MBB: USA South Conference

[captj]

Captj - do I get a Karma point for that post??

You sure do... it's nice having you back from the dark side.

Speaking of karma, who's dinging me again?  After I came to my senses regarding Pat it climbed out of red numbers, and I made a New Year's resolution to be a kinder, gentler poster this year, but I'm back in the red again.  Waddid I do?  Too much posting? 

[cnu85]

Dang...I've noticed lately that my Karma keeps going up, Yet every time I get on the board everyone else's drops one. I'll be back in 18 hours and see if it continues!!

[cnufan]

The Cougars go down today in a tough one at HOME!! They drop a 79-77 decision to Piedmont.

[narch]

goose - that piedmont game wasn't as close as the score looks, either - pc had a double digit lead with under 2 minutes left - makes the pc game for the monarchs even more important/scary - beating them would be a nice win as they're 6-4 (4-2 in region) right now

[cnufan]

Thanks for the info narch, didnt know any details and I didnt listen to any of the game, just saw the score. Good luck tomorrow!

[captj]

I don't think that CJ logs onto this website and he probably doesn't care what I think. 

I think CJ Woollum DOES log onto this website and he definitely DOES care what I think.  Last night I was later than usual arriving for the Captain's game against Fisher and was still in my car when FT and Goose interviewed CJ before the game.  He went through all of the usual pre-game stuff and then addressed very directly, and at length, the complaints about CNU's schedule.  I swear it felt like he was talking to me, even though I'm certainly not the only one that has complained about the issue.  I can tell you this; he knows the schedule is weak, and it is not intentional.  He wants to schedule tougher competition but is unable to get teams to play us.  He said that he has offered to play away first in order to get the CAC and ODAC teams to play us, but that they just won't do it.  The only ODAC teams that have been willing to play us are RMC and VWC.  The only CAC teams I can remember playing is Salisbury and Marymount.  I think he's doing all he can do. 

All of this discussion about how difficult it is to put together a good schedule makes you really admire the teams that do so.  In checking out the CAC teams I looked at York (PA).  What a schedule they have!  They were at best a mediocre team for the three years before last year, when they went 28-4.  This year every opponent is an NCAA D3 team.  Non-conference games and last year's records – DeSales 20-8, Dickenson 8-17, Gettysburg 16-11, Albright 21-7, Juniata 9-16, Mount Union 14-13, Ursinus 18-10, Brockport St. 18-10, Lebanon Valley 20-7, Messiah 19-6, Hood 12-13.  Only 2 of these teams are out of their region.  Now this is a great schedule.  And you know what?  York has won all of these games this year except for the Hood game which hasn't been played yet.

Maybe the better teams really don't want to play the better teams.  Maybe York was able to put this schedule together when they were a mediocre team.  Maybe the foundation for this year's schedule was formed the year before last when they were 11-15.  Maybe good teams want to play mediocre teams in their non-conference schedule.

That's a lot of maybes.  I just know that you can't have it both ways.  We haven't had the greatest of success the last few years so surely teams aren't afraid of us now.  Let's see a schedule like York's next year.

[captj]

Random thoughts on the CNU/Fisher game –

Fisher was simply outmatched and outmanned.  They dressed only 6 players.  Two of their guys are really, really good, but the rest were just not up for this level of play.

The Captains played really well.  I was glad to see a game without a lot of turnovers and with good shooting.  Fg% for the game was 55% vs. 36% for Fisher.

I really liked all the assists (31).  We seemed really willing to pass the ball to the open man.  Some of the assists were really, really nice.

Barton continues to impress.  13 pts, 6 rebs, 7 assts, 0 turnovers.  And for a change, he led the team in minutes instead of Selden.  This guy just doesn't play like a freshman.

After our last game I questioned Purdham's stats, and once again his stats aren't noteworthy.  But the guy was really hustling last night.  He forced a 5-second violation with his defense, had a really nice assist, and should have had another (even nicer) assist except the shooter missed the easy shot.  No turnovers and 1 steal.  And, oh yeah; it was his birthday.  Happy birthday, Adam.  And good game.

Romeo found his stroke.  3 for 6 from long.  He'd have been 3 for 5 without the ill advised attempt from almost half court that earned him an immediate spot on the bench.  Good defense, as usual. 

Selden becoming mere mortal again with his 3pt shooting.  It seemed like a quiet game from him (12 pts, 3 rebs, 5 assts, 0 tos, 2 blks, 1 stl).

Blasingame also continues to impress.  Another guy that doesn't play like a freshman.  He was 6 for 8 on fg attempts for 12 pts, 7 rebs, 5 blks.  He attempted one 3-pt shot that seemed to make the fans laugh for some strange reason.  The shot was barely off line, and I predict that he's going to begin taking more of those shots at some point in his future, maybe next year.  Remember Terry Gray, USASAC fans?

McShepard had 7 pts, 4 rebs, 2 blks, 2 assts in only 11 minutes.  But he also had 3 turnovers.  And, oh yeah; he too is just a freshman.

Claxton is so strong.  In the post-game interview CJ made a comment that Claxton would be a significant contributor in conference play.

Lewis with a good game.  I've never see a player have so many near-misses on his fg attempts.  It seems like every shot he misses is a rim out.

Riley also with a good game.  He continues to make the most of his shots.  His 5 for 8 shooting for 12 pts is right in line with what he's done all year (61% and 11 pts/gm).

We still can't seem to make free throws (4 for 8, 50%).

It hurts to see Matt Coleman sitting on the bench in civvies.  He was doing so much for the team before his injury.  Now I'm concerned that during his healing we've found some good lineup combinations (and a new player) and that when he's recovered he won't see the playing time that he had been getting.  His story is so great that it will ruin the Hollywood script if he doesn't come back and contribute like he had been.

Go Captains!  Beat Shenandoah!

[captj]

my Karma keeps going up, Yet every time I get on the board everyone else's drops one

That explains it.  Et tu, Brute?

[cnufan]

FYI CNU Fans, Carnegie Mellon goes to NYU and defeats them in double OT to improve to 12-1. NYU was unbeaten headed into today's game.

[captj]

Keep all sharp objects away from narch.

[dblock]

FYI CNU Fans, Carnegie Mellon goes to NYU and defeats them in double OT to improve to 12-1. NYU was unbeaten headed into today's game.

Im big on never putting down a eams vicory or blaming the refs for a loss...but CMU got away with one today and hey NYC knowing it. Probably the worst job of officiating Ive ever seen...

[narch]

let me start out by saying this...piedmont is a good team...well coached, disciplined, good shooters and they really play hard and hustle...the monarchs lost to the better team tonight

that being said, i saw some very troubling things today - the monarchs simply didn't play with much passion or intensity except for a short stretch in the second half (they happened to go on a NICE run when they played hard...imagine that) - there is very little post offense and the only guy who WANTS to rebound is shuford - coach smith shuttled guys in and out the entire first half, trying to find the right combo - by game 11 you'd hope that the right guys would have stepped up - individually, i think seth thomas has to be more aggressive and assert himself offensively...although he played solid, he didn't play like the conference poty (as i predicted) today and he only took 8 shots - if the monarchs don't play SIGNIFICANTLY harder on both ends, this will be a long season for mc

bright spots - i think coach smith found a good combination - the lineup of grant, lee, thomas, shuford and mcbryde played very well - shuford is amazing for a guy that's 6'2" - he pulled in 11 boards, had 3 blocks, 4 steals and scored 14 pts - he was all hustle and athleticism...i like his energy - mcbryde played well in spurts and had 12 and 9 - he seemed to wear out a bit (as did many of the monarchs...and pc played back-to-back road games...they should have been the tired team) and he made some frosh mistakes, but i think he'll be a good one in time - brian lane played some solid minutes as the back up pg and mcevoy played well defensively with 4 blocks - probably the best news...still undefeated in conference play

there is still a lot of work to do, but unfortunately not much time to do it - gc...you're on the clock...tick-tock

box score
game story

[PrideFan1986]

Guys,

No doubt this is the most wide open USA South MB race in recent memory.

Save maybe NCW and Ferrum, I think everyone else has a shot and that includes my Pride. I wonder what the coaches' poll would be if taken today. Here's my poll.

1. SU -- 8-2 and seem to be only team that hasn't slumped
2. GC -- Best back court in USAS; Beat Piedmont in deep south
3. AU -- Beat Maryville but came back to earth lately
4. CNU -- Soft schedule will hurt Captains; Go on the road to play good teams if you have to.
5. MC -- Tough sched., but they're still really struggling
6. FC -- Still too early for Panthers
7. NCW -- Struggled all year


FYI, here's original poll:
2005 USA South Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank, Institution (1st place Votes), Pts.
1. Methodist (6) 36
2. N.C. Wesleyan 30
3. Averett (1) 23
4. Christopher Newport 22
5. Shenandoah 18
T-6. Ferrum 9
T-6. Greensboro 9

That AU first place vore looks a lot better now!

Let the games begin!

[AUCougars]

goose - that piedmont game wasn't as close as the score looks, either - pc had a double digit lead with under 2 minutes left - makes the pc game for the monarchs even more important/scary - beating them would be a nice win as they're 6-4 (4-2 in region) right now

Narch, how could you say a 2-point game was not as close as the score indicates?  Averett had a shot to win it with five seconds left and a shot to tie at the buzzer.  I was at the game and it was very close.  The lead was nine with 1:48 to play, which isn't much with a pair of teams that like to get it up the floor as quickly as AU and PC.  I assure you, Piedmont was happy to come out of the Grant Center with a win and there wasn't much relaxing going on for either team late in the game.  That was a good, close, game between two very good teams.

Also worth noting, Averett missed at least 10 lay-ups and shot only 47 percent from the line...not a normal AU outing.  The Cougars had open looks, but just couldn't hit shots.  Unfortunately their defensive effort wasn't quite good enough to allow them to make it six straight against a very good Piedmont squad.

Coach Allen has this team playing very well, as the 9-3 start was the best in the program's history.

[Pat Coleman]

FYI CNU Fans, Carnegie Mellon goes to NYU and defeats them in double OT to improve to 12-1. NYU was unbeaten headed into today's game.

Im big on never putting down a eams vicory or blaming the refs for a loss...but CMU got away with one today and hey NYC knowing it. Probably the worst job of officiating Ive ever seen...

NYU had all the advantages in this one -- playing at home while CMU traveled twice this weekend, getting the no-respect card to play for its kids against the Top 25 team, two of CMU's top scorers for the game fouled out in overtime, etc.