MBB: American Southwest Conference

[Ron Boerger]

Can anyone tell me what Trinity can expect from UT-D this weekend?  I see they have a 6'10" guy that only plays 6 minutes a game.   What style do they play?  Looks like a balanced attack with the leading scorer (Wright) averaging 12ppg and five other guys between 8 and 11 ppg.

[Ron Boerger]

Is this thing on?   Bueller?

[#1ascfanman]

Uh, he's sick...

[Ralph Turner]

Can anyone tell me what Trinity can expect from UT-D this weekend?  I see they have a 6'10" guy that only plays 6 minutes a game.   What style do they play?  Looks like a balanced attack with the leading scorer (Wright) averaging 12ppg and five other guys between 8 and 11 ppg.

We have very few posters from UTD.

I don't want to mis-characterize the offense, but I usually think of them as a team that matches well against "half-court teams".  I think that they play smart basketball and rarely beat themselves.

They beat Guilford, but lost to "athletic" teams such as "at McMurry", UOzarks, "at Mississippi College", and "at ETBU".

[Ralph Turner]

I think that Trinity should be favored in this game for these general reasons.

1)  They have home court advantage.  (...something that UTD should have had.)
2)  They have played a first round game.  (That first round game gives the TU players a sense of perspective and orientation.  They handled the pressure of the game versus a credible Maryville team.)
3)  This is the first NCAA playoff game for any player on the UTD team.

[Ralph Turner]

Looking head-to-head versus common opponents...

UTD:

Beat Austin College by 21 at home, and by 9 on the road.
Beat UMHB by 16 on the road and by 5 hosting in the Semis.
Beat Schreiner by 30 at home.

Trinity TX:

Beat Schreiner at home by 11.
Beat UMHB by 10 at home.
Beat Austin College by 12 on the road and by 30 at home.

[Ralph Turner]

Congratulations UTD!

UTD 70-54.  The athleticism of UTD (and Temaine Wright) made the difference according to the announcers.

UTD lead at the half 29-28 and then really pulled away with under 11 minutes left in the game.

[Ralph Turner]

TU only scored 1 FG in the last 11 minutes of the game.

The Comets installed a trapping defense in the middle of the first half.  TU LEAD 19-12 at 11:18 into the game.  UTD went on a 12-0 run until 3:58 left in the half.

UTD crowd was active.  It was Trinity spring break.

UTD plays Capital in the Sweet 16. 

[Ralph Turner]

UTD is in the 8pm game against Capital at John Carroll in the Cleveland suburb, University Heights.

UTD outscored 58-35 in the last 3/4th of the game after TU went up 19-12. 

The announcers on UTD audiostream mentioned a shift in the defense in the first half, so I assume that was the difference.

This should be a good game for UTD.

[Pat Coleman]

UTD is in the 6 p.m. game.
http://www.jcusports.com/news/2009/3/8/MBB_0308092838.aspx

[Ralph Turner]

UTD is in the 6 p.m. game.
http://www.jcusports.com/news/2009/3/8/MBB_0308092838.aspx

Thanks for the correction.

(My other source was incorrect.)   

[Pat Coleman]

Any readers here who are even thinking they might want to attend the Final Four should enter the City of Salem's contest: Free lodging, free tickets, admission to team banquet and VIP passes:

http://www.d3hoops.com/salemgiveaway/

[SabineBBall]

Good luck to the UTD men tonight!

[David Collinge]

I'm here at JCU and will try to provide some sporadic updates in the OAC room, for anyone interested.

[hasanova]

I'm here at JCU and will try to provide some sporadic updates in the OAC room, for anyone interested.

I read your updates, David ... very much appreciated!