WBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[DPU3619]

Pat's Women's projections are out.

In summation, he has DePauw in as the 3rd seed in what I'm calling the "Great Lakes" and hosting Baldwin Wallace (EDIT: I'm stupid.  They'll go to Thomas More to play BW in the first round and then and face the winner of TMC/Pitt-Greensburg).  However, Baldwin Wallace is his last team in, so if HPU loses in the ASC Championship game (up one in OT as I write this) they'll need a Pool C, BW doesn't get in, and this whole thing will probably be different  Howard Payne won.  Nevermind.

Oglethorpe hosts as the #1 in what I'll call the South.  He prognosticates that they're hosting a 4 team regional with a first round match-up against Murvyl.  Greensboro and Transy are also attending and make up a pretty darn winnable 4 team pod for the Petrels.

[DPU3619]

One more quick thing about this whole playoff deal - what really scares me is that whoever is eventually going to win this thing is probably going to have to beat Hope at home.  They're pretty likely going to be at DeVos until they hoist the trophy or somebody beats 'em.  DePauw could have had them come to the Neal Fieldhouse and then DePauw could have went to DeVos for the final four without Hope being there, but those couple of losses @ Centre and against TU yesterday sealed that fate.

Scary stuff to say the least.  I don't really want go into that bulding with 3,500 strong dressed in orange in that student section.  Yikes. 

Maybe they get pulled away to IWU for the round of 8, but we'll see.  I know the Fightin' Titans are hoping for that, at least.

EDIT: I'm told by somebody a heckuva lot smarter than me that while the women have site priority in the first and second round, the men have it in the third and fourth round.  So if Hope's men get that far (which is hard to tell, they aren't as good as years past) maybe the Hope women get moved out of there so the men can host.  That might be a reach, though. 

I thought that since the hosting priority alternated from year to year, it was that way for the entire tournament.  But it flip flops in two round increments.  Women get priority in the first two rounds in odd numbered years.  Then men in the next two rounds.  Flip flop those in even numbered years, obviously.

[ccfan]

Weighing in on the COTY award.  Certainly the coach at Centre is very deserving of the award, but the argument that her team's major improvement this year over the past several years makes her a more viable choice for the award than Oglethorpe's Satelle is ironic.  Coach Austin and Coach Satelle both recruited all of the ladies they currently are coaching.  Because Coach Satelle had more success with his group their sophomore and junior seasons than did Coach Austin, he did not have as dramatic improvement this year over last.  Using the dramatic improvement argument punishes a coach who has had quick and exceptional results.

Congratulations to Coach Austin on a well deserved award.  Kudos to Coach Satelle, although not recognized by an award everyone in the SCAC should have great respect for your unparalleled success.

[FlightofthePetrel]

Congrats to both Oglethorpe and Depauw for making the NCAA tournament.  Oglethorpe gets to host while DPU travels and will most likely have a second round matchup with #1 Illinois Wesleyan.  I'm sure Huffman will have these girls ready to play to avenge a narrow 1 point defeat at a neautral site earlier this season.

Oglethorpe will host a bracket that includes a first round matchup against Murvull   and the winner of Greensboro and Mississippi College.  (Anyone have any information on these teams?)

Finally I'd like to round up all the Dorough Delinquents to help make this a true home court advantage!!!


GO STORMY PETRELS!!!

[scottiedoug]

All I know is that Greensboro beat Murvul like a drum at their place in the first game after the holiday break.  I think the S. Petrels should overlook Murvul and concentrate on the second round.

[Ron Boerger]

Gee, scottie, I don't think you have to worry about Coach Satelle overlooking anyone.   

Congratulations to Oglethorpe and DePauw - those teams will, as always, represent the SCAC well, and are the two teams which deserve to be in the playoffs. 

Congratulations are in order to the Trinity women who managed to defeat both SCAC playoff representatives during the season with the youngest Tiger ballclub in recent memory.  I wish Krista Prato-Matthews would have had a chance to go out with a playoff run, but the SCAC's all-time leading rebounder had a fine season (despite injury) and career.   Good luck, Krista, you will be missed.    I know the TU softball team will be happy to see you. 

[DPU3619]

I don't think either of our teams got a particularly favorable draw.  Oglethorpe's got a prety winnable 4 team pod next weekend, but they've got undefeated #3 George Fox looming in the third round.  If they get through that, they're probably heading to the DeVos Fieldhouse to see the Dutch.

I thought DePauw could get a Thomas More type the first weekend and get out of there before the Hope/IWU trip.  But, they're right in the fire at the Shirk Center.  It's UW-Eau Claire before the unanimous #1 team in the country.  I'm not predicting an upset or anything, but if there's some possible way they find to get by IWU, that turns into a pretty winnable bracket for them, I think.

[hoopsbeam]

Oglethorpe and Coach Satelle deserve a lot of credit for not just this season but for four fine years in a row with this current class. They consistently demonstrate a good understanding of the game of basketball highlighted by outstanding ball movement on offense.
They did a fantastic job in the league tournament as well, beating Trinity after having lost to them convincingly earlier in the season at TU. Oglethorpe benefited some from TU's lack of direction resulting in one-on-one basketball with little to no ball movement while seldom getting the ball inside to Prato-Matthews. Coaching matters.
Why not wait until all the important league games have been played before making the COTY award? Good luck to the SCAC in the tournament.

[WWWRHH]

I don't think either of our teams got a particularly favorable draw.  Oglethorpe's got a prety winnable 4 team pod next weekend, but they've got undefeated #3 George Fox looming in the third round.  If they get through that, they're probably heading to the DeVos Fieldhouse to see the Dutch.

By way of introduction, I am a Hope fan lurking on your board because I just noticed Pat's projection that Olglethorpe will defeat the Dutch in our regional.  If we are fortunate enough to both get that far it will be on the same floor that you play George Fox, and I am not sure it will be in Holland.  Given the geography of the Messiah round, an Atlanta location may make sense to the NCAA - although I hope that's not the case.

Obviously, our teams need to get past this round, but if we are fortunate enough to do so and you get to come to Holland, we will try to arrange a mid-March blizzard so you can see what real snow looks like .  If the Dutch go south....well at least I already have short sleeve orange shirts.

A quick review of your website indicates their are Big differences between the Dutch and Stormy Petrel styles.

Good luck.

[Pat Coleman]

If Thomas More and Oglethorpe and Hope advance, count on it being held at Thomas More, which is the only site of the three drivable from two of the others.

[FlightofthePetrel]

Obviously, our teams need to get past this round, but if we are fortunate enough to do so and you get to come to Holland, we will try to arrange a mid-March blizzard so you can see what real snow looks like .  If the Dutch go south....well at least I already have short sleeve orange shirts.

We made it to Holland last year and that blizzard was plenty... no need to schedule another one    But in case you do we'll bring the Long Sleeved Black "Give Em The Bird" shirts-  we planned for the playoffs and inclement weather.

I don't think Thomas More is any better- they too received ample amount of snow last year and I almost didn't make it up there...

Let call off the weather battles and all play in SUNNY GEORGIA!  We received our yearly snow last week so we should see good weather from here on out.

Good luck to all teams!    but GO PETRELS!

[WWWRHH]

If Thomas More and Oglethorpe and Hope advance, count on it being held at Thomas More, which is the only site of the three drivable from two of the others.

Kentucky in mid-March, I guess that would mean I would have to pack the orange sweater with the short sleeve orange shirts .

Not as good as home, but still a location that would draw a big fan base and certainly less expensive than a flight to Texas.

FlightofthePetrel I had forgotten that you were in Holland last year.  I was still in mourning  and left town that weekend.

[scottiedoug]

Pat Coleman thinks the Petrels will do quite well this weekend.  Take a look at his predictions

http://www.d3hoops.com/women-final-four/09/preview.htm

As a Murvul fan, I ask y'all down there to make sure the Petrels see this so they can spend Friday night thinking about their route to victory!

[FlightofthePetrel]

Pat Coleman thinks the Petrels will do quite well this weekend.  Take a look at his predictions

http://www.d3hoops.com/women-final-four/09/preview.htm

As a Murvul fan, I ask y'all down there to make sure the Petrels see this so they can spend Friday night thinking about their route to victory!

Scott I assure you the girls have seen it and they think very highly of Mr. Pat Coleman.  They will be damned if the dissapoint a man in his position.  Consider this motivation to live up to expectations and not dissapoint rather than thinking that the job has already done.  The 6 seniors (5 starters) have been here to long to overlook anyone.  Dorough will be ready this weekend...

[scottiedoug]

Yeah that is what I am afraid of.