MBB: American Southwest Conference

[Aerie Head]

SRLobo51 -- Don't private schools receive state money?  I think they do.

I don't know how it is in the other states in the conference, but in Arkansas, private schools don't receive state money.  There are some special programs on campus that are funded by federal grants (like the Student Support Services program), but the rest of the budget has to come from tuition or fund-raising.  Thank God for angels like Helen Walton (just gave Ozarks a BIG gift).

Our guys left for Brownwood this afternoon after the memorial service for Josh and Trevor this morning.  I won't make any predictions, but I will say I hope there isn't a 30-point difference in the score this time -- unless it is in the other direction!!   

I'm looking forward to following everybody through the tournament.

[dballa]

aerie head, don't worry McMurry doesn't play that well away from their home floor and definitely not in Brownwood.  You will most likely have some local fans rooting for you and against McMurry   Although I know they'll bring a few from Abilene themselves.

[t_money]

Ralph,

You obviously have followed ASC basketball closely for some time now and I would like to know what you think of MC on a national scale.  How do they compare to some of the other national powers this year? Now that you have seen the Chocs in person, what are thoughts?

I have seen them a couple of times and I was very impressed.  As I have stated before I think they are better than the teams I was on between 97-01.

Thanks, and good luck to McM (even though it pains me to say that  )

[Ron Boerger]

SRLobo51 -- Don't private schools receive state money?  I think they do.

Nope, private schools don't receive state money per se, thus the term "private."

Texas does have something called a "Tuition Equalization Grant," which financially needy students can obtain to offset some of the cost of a private education.  The theory is that whether you chose to go to a public or a private school, the state will partially underwrite the costs involved.   So I guess you could call that state funding of private colleges, but it doesn't come with any strings attached (e.g. the state doesn't say you can't have a religious focus/affiliation like it does at state schools).  In my mind, the state is funding the student, not the school, but that might be a distinction others aren't willing to draw.

TEGs helped me get through college; I'm glad to hear they're still around. 

[Ralph Turner]

Ralph,

You obviously have followed ASC basketball closely for some time now and I would like to know what you think of MC on a national scale.  How do they compare to some of the other national powers this year? Now that you have seen the Chocs in person, what are thoughts?

I have seen them a couple of times and I was very impressed.  As I have stated before I think they are better than the teams I was on between 97-01.

Thanks, and good luck to McM (even though it pains me to say that  )

t money, if you played on those 97-01 Choc teams then you know quality basketball.  The 2001 MC team just stomped Millsaps!  I am frustrated that our outside shooting on the 2001 McM team went something like 1-19 against William Paterson in the Sweet 16!

This is what I wrote in response to the question about how good MC is.  I just want the ASC to go far in the tourney.  I would really like to see MC get beat by someone (McMurry, I hope) and then have both of us go far into the tourney in opposite brackets!  We have come so close!  If MissColl could host a Sectional (Elite 8 and Sweet 16) at the Golden Dome, then I might be able to tolerate any success that they (MC) had in the tourney!      (Yes, it does pain me to say that, too!  8) )

I would be really surprised if Randolph Macon didn't get in.  Right now they only have two teams ahead of them in the rankings (Virginia Wes. obviously getting the AQ).  Don't know much about Miss. Coll., but looks like they were running away with that league, so I wouldn't anticipate an upset there...Trinity as well.  Not sure about them or that conference.  I'm Turner could fill us in on those two teams' chances of running the conference tourney tables.

Old School, I saw the first half of the MissColl-UTDallas game last Saturday.  The Choctaws worked to a quick 15-point lead which they held thruout the last 25 minutes of the game.

MissColl is a Top 10 school.  They drive 540 miles to Brownwood for the conference tourney at Howard Payne.  Their only regular season loss was at Mary Hardin-Baylor (a 1100-mile road trip) on a Decmeber Saturday while the students were still on campus, before a good crowd of 850 (only 2 crowds of 1000 this year and another crowd of 850.)  Also, UMHB had pre-season First Team All Conference Senior point guard Brandon Gatlin, who was lost to grades later at the semester break.

Their average victory margin is 16.6 points per game.  They are 11 players deep, i.e., playing > 10 mpg, and no one >21 mpg.  The 2005 FOTY is in the second line of players.  MissColl has height that they haven't had in previous trips into the Sweet 16.  They seem to be even more athletic than usual.  They press very hard.

I think that Miss College may be sent to the Great Lakes.  I will not make a prediction on MissColl in the Great Lakes Sectional, where every game will be a real road game, where the Chocs fans are out-numbered 20-1.

However, if Miss College is sent to the Atlantic Seaboard or sent to the West Coast, then I will not be surprised if they make the Final Four.

I have not been tooting the Chocs' horn because we ASC teams have only 1 Elite 8 and 3 Sweet 16's in the last 6 years.   That is good, but nothing to boast on these boards!

[t_money]

Thanks Ralph

[rimrocker]

Is there any chance that all the games will be broadcast or have live stats going? Or, is that strictly up to the respective schools playing each game?

[leroy]

I haven't seen MC in 2 years, as I've been transposed to the east side of the south region.  But I have seen Wooster, Virginia Wesleyan and Maryville this year and from what I know of MC and judging by their record and the comments of this being their best team, the final four may be a realistic goal this year for the ASC.  I would love to see it.  

I thought the ASC was terrible in 2002-03, my first expereince with it.  But with the addition of some great coaches (Sul Ross, HSU, UT-D among others) I think the ASC is on its way to becoming a power.  Got to do something about that 1 AQ though.  

If MC wins the tourney this year it's only 1 team in right?

[hoopstar]

I think the league has a chance to get 2 teams in even if MC wins. One thing working in the Mary-Hardin Baylor and Howard Payne's favor,besides both of them being ranked in the region,  is Trinity has a great chance to host opening round. Since they are in the 500 mile radius, it helps their chances greatly to get in, because the NCAA would rather drive teams in instead of flying them.

[leroy]

I think the league has a chance to get 2 teams in even if MC wins. One thing working in the Mary-Hardin Baylor and Howard Payne's favor,besides both of them being ranked in the region,  is Trinity has a great chance to host opening round. Since they are in the 500 mile radius, it helps their chances greatly to get in, because the NCAA would rather drive teams in instead of flying them.

I think they pick the teams first, then do the mileage assessment thing right?  It would seem really unfair if a team GOT IN the tournament because of location.  I'm not sure it happens the way you describe it?  I hope not.

[kid nice]

I'm sure if the NCAA can save a dollar on travel they will. My last year at MC they sent us to Millsaps (only a few miles away) and then back to McM for the second round which i'm sure saved them some money. All they are really worried about is the D1 tourney

[mcm_indians]

My prediction is that Mississippi will beat Mary Hardin Baylor in the final.  UMHB is playing relly good basketball right now and they will take that into the championship.

Other predictions:
West POY-  Hooper (carried the team when everybody thought they were out of it)
Defensive- Jean (4 blocks a game)

1st team:  hooper- SR
                 jean- HSU
                 Wheeler- HPU
                  k. johnson- HPU
                  McGuire-  HPU

2nd:  Deans- Su
         Oliver- UMHB
         Pickelman- HSU
         Colina-  McM
         Maxwell- CUA

whats everybody else's opinion?
                 

[dballa]

as an HPU fan I like your 1st team predictions but I don't think McGuire will be up there on the 1st team.  One of those other guys will jump in there.

Defensive POY I would split that with Jean of HSU and Zinser of HPU(led the conference in steals)
Freshman of the Year to Mcdonald of CUA
Coach of the Year to HPU's Coach Pattillo...picked to not even make the tournament and wins the division.

[leroy]

I'm sure if the NCAA can save a dollar on travel they will. My last year at MC they sent us to Millsaps (only a few miles away) and then back to McM for the second round which i'm sure saved them some money. All they are really worried about is the D1 tourney

True, but your missing my point.  Yes, they save a dollar whenever possible- AFTER picking the most qualified teams.  I'm pretty sure distance and money have no bearing on who gets in, it just screws them AFTER they get in.

[leroy]

My prediction is that Mississippi will beat Mary Hardin Baylor in the final.  UMHB is playing relly good basketball right now and they will take that into the championship.

Other predictions:
West POY-  Hooper (carried the team when everybody thought they were out of it)
Defensive- Jean (4 blocks a game)

1st team:  hooper- SR
                 jean- HSU
                 Wheeler- HPU
                  k. johnson- HPU
                  McGuire-  HPU

2nd:  Deans- Su
         Oliver- UMHB
         Pickelman- HSU
         Colina-  McM
         Maxwell- CUA

whats everybody else's opinion?
                 

3 HPU on 1st team?  That seems unlikely.  Is Jean ahead of Pickelman?