MBB: American Southwest Conference

[Ralph Turner]

1.     McMurry              8-1     9-4
2.    MHardin-Baylor    5-4    7-6
3.   Concordia            4-5    5-8
4.   Howard Payne      4-6    4-10
5.    Sul Ross State    3-7    3-10
6T    Hardin-Simmons    2-7    3-10
6T   Texas Lutheran    2-7    2-10
6T    Schreiner            2-7    2-11

[Bearkat00]

You just have to feel for LC.  In their last two games they've struggled defensively, giving up 92 and 82 points, while their opponents shot  60% and 57% respectively and being out rebounded by 9 and 19.  Johnson is playing well avg. 19 and 7, but doens't look like he's getting much help.  Anyone know the issues?

[Bearkat00]

http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/ranksummary

Thought you guys might like to look at some stats and see where ASC teams and players rank nationally. 

[#1ascfanman]

LeT over OU-Correct
HSU over SU-Incorrect
UTD over ETBU-Correct
CTX over HPU-Incorrect
McM over TLU-Correct
UTT over LC-Correct
UMHB over SRSU-Correct

HSU over TLU
McM over SU
CTX over SRSU
UMHB over HPU
MC over UTT
LeT over UTD

31-18 overall

Things at LC are very bad right now.  I hated picking against my boys but I thought picking against them might work.  I don't know what they can do now.  With that said, things must be bad at Hardin Simmons, they lost at home to Schreiner.  Any insight to that debaucle?  I did pick UTD to beat ETBu but I thougth they might give them a better game with the way they have been playing as of late.  Dallas must be pretty dang good.  Saturday will be interesting.  I hope my Wildcats can salvage some wins.

[ASCfan237]

You are right and it is very sad for their coach and for Johnson. He has been a great player in the league for a long time now. It is depressing that his senior season will be wasted like this. Could you imagine him playing for another school...how good would MC or MHB or any other school in the conference be if they had a player of his caliber? I hope he gets another chance to play basketball internationally or something so he doesnt end his career on such a sad note.

[mcmfan]

Never one for public displays of optimism, Coach Holmes had this to say about his McM team in this morning's Abilene Reporter-News:

"We're sitting at 8-1 and that's not an 8-1 team.  Someone's going to come along and break their hearts."

[ASCfan237]

Coach Holmes keeping them motivated to play huh

[Ron Boerger]

Never one for public displays of optimism, Coach Holmes had this to say about his McM team in this morning's Abilene Reporter-News:

"We're sitting at 8-1 and that's not an 8-1 team.  Someone's going to come along and break their hearts."

Sounds like something Cunningham should be saying about Trinity (12-1).  

[finnman]

I'm sorry I don't have as much time to spend on this site as much as I used to, but honestly two things happened that helped caused this:

1. I have two kids now.
2. After the really good teams around 2000 and a couple of years after, the McM teams have not been as competitive.  Us fans were really spoiled then.

I have continued to go to as many games as I could make, and will always continue to go.  Once a true Indian, always a true Indian.

This year's team has sparked my interest because this seems to be the most talented team Holmes has put together in a few years, and I also like the enthusiam he has seemed to bring back that he had kind of lost the last couple of years...no offense Coach Holmes...I have always had so much respect for you.

I too read the comments in the paper, and I laughed.  Basketball coaches are definitely the most entertaining.  Between him and Coach Case at Cooper HS, they are as entertaining as the games. 

Back to his comments about not really being an 8-1 team.  From the games I have seen, I totally understand what he is talking about.  I'm not an expert by any means, but this team is both deserving of the record and NOT deserving.  Let me finally get to the point. 

If you look at it from a talent respect, they are deserving.  On the other hand, of the 4 or 5 games I have seen, they have never come close to playing the whole game hard and to the best of their abilities.  Sometimes they are selfish and don't play together or stand around too much.  That's why they may be lucky to be 8-1.

Finally, this team is not as talented as the teams around 2000, but they definitely have the ability to win this conference and do some damage beyond.  They have size and good guard play.  THEY JUST NEED TO QUIT WORRYING ABOUT HOW MUCH PLAYING TIME THEY GET, PLAY TOGETHER FOR 40 MINUTES, AND UNDERSTAND THAT TEAM ACHIEVEMENT IS MORE IMPORTANT.

Good luck the rest of the year!  See you Saturday.  Don't take anyone lightly.  Look what happened to HSU.

FinnMan

[Ralph Turner]

Welcome back, FinnMan!

Good points about playing time!  Yes, we were spoiled back in the Martinez/Aragon/Denson days.  There were lots of teams that could play with us for about 33 minutes.  It was those last 5-10 minutes when a 3-5 point game became a 12-15 point margin of victory.

When playing Coach Holmes' system, there is usually more than enough playing time for players, as measured by how fatigued they are at the end of the game.  If they are not physically spent, then they did not try hard enough on all aspects of the game.  They wasted playing time.

Another way to get playing time is to play more games.  Playing Coach Holmes' system provides winning basketball games.  Winning games means more games, which means more playing time.

(40 minutes) times (5 players) times (25 games) = 5000 minutes to divide.

(40 minutes) times (5 players) times (25 regular season games + 3 ASC tourney games) = 5600 minutes.

(40 minutes) times (5 players) times (25 regular season games + 3 ASC tourney games + making the Sweet 16, 3 games) = 6200 minutes, etc.   

Every reader of this board likes the last equation best.

By my count, the win over Mississippi College in December was the 1000th in the school's history!  (I calculate that we are 1007-920 in 83+ seasons.)

[thejungle]

Finnman:  As always, good food for thought my man.  You're right on several points.  1) I won't say it's the most talented team in 9 years...But it is the most balanced.  It might also be the deepest I've seen since those late 90's teams.  2)  You're right, the secret for success has been unselfish basketball.  But I am seeing more of that from this team.

And yes, there's been nothing stunning about this team this week...Thursday was a scary game...And today it was beyond scary.  BUT, this team has an MVP.  This team has a possible all-american.  And this team didn't have him for even one minute of this week.  Robert Moreno didn't touch the ball.  My take is:  They did pretty good without their floor general.  And this week also gave Ricky Burney the chance to grow like no one's business.  I think he's going to be more solid than ever for the rest of the season because he got to play so much this week.  And his first half Thursday, and end of the second quarter today were really eye opening.  This kid can play, and can run the point.

I also now totally feel that Richard Jones is a find!  This kid is good...He's physical...And he showed some real heart in today's win over Schreiner.  I'm pumped to be an Indian right about now!

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks for the report Jungle!

I was following Kit, Leon and the Livestats and trying to keep the heart inside my chest.  Someone (Buzz?) has already said it.  Moreno is the heart of this team and McM goes as far as Moreno can carry the team.  I am glad that the team is having a chance against TLU and Schreiner instead of the ASC-East.  I like how Scott Hurley hit 4-4 clutch free throws down the stretch!

I saw LeTU and UTD.  Great game!  LeTU played very well and with great emotion.  They even had a good fan contingent that kept the support balanced.  UTD just pulled back into the game at the end.  I look forward to the return game in Longivew.

[TheBuzz]

The LETU-UTD game was great.  These are, in my opinion, the two best teams in the conference (although I have not seen UTT play yet).  I was in attendance and LETU travelled well considering. 

The first half was controlled by LETU.  LETU shot 54% from the field in the first half and held UTD to a mere 23%.  The Jackets came out of the gate with some major intensity on the defensive end.  Dale Vanwright committed two early fouls and sat out most of the first half.  Coach Davis got the best defense out of an unorthodox rotation of Majors, Driver, W. Smith, Louimeus and Rockmore/Ostarticki.  Overall, LETU accomplished everything they set out to do in the first half and led 35-21. 

I expected this to be a close game and UTD showed up ready to play in the second half.  To be honest, it looked like the teams switched jerseys at the half.  UTD came out showed us why the are statistically the best defensive team in the conference.  UTD shot 41% in the second half and held LETU to 38%.  LETU's biggest downfall was 0 of 8 from behind the arc after halftime.  Coach Davis made a mistake and burned through all of his timeouts early and had to manage without any for roughly the last four minutes of the game.  UTD grinded it out and got a huge steal which led to a fastbreak layup that gave the Comets the lead with around 30 seconds left.  LETU missed on their next possession and were forced to foul (Vanwright's fifth).  UTD hit both free throws to extend the lead to 60-57.  To UTD's credit, they were money from line the when it counted most.  D. Smith missed a game-tying three and Evers put it back looking for contact but no luck.  60-59 UTD.  This game was very similar to the LETU-McMurry game.

Two stats that stood out to me were turnovers (LETU 14, UTD 7) and offensive rebounds (UTD 16, LETU 5).  You can point to so many things in a one point game, but the bottom line is this was an awesome game played between to great teams (I'll keep my opinions about the officiating to myself).  We could look back at this in late February and say that this was the game that helped decide who is hosting the tournament.  Ralph, I am also looking forward to the rematch in LETU's house.  It might be worth a trip to beautiful Longview

A few things about LETU that I hope improve...

• I think Josh Davis is feeling the pressure of running the offense and is losing focus of on his offensive game.  When Jesse Hayes returns this should fix itself.
• Despite playing 32 minutes on Saturday, Will Smith is still not 100% healthy since spraining his ankle against McMurry.  He is LETU's best defensive player.
• Free throw shooting.  I would love to see that 67% work its way up closer to 70%.

-TheBuzz

[Ralph Turner]

Buzz, sorry that I missed you at the game.

As a said elsewhere, I brought my computer and was using the UTDalllas Guest WIFI in the Luxury Sky Box on the visitor's side, so I could follow McMurry and the other games in the conference.

McMurry played a great game without Robert Moreno.  The players are beginning to focus on the game and beginning to understand the intensity necessary.

It seems that everyone is bringing their "A" game against McMurry again.  SU had a 30% FT shooter hit 4 straight in clutch time last night.  SU hit 14-42 3FG's yesterday!

I guess that I want UTD to win the East, just so the tourney is here in Dallas.  I think that there is less general "home court advantage" in Dallas than in Longview.  However, I will appreciate any carnage that is done along the way!

[#1ascfanman]

I can't believe no one is talking about MC and UTT! That must have been a great game.  Luckily we were off so we were not in any chance to lose.  ETBU is such an odd team. They go on the road and beat UO who is always tough and seems to be a good team this year.  I don't know if I should be scared or fired up to play them.  We have had their number here recently so I am hoping this will be a chance for us to get a big much needed win at home.

LeT over OU-Correct
HSU over SU-Incorrect
UTD over ETBU-Correct
CTX over HPU-Incorrect
McM over TLU-Correct
UTT over LC-Correct
UMHB over SRSU-Correct

HSU over TLU-Correct
McM over SU-Correct
CTX over SRSu-Incorrect
UMHB over HPU-Correct
MC over UTT-Correct
LeT over UTD-Incorrect

35-20 overall