BB: ASC: American Southwest Conference

[Ron Boerger]

IMO the team in Texas did not get the shaft, they did not play enough quality opponents and lost their tournament on their home field. They have no one else to blame but themselves. Hope they apply for next years regional!

I agree to a point, but I also think it's pretty bogus for ANY conference to get four teams in.     And yes, I'd agree with Jack that it should have been GF that got a bid if another was given.

Still would like to know why CTX didn't start Cox yesterday instead of throwing him a couple of innings Saturday and bringing in someone lacking experience in big games (or even starting at all) on Sunday.   Even at that they could have won had they not booted the ball around the first half of the game.

[CrashDavisD3]

Team in Texas gets the shaft again, unfortunate the majority of D3 programs are in the northern region.

If anyone got the shaft it's George Fox.

Every year it is someone. So the fix to this problem is win your Pool A conference bid, otherwise plan on staying home. Too much magic, smoke and mirrors with picking Pool B/C bids IMO.

[TexasBB]

ASC as a whole was down this year. They did not have any standout teams. Some good teams but not outstanding. The close games in the tournament were telling. CTX was swept by UTT this year and UTT would not have even made the ASC tournament if Mississippi college wasn't ineligible to participate because of their D-II commitment. So the fact that CTX does not get a regional bid should not surprise anyone.

[BamColt]

31 wins, a win over Trinity who should be ranked in the top 5, and 2 wins against LU is a solid resume if you ask me, it's not like Concordia went 0-2 in the conference tourney either.
To say the ASC is down is a reach, from top to bottom is was better conference and not as top heavy as we have seen in years past.

[TexasBB]

IMO the conference was not better this year. It consinsted in large of a group of mostly mediocre teams. Don't confuse balance with better.

[Ralph Turner]

31 wins, a win over Trinity who should be ranked in the top 5, and 2 wins against LU is a solid resume if you ask me, it's not like Concordia went 0-2 in the conference tourney either.
To say the ASC is down is a reach, from top to bottom is was better conference and not as top heavy as we have seen in years past.

Please understand.  The conference is a very good conference.

Out 360 teams playing D3 ball, we probably have 7 teams in the top 120, and all teams in the top 150!

But, the Pool C bids this year had lots of team with upsets in the conference tourneys.  There are only 14 Pool C bids. CTX was not one of the best 14 teams that did not earn an AQ

Playing 33 conference games was easy on the budgets for most of the teams, but you must play someone out of Texas/Louisiana/Arkansas/Mississipp to boost the Strength of Schedule.  You gotta play 4-5 games in Arizona or Florida!

Not disparaging the effort, I will be ecstatic is LeTU goes wins one game!  That will be a remarkable showing for the breadth of the strength of the conference.

[dp643]

Just because the conference isnt as "top heavy" doesnt make the conference better. Most who have followed the conference for years will agree the conference as a whole was probably weaker this year.

CTX has no one to blame but themselves after being swept by UT Tyler and losing 2 of 3 to Mississippi College and then losing 2 at home to LeTourneau.

[CrashDavisD3]

Just because the conference isnt as "top heavy" doesnt make the conference better. Most who have followed the conference for years will agree the conference as a whole was probably weaker this year.

CTX has no one to blame but themselves after being swept by UT Tyler and losing 2 of 3 to Mississippi College and then losing 2 at home to LeTourneau.

Win the games on the field or you get to stay home. Pool A bid is the only way. Too much magic in getting Pool C bids. 2 30 win teams stay home in the West
Chapman and CTX. Anti West regional bias IMO.

[TexasBB]

Being lost in all of this discussion is the accomplishment of LeTourneau. That school has really struggled in Baseball and were cellar dwellers in the ASC East going back 10 years. This was a great accomplishment for them and I sure hope they surprise everyone in the West Regional!!

[dp643]

I agree about LeTourneau. I think they may have enough swag to knock off linfield.

[108 Stitches]

First a HUGE congratulations to LeTourneau, the players, and the coaches deserve a big round of applause for turning the program around this season.

I sincerely hope Linfield is looking past them and they surprise the DIII baseball world and send Linfield to the loser bracket. There will be 4 other teams and a lot of fans routing them on.  Everybody loves an underdog!

[BamColt]

Mediocre, you attended how many games?

[TexasBB]

Bam,

I have been a big UTT Tyler fan and have attended some, but not all of their games this year. I did see them play CTX in Tyler. UTT has a mediocre team and they swept the double header I was at.

UTT had a few seasons where they won over 30 games and did not make the regionals. I recall a few years ago Ozarks had a great season and won over 30 games and got passed over. If a team looses games they are supposed to win and the conference as a whole is not considered real strong, then an at large bid  is problematic. CTX had a good team but they have had stronger teams in the past IMO. This is all subjective if you don't win your conference. Those that made the decision as to at large bids chose a team not even in the West Regional.  Not only was the ASC passed over but all of the other conferences in the Region got dished as well since they are flying in a team from outside of the region this year.

[Ralph Turner]

A shout-out to former TLU player Daren Willman who has created some interesting baseball websites.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Techie-s-website-hits-cool-factor-out-of-the-5587377.php

[Bishopleftiesdad]

Does anyone know the number of Scholarship players left on McMurry's Roster? I am just curious. I see that they are competing in the NCCAA as well. Have they always been a member or are they a recent addition?