MBB: USA South Conference

[CNU85]

"85"....cannot speak for the other two "walkoffs", but Blasingame indeed did leave the team AND school for health reasons.  My source, who is pretty close to Mark says if healthy, he plans on returning for his last two years of eligibility. Time (way to long for me) will tell.   

can't wait 'til he gets back!!

[CNU85]

at this point in the season, you shouldn't even be thinking about trying to have a winning season. with only one senior and three juniors, you should be concentrating on how the younger guys are developing as the season progresses because it's obviously a rebuilding year.

2. who are you to tell me what i should be thinking about at this time of year? I'm a fan. Whatever I choose to "concentrate on" has no bearing on team performance. That was a dumb comment on your part.

CNU85: you should be thinking about BEER right now.  It's how I've gotten through the last two years of SU's conference play...   

+1 for you. I wonder if beer will be enough this year!! Although, CNU is now 3-9.....getting better!!

[CNU85]

CNU has won 2 out of last 3......look out SU97!!   


one more game before conference play starts....

[VirginiaSlim22]

The transfer is official at SU. I don't know if he'll suit up or get any PT against CNU.  Just keep your eyes open during warm-ups to see what I'm talk ing about.

There will be a new fan favorite in Winchester.

[jdubyadubya]

C'mon now Slim. Tell us who it is. Not all of us can get to the SU games.

[narch]

6 monarchs scored in double digits for mu in the 100-83 win today - frosh luemichael smith scored 19, many of the acrobatic variety...he's as athletic as an player i can remember at mu...he's got ivan little hops with a better shot - pc played hard and baldwin was a beast getting 34 with 10 boards - the monarchs shot over 50% from the floor - travis mcbryde had 11 points in 10 minutes after sitting out the entire first half - tyler sigman had a very nice game with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals...he seemed to always be in the right place...his game has really progressed since last year - a good finish to the non-conference portion of the schedule, now the boys from gc are on the clock for wednesday...let's see if the monarchs can steal one on the road

box score

[scottiedoug]

Adam Nicholson of Greensboro is also a heck of a player...Lumichael Smith as a senior.  I have seen them both playing at Maryville.  The Scots finally found someone to guard Nicholson yesterday and it's a good thing, since he was lighting the place up.

Here is the newspaper link:
http://thedailytimes.com/article/20080113/SPORTS/217936753

[batteredbard]

So if this was the possible future where there was some adding and subtracting going on the conference standings right now would be:

Maryville 4-1 (Averett, Methodist(2), Greensboro, loss to Averett)
Averett 2-1 (split with Maryville, win over Piedmont)
NCW 1-0 (Piedmont)
***CNU 0-0
Ferrum 0-1 (Piedmont)
Greensboro 0-1 (loss to Maryville)
Methodist 1-2 (Piedmont, loss to Maryville (2)
Piedmont 1-4 (Win over Ferrum losses to NCW, Meth(2), Averett)

* Assuming Shenandoah gone to ODAC,
** Assuming LaGrange and Huntingdon do not join Maryville and Piedmont move for geographical reasons
***CNU didnt play any of them but would they stay? Hope so to make 8 and lock down AQ

[Ralph Turner]

So if this was the possible future where there was some adding and subtracting going on the conference standings right now would be:

Maryville 4-1 (Averett, Methodist(2), Greensboro, loss to Averett)
Averett 2-1 (split with Maryville, win over Piedmont)
NCW 1-0 (Piedmont)
***CNU 0-0
Ferrum 0-1 (Piedmont)
Greensboro 0-1 (loss to Maryville)
Methodist 1-2 (Piedmont, loss to Maryville (2)
Piedmont 1-4 (Win over Ferrum losses to NCW, Meth(2), Averett)

* Assuming Shenandoah gone to ODAC,
** Assuming LaGrange and Huntingdon do not join Maryville and Piedmont move for geographical reasons
***CNU didnt play any of them but would they stay? Hope so to make 8 and lock down AQ

Piedmont and Maryville leaving for the USA South and not taking LaGrange and Huntingdon with them would be a travesty!

LaGrange and Huntingdon need a conference more than anyone!

IMHO, it is incumbent on the leadership of the GSAC to take the entire conference in the merger!  LaGrange and Huntingdon committed to the D3 model with the GSAC in mind. 

Anything less than that is traitorous!

[Ralph Turner]

***CNU didn't play any of them but would they stay? Hope so to make 8 and lock down AQ

For all of the crying that we hear on these boards about CNU as the public school, the Capital AC would love to have another football playing school.  Adding a 10th school might allow the Capital AC to split into divisions, or to replace a Gallaudet, which is on probation in the Capital AC.  (Public colleges in the Capital AC:  Salisbury, St Mary's College, and Mary Washington.)

Travel from CNU to  Demorest, GA (536 miles and 8 hrs  48 minutes) and to Maryville TN 523 miles 8 hours  23 minutes) is a lot farther than CNU  to York PA (271 miles, 4 hours 32 minutes). 

[SU97]

* Assuming Shenandoah gone to ODAC,

SU won't be in the ODAC, but adding Maryville and Piedmont would force the Hornets to look North or East for a new home.

[SU97]

It's been real quiet on here lately...

[SU97]

My pre-preseason picks:

1.  Shenandoah:   
Homer pick... check. 
Bias... check.
Last place in 2007... check.
15 beers playing a part in your pick process... priceless.

2.  CNU:   
Blasingame is still the best big man in the conference.  At the end of last year CNU85 indicated that Blasingame may have missed his window of opportunity.  But with 5 transfers, it looks to me like CJ reloaded and is ready to compete.  The backcourt now has a chance to be very good: I really liked Barton last year (lit us up) and if (assuming) the kid from ODU steps in at point... Lewis and Riley will need to be replaced, if any of those big men transfers can play, then I think we see CNU doing what GC pulled off last year.   

3.  Averett: 
Amazing year in 2007.  A great run, overcoming injuries and a lowly loss to SU... I can't quite put my finger on it, but I don't see the regular season championship running through danville. Last year was such an amazing feat that I think it's overshadowing the fact they have so much talent returning... weird. 

4.  Greensboro: 
After last season I tabbed them to take it all this year.  But now after looking at the roster, I'm left wondering.  With #30 not returning (POTY), I just wonder what they have underneath.  They crushed the boards against us...   

5.  Methodist:
Would have been ranked higher, but the Dragan, my favorite player of the decade has now graduated.  This knocked 'em back to 5th.  Seriously, last year's youth and strong schedule could equate to experience and some close wins... maybe more. 

6.  NCWC: 
As Narch said: no roster yet... I think we will know more early in the season, as they have VWC, Guilford and RandyMac on the schedule...  They could easily push for the title... but no new info, so I'll just retype what I typed up for last years' summary: I never know know what to think of this squad. They always have talent, hell two years ago there wasn't a more dangerous combo in the conference than Hall and Arrington.  Hall again showed that he can pretty much do what he wants during the conference tournament, but how they ended up in 6th place is beyond me.  They look promising for next year, only losing one starter to graduation and Hall will be a senior.

7.  Ferrum: 
Beat SU last year, but who didn't.  Only lost one senior.

Okay, so I'm going to change my picks slightly going into conference play...  I think we've learned that this is going to be one TIGHT race.

[SU97]

My pre-preseason picks:

1.  Shenandoah:   
Homer pick… check. 
Bias… check.
Last place in 2007… check.
15 beers playing a part in your pick process… priceless.

Still biased, still picking the Hornets first.  Not sure how the roster moves over the holiday will play a role.  In addition to VASlim's reference to Schrader, I hear that SU lost it's point guard. It will be a couple of interesting games to start off conference play, that's for sure.

3.  Averett: 
Amazing year in 2007.  A great run, overcoming injuries and a lowly loss to SU… I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I don’t see the regular season championship running through danville. Last year was such an amazing feat that I think it’s overshadowing the fact they have so much talent returning… weird. 

4.  Greensboro: 
After last season I tabbed them to take it all this year.  But now after looking at the roster, I’m left wondering.  With #30 not returning (POTY), I just wonder what they have underneath.  They crushed the boards against us…

Without Blasingame CNU drops a little.  Averett and GC are as much as tied in my book.  I think that any of the top 5 teams may be interchangable on any given day. Again, AU is the hardest to read. Is AU the team that beat Maryville or the team that lost to Guilford by 20? GC and AU are Tied for #2.  Okay, so I hate ties, AU will be 2nd and GC will come in 3rd place.
   

5.  Methodist:
Would have been ranked higher, but the Dragan, my favorite player of the decade has now graduated.  This knocked ‘em back to 5th.  Seriously, last year’s youth and strong schedule could equate to experience and some close wins… maybe more. 

4th:  Methodist is well coached and seemed to play well thus far.  Not sure how their schedule holds up to the likes of GC, AU or NCWC. 

6.  NCWC: 
As Narch said: no roster yet… I think we will know more early in the season, as they have VWC, Guilford and RandyMac on the schedule…  They could easily push for the title... but no new info, so I’ll just retype what I typed up for last years’ summary: I never know know what to think of this squad. They always have talent, hell two years ago there wasn't a more dangerous combo in the conference than Hall and Arrington.  Hall again showed that he can pretty much do what he wants during the conference tournament, but how they ended up in 6th place is beyond me.  They look promising for next year, only losing one starter to graduation and Hall will be a senior.

5th:  NCWC has played a pretty tough schedule.  Elon, ECU and Guilford are not losses to be taken lightly.  As always they have a ton of talent.  They will beat some teams.  Coulld take it all...

2.  CNU:   
Blasingame is still the best big man in the conference.  At the end of last year CNU85 indicated that Blasingame may have missed his window of opportunity.  But with 5 transfers, it looks to me like CJ reloaded and is ready to compete.  The backcourt now has a chance to be very good: I really liked Barton last year (lit us up) and if (assuming) the kid from ODU steps in at point… Lewis and Riley will need to be replaced, if any of those big men transfers can play, then I think we see CNU doing what GC pulled off last year.   

# 6:  The dreaded Newports.  Honestly, I have no idea what to think here. I will say this:  CNU will play the role of the spoiler. They will knock one or two of the top teams off in conference play (at home) and mess this whole thing up. That I know for certain.

7.  Ferrum: 
Beat SU last year, but who didn’t.  Only lost one senior.

Ferrum, last place.

[Pat Coleman]

Not sure how badly the CAC wants CNU. I'e heard the thought of someone like York or Villa Julie traveling to CNU and having to traverse three beltways in the process (Baltimore, DC, Richmond) is not preferable, to say the least.