MBB: Great South Athletic Conference

[old_lion]

I was just informing you of a comment I heard on Rush Limbaugh's radio talk show.

OK, KC22, fair enough. 

But I'm just cringing with dread regarding all the "racial stuff" I fear is coming ... the tasteless jokes, the cases when legitimate criticism will be attributed to racism, the cases where criticism will be because of racism, etc., etc.

Personally, I want no part of it.  And, I know you ... you are a good guy .. IMHO, you s/b above that sort of thing, as well.

[old_lion]

MC's Alex Bowers signs with an ABA team.  This is great for him, the Scots, and the GSAC.

http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/athletics/news-detail.asp?sportNameID=5&id=2720

Scottie,

From the Thunderbolts website ... how could you fail to mention this? Our own Matt Grubb ...

11 Brent Watts  Guard 6'3"   Knoxville, TN  Farragut High School    Maryville College
http://www.knoxvillethunderbolts.com/the-thunderbolts/roster.html

[scottiedoug]

Old_Lion you are just a thorougher guy! 

Apparently the MC self-promotion apparatus does not appreciate all alums equally.

Here are links to two articles in the Daily Times about the GSAC and scheduling and AQ issues:

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=124643053ABB9560&p_docnum=3

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=12469E18B78224E0&p_docnum=2

[bballlover]

Good Luck to Piedmont tomorrow night at Mercer.   ROAR!!!

[coachwgh]

Those links didn't work, but I am interested in reading the articles.  How bout that picture of Watts.  Was that his Junior year team photo they used? Maryville must have water from the fountain of youth flowing throught the taps up there. That would explain Lambert's dashing young looks.

Here is a very abreviated report on the Panthers. We are better, but that is a relative term.  We are getting help from new guys and we can't stop anyone. 

[scottiedoug]

Try these links, Coach:

http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20081112/SPORTS/311129972&SearchID=73335960154665

http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20081111/SPORTS/811109991&SearchID=73335960154665

[mattgrubb]

yes, that is the present day "skinny" grubby one.  The grubby one is down to 200 pounds, that is his graduation weight.  Unfortunately, when the grubby one used to light up the finely coached lagrange panthers he weighed about 190.  I will say this about the thunderbolts.  i think the ABA is going to be a blast. It truly is minor league sports, see Bull Durham or Semi pro.  I think it is a great opportunity for some of the standout players of the GSAC to continue their playing careers without having to leave home, so The Grubby One is doing everything he can to help make the Knoxville Franchise a success.
We got to see marquis patton from Fisk this weekend and that guy can flat out play.

Now i know what you are all thinking and yes The Grubby One looks great in a thong...again.

[old_lion]

That schedule is brutal, especially early.  They seem to have a much deeper team this year. (And the coaching staff is much improved ... yeah Wes!) 
If they can just hang in early, they could be pretty good after they've had a chance to jell. But, those were 4 solid seniors we lost last year, IMHO, you don't replace a core group like that easily.

Good luck to the Lions.

2008-2009 PC Men's Basketball Season Preview
http://www.piedmontlions.com/News/mbball/2008/11/11/11_04_08_mbkb.asp?path=mbball

Losing four starters to graduation would be a major setback for most programs, but the sixth-year head coach has reason to be optimistic about the future of Piedmont men's basketball and the 2008-09 season. The Lions are coming off their third consecutive winning season, the best such feat in 36 years of PC basketball, and return two of their top three scorers in junior guards Sam Coppage and Michael Rubio. Coppage, Rubio, and the rest of the Lions inherit the challenge of replacing 68% of last year's scoring* including the 27.1 points per game averaged by graduated All-American Jake Baldwin.

* (Editorial comment: Apparently, replacing 69% of last year's assists is not a concern.  Ah, the good old gsac ... where no one ever seems to notice that there is a strong correlation between the two.)

Helping the cause for the this year's version of Piedmont men's basketball will be ten new faces highlighted by 6'6 junior transfer J.C. Herebia who comes to Piedmont from NCAA Division-III Texas Lutheran University. These ten new faces along with the six returners will be expected to continue the Piedmont tradition of pressure defense and up-tempo offense. This exciting style helped the Lions rank 13th nationally in scoring offense last season marking the fourth consecutive year Glenn's team has earned a top-15 ranking. Piedmont also finished last season 12th in the nation in steals per game and 27th in assists per game.

The Lions will continue to play their up-tempo style featuring pressure defense and high scoring.  For three consecutive seasons, the team has finished in the top-15 nationally in both scoring and steals. 

The schedule is the most challenging of Glenn's tenure and will certainly test the youthful Lions. Nine of the first eleven games are away from Cave Arena including classics at Averett University, #14 Randolph-Macon College, and #13 Centre College. Both Averett and Centre made NCAA Tournament appearances a year ago, and Randolph-Macon has won at least 20 games in four of the past six seasons.

After the tough opening road stretch, Piedmont will return home to play nine of its final fifteen games. Great South Athletic Conference regular season play starts on January 17 when PC visits Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL and wraps up on February 21 with Maryville College coming to Cave Arena. The Lions will look to improve upon their runner-up finish in last year's GSAC Tournament on February 27-28 when Maryville hosts the GSAC Championship Tournament.

Youthful depth is an accurate description for Piedmont's campaign as many newcomers will compete for valuable minutes. The two constants, however, will be returning guards Coppage and Rubio. Coppage averaged 14 points per game last year and was second on the team in assists and field goal percentage. His performance earned him Georgia Basketball Coaches' Association (GABCA) All-State and GSAC All-Conference recognition. Rubio finished last season third on the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game while leading the team in steals and three-point field goals made. He also garnered GABCA All-State honors.

Sophomore Daniel Lampl is another key returner for the Lions. Lampl played in more than eight minutes per contest during his freshman year and earned GSAC All-Freshmen honors.  Junior Will Martin and sophomores Phillip Sloan and Josh Elkins will also have an opportunity to earn increased roles this season. Martin appeared in 25 of the Lions' 27 games last season. 

Herebia leads the group of newcomers to join the new look roster. He was named American Southwest Conference West Division Freshman of the Year two seasons ago at Texas Lutheran and should have an immediate impact for the Lions. The newcomers joining Herebia in the frontcourt are freshmen Josh Chapman, and Tracey Gardner. Both players are local products from AAA power East Hall.

Piedmont added even more depth in the backcourt with freshmen Michael Chatman, Michael Gunsolus, Josh Haymore, Matt Parker, Justin Rush, and Dee Smith all looking to contribute. Chatman was a contributor on the national success of South Gwinnett HS two seasons ago while Haymore brings even more local flavor out of near by North Hall. Rush was an All-State selection from Dacula and should compete immediately on the wing position.

Piedmont will officially open the 2008-2009 season on November 21 versus Averett University at the Texas Steakhouse Classic in Danville, VA. The team's home opener will be December 3rd versus USA-South Athletic Conference member Greensboro College.

[bballlover]

I might also add that attendance at out-of-state games could take a big hit this year. With Old_Lion & the Lioness not being there we could drop by 25% or more.You will both be missed.Time for some newcomers to step up.I'm sure they will.

[old_lion]

http://livestats.internetconsult.com/mercer/mbball/

I see some cause for optimism ... our 2 stalwarts, Rubio and Coppage had off shooting nights (those two guys will play well this year) and we still didn't get killed.

Looks like several of the new guys played well ... especially Haymore, Herebia, and Rush.

Shout out to point-center, Phil Sloan ... two assists, no turnovers ... maybe we s/h/b playing the UCLA high post offense last year, with Sloan reprising Walton's role. (Yeah, I know ... I am an old Lion.) Elkins drills a 3 in a cameo appearence  ... maybe the guy is a gamer ... I always felt he could have gotten a little more PT last year.

[bballlover]

Sam will have to adjust to having the ball in his hands most of the time. I'm sure He will. We just could not buy one in the second half.As you say Rubio & coppage will not shoot 2 for 14 ( or whatever it was) On many nights.Down four at the half is not bad. Well on to Averett next Saturday.Big test.

[Spencer Beaty]

what does anyone know of the possibility of teams like Covenant, Sewanee, Oglethorpe, and Birmingham Southern join the GSAC?

[scottiedoug]

It is my understanding that Covenant would welcome the opportunity.  Another possibility is Berry (GA), which also is going D3, but it may think of itself and be perceived as in the same "class" (and I say that on purpose) as The University of the South and the other SCAC schools.  Oglethorpe is less wealthy than the rest of the SCAC and may find the huge travel burdens of playing in that league a problem that could be addressed by joining the GSAC.  I fear they would think of it as downward mobility.

[Ralph Turner]

It is my understanding that Covenant would welcome the opportunity.  Another possibility is Berry (GA), which also is going D3, but it may think of itself and be perceived as in the same "class" (and I say that on purpose) as The University of the South and the other SCAC schools.  Oglethorpe is less wealthy than the rest of the SCAC and may find the huge travel burdens of playing in that league a problem that could be addressed by joining the GSAC.  I fear they would think of it as downward mobility.

However, the drops that everyone is seeing in the institutional endowments may call the Oglethorpe board to re-assess the institutional priorities.  How much can their travel budget sustain?  (Think of the travel savings for the Petrel Women's sports with the AQ of the GSAC sports.)

There were "no D3 options" in the southeast in 1991 when Oglethorpe joined the SCAC.

Berry's endowment (using 2007 figures) of $683M was second only to Trinity at $991M and more than Colorado College $523M.

Oglethorpe was under $40M.

The GSAC

[Ralph Turner]

what does anyone know of the possibility of teams like Covenant, Sewanee, Oglethorpe, and Birmingham Southern join the GSAC?

One other factor that ties the SCAC together is the Associated Colleges of the South.  Eight of the 16 are SCAC.