MBB: USA South Conference

scottiedoug · October 15, 2015, 11:21:42 AM

I suspected that the gurus who have picked the order of finishes in the league misunderstand LaGrange, which BSF has suggested may be true.

Ben Stein Fan · October 15, 2015, 12:09:27 PM

http://www.lagrangepanthers.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/201509082j30br

This is the list and description of LaGrange's incoming class. Pay particular to the first person and the last person mention. These guys can flat out play. In addition, LC is returning 5 of their top 6 scorers from last season. This team has senior leadership, athleticism, fantastic outside shooters, and now some height.

scottiedoug · October 16, 2015, 10:40:59 AM

That is a lot of players.

mattgrubb · October 20, 2015, 01:03:23 PM

Look, D3 is senior dominated like High school. Guys don't leave D3 early to go pro.

Wallace is Wallace. you take the good with the bad. The good: he gets kids to buy in and buy in quick, his kids are tough and they play hard.

The bad: He is not a complete soul without Dave McGreal. They are a beautiful couple!

Lagrange was not that good last year. Look at their regular season record. Nick Mitchell was just the kind of kid that won when it counted and that is the best compliment you can give a player. That mixed with the overall effort of his teammates has led to championships. The panthers have taken on Wallace's intense persona and that is what has led to their championships. Fortunately good and bad basketball seasons are defined by tournament performances. period. They will be "good" when they start going 22-2 in the regular season and I think Wallace can get them there but he is till building his program and recruiting is still a challenge. His day will come when he just walks into a gym and people know that he is a D3 coach but that just aint any ole D3, Its Lagrange, and they can compete with anyone.

Wagner and White will be a good duo since they have both played in about 975 USA south conference games since this is like their 98th year playing for LC.

And people thought Maryville joining the USA South wouldn't have a big impact on USA South men's basketball after the first season. Ha. Rememeber, Kendal Wallace aka the maker of men: disciple of defense both played and was an assistant at Maryville and he is wrecking shop in the USASouth! Oh yea and then there's the best assistants in the USA South. They are both from Florida, they both played PG for Maryville. Ones at Lagrange and ones at Maryville. I would have to put them in the octagon and let them have it to determine who was the better assistant.

I can't wait for the 2016 USA South/Nick Mitchell Men's Basketball Tournament!!!!!

scottiedoug · October 23, 2015, 11:16:45 AM

Hey Grubby...I am sad for you that you have to wait that long for basketball to interest you!

Ben Stein Fan · November 02, 2015, 10:50:08 AM

Quote from: mattgrubb on October 20, 2015, 01:03:23 PM
Look, D3 is senior dominated like High school. Guys don't leave D3 early to go pro.

Wallace is Wallace. you take the good with the bad. The good: he gets kids to buy in and buy in quick, his kids are tough and they play hard.

The bad: He is not a complete soul without Dave McGreal. They are a beautiful couple!

Lagrange was not that good last year. Look at their regular season record. Nick Mitchell was just the kind of kid that won when it counted and that is the best compliment you can give a player. That mixed with the overall effort of his teammates has led to championships. The panthers have taken on Wallace's intense persona and that is what has led to their championships. Fortunately good and bad basketball seasons are defined by tournament performances. period. They will be "good" when they start going 22-2 in the regular season and I think Wallace can get them there but he is till building his program and recruiting is still a challenge. His day will come when he just walks into a gym and people know that he is a D3 coach but that just aint any ole D3, Its Lagrange, and they can compete with anyone.

Wagner and White will be a good duo since they have both played in about 975 USA south conference games since this is like their 98th year playing for LC.

And people thought Maryville joining the USA South wouldn't have a big impact on USA South men's basketball after the first season. Ha. Rememeber, Kendal Wallace aka the maker of men: disciple of defense both played and was an assistant at Maryville and he is wrecking shop in the USASouth! Oh yea and then there's the best assistants in the USA South. They are both from Florida, they both played PG for Maryville. Ones at Lagrange and ones at Maryville. I would have to put them in the octagon and let them have it to determine who was the better assistant.

I can't wait for the 2016 USA South/Nick Mitchell Men's Basketball Tournament!!!!!

If results matter, then David McGreal is clearly the better assistant. He is a recruiting machine and is the perfect person to help Coach Wallace.

I am sorry to hear about Byrd. I hope he makes a full recovery.

I cannot wait for basketball season to start. LaGrange is loaded and ready to play.

mattgrubb · November 08, 2015, 05:23:17 PM

It hurts for someone to actually put it writing that they would pick one over the other with McGreal and Placeres. Its too hard to actually hurt the other one's feelings by actually picking. Let's look at the comparisons
Both PGs for Randy Lambert
Both have questionable tattoos
Both are awesome
Both wear so much cologne that you can smell S.Florida from a mile away on those 2
Both are part of a dynamic duo with their Head Coach that would make an epic tag team on WWE. I can see the match up between Wallace?Greal and Lambert/Raul (Im thinking Lambert looks better in wrestling tights than Wallace)

I cannot decide which one is better so they are the same to me. I will say this about both: If I am an AD at a USA South School and I go looking for a Head Men's Basketball Coach in the next 3 years, those would be my first 2 phone calls.

I can't wait for basketball season!

scottiedoug · November 08, 2015, 09:09:02 PM

I am glad you are now anxious for the season and not just the tournament!

mattgrubb · November 09, 2015, 11:36:34 AM

Scottiedoug,
I want to see Jalen Bowyer. He made a great decision to return after a very very challenging freshman year. I know he will see a lot of different things in his sophomore year and they will be the complete opposite of his freshman year. He is a very solid defender who will get more comfortable handling the ball and running the offense. He has the physical tools and he has Raul teaching him the mental aspect. He will have a very solid college career when it is all said and done. Tough journeys start rocky and end up with a great feeling of accomplishment. The scots key players this year will be Brewer, Shoffner, and Bowyer. Thats a solid big three but it is D3 and you need a solid 8 to be really good. We will see who steps up soon.

scottiedoug · November 10, 2015, 12:04:06 PM

I heard a lot last year about how good Bowyer was going to be but kept waiting to see, especially offensively. If Raul works his magic, that will help, but I wonder where the points are going to come from. Two pretty good sources are not available, so to speak.

Have you seen any newbies who can step up...like Songster did last year?

bballlover · November 11, 2015, 02:09:20 PM

Well its about time to get this season kicked off. My Lions sure don't have it very easy this week. You have to figure Emory will be laying in wait after last year. Hope everyone can stay injury free and whoever gets to the post season this year can make a little run.

scottiedoug · November 16, 2015, 09:32:55 AM

Sure were a lot of new players wearing Maryville uniforms while beating Centre at Centre, which is not usually what happens up there in KY. Maybe this will be an interesting year!

Ben Stein Fan · November 19, 2015, 03:42:25 AM

Scottie,

Impressive win by Maryville to beat Centre at Centre. The USAC has had some good wins so far in this early season.

LaGrange went to Berry shot horribly from the 3 pt line (3-28) and still won. Mark Wagner hit a layup with at the buzzer to beat BC 90-89.

LaGrange is going to press you, turn you over, and get to the free throw line.

Winning early season games on the road is a good sign.

Go Panthers!

bballlover · November 19, 2015, 08:55:45 AM

Piedmont also got a road win last night at Oglethorpe. Idk how good Oglethorpe is but, as you sad BSF any road win is a good win. And it wasn't even a Bible School.

scottiedoug · November 19, 2015, 10:17:44 AM

It is good to see USASouth teams doing well against other conferences. It is not the ODAC, but the Berry-Oglethorpe-Centre crowd is legitimate!