MBB: USA South Conference

[pride1fan]

"really"

[CNU85]

a little early for hoops chat. I've heard a few bits of info on CNU - should be a fun season!

[SU97]

a little early for hoops chat. I've heard a few bits of info on CNU - should be a fun season!

Never too early... 

...shall I enter the Public-Private debate on the football board and give Narch some help

CNU85 - I will say this, your RB over the weekend was a monster.  You guys need to hold onto the ball though, SU is not very strong this year and we hung with you.  If we don't fumble on the 15 yard line during our big drive at the start of the 4th quarter it could have been a different outcome.  But, in the end it was pretty sloppy all the way around for the Hornets.

[CNU85]

SU97,

aaahhhhhh...that debate is insane. And then I just wrote a bunch of stuff to add to the insanity....I have now deleted it - nobody will listent o my correct point of view anyway! 


Anyway - this is a hoops board. I've heard good things about CNU potential. I've heard Blasingame is back!!!! That makes me happy!

[WorldwideWes]

Season predictions anybody?

With alot of talent leaving last year Player of the Year is up in the air.  Barton was my favorite until the bad news.  I have a feeling a sleeper could come outta nowhere and take this award.  Maybe back to back POY for one school 

[CNU85]

What's the bad news about Barton?

[wildbill]

Barton has ACL surgery last spring.  His recovery seem to be going well.

[WorldwideWes]

Averett Picked As USA South Preseason Men's Basketball Favorite

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Averett University, under the direction of fifth-year Head Coach Jimmy Allen, was picked in the preseason coaches' poll to win the USA South Athletic Conference 2008-09 men's basketball title. The Cougars are the two-time defending tournament champions. The title was the third in the program's history.

Averett received two of seven first-place votes (32 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

Ferrum College, who shared the regular season title with Methodist University a year ago, finished second in the voting with 30 points and three first-place votes. Christopher Newport University rounded out the top-three with 27 points and the final two first-place votes.

The 2008-09 campaign tips-off on Tuesday, November 11 when Shenandoah University takes on Shippensburg.

2008 USA South Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Institution (1st place Votes) Pts.
1. Averett (2) 32
2. Ferrum (3) 30
3. Christopher Newport (2) 27
4. N.C. Wesleyan 23
5. Methodist 16
6. Greensboro 11
7. Shenandoah 8

Wow SU is ranked last in the conference! Yes they lost Lawrence and Onyie but they still have Johns and a young core returning.  Well the season has begun folks

[CNU85]

Barton has ACL surgery last spring.  His recovery seem to be going well.

whew....I knew that. I just thought from the post that something else happened. Word I have is that he is better than ever!

[narch]

i've heard the monarchs are playing really well defensively early in practice...or the offense is really bad

either way, this should be a bit of a rebuilding year for an mu team that lost a lot of firepower...and the schedule is going to be pretty challenging (as always)

http://www.mumonarchs.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

i've heard that vwc is chock-full-o-talent this year and even without big ben, guilford should be good...pretty tough first 2 game - i like the addition of some extra home games...mu was very good at home last year (8-1), and it will be nice to be able to see them play in the riddle center a little more (12 home games this year vs. 9 in 2007 and 10 in 2006)

[hasanova]

i've heard the monarchs are playing really well defensively early in practice...or the offense is really bad

either way, this should be a bit of a rebuilding year for an mu team that lost a lot of firepower...and the schedule is going to be pretty challenging (as always)

http://www.mumonarchs.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

i've heard that vwc is chock-full-o-talent this year and even without big ben, guilford should be good...pretty tough first 2 game - i like the addition of some extra home games...mu was very good at home last year (8-1), and it will be nice to be able to see them play in the riddle center a little more (12 home games this year vs. 9 in 2007 and 10 in 2006)

narch, that is a tough opening weekend with VWC and Guilford back-to-back.  I spoke to GC's Coach Palombo a few days ago and he knows it's a different team AB (after Ben), but thinks they'll still be fairly good.  I know he's got a 6'9" freshman from W-S to complement 6"10" junior Tyler Sanborn out of Elkin.  As a freshman, I'm pretty certain the new guy will be a spot player, but that's still a lot of height in DIII.  I'm not sure if I can make the trip to Fayetteville, but I'll think about it since it's a Sunday game.

[WorldwideWes]

Shenandoah had  at scrimmage at D-II Shepherd University this afternoon...

SU really played well even though being smaller at every position.  I'll post some game notes later if anybody is interested.

[CNU85]

WWW - post the notes. Can't wait for this season to start.....oops...I think I haen't ordered my season tix yet.

[WorldwideWes]

Game Notes from Shenandoah vs. Shepherd

- Hornets lack depth in the front court but #50 Schrader and Kline do a good job. Both have a solid inside out game.

- Chris Schrader hit 2 3-pointers then had a big lefty dunk going baseline for the first 8 points.

- Guard Steven Johns performed solid....he's just a great all-around player and leads by example out there.

- The Hornets started Kenny Robertson at the point.  He's solid.  Nothing stood out though.  He had a nice drive in the 2nd half.  While the other hornet guard pushed the ball he was a little passive.

- Starting on the wing was Lamar Bentley a returner.  He started off shaky and had a couple mental lapses.  He is a good set shooter and showed his hops in warm-ups. 

Key subs were

-Soph. #1 Nick Brown at the point....great offensive threat.  Strung together a nice couple of buckets.  Great hands of D causing a jump ball and stripping the ball away twice.  Pushes the ball really hard. I like his confidence and wish we would've seen a little more of him.

- On the wing was new addition Jr. #0 Wayne Washington...about 6'1 but plays 6'6....great athlete, quick, and enjoys defense.  He's no slouch on offense either.  He had a nice drive and floated to avoid the charge in the 1st half.  He knocked down a corner three, and came off a curl and converted.  I'd say he's one of the more complete players on the roster.  Needs to finish around the basket a little better he missed 2 tough lay-ups when he should've just dunked it.

- #23 Craig Fortune showed why he could be a problem for a lot of teams... 6'5 on the wing.  He had 2 great blocks that were called fouls....He can easily shoot over the D in the paint.  Still not the best with the ball in his hands on the perimeter but the potential is scary.

-#24 sharpshooter Brandon Bryan wasn't gun shy at all.  He's not scared to let it fly or drive to the bucket.  He didn't stroke as well as he's capable but he showed confidence that is necessary for a shooter. 

SU won the 1st half and Shepherd won the 2nd by 5 I believe.  Then they played a quick 6 minute session at the end.  Coach Harris has a good group on his hands.  Just a little small in the post but they make up for it.

[CNU85]

Thanks WWW.

I will have to brush up on my hoops memory. It's the middle of football season, so I can't remember SU returning players and newcomers. Something to do this week. Maybe tomorrow night while I watch the maps on TV turn blue or red!