-AQ team gets the at-large bid.

[JJFlash]

Another win for Trinity tonight against Texas Lutheran.  The final margin was only 2 points.  Trinity did not shoot well from the field or from the line.  This might have been due to the fact this was their third game four nights.  They showed some grit in doing what needed to be done to get the "W".  Mike Gilb had a nice double double while BJ Moon and Charles Houston made their typical contributions.

[FlightofthePetrel]

Saw that Sewanee lost to Lagrange tonight by 14... is anyone else surprised by this?   I thought Sewanee was much improved and I know Lagrange lost alot from last years team.

[Ralph Turner]

I think that Trinity eked out a win.  TLU is predicted to finish 7th in the ASC-West.

[irion]

Sewanee did lose to lagrange on 11/20 by 14 and it was not that close.  Pursell did not have a great game and others did not step up.  I sat next to the LaGrange assistant coach that was scouting Sewanee Sunday afternoon and he commented on how much better Sewanee played this season.  I guess they have a ways to go.
Is it just my imagination or is the offciating better so far this year?

[frank_ezelle]

I think that Trinity eked out a win.  TLU is predicted to finish 7th in the ASC-West.

It's hard to be up for every game and sometimes seeing that an opponent is picked so low in the preseason polls results in a letdown in focus and intensity.  I'm not saying that was the case last night, but I know I've been guilty as a player and a coach of looking at a game as a nice "breather" only to find that I was very mistaken.  A team has to come ready to play their best every game it they want to be a top-notch team--it seems like in all levels of sports, from small college to pros, there are so many good athletes and coaches that the gap between the top and the bottom is getting smaller (except the gap between the New England team and the rest of the NFL).

[mattgrubb]

i think you can see why i am not a betting man,
pursell had 21 pts and 7 boards, tough to call that an off night, but the most important thing is the W

[Ralph Turner]

Frank, I lament the fact that we (TLU) let that one get away!

I want Trinity to incur every South Region loss that we ASC teams can give, after they have gotten every good in-region win  (like Chicago)  that helps my OOWP!   

[hendrixfan]

Hendrix won against the University of Dallas Tuesday night in a free throw shooting contest.  The boxscore shows UD with 33 fouls, and Hendrix with 29.   

[carlweathers]

I think it is hard to say that Trinity may have been looking past TLU. 

I don't think people realize how tough of a turn around it is to play on the road in a tourney on Saturday and Sunday, and then on Monday (a class day) fly home, practice, rest and then on Tuesday (another class day) play another game. 

I am assuming they flew home on Monday because the game against Chicago was an evening tip.

Just something to think about. 

[Ralph Turner]

Hello, Carl!

Good to "read" you again.

I think that you are closer to the reality of the situation.

That was an upset in the making, and TU "eked out" a win. 

[carlweathers]

Thanks Ralph.  It is good to be "read" again.

I am not familiar with the players like I used to be and don't get to see many games so I am not as active as I once was, but I know a killer travel schedule when I see one. 

It is easy for all of us to forget that in the midst of all of these games that the kids are dealing with being college students.  I remember the 7 or so days before Thanksgiving as being a killer for school work.  Coming off a four day trip and trying to make sure the important stuff is all in order can be a challenge.  But if you can get through it all, it makes the turkey taste that much better. 

I am sure TLU kids had the same school challenges but it is more easier to be on top of stuff when you have been at home vs. the road. 

[frank_ezelle]

Millsaps took a 2-point home victory over Louisiana College this evening, winning 63-61 when LC missed a shot at the buzzer.  I thought the teams look fairly even which is interesting in that LC is picked to finish 6 out of 7 in the ASC East.  This coming on the heels of Trinity's 2-point win over Texas Lutheran, picked to finished last in the ASC West, can be view two different ways.  It's 2 wins by the SCAC over the ASC which is good for the SCAC, or it's two very close games by teams picked to finish near the top of the SCAC over teams picked to finish at or near the bottom of the ASC, which is good for the ASC.

I don't have a box score on the game but it looked like fairly balanced scoring for Millsaps.