MBB: USA South Conference

scottiedoug · January 11, 2014, 11:47:19 PM

Hey Narch...are you out there? MU seems to have some talented players but mostly relies on one-on-one matchups and not so much team ball. Maryville has the advantage of this scheduling arrangement this year of playing the Greensboro-Methodist-Ferrum-Averett squads only at home so who knows?

mattgrubb · January 12, 2014, 11:39:11 AM

Scottiedoug. I agree with you 100% percent. The scots have 4 home wins. Lagrange has 2 road wins. The scots have the easier schedule this year but you still have to win. The scots have at least 3 guys off the bench who could lead the team to victory. When you count the always explosive shoffner, the well round game of Butler, and the raw dominance of J Byrd, the Scots are looking good. Although, they are still mentally weak and easily out hustled, they are slowly learning to win.

As a guy who said the scots were not capable of winning a lot of games with Burris starting, I am more than happy to eat those words. The kid has worked very hard and grown tremendously. While most of his growth is mental, that is the toughest kind. He has had the ability, just lacked the confidence. His toughness and leadership is exactly what the scots need. BTW did I mention he moved to a new position this year?

I still would not bet on this scots team yet as we don't know exactly who is going to show up on a daily basis but they are getting close

scottiedoug · January 12, 2014, 04:45:57 PM

Mr Grubby: I agree that J.P. has a new mentality but he also seems to have a new body and speed. Coach L. told me that J.P. since last spring has worked his tail off with the trainer and reshaped himself sort of along the lines Greg H. did after his freshman year.

He seems to me to be bringing some of the fire and attitude you were observing as lacking last year and earlier this one.

I think it is a great example of what leadership can look like and bring to a team.

mattgrubb · January 12, 2014, 05:55:24 PM

Scottiedoug
Agreed. Now i wonder how much better J Byrd can get and that thought scares me. Just look ahead to next year with C Ford, Shoff, Oscar, Joey, J Byrd and Antonio. WOW!

scottiedoug · January 12, 2014, 11:16:18 PM

Maybe J Bird will take inspiration from J.P. and his longhaired coach.

mattgrubb · January 19, 2014, 12:17:02 PM

Scots are 6-0 in the conference after a terrible showing in the pre conference schedule. Nice. 10-6 sounds a lot better than 1-5. I guess Coach P's return is making a difference. Now onto the southern division. Its time for the Scots to sweep the old GSAC. I can't wait. toughest game on the schedule is always Lagrange because of their amazing coaching staff. LC took a tough one on the chin last night but maybe they can bounce back today. I look forward to watching the game.

I think the real test of how good Murvul is will be the BSC game on 1/29. Even though BSC has some of the same bad losses as MC, it is a road game for the scots and will be a good test.

scottiedoug · January 19, 2014, 10:31:11 PM

Beating Ferrum by 20 qualifies as bouncing back for LaGrange, dontcha think?
Should be an entertaining month or so.

mattgrubb · January 20, 2014, 03:08:21 PM

The force is strong in the LC coaching staff. If any USASAC head coaching jobs become available they should take a long hard look at D. McGreal. Im not trying to steal Coach Wallace's right hand man, but the guy can coach.

No one can have my Coach P, his services are not on the table.

mattgrubb · January 26, 2014, 09:59:38 AM

I am so glad Sheila Evans is back with the scots dance team. her enrolling in mini term this january has really lifted the scots athletics program as a whole but as always she has given a tremendous boost to the men's basketball team. Some think it is the return of Coach P and they may have a little impact but we all know the Sheila effect. I am really looking forward to the Scots running the table the rest of the season and then hosting the conference tournament. That means we get more home games to watch sheila dance.

Life is only getting better.

scottiedoug · January 26, 2014, 01:19:14 PM

Maybe the Grubby One should endow a position for Sheila....

Ralph Turner · January 26, 2014, 08:50:09 PM

http://www.mcscots.com/recreation/dance-team

2012-13?

I think that the Grubby One should pay for the SID to update the Dance Team web page!

mattgrubb · January 27, 2014, 03:34:58 PM

yes Ralph
if you will notice the dance team is not covered by the wonderful SID Eric Etchison. So it is a little behind the times. But to prove Sheila is there, the scots are 7-0 in 2014...

Ralph Turner · January 29, 2014, 11:01:24 AM

+1! Grubby one.

mattgrubb · February 02, 2014, 11:12:30 PM

Well, Maryville (Tenn) is back to being good ole Murvul at 12-6 and dominating their conference as usual. So, i think it is fitting that they get consideration for an All American candidate. I therefore nominate J Byrd. See the stats. Pat Coleman, I am going to need your help on this buddy. As usual, the trip to the great smokey mountains is a great one and comes through Murvul. I might have some hook ups if you need a place to crash and need a good time in Gatlinburg. We could get you a Murvul Scots airbrush T shirt. Are we allowed to give the creator of this site perks for his evaluation of great players? So, it is always an open invite to Appalachia.

On a side note Pat, the site looks great but I still miss the old parkay wood floor background. Ahh, nostalgia.

Speaking of wood floors, my job is not done until maryville college athletics realizes the need to rename their court, The Lambert/Placeres Court at Boydson Baird Gymnasium. Coach P has come back with a vengeance. He has brought his winning attitude, that was on vacation last year, and it has been contagious with these young men. The best part is most of them are coming back next year. Along with Coach P and his new title of Associate Head Coach and a nice raise for his services. The best part of Coach P's return has been the old Randy Lambert swagger that is back in his stride since they are back on the right track. Coach Lambert is back to strutting around his court instead of walking with his head down trying not to be noticed. It is nice to see he still has it. I think these guys can focus in, keep improving, and might even see an NCAA tournament bid that they earn on their own and what it feels like. I just really hope they don't wear those orange socks.

scottiedoug · February 02, 2014, 11:33:31 PM

Yeah, Grubby One, maybe these Scots are growing up to become habitual winners. They are certainly playing better. And J Byrd seems to be working hard to use that talent most of the time he is on the court. They seem to have caught on to the use of assists and to taking whatever the other team gives them.