MBB: American Southwest Conference

[Ralph Turner]

McM PG Robert Moreno sat out the first 38:42 of tonight's game.

When Hurley went down and McMurry led by 5, Moreno came off the bench hit 3 of 4 FT's and then got a steal on SRSU's next possession, all in 15 seconds.

Moreno means that much to this team.  He makes the case for All-Conference Point Guard!

[mcmfan]

The Reporter-News story of the incident can be read at
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/jan/23/hurley-injured/
It quotes Coach Holmes as follows:
"That's just hard playing on both teams," he said. "Andy Hulsey's a kid that we recruited. He's a fantastic kid, a great kid. He didn't mean to do that. He's already sent me a text message apologizing."
The news this morning is that Hurley seems to be okay.  It was a scary moment, no doubt about that.

[#1ascfanman]

Texas Lutheran  Mary Hardin-Baylor-UMHB: Correct
East Texas Baptist  La. College-LC!!!!:Incorrect   
Howard Payne  Hardin-Simmons-HPU:Incorrect   
LeTourneau  Miss. College-MC:Correct 
Texas-Dallas  Texas-Tyler-Tyler:Incorrect 
Schreiner  Concordia-CUA:Correct 
Sul Ross State  McMurry-McMurry:Correct


Concordia  Texas Lutheran-CUA 
East Texas Baptist  Miss. College-MC 
LeTourneau  La. College-LeT 
Sul Ross State  Hardin-Simmons-Sul Ross 
Mary Hardin-Baylor  Schreiner-UMHB   
Ozarks  Texas-Tyler-Tyler 
Howard Payne  McMurry-McMurry 

Brings me to 35-21.  I kinda picked some unusual picks and they did not work out.  I don't get to go to the LC games much but apparently we are really in trouble.  Josh only had 9 points.  The word I get was ETBU did a very good job on him defensively.  I don't know what we are going to do.  If Josh does not get his 18 a game we have no chance.  I really am feeling for my boys.  Keep fighting and keep your heads up high!

On another note I wish for the best for the McMurry kid.  Sad what I read about the SRSU coach, what a jerk.


Go Cats!!!

[pedh34]

Just some thoughts. I hope everyone is enjoying ASC basketball because it is that time of the year again. LeTourneau had a tough 4 game road trip over the last two weekends which means a lot of travel time and missed classes. I feel good coming back 2-2 after the four game road trip. Six out of our last eight games will be at home only traveling 45 minutes to UT Tyler and ETBU. We lost a tough game against a solid UTD team that does not beat themselves. The other loss to a tough team to beat at home Mississippi College.  One thing that has became apparent to me is that we tend to wear teams down. Over Christmas Break we played White Water ranked 6 at the time and play a rough first half. We came back with a strong second half and lost. The next day White Water went on to loose to UMHB. Last Saturday we lost a tough game to UTD which we lead the majority of the game. The following Monday they loose at home against Ozarks. Thursday we lost to a tough Mississippi College team and then they lost today against ETBU. It seems to me that teams get really amped up to play against us and it takes a lot out of them to prepare and play against us. Then the following game there emotions are still taken out from them from the joyride against LeTu. This is just what I think.

Other Notes:
Seems like Dale Vanwright is coming around again after scoring 25 points against MC and 22 against LC. In both of these games his shooting percentage has been higher than the last couple of weeks which is good since these games were on the road. Can't wait to see them back in action against an athletic ETBU team that NO ONE should look past. Would be nice to see our free throw percentage  improve some.

[Ralph Turner]

What an evening in Abilene!

Good to see you, jungle, mcmfan and others.

An improbable game...

HPU led McMurry 51-31 at the half.

At 17:33 HPU was leading 55-31, when McMurry Dewayne Hall hit a 3FG.

As HPU was pulling away Moreno hit a 3FG to cut it 62-46

Still struggling, McMurry trailed HPU 66-46 with 10:15 left.  Moreno hits another key 3FG when the team needed.

Coach Holmes punched the right buttons with substitutions off the deep bench and McMurry narrowed the lead to 74-60 with6:16 left.

Moreno was in command by now.  He was the one constant thru the entire game for McMurry, which pulled to within 9 points at 74-65 with 3:15 remaining.

A flurry of activity ensued.   Moreno hits another 3FG to cut it to 77-75 with 1:35 left. McM's Ricky Burney gets a steal but then gets a player control foul.  In his enthusiasm, Jonathon Walker runs to the official and says something  like, "This is incredible. Surely you must be mistaken!"  At which point, the ref teed him up.  No profanity!  None of George Carlin's 7 words!  HPU hits one of 2.  Moreno then gets a steal and fires to Walker who hits the jumper, HPU 78-77.  HPU's Perry gets the layup and then McM's Richard Jones gets the offensive board, and fires to Burney who ties the game with a 3FG, 80-80, 0:14 left.  With 0:02 left, HPU misses a 3G, Burney gets the board, is fouled, hits both and McMurry leads 82-80 for the first time since 8-6 with 16+ minutes in the first half.  A last-second half court 3FG misses and McMurry wins.

Moreno was spectacular.  He is the glue to the very talented McMurry team.

He is (IMHO) the All-conference point guard!

[Ralph Turner]

LeTU 74 LaCollege 56,

McM 82 HPU 80.

(The big games tonight were ETBU 76, at Miss Coll 71;  and at Schreiner 74, UMHB 72!   That Ralph Turner fellow had 26 points for Schreiner!  What a player!)

[JACKET84]

Not impressed with the officiating.  Lost complete control of the game midway through the second half.  They let a lot of fouling go on all game on the press, but called a ticky tack foul with 3 seconds left in the game.  Most officials will not do this.  They don't want to determine the outcome like these officials did.
  With that said, congrats to McM on not giving up and continuing to hustle for the win. 

  Oh well, not sure if MCM fans knew, but HPU played a lot of freshmen last night.  They should have a good future.

[#1ascfanman]

Concordia  Texas Lutheran-CUA:Incorrect 
East Texas Baptist  Miss. College-MC:Incorrect 
LeTourneau  La. College-LeT:Correct 
Sul Ross State  Hardin-Simmons-Sul Ross:Incorrect 
Mary Hardin-Baylor  Schreiner-UMHB:Incorrect   
Ozarks  Texas-Tyler-Tyler:Incorrect 
Howard Payne  McMurry-McMurry:Correct 

Brings me to 37-26. This was a bad week for my picks. There are always upsets but not this many in one weekend it seems.  Things just get worse at LC.  Two bad losses at home.  There is a big game Tuesday nite in Longview.  My pick is LeT but it seems ETBwho is on a roll with three straight wins on the road, which is hard to do, one being against UO who has beat UTD and UTT on the road and at Mississippi, no onw wins there!  I wish I could be at that game. 

LC, keep your heads up and keep fighting, sometimes things don't go as planned but trust in Coach!

[Bearkat00]

Wanted to follow-up on some LETU thoughts:
1. Vanwright is starting to catch fire again and overcome a midseason slump
2. I agree, a 2-2 road trip isn't all that bad considering the circumstances.
3. Disappointed about being unable to keep double digit leads in both those games, more so with UTD when we held a nice lead through most of the second half.  The MC game I can handle a little more than the UTD game.
4. TWO HUGE games this week at home - ETBU and UTT.  With two wins against two very good teams, we can start pulling away from the pack.  With losses, it just gets more jumbled up in the ASC East.

Our prayers go out to the MCM young man.  Regardless of fan affiliation, you never want to see anyone get hurt. 

[Ralph Turner]

It is looking like 2 weeks for McM's Scott Hurley.

I saw him at the game.  He was in good spirits.

[mcmfan]

They let a lot of fouling go on all game on the press, but called a ticky tack foul with 3 seconds left in the game.

Got to agree with JACKET84 on this one.  We sucked for 3/4 of the game.  If we were going to win, I would have preferred it to be in overtime, and not because of a last-minute foul.  Our guys need to remember that they probably won't be that lucky when the rematch happens in Brownwood, and will need to be ready to play the whole time if they want another win against a very talented HPU team.

[pedh34]

Here is a question that I would like you guys to ponder...I would especially like your opinion on this Ralph.

Does it say more about your team to win against a good/great opponent or lose to a lousy opponent/someone you should beat??

The reason I ask is because of the current tie breaking procedure in the ASC. The first way to break a tie is head to head record, the second way is record against the highest ranking teams in order. I think if you beat a great team--that's great for you, but if you happen to lose to teams that are worse then you--the conference doesn't punish you as hard. For instance, U Ozarks may turn out to be a better loss for Dallas then an LETU loss to MissColl/Dallas/McMurry if LETU and Dallas end up tying.

Furthermore, I know the point system is very unreliable when comparing three or more teams by common opponents. However, I think the point system could end up saying more about your team when assessing head to head match ups. If one team wins a close game at home and loses to the same team by 20 on the road I think that usually depicts who is the better team.

I hope you guys could understand my rambling and mixed thoughts, your opinions are appreciated.

[Ralph Turner]

I do not like a point system, because I think that the point (margin of victory)  system discourages a coach from playing the bench. 


ASC Tie-breaker

[etbualum]

If they insist on the crossover games I would like to see everyone invited to the conference tournament.  That would eliminate the need for the tiebreakers(except to seed).  The scheduling advantages would be gone as well.  They could play the whole thing over two weekends, the bottom two teams could have a play in game to face the overall top seed.  I know they don't care about revenue but it is probably something they could sell in the metroplex and it would draw more interest.  If that doesn't work they could play the early rounds at the home of the higher seed, giving some teams an extra home game, the final 8 could be held at a neutral site or hosted by the top seed.

I know some would say it makes the regular season meaningless, but having a home game or the right to host would be a pretty big prize.


Obviously being a fan of ETBU this would benefit us this year as we are playing better now than before the break.  I think it would give a little march madness to our conference.  It would also give our champion a few extra playoff type games which could only help for the real dance.

[pistol pete 22]

44-17 after dallas got upset on monday


Texas Lutheran  Mary Hardin-Baylor-UMHB 
East Texas Baptist  La. College-ETBU
Howard Payne  Hardin-Simmons-HSU   
LeTourneau  Miss. College-MC 
Texas-Dallas  Texas-UTD
Schreiner  Concordia-CUA 
Sul Ross State  McMurry-McM   

Concordia  Texas Lutheran-CUA.......X 
East Texas Baptist  Miss. College-MC........X 
LeTourneau  La. College-LET
Sul Ross State  Hardin-Simmons-SRSU.........X
Mary Hardin-Baylor  Schreiner-UMHB.......X
Ozarks  Texas-Tyler-Tyler........X
Howard Payne  McMurry-McM 

53-22

got all the games right on thursday, an then only 2 on saturday.  big games as always in the east this weekend. Is Ozarks the real deal? Has UTT over achieved to till now? Also interested to see the UMHB McM game. UMHB is hot an cold so far this year.