MBB: Great South Athletic Conference

[MCScotsFan]

I think Bo, Alex, and Q are doing an admirable job, you basically have three shooting guards trying to fill 3 perimeter spots, and no one on that team works harder than those 3, at least over the summer

I do agree with you and I think it shows on the court. Q is making everyone look twice this year!

And those rebounds are killing us. Sometimes they look like everything that is shot is supposed to go in so they just won't bother blocking out and going for the rebound. My god, their huge (at least B & B) get in there and go for the ball!! At least, look like you are attempting to rebound the ball!!

[old_lion]

in the post, we have 4 legit players down there, b/c i will tell you, all you other gsac schools would love to have either golden/shumate or blair/holiday starting on your blocks and we cannot get a rebound, that is a problem

We would love to have any one of the four of them to give Baldwin a hand inside.

It's hard to imagine what's going on with MC's rebounding ... this is hard to believe ...

REBOUNDING:

## Player-Team               G  OFF  DEF  TOT Avg/G

1.Baldwin, Jake-PC.........     7   15   51   66   9.4

2.Golden, Bobby-MC.........     6    9   34   43   7.2

4.Whitlock, Tyler-PC.......     7    7   39   46   6.6

6.Green, Jake-PC...........     7   12   28   40   5.7

8.Holliday, Jeremy-MC......     6    8   21   29   4.8

13.Blair, Bradley-MC........     6    6   17   23   3.8

18.Adams, Mike-PC...........     7    4  15   19   2.7

19.Shumate, Andrew-MC.......     6    9    6   15   2.5

REBOUNDING MARGIN G  TEAM   Avg  OPP   Avg Margin

1.Piedmont College....  7   274  39.1  252  36.0   +3.1

3.Maryville College...  6   206  34.3  230  38.3   -4.0

This is truly unbelievable!!!

[Spencer Beaty]

Since I am probably the only person who was at the CN game let me lay it straight.  Yeah the refs were horrible and called so many nit-picky fouls that we could not even look at them, yeah bobby and bradley were sidelined with fouls and bowers got hurt after about 3 minutes, but the reason for the scots loosing is we can not shoot and we have no leadership.  When we were hanging in there bo would jack up so illadvised shot which would lead to layups on the other end.  Bobby had no post presence and Bradely couldnt control himself when he had the hot and and fouled out.  What has happened to my scots?

[MCScotsFan]

Since I am probably the only person who was at the CN game let me lay it straight.  Yeah the refs were horrible and called so many nit-picky fouls that we could not even look at them, yeah bobby and bradley were sidelined with fouls and bowers got hurt after about 3 minutes, but the reason for the scots loosing is we can not shoot and we have no leadership.  When we were hanging in there bo would jack up so illadvised shot which would lead to layups on the other end.  Bobby had no post presence and Bradely couldnt control himself when he had the hot and and fouled out.  What has happened to my scots?

Well, you weren't the "only person there" and I saw what you saw. I just don't know why I seeing what I was seeing. ( I am not sure whether that calls for a chuckle of a crying smilie.

Hopefully Randy will figure out how to turn that into a 

[mattgrubb]

well i went to the UT/Memphis game, i am smarter than both of you, i knew we were not going to win on the road and just did not want to see it, these kids don't handle adversity well, you get some crap calls, you face reality that you have to play in foul trouble and you have to win despite the foul trouble, that is what winners do

You all give the wise Randall D. Lambert time, he does not have all that gray hair for nothin', that is knowledge and wisdom people, i will say this, i am glad i am not at those practices with Coach Lambert and a 3-3 record, not fun, but not as intense as a focused maryville team that wants to win for themselves, not b/c coach lambert makes them, but those that want it from within, those practices are scary.

I will say at this point, Coach Haynes could beat the Randy one in a game of stomp the grass at half court of boydson baird, at least that is what the odds makers in vegas are saying

[old_lion]

OK ... I'm tired of talking about what a surprise both LC and MC are. Probably everyone else (with the obvious exception of Coach Haynes  ) is too.

So let's discuss our candidates for all-GSAC. I suggest we break it down by position ... assuming they pick a 1st and 2nd teams, that would be ...

2 - Point Guards
4 - Wing/Combo Guards
4 - Big Guys

At this point, the first 8 are obvious ... seems to me, there is going to be quite a battle for the last two spots. If someone told me to pick my guys, that we had to go play the USA conference in a NBA-like, 7 game series, I'd start with these 8.  And if I were a betting man, I'd feel pretty comfortable putting a few bucks on our guys. 

Ist Team:
PG - Green
Wing - Lawrence
Wing - Maddox
BG - Baldwin
BG - Render

2nd Team:
PG - ? ... Baize maybe?
Wing - Mason
Wing - ? ... at least 4 or 5 guys in the running for this spot
BG - Golden
BG - Hairston

I know ... no MC guys in my first five. Admittedly, that doesn't look right. In my mind, Bobby, then Bo, are strong 6th and 7th choices ... and in a hypothetical 7 game series, they (and Hairston) would certainly get major minutes. But I can't honestly say I'd pick either of them over any of the top 5. Those top 5 are all off to great starts in a wide variety of categories ... certainly in all the categories that are considered important for their respective positions ... and then some! Do you think that 1st 5 could get out and push the pace? Man, they could run some people into the ground!

Perhaps this will start a lively discussion ...  8)

http://www.greatsouth.org/stats/GSAC_MBB/confldrs.htm
For some reason, the most recent PC stats aren't on the GSAC site yet ...
http://www.piedmont.edu/athletics/mbasketball/06-07stats/teamcume.htm

[mattgrubb]

alright i don't think it looks right  either b/c we all have different opinions, before we go giving green and baldwin 1st team over mason/golden, let's see them beat maryville.  they were knocked off last year but that was HC not PC

remember, all conference awards should be heavily weighted on conference games, not saying that PC won't beat MC this year, but let's see what kind of magic Randall D pulls off before March and if PC can keep this going which they are doing great

Also, Bradley Blair maybe the 2nd best center in the league
the Killer B's will all get all conference awards, just give them time
maryville's 3 losses aren't that bad, otterbein is a tough program, CN is D2, and the scots have a rematch with emory tomorrow that could get us some redemption with our only south region loss, if I know Randy and kendall, which i do, they will have some things squared away by tomorrow and you all will see why Bobby was a preseason all american
i pick the scots by 12 against Emory, Randy has had time to beat into their very thick skulls that they are 3-3 and that is not how the scots roll

I can't wait to see what happens with LC and Valdosta, go panthers

[old_lion]

alright i don't think it looks right  either b/c we all have different opinions, before we go giving green and baldwin 1st team over mason/golden, let's see them beat maryville.  they were knocked off last year but that was HC not PC

remember, all conference awards should be heavily weighted on conference games, not saying that PC won't beat MC this year, but let's see what kind of magic Randall D pulls off before March and if PC can keep this going which they are doing great

Also, Bradley Blair maybe the 2nd best center in the league

OK, you have your MC bias, I have my PC bias ... that's a given.

But let me challenge your logic on a few issues...

1) You are suggesting that PC has to beat Maryville before Green and Baldwin can be considered the best PG and big man, respectively, in the GSAC. Hmmm ... not buying it. I'm suggesting it is much more complex than that ... there are other factors ...  According to that logic, Nash couldn't have been the MVP the past 2 years ... it would have had to have been Wade and Duncan.

2)remember, all conference awards should be heavily weighted on conference games? With all due respect, that is pretty much BS. Apparently you haven't noticed , but our conference is pretty much irrelevant ... we don't have an automatic bid, we only play 6 conference games ... You are saying that post season honors s/b decided primarily on 6 games, as opposed to the entire season? Think about it ... If there is a group of games that are particularly relevant, it's the region games, not just the GSAC games. The region games are the ones that will determine who makes it to the post season.

3) Seems to me, Green or Mason? ... is the wrong question ... Green is a PG. Mason is a SG. (Killer, you got my back here?) If you want to argue for Mason as a 1st teamer, you s/b arguing that he is a better SG than Lawrence?

4) I like Blair a lot ... would love to have him on my team.  But 2nd best center?  I don't think so, because if he is, that means Bobby is #3, because Baldwin is clearly #1, at least at this point ... just look at pts, rebs, and FG% ... It's not even close! And if MC designs an effective defense to contain him and happens to beat PC because there are a better team and/or they have 4 quality big guys ... Well, I'm not taking the jump in logic with you that that means Baldwin can't be a better big man than Golden.

You are right ... we all have different opinions ... but I don't see how you can fault my logic?

[ohyeah]

I guess I am entitled to one babbling post for the year, so here is my take.  I will comment mainly on the post position. 

Mr. Green, lets just try to compare apples to apples in terms of numbers (since that was what the emphasis was on in your picks).  More importantly, I would like to put Baldwin side by side against Bradley Blair.

Baldwin - 31 min, 51%, 9.4 Rebs, 25.9 pts
Blair - 15 min, 48%, 3.8 rebs, 13.7 pts

So lets just take Blairs stats and put them on a 30 min game clip (basing that he would keep up that pace)

Blair - 30 min, 48%, 7.6 Rebs, 27.4 pts

With that being said, I do not see how Blair could be left off.  My first team posts would consist of Baldwin and Blair.  Second team would be Render and Golden.  Any choice would be a good one for first team and justified.  I would like to be a coach with these four players, good problem to have. 

It is early and these numbers will change, they will actually probably go down.  I will be suprised if Baldwin stays above 20 on the year.   

My one take on the PG situation, Bo is a point guard.  He may be "out of position" but he is the starting point guard.  I love Bo's shooting ability when he is on, but I love Jake's passing skills and leadership.  The only hole is Jake's game that bothers me is his shooting.  I need a point guard that can knock down a wide open 3, I have yet to see him do that. 

I hope that post made sense, if not, well tough, dont read it again.

[scottiedoug]

I am sorry y'all are so bored with actual basketball that you are already discussing GSAC all-conference honors before any GSAC games have even been played!

[mattgrubb]

i think the head to head match up will answer all my questions between Baldwin-Blair/Golden as well as Mason/Green and to be the man you have to beat the man.

All games true, but you have a chance to see head to head match ups to weight the voting and that is what conference games are for.

Bo is a PG, he is the starting PG for MC, he is playing out of position, but there it is, check the media guide and who brings the ball up

I will say one thing, i cannot wait to see them go head to head in a PC/MC game

[Spencer Beaty]

Has anyone heard how Fisk is doing now?

[Spencer Beaty]

I was strolling behind the bench at the CN game and Randy was none to pleased.  I heard him say "I hate losing to Carson Newman."  This one meant a lot to the old ball coach.

[Spencer Beaty]

Big South Region game today against Emory today.  Ill be there with bells on.

[old_lion]

I guess I am entitled to one babbling post for the year, so here is my take.  I will comment mainly on the post position. 

Mr. Green, lets just try to compare apples to apples( in terms of numbers since that was what the emphasis was on in your picks).  More importantly, I would like to put Baldwin side by side against Bradley Blair.

Baldwin - 31 min, 51%, 9.4 Rebs, 25.9 pts
Blair - 15 min, 48%, 3.8 rebs, 13.7 pts

So lets just take Blairs stats and put them on a 30 min game clip (basing that he would keep up that pace)

Blair - 30 min, 48%, 7.6 Rebs, 27.4 pts

With that being said, I do not see how Blair could be left off.  My first team posts would consist of Baldwin and Blair.  Second team would be Render and Golden.  Any choice would be a good one for first team and justified.  I would like to be a coach with these four players, good problem to have. 

It is early and these numbers will change, they will actually probably go down.  I will be suprised if Baldwin stays above 20 on the year.   

My one take on the PG situation, Bo is a point guard.  He may be "out of position" but he is the starting point guard.  I love Bo's shooting ability when he is on, but I love Jake's passing skills and leadership.  The only hole is Jake's game that bothers me is his shooting.  I need a point guard that can knock down a wide open 3, I have yet to see him do that. 

I hope that post made sense, if not, well tough, dont read it again.

Welcome back, oh yeah. It's good to have you back. The board hasn't exactly been teeming with the exchange of intellectual thought lately ... we need your input.

You make some good points, but you got Baldwin's #s wrong. He is shooting 63% from the field, not 51% and he is now up to averaging a double-double ... 26.6 and 10.1! If he can keep up anything close to this pace, he'll be POY easily.
http://www.piedmont.edu/athletics/mbasketball/06-07stats/teamcume.htm

But I agree with you that there are a lot of worthy candidates for the 2 big man spots ... but I'd say 5 guys, not 4. After Baldwin, a strong case could be made for Render, Golden, Blair, and don't forget Hairston.

I think the real log jam maybe at the last wing spot ... I have 5 guys on my "watch list" at this point ... Whitlock, Adams, Bowers, Bradley, and Miller. Whitlock strengthened his case with a nice effort last night.
http://www.piedmont.edu/athletics/mbasketball/06-07stats/pcm08.htm


I agree with your comment re Green ... he does need to shoot more. What's frustrating is that he can, but just doesn't ... he has been a 38% 3 pt shooter over his PC career. IMHO, as good as he is at driving, drawing, and dishing, he could be even better if he would take the open J more. Although in his defense I must say, a PGs primary responsibilities are running the team, distributing the ball and making good decisions ... it rarely seems to be a poor decision to get the ball to Baldwin. 

Also, re this comment,

in terms of numbers, since that was what the emphasis was on in your picks

not entirely true ... especially where Green is concerned. He is definitely a "synergy guy" ... his value will never be fully appreciated looking only at the numbers. But that's usually the case when discussing "true PGs" ... right, Killer?

Where are you, Killer? We haven't heard from you lately...

Keep posting, ohyeah ... we need you, man.