MBB: American Southwest Conference

[#1ascfanman]

I hate to hear that about the coach at HPU. Sounds like a bum deal.

Sorry to those who were looking for my predictions.  I have not had time to look at them.  Here are mine for the rest of the weekend.

MC over SU-Easy pick since they are at home and won't lose to them 2 years in a row.
UMHB over ETBU-I don't think the CRU will stay down.
UO over SRSU-Long road trip for Lobos
UTD over HPU-too much distraction for HPU and they are struggling
McM over UTT-McMurry seems to be in a good place right now
CUA over Let-Bit of an upset pick
LC of TLU-got going and are at home
CUA over ETBU-Will be riding high with momentum after upsetting LeT
LeT over UMHB-Won't let another one slip away like last year.
MC over TLU-no brainer

[ASCfan237]

pedh34 where are you from and who do you support? Your picks look pretty solid, you must have some good knowledge of this league

[Ralph Turner]

Congratulations to the voice of HPU, Dallas Huston!

[pedh34]

Letourneau Won 82-67 against Concordia. Dale Vanwright started and he scored 32 points and had 9 rebounds. Good defensive effort by the yelllowjackets first time Concordia was held to under 70 points all season long.

[pedh34]

I will make some picks also...

12/4
HSU over UTT  I know UTT is pumped for this home game. I think they will be in for a shock...
LC over SU
UTD over SRSU
UO over HPU

12/6
MC over SU
UMHB over ETBU
UO over SRSU
UTD over HPU
MCM over UTT
LETU over CUA
LC over TLU

12/8
LeT over UMHB
CUA over ETBU
MC over TLU

Key notes for the week: UTT will go 0-2 at home, UTD will remain unbeaten, MC after starting 0-2 in conference will go 2-0 this week.

I went 5-2 on Saturday 12/6. I am impressed UTT beat MCM. As I said I thought Reese would have to have a better performance then he did against HSU. Reese led all scorers in the game with 24 points. Reese went 10-for-17 from floor and grabbed six boards.

[#1ascfanman]

My Wildcats lose at home! I did not see that one coming.  LC and ETBU are the disappointments for the East last night since everyone else won..

As of now I am 4-3 going into Monday's action.

[ASCfan237]

Wow did anyone see that coming out of Tyler? Beating McMurry.....that must have been an amazing game. Was anyone there that can provide some insight. Lookings at Tylers roster from last season to now I thought they would have fallen off because they lost so many key players but they seem to be playing very well.

Ozarks coming back up to 2-2...not a bad showing through the first 4 games.

UTD beating everyone in conference by 20 is pretty impressive.

[CUAfan]

Early (way, way too early, but I'm bored) predictions of how the West and East shake out based on the very limited number of games played so far. Think if this more as a "this is the kind of team they've played like so far" list than a prediction of how they'll actually finish, though I'm sure Ralph hopes it is. I hope to have some team and individual rankings ready by this week sometime.

ASC West
McMurry, 15-6
Mary Hardin-Baylor, 13-8
Hardin-Simmons, 12-9
Texas Lutheran, 10-11
Sul Ross State, 9-12
Concordia-Texas, 5-16 (put a hand in someone's face when they're shooting....please....)
Schreiner, 3-18
Howard Payne, 2-19

ASC East
Texas-Dallas, 17-3
LeTourneau, 17-3
Texas-Tyler, 16-4
Ozarks, 11-9
Mississippi College, 9-11
East Texas Baptist, 9-11
Louisiana College, 6-14

As long as I'm at it, picks for Monday 12/8...
LeTourneau over Mary Hardin-Baylor
East Texas Baptist over Concordia-Texas
Texas Lutheran over Mississippi College

[Ralph Turner]

CUA, thanks for the first look.   

I think that the Mississippi College opponents (McM and HSU) are working against them in this run of the stats.  My perception is that MissCollege would do no worse than 15-5  (6-2 vs the West, 4-2 on the road, 5-1 at home).   

A veteran observer told me that Mississippi College has the quality of athletes that we saw in the Sweet 16 in 2001 against national finalist William Paterson NJ.

[kid nice]

I would almost be willing to bet you my paycheck that MC will not finish 9-11.  Well, at least a $100 (i'm a teacher, so almost my whole paycheck)

[ASCfan237]

I agree...MC has been way too good for way too long. There is no way they will not make the conference tourny. It would be a complete shock if they didn't finish in the top 3.

[pistol pete 22]

Theres no doubt in my mind that MC will be in the conference tourny instead of Ozarks. They are 1-2 right now. But it looks worse than it really is. Hardin Simmons hit 15 3 pointers that game and MC only lost by 6. Judging by the stats HSU does not shoot like that most nights. And McMurry seems like they have a very solid team who will compete for the title in the West.

I also dont see TLU being good enough to make the tournament. I think SRU might steal the 4th spot unless Concordia scores more or actually plays some D!

[Bearkat00]

Big game tonight here in Longview - UMHB vs. LETU

Men's game can be listened to live at http://www.audiosportsonline.net/Chitwood/LeTourneau/2008Basketball.htm

J.Hayes will not be playing tonight due to a sprained ankle.  Vanwright coming off a 32 point game against CUA. 

CUA game was a lot closer than the score indicated.  While they never got closer than 6 points, CUA had a few possesions in which they could've made it a two possession game.  'Jackets played excellent D, specifically J.Davis who shut down McDonald. 

[ASCfan237]

Thats  great win for LeT to remain undefeated....Bearkat, whats the general feeling around the basketball program, fans, and players to having Evers and Smith come off the bench and each only have a limited role? Will it be like that all season? Those two kids could start at almost every other school in the conference.

[Bearkat00]

Thats  great win for LeT to remain undefeated....Bearkat, whats the general feeling around the basketball program, fans, and players to having Evers and Smith come off the bench and each only have a limited role? Will it be like that all season? Those two kids could start at almost every other school in the conference.

The crowds on-campus have been pretty strong considering that our students mostly come for the strong academics and there are finals this week.  Against Southern Arkansas, the gym was close to 60% full, with the visitor's side being empty and our three sections each 90% full. 

The basketball program is very excited to be as far along as they are.  I went on the ASC website and was looking at previous records and it's amazing what Coach Davis and Coach Lewis have done with this program.  I can assure you that NONE of the players are receiving any special attention in a sense of finacial aid or help in the academics.  If you knew the team, you'd be very impressed with young men that the coaching staff have brought in.  Not only have they bought into the basketball concept, they've bought into the University (which can be very hard to do from an athletic standpoint).  Obviously I am very bias, but I think what these men have been able to do here with the amount of support for the athletic program is unbeliveable. 

Evers and Smith are two different stories - Evers hurt his knee at the beginning of the season and therefore they are trying to monitor his minutes as much as possible.  When you watch him play, he still plays the same, but as the season wears on, they want him to remain fresh.  As for Smith, I think it's interesting having him come of the bench b/c I believe he can provide a nice spark to the team if everything is stagnet.  The thing is, the guys that have been starting (Davis, Hayes, Louimus, W.Smith, Rockmore) have played extremly well.  W.Smith is a freak of nature on the defensive side of things and J.Davis is a shut down defender.  Rockmore has played very well at the start of the season.  Wtih that being said, if it's not broke, don't fix it.  I beleive that Evers, after the break, should be inserted back in the starting line-up.  D.Smith needs to play better to find his role in the starting line-up or else he will continue to come off the bench.