MBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Ralph Turner · February 28, 2008, 09:46:13 PM

Quote from: OLD STUDENT/ATHLETE on February 28, 2008, 06:55:14 PM
Wes- You misunderstood me. My kids went to W & L and Annapolis; I was referring to a "19 year old" in general, referring to what the Centre kids went through. I know De Pauw went through the same thing, but perhaps had better connections and travel arrangements to Colorado, being just outside of Indianapolis. Danville is not close to anywhere, but has enjoyed going to Texas over the years, and has found decent travel arrangements. Its the trip to Texas, and then Colorado, and then back to Texas, and then home, that the players and coaches were really upset with. At least it will happen only once every other year. Colorado is a great school academically, but there are other good schools that are good academically and a lot closer when it comes to travel arrangements for Centre.

OS/A, you are raising good points. Travel is a major problem. Centre is a charter member of the SCAC. There have never been neighboring peer institutions in abundance in the entire history of the conference for Centre.

Centre has three choices:

1) continue playing in the SCAC.
2) leave the SCAC for the HCAC or the NCAC or even the Presidents AC.
3) expand the SCAC to 16 teams so that Centre doesn't have to travel west. Here are four teams to consider. Centenary LA and UDallas on the West, and Berea and Berry GA on the East.

Berry GA-- Endowment $683M at #107 on NACUBO list. #115 in Top Liberal Arts in US News.

Berea KY -- $1012M at #68. #75 Top Liberal Arts (tied with BSC and AC).

Centenary LA -- $116M at #316 in 2006. Member of ACS. Centenary is already considered a peer in matters other than sports. (How much will their US News Ranking go up if they move up to D-III?

)

UDallas -- $48M at #536, but has a Phi Beta Kappa Chapter.

lammersk · February 28, 2008, 10:37:52 PM

Quote3) expand the SCAC to 16 teams so that Centre doesn't have to travel west. Here are four teams to consider. Centenary LA and UDallas on the West, and Berea and Berry GA on the East.

If we're honestly rating on grounds of schools' academic prowess, Berea's the only school in that list which should make the cut. Transylvania would have been even better, if it had not ended up in the Heartland.

IMO, the idea of adding teams and splitting the SCAC into 2 divisions is not a bad one. The problem is always going to be where the SCAC can get schools that seem to fit the approximately 75 or higher rank and average $312 million endowment.

Ralph Turner · February 28, 2008, 10:58:43 PM

Quote from: lammersk on February 28, 2008, 10:37:52 PM

If we're honestly rating on grounds of schools' academic prowess, Berea's the only school in that list which should make the cut. Transylvania would have been even better, if it had not ended up in the Heartland.

IMO, the idea of adding teams and splitting the SCAC into 2 divisions is not a bad one. The problem is always going to be where the SCAC can get schools that seem to fit the approximately 75 or higher rank and average $312 million endowment.

Transy is #75, tied with Millsaps.

I think that we have found the four best candidates that have acceptable criteria.

hendrixfan · February 29, 2008, 12:22:16 AM

Funny how some see the SCAC travel as a burden, and others are excited about seeing the Rocky Mountains, San Antonio, Atlanta, etc.
Several NAIA schools could've offered short trips to small towns on bad vans, but we liked what D3 had to offer.

Having said that, an Austin/U Dallas would make much more sense than an Austin/CO College trip. $:-\$

Ralph Turner · February 29, 2008, 12:31:04 AM

Quote from: hendrixfan on February 29, 2008, 12:22:16 AM
Funny how some see the SCAC travel as a burden, and others are excited about seeing the Rocky Mountains, San Antonio, Atlanta, etc.
Several NAIA schools could've offered short trips to small towns on bad vans, but we liked what D3 had to offer.

Having said that, an Austin/U Dallas would make much more sense than an Austin/CO College trip. $:-\$

A point in the favor of UDallas.

Putting Colorado College with a travel partner almost demands a good airport with frequent connections. (I like flying into Colorado Springs. It is one of my favorites.)

pbrooks3 · February 29, 2008, 08:04:44 AM

Travel per se is not a big issue. Let's just make sure the SCAC and its teams are noted for being a geographically diverse conference. This in some ways makes the road games as challenging or more so than some of the conferences in other regions of the country where a lengthy road trip is 3 hours.

This year - being the 1st with Colorado College - made travel a bit more demanding for those who made the Austin-CC leg. I know Centre and DePauw probably would have liked to stagger western swings to Texas (Trinity/Southwestern) and the new trip (Colorado College/Austin). Would have been nice to have one of these trips in a different year instead of the same year. Guess there's no reason to fuss given the fact Hendrix and Millsaps make both trips each year with the current 12-team configuration. As OS/A mentioned, Centre is really 2 hours by bus to any major airport (Lexington KY doesn't count) so plane travel becomes a bit more fun to work out.

Here's hoping that Millsaps and Centre make the finals this week, and we witness Frank and camera putting in an appearance at Conway Sunday!

frank_ezelle · February 29, 2008, 11:06:30 AM

If the tournament was still in Memphis then I'm certain I would be at a Sunday game. The big company move that was scheduled for this weekend has been moved to next weekend so I'll be able to hear all the games, but I'll be listening while trying to edit basketball, softball and tennis photos, and working on getting DVDs ready for the cheerleaders and women's basketball team. A road trip to Conway is just too much time that I don't have.

With the first game just a few hours away, does anyone have an upset special for today? While recognizing the possibility, I don't think that Centre or Millsaps will be upset today. That leaves the 2v3 games as possible upsets. Of those, DePauw over Trinity is the most likely. I guess the upset here is actually picking 2W Trinity over 3E DePauw. Whichever, I see a close game with DePauw getting the win. Trinity hasn't played their best after losing two games that they could have and maybe should have won with Centre and DePauw.

The 2E Oglethorpe vs 3W game is more interesting. OU played great at home last weekend after losing 2 on the road the previous weekend. Now they have the matchup with a home team that quite honestly looked lethargic at times against Millsaps. I suspect they are better than what I saw last Saturday, and I'm going to go out on a limb and pick Hendrix for the upset over OU. There's no doubt in my mind that OU has the better talent, but they are 10-3 at home this year and 6-6 on the road and that makes me think an upset is possible.

pbrooks3 · February 29, 2008, 11:11:50 AM

I'll respond to your challenge Frank!

I see Centre winning by 12 over Austin. I look for a competitive game between Trinity and DePauw. I am going with Trinity winning in OT by 3 points. Millsaps beats Rhodes by 19 in an game that's not that close. The 8 pm game will be another tight one with Oglethorpe holding on by 2.

jekelish · February 29, 2008, 11:19:35 AM

DePauw over Trinity...
Millsaps over Rhodes...
Oglethorpe over Hendrix...
and since I haven't picked any REAL upsets yet (I don't count 2 v 3 games as upsets, because typically the teams are interchangeable), I'll go with the heart over the head and say that AC shocks the D3 world today with a 5 point win...

(ok, so it's not likely to happen, but as I've said in the past, I really think the 'Roos can hang with Centre so a stunner is certainly not out of the question...)

pbrooks3 · February 29, 2008, 11:39:35 AM

Quote from: jekelish on February 29, 2008, 11:19:35 AM
DePauw over Trinity...
Millsaps over Rhodes...
Oglethorpe over Hendrix...
and since I haven't picked any REAL upsets yet (I don't count 2 v 3 games as upsets, because typically the teams are interchangeable), I'll go with the heart over the head and say that AC shocks the D3 world today with a 5 point win...

(ok, so it's not likely to happen, but as I've said in the past, I really think the 'Roos can hang with Centre so a stunner is certainly not out of the question...)

Austin certainly has the horses and matches up well with Centre; I'll give you that. I'm counting on the Colonels to play their vaunted defense against a squad that doesn't shoot particularly well. Are you getting to see this game in person, Jekelish?

jekelish · February 29, 2008, 12:26:45 PM

Unfortunately I couldn't make the trip...there are some other AC conflicts here at home. I'll be watching on the live feed, though, and checking in on the stats as much as I can...

As for today's game, I will amend (slightly) what I said...

AC has a good chance if three things happen:

Kola Alade doesn't have another 5-17 game like the first time these two teams met...

Chris Sturtevant can nearly equal his production last game...

Spencer Burke can stay out of foul trouble and be a real presence in the paint (as in, 3 or 4 blocks and altering a few more shots)...

The 'Roos can get some bench production from any combination of their backup guards - Bishop/Mewbourn/Lintelman...

That may be asking a lot...especially since it seems like Sturtevant and Alade never seem to be clicking offensively at the same time, it's always one or the other (they always get their points, but it seems like when one shoots well, the other doesn't)...

However, if those things happen, it's going to be a good, tough game...

FlightofthePetrel · February 29, 2008, 12:44:31 PM

Centre over Austin by 18

Depauw over Trinity by 6

Millsaps over Rhodes by 22

Oglethorpe over Hendrix by 4- just like Frank mentioned this game scares the dickens outta me. OU played Hendrix about a month ago and ESCAPED with a 1 point win. Hendrix had a chance to win that game twice but the shot didn't fall. I would be more confident if we were in Memphis this year, but with Hendrix being the home team it's hard to pick against them.

jekelish · February 29, 2008, 02:05:32 PM

anyone else having trouble getting live video?

lammersk · February 29, 2008, 02:32:05 PM

Not getting video.

pbrooks3 · February 29, 2008, 02:41:21 PM

Not a particularly exciting game, but Centre is winning with defense in the 1st half. Austin only scored 4 points in the opening 10 minutes of the contest. Nestheide and Crowdis are leading the way with 9 and 7 respectively. Colonels have 4 or 5 charging fouls. 20 minutes more of solid D will serve the Colonels well.