MBB: USA South Conference

[hasanova]

Wow what a game between Methodist and Guilford.

Lagrange or Methodist need to get Guilford at home.

As I noted on the ODAC site, it was a good game ... not sure why Methodist is only 2-6.  Guilford and Methodist have played each other yearly for a long time ... it's the Quakers turn to go to Fayetteville next season.  According to the GC game recap, Guilford's won 13 in a row in the series.  I'm not sure if Guilford and Lagrange had ever played before.

[mattgrubb]

Methodist is 2-6 b/c they have played a very strong non conference schedule including Emory, Guilford, and Va Wesleyan. They have also lost some close games. Those loses will turn into easy victories during conference play this year. Fayetteville is a tough place to play and it looks like MU has played the kind of non conference schedule needed to get ready to win the USASAC.

[hasanova]

Guilford travels to Rocky Mount tonight to play NC Wesleyan ... last game for the Quakes until the 28th and 29th at RMC's classic.  In the Ashland event, the Quakers and the Yellow Jackets alternate games with Dickinson and Birmingham-Southern, both of whom currently only have one loss.

NCWC is 4-4.  Against the bible colleges, the Bishops are 4-0, but 0-4 against more traditional competition.  They have two wins against Mid-Atlantic Christian, which I think used to be called Roanoke (NC) Bible College.  Guilford played RBC a couple of times about 10 years ago and they were the worst collegiate level team I think I had ever seen.  A third win is against Bob Jones University ... I didn't realize they played intercollegiate sports.

Dickinson is 6-1 with games against 4-3 CUA tonight and 5-2 Alvernia tomorrow.

BSU is also 6-1, including a 90-42 win last night over Huntingdon. Are the Panthers that good or are the 0-6 Hawks that bad?

[mattgrubb]

the hawks are bad.  Real Bad.  I don't think NCWC is much better, we will see.

The scots win in double overtime over Capital?  What?  They are supposed to lose the close ones?  Maybe they have gotten the message.  Nice win.  Looks like Oscar has woken up with another strong game.  Hopefully they can get a nice W tomorrow.

[narch]

Methodist is 2-6 b/c they have played a very strong non conference schedule including Emory, Guilford, and Va Wesleyan. They have also lost some close games. Those loses will turn into easy victories during conference play this year. Fayetteville is a tough place to play and it looks like MU has played the kind of non conference schedule needed to get ready to win the USASAC.

i wish i shared your optimism...mu has played a similarly difficult schedule every year - this year, only one of their opponents is under .500 (roanoke) and owp is currently .667...even their exhibition opponent (unc wilmington) is currently at .500 - unfortunately, the monarchs haven't finished at or above .500 themselves (in conference or otherwise) since 2007-2008...i'd like to think that a tough non-conference slate has prepared them to win the conference, but history tells me that it's prepared them to be around .500 in conference - i hope i'm wrong and you're right, though

as an aside, the monarchs remaining non-conference schedule is 4-4 connecticut college and 8-0 messiah...so it doesn't get any easier - at least the monarchs get to play 12 home games this year (as opposed to as few as 8 or 9 in some previous seasons...thank you, usasac, for expanding) - of course, five of those games are played when students are gone (1 over thanksgiving break and four over the holiday break), negating some of the home-court advantage...

on the plus side, bryan hockaday is putting in work - he is averaging 12.6 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 2.4 bpg and is shooting almost 50% from the field - he has 5 double/doubles in 8 games

[batteredbard]

the hawks are bad.  Real Bad.  I don't think NCWC is much better, we will see.

The scots win in double overtime over Capital?  What?  They are supposed to lose the close ones?  Maybe they have gotten the message.  Nice win.  Looks like Oscar has woken up with another strong game.  Hopefully they can get a nice W tomorrow.

Check the box score online. Scots gave away win in regulation at free throw line, had to rally in first overtime. Finally hit free throws in 2nd OT to win. They shot better from the floor (56 percent) than the foul line (54) until they hit the last seven in a row. How often does that happen?

Could take it as they got tougher to pull it out, getting clutch 3 to go to second OT or that they caved in final minute of regulation at foul line.

[mattgrubb]

Yea they tried to lose against capital but failed at losing.  Now they beat Transylvania at home. Neither team has a winning record but I think the Return of the Jedi Master to the scots bench is the reason. I know it's corny but winning these classics/tourneys is key to having a great season.

Btw attention Pat Coleman oh wizard of the D3 please look at Jaumonee Byrd. He is averaging 18 pts and 9 boards. He is the best player I have seen at Murvul in 10 years. He is a sophomore with those numbers.  He needs to be on the All American radar.  I'm not saying lock it in, I'm saying the kid is really good and we know what good players look like at Murvul.  They don't have the record they need but that is quickly improving.

[scottiedoug]

Where has the Jedi Master been? 

[mattgrubb]

i can't wait for conference play to begin this weekend.  i might actually go to a game.  Any excuse to get out of the house.  I am excited about the way the scots are playing with the return of the Placeres.  They had a little slip up the other night but that was at and NAIA school and they shouldn't beat them anyway.  Conference play is where it all happens. 

[mattgrubb]

scots looked good over the cougars last night.  Placeres is back and the scots are responding.  Other than the post game shooting display by the sigmund kids, the highlight of the night was Oscar Butler.  The scots should have their 2nd conference win in another 20 minutes of conference play over FC.  They are starting off right and they have a balanced attack.  Looks like 2014 will be better than 2013

[mattgrubb]

well things opened up as predicted but not as expected.  Murvul got 2 nice home wins, as they are preseason fave to win the league.  Its hard to believe the conference player of the year will be a sophomore but thats how the ball bounces.  Is this a one bid conference, well the best overall record is held by the Maker of Men at Lagrange at 6-5.  I still want to see Methodist play, but it is going to be rough for any team to win the auto bid without winning the league as the winner hosts conference tourney.

Coach P is the missing link, Coach Hernandez should shave his head and mullet to be more like the great Coach P.

[scottiedoug]

Coach P has been a coach for a lot longer than Coach H....Maybe there are things about coaching that you have to learn by doing as well as by watching other coaches and being coached.

Who turned Mr. Burris into a serious contributor?

Looks from box scores like a couple of people who were getting minutes as freshmen have vanished....any info, Grubby One?

[Ben Stein Fan]

well things opened up as predicted but not as expected.  Murvul got 2 nice home wins, as they are preseason fave to win the league.  Its hard to believe the conference player of the year will be a sophomore but thats how the ball bounces.  Is this a one bid conference, well the best overall record is held by the Maker of Men at Lagrange at 6-5.  I still want to see Methodist play, but it is going to be rough for any team to win the auto bid without winning the league as the winner hosts conference tourney.

Coach P is the missing link, Coach Hernandez should shave his head and mullet to be more like the great Coach P.

Patrick Dugger has a really great chance to be POY

[bballlover]

After a pretty good win against Sewanee this week can the Lions of Piedmont pick up a conference win this weekend? We shall see. GO LIONS

[scottiedoug]

Scots had to fight their way out of a pretty deep hole to beat Greensboro;  they are pretty good when they really try but not so good when they don't.  Without J.P. Burris, they would have lost.  Who knew he would have a senior year so unlike his first three?