MBB: American Southwest Conference

[Aerie Head]

Ozarks 92, Concordia-Austin 89

Habeeb Kareem had 30 points for Ozarks.

[finnman]

Very impressed McM was able to win both games on the road against two good teams.  I hope they continue to improve...if they do that they could have a chance this year.   But you better tighten your jock straps because with 20 conference games left...yes I did say 20...you have to play hard all year long no matter who you are playing.

We are so fortunate to be able to listen to the radio broadcasts here in Abilene...thanks to those guys and all the sponsors that make that possible.

I also wanted to give out a bigtime thanks to Coach Holmes and his staff for my trip to Chicago with the team...I would also like to thank the Administration, Professors, McM Friends, and the players for a great trip and for just great hospitality.  Oh, I don't want to forget our excellent van driver on the trip...Ha!

[finnman]

thejungle,

How's it going! I have not talked to you in forever...you are getting more famous all the time

[mcmfan]

So how do we explain these results?  McM barely squeeks by UTD and HSU beats them by 11 points.  Yet HSU got beaten by UT Tyler on Saturday, and McM just won against UTT tonight.  First, has UTD been overrated as last year's conference champion?   And second, why did McM have so much more trouble against UTD than HSU?

[etbualum]

MCMfan  probably matchups.  Also if UTD is not shooting well then they are not very good...which I guess you can say about everone.

ETBU Beat TLU by 11.  I think it was 65-54.  Ced and Chris led the way.  TLU played very well defensively.  Tigers are back to 2-2

[McM Blue Devil]

Big win for McM last night.  To go on the road and take these two is a huge step for a team that I feel is still learning and developing.  After seeing three of their first four games and listening to the game last night my observation is that this team (probably because of their style) tends to be very streaky.  The last two games they have been down double digits in the second half and then rallied to win and really take control of the game in the final two minutes.  As this team develops I hope that they can begin to put a full 40 minutes together, because if they can, they will be tough to beat.

Also props to HSU for their win last night, important to have a split on that trip.

FinnMan,

Thanks for the fun Chicago trip and if you ever need a ride to a game call that driver and a maroon van will pick you up.

[mcm_indians]

The HSU Tyler game was much closer than the score made it seem.  It was a tie game with 3 minutes left in the game.  HSU commited about 3 or 4 turnovers in the final minutes that led to Tyler  pulling away.  And I do think that UT Dallas is one dimensional.  If they aren't hitting their threes than they are a very average team.

[hoopshops]

It was definitely good to see HSU salvage a split on this road trip and letting one go in Tyler on Saturday.  Good to see Kudrna step up and hit some big shots for the Cowboys because he along with Pickelman, Peters, and Jean will play a big role for the Cowboys this year. 

Does anyone know if Ozarks legit this year or did they benefit from the opposing teams bad play this weekend?

[Aerie Head]

Does anyone know if Ozarks legit this year or did they benefit from the opposing teams bad play this weekend?

I don't know if I'm really qualified to answer this, but here's my two cents' worth. . . .

There is a lot of experience on the team this year.  Four of the five starters are seniors, and four of the five (not the same five) were starters last year.  We've also added quite a few new players, including some with size (for Ozarks, anyway -- no one over 6-6, but at least there are several that tall this year). 

The team lost only one player from last year, the leading scorer, Brent Johnson.  IMHO, losing the leading scorer is going to help, because it makes for a more balanced team.  Right now, there doesn't seem to be a designated "go to" guy. I'm sure Coach O'Connor is going to try to get as much out of Habeeb Kareem as possible, but it's not like he's the only thing going for the team.  There are some guys like Josh Joyner who can step up. And Brad Johnson is really good at running the offense.

I  don't know if they'll be "legit," though -- there's a big test coming up this weekend with a trip to SRSU and HPU. 

[etbualum]

They are always incredibly tough at home.

[hoopshops]

Big test for HSU on thursday with isom and etbu coming to town.  Hopefully Peters can keep up the great D he has been playing and contain Isom because when he gets going ETBU is really tough.  Also hope Coach Howard can keep his streak going against LU and sweep this weekend.  The conference will get a good look at how good ETBU is with them coming to Abilene this weekend because with HSU becoming a lot stronger team there are no easy wins on this road trip.  The Abilene trip could very well be the toughest road trip in the ASC.

What does everyone else believe the toughest road trip/weekend to be in the ASC?

[warped]

I agree the abilene road trip is now one of the toughest road trips..but the toughest in my opinion in the west has to be the SRSU and HPU road trip...not neccisarily because of the teams..but the travel..the teams have to prepare more MENTALLY..

[mcm_indians]

I agree with that.  A player has to prepare alot more mentally with the long trip to Alpine.  That is one of the toughest places to play.  But as far as how good the teams are it has to definetely be the abilene roadtrip.

[Ralph Turner]

My thoughts about road trips are that each have their own characteristics!

MC and LC -- llllooooonnnnnnnngggggggggg.  And can you ever get a decent game out of the refs on this trip?

UOz and AC -- long trip and Ozarks is so umpredictable.  Who becomes UOz's travel partner next year?

ETBU and LeTU--close together.

UT-D and UT-Tyler--Tyler is becoming a real bear!  And UT-Dallas was tourney champs last year.

TLU-Schreiner--may be the weakest pair except it is so far South.

UMHB-CUA--this has been a tough one for McMurry.

McM-HSU--you just cannot write-off HSU anymore.  That helps McM.

HPU-SRSU--Long trip.  SRSU has revived its hoops program.  Now the ASC-West champ is out in Gallego.  Playing in the Brownwood Mausoleum is as dreary as it was 35 years ago when it was new!Doesn't McMurry spend the Thursday night back at home before the Alpine leg?

Just who is the Official Motel of the ASC?

[etbualum]

Someone is going to have to be solo and I am guessing it will be Ozarks.  Not fair to them but with only 7 teams in the east it will have to be that way.  Another possibility would be having ETBU and Ozarks together.  Then put Tyler and Letu together and then leave UTD solo since they are pretty central to east and west.