MBB: Great South Athletic Conference

[Spencer Beaty]

We might even name Old Lion Poster of the Year.

[scotswin]

I see that the Scots moved to 18-2 today.  Tennessee is trying to keep that pace tonight in Mississippi. 

Here is the real question: How many Fighting Scots are better than Steven Pearl (who was given PT in a close first half tonight)?

[Spencer Beaty]

A solid twenty point win from the scots today.  There will be no upsetting the scots in the GSAC this year.  Stephen Pearl is not horrible but I would rather have him than any post for MC and maybe any player than MC except Watson and Bowers.

[mattgrubb]

good win for the scots, 18-2 looks good, sounds better, not too many wins against teams with winning records and or stellar records, the most impressive win on paper so far this year has to be the Carson Newman win.

Steve Pearl is a good bball player, but certainly not an SEC ball player, i think the shot that got blocked demonstrated that.  i would not trade bowers or watson for that guy and hopefully neither Orr or Hernandez in  another year.

[Spencer Beaty]

The two-handed reverse is underated.  I would rather have the pearl that Chris "Iron" Orr.

[scottiedoug]

Averett, Emory, Oglethorpe, Methodist, and Piedmont have winning records and Greensboro most likely will by the end of the season.

Does anyone think S. Pearl might come and play some college ball by coming to MC?

[mattgrubb]

who would want Pearl

The scots still don't have a signature victory in D3 and they do not have a chance to get one

[Spencer Beaty]

Tourney time will give them a chance at a signature victory.

[Spencer Beaty]

Dang Grubb, when are you going to move up to all-conference or whatever the next ladder is.  What is the number for the four stars?

[old_lion]

Good Luck today Old Lion, I suspect you will be there, so i am interested in your take on how good this murvul team is compared to the past couple.

Well Matt, we ran a little short on good luck. No doubt Murvul had a heck of a lot to do with that.
http://www.greatsouth.org/stats/GSAC_MBB/pcm20.htm

I know you've been waiting patiently for my observations, so here goes ...

I was very impressed with this Murvul team. They don't have the dominant two-headed inside scoring threat that last years team had, but they seem to more than make up for it in other areas. They have such overall size and athleticism (and I think this year's bigs are more mobile defensively ... and very willing to use their 25 fouls) that they don't miss GoldBrad that much ... even on the boards.  Obviously, they shoot the ball better from the field (49% vs 46%), especially  the 3 (40% vs 34%). Also, I think they are better overall defensively. And. as always, they are well-coached.

Saturday's game didn't go as I expected from a couple of standpoints. We did well, for us, on the glass ... only outrebounded by 7. And you shot the ball much better than we did ... again, your D had a lot to do with that.  But also, with our lack of height and bulk, we do not benefit from the officials taking a "let em play" or a "no blood, no foul" attitude.

I hate to mention the officiating, (I really do.) but it was a factor. I offer this evidence ... Baldwin was only 10 of 19 from the field and Green and Laverdiere had 10 TOs between them ... none of those are the norm. Much of our offense is predicated on driving and kicking. I'm not familiar with the molestation laws in Tenn., but I'm pretty sure some of the stuff I saw happening, when we tried to go to the hole, is supposed to be illegal in Ga.      I'm only semi-kidding. 

No doubt, Murvul was the better team. But, if a lot of hacking is not called and we are shooting 3 for 18 from behind the arc ... we are going to have few assists, lots of TOs, and we aren't going to beat very many teams. So I guess if you look at that glass as "half-full" that gives me at least some basis for optimism for the rest of the season. i.e. ... we can play better than that.

Oh one other thing ... re your prediction ...

Bowers is the best player on the court on saturday

I respectively disagree. Maybe we can agree on phrasing it this way ...

Bowers is the most complete player in the GSAC. He is a very good all-around player. I would love to have him on my team.

Baldwin is the most outstanding player in the GSAC. Especially when you consider that he is the best in the two categories, scoring and rebounding, that most people (especially the GSAC brain trust) pay the most attention to. By GSAC standards, he is the POY.

[mattgrubb]

good take Old lion

Announcement of the day:  The Grubby One has a new favorite player--Orr/Hernandez

I can't wait to see the Purcell v. Orr/Hernandez tomorrow on the mountain.

The Grubby One is scheduled to be in attendance.

[Spencer Beaty]

Making the trip up to Sewanee Grubb?  Wow that is a big step outside of your playpin.  Pull 'em through.

[mcalumnifan]

It's funny how Centre College is ranked in the top ten this week and they lost to Rust College.  Whereas Maryville beat Rust at Rust by 53 points!!!!!!!!!!! And then beat Rust at Maryville by 18 points!!!!  Maryville was supposed to play Centre, but because Maryville had a coach die at that time; Maryville didn't play Centre.  Glad to see Maryville getting a little bit of respect.

[Pat Coleman]

I think season openers tend to dim after 18 consecutive wins.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Kind of dim... after 18 wins, it may be as bright as Pluto in the night's sky!