MBB: American Southwest Conference

[Ron Boerger]

I guess I didn't win the Salem prize package.   

Congrats to UT-D on their very fine season and in coming within less than a second of making it to the Final Four. 

It's ironic that, according to the Guilford-provided game summary, the game turned when the Quakers went to a full-court press.   A defensive change was what led the Comets past Trinity in the second round.   I wouldn't have thought UT-D would have been susceptible to full-court pressure given their performance in San Antonio. 

[#1ascfanman]

This may have been something someone has discussed or proposed, but why doesn't Division III start some sort of NIT.  I know people are going to go ahead and say money and the usual, but you could invite teams, and if they turn down the invite, move on to the next on the list until you fill a tournament.  They could try and find a few teams within traveling distance and have the higher seed host until there were four teams left.  For example, you could take two teams from the SCAC and two from the ASC or even and independent like U of D and those could play down to one team and move on to another bracket.    I would bet that any school would not mind paying for their team to travel to a nuetral site for a "final four" of the NIT.  There are so many schools in division 3 and this would give those that felt they were left out atleast one more shot at winning something. 

[pbrooks3]

Good point, Ron. Though I think it was more than full court pressure that turned the tables for Guilford. UT-Dallas, I could tell while listening to the broadcast, was beginning to wilt in the last few minutes. That plus their leaky free throw shooting got them in trouble.  Guilford is one of those special teams that finds a way to grind out wins. I thought Transy made a marvelous comeback at the end of regulation that would catapult them to an OT win over the Quakers. Didn't happen - Guilford sucked it up and pulled it out. Salem may seem like the homecourt to Guilford this weekend. 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

This may have been something someone has discussed or proposed, but why doesn't Division III start some sort of NIT.  I know people are going to go ahead and say money and the usual, but you could invite teams, and if they turn down the invite, move on to the next on the list until you fill a tournament.  They could try and find a few teams within traveling distance and have the higher seed host until there were four teams left.  For example, you could take two teams from the SCAC and two from the ASC or even and independent like U of D and those could play down to one team and move on to another bracket.    I would bet that any school would not mind paying for their team to travel to a nuetral site for a "final four" of the NIT.  There are so many schools in division 3 and this would give those that felt they were left out atleast one more shot at winning something. 

There actually is an "NIT" type tournament... it is called the ECAC. Granted, it is mainly on the east coast and it doesn't end up with just two teams playing for the overall title (it is played in just each region, so there are regional titles), but there is extra play for many.

However. schools have to pay for these games individually, including travel costs. I have talked to many coaches who say that sometimes they turn down the invitations to the ECAC because they just can't afford to spend more money - especially at the end of a long season.

[hasanova]

Some teams definitely have more money than others.  According to the Washington U. website, they're offering a free bus ride, hotel and tickets to any student who wants to attend either the women's or men's Final Four.  All they have to do is buy their own food!

[Ron Boerger]

Some teams definitely have more money than others.  According to the Washington U. website, they're offering a free bus ride, hotel and tickets to any student who wants to attend either the women's or men's Final Four.  All they have to do is buy their own food!

  Wow.

WashU's endowment was listed at $5.5 billion in the most recent NACUBO endowment survey.  That ranks them 18th among ALL colleges in the country, ahead of schools like Rice, UVA, USC, Vanderbilt, etc.  Guess they can afford it.

[Ron Boerger]

There actually is an "NIT" type tournament... it is called the ECAC. Granted, it is mainly on the east coast and it doesn't end up with just two teams playing for the overall title (it is played in just each region, so there are regional titles), but there is extra play for many.

However. schools have to pay for these games individually, including travel costs. I have talked to many coaches who say that sometimes they turn down the invitations to the ECAC because they just can't afford to spend more money - especially at the end of a long season.

And the other factor is simply time.  A lot of D3 kids are ready for the season to be over and to spend that time on study,  move on to other sports (track or softball), or just enjoy having some free time.   If you didn't win your conference championship or get the NCAA invite ... move on. 

[Ralph Turner]

Congratulations to McMurry's Jamal Anene who finished 2nd in the ASC track meet with a 10:33 performance in the 3000 steeplechase and a 5th place performance in the 800 meters with a 1:58.34 time!

[#1ascfanman]

I see that Centenary in Shreveport is considering Division III, and possible the ASC conference.  Does anyone know if there is any truth to the matter.  Ralph, how would this affect the possibility of getting the second automatice bid for the conference. 

On a side note, I saw Ozarks made an interesting hire. It seems there are lots of good DIII assistants out there that are getting overlooked for strange reasons.  Why hire a high school coach?  I don't doubt his abilities to coach but recruiting is something you think you would want some experience with, especially at this unique level.  I read all the time about DI assistants being hired for these head coaching positions and they have not experience recruiting without scholarships.  I know from my time at LC it is lonely being a DIII coach, especially an assistant coach.  I would love to hear some other opinions on the matter, if anything to get something going on here for a while!

[Ralph Turner]

Hello fanman.

No chance at a second AQ bid unless the conference were to split into formal East and West Conferences.  Centenary is at least 5 years away from being a full NCAA member, and must give the Summit League a 2-year notice.  The Summit might cut them loose after 2009-10, because they wouldn't have to fly to Shreveport anymore.

Here are the blogs in the Shreveport Times.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090603/SPORTS02/906030350/1026/SPORTS02

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090604/SPORTS02/906040303/1026/SPORTS02

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090605/SPORTS02/906050309/1001/SPORTS

I would love to have them in the ASC, but I bet they go with the SCAC.

[lewis]

If budget concerns are Centenary's reason for leaving, the SCAC would almost be as much travel. It would cost less to be in the ASC. I have heard from a FAR that Centenary has already contacted the ASC.

[Ralph Turner]

If budget concerns are Centenary's reason for leaving, the SCAC would almost be as much travel. It would cost less to be in the ASC. I have heard from a FAR that Centenary has already contacted the ASC.

Centenary in the Summit League is Rochester MN, Brookings SD, Cedar City UT, Ft Wayne IN, etc. with 2 connections by plane plus a bus.

For the SCAC-West, then it is Austin College, Rhodes, Hendrix, Millsaps, Trinity and Southwestern by bus.

Centenary is meeting with the SCAC later this month.

[Ralph Turner]

Gordon Mann found this report in the Shreveport Times (online) and posted the link on the Daily Dose.

http://d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2009/06/04/making-the-case-for-centenary-la-and-d-iii/

In May 2009, Centenary LA gave its official 2-year notice that it is leaving the Summit League after the 2010-11 season.

[#1ascfanman]

Saw today Centenary officially will be gong DIII, how will this affect us in our conference? 

[gordonmann]

It won't directly, not until 2011-12.  That's the earliest Centenary would join the ASC if both parties want that to happen.