MBB: American Southwest Conference

[CUAfan]

Sheesh...Coach Bonewitz sure can get those boys to score like nobody's business, and I like him, but he can't coach defense worth a lick. We haven't held anyone below 50% shooting so far this year.

That's not to take away from ETBU, though. If I remember right, going into last night their average margin was around -5 points, so its not as if they were 1-8 becuase they were getting blown out.

[Warren Thompson]

Sheesh...Coach Bonewitz sure can get those boys to score like nobody's business, and I like him, but he can't coach defense worth a lick.

Perhaps "those boys" simply can't play defense. Coaching can do only so much.

BTW your address seems to indicate that you work for Concordia. If so, why the public negative comments about the institution?

[Bearkat00]

Thanks Ralph,

I am excited to see CUA this weekend against LETU.  LETU lives and dies by the three, so this could be "an old fashion Texas shootout". 

When they want to, LETU can play good pressure defense.  Last years LETU vs. CUA game saw CUA come back from 11 down at half to force overtime, then LETU's Smith hit a game winning jumper at the top of the key for a 93-92 victory.  LETU's big man Evers had 23 for that game while CUA's Maxwell had 21 on the night. 

What's the word on UMHB?

Tomorrow nights game for the guys is a 6pm start time and can be heard on www.audiosportsonline.com

[CUAfan]

Well, could be that too, I suppose.

As far as your other point, I've been a student assistant in the sports information department for the last three semesters. While I want the teams to do well, and the institution to grow in size and prestige, one has to call a spade a spade. CUA doesn't get a free pass in my book just because they're going to be my alma mater. If anything, it means I'm harder on them.

[Warren Thompson]

CUAfan:

OK, thanks.

[Ralph Turner]

What's the word on UMHB?

We can see what UMHB and HSU have when Virginia Wesleyan comes for the UMHB Tourney in late December!

Thanks to Coach DeWeese for bringing them down here! 

[Bearkat00]

So from the look of things, if the ASC wants any respect, this is the year to do it. 

HSU and UMHB vs. #3 Virginia Wesleyan
MC vs. #14 John Hopkins

I'd like to see a couple of our teams make a run at the NCAA Tourney. 

[dballa]

It's so hard for this conference to get two into the NCAA tournament.  The West beats up on each other and has too many losses by the end of the year.  In the East the only team that stands out at the end of the year is MC.

The only way we could get two teams in the tournament is to have an upset of MC in the conference tournament, which did happen a couple years ago.

[etbualum]

I was at the ETBU CUA game.  ETBU shot a high % because about 70 of their points were in the paint.  Isom was awesome tonight.  He played the last 14 minutes with 4 fouls.  Melvin Brewer and Cory Cooper were also very good last night.

Mcdonald was pretty crazy too.  He hit 3 or 4 three's in a row late in the game. One with several defenders hanging all over him.  Very impressive shooting performance.

Maxwell was solid as well.


I see Dusty Evers having a field day for LETU.

[Bearkat00]

The greatest 3 pointer that I've seen in our conference has to be Casey Meddars from LC.  I swear that guy didn't miss.  If he would've had any help around him, I think he could've been a HUGE asset to a team.  I am looking forward to watching McDonald play for the first time. 

[CUAfan]

etbualum, when I saw the box score for that game I noticed a huge discrepancy in FTA. Now, I know ETBU was hammering it inside all night long, but I wanted to get your opinion of the officiating at the game.

[etbualum]

I thought the officiating was pretty fair...notice I didn't say good.  Both team had several head scratchers. I did feel at the end of the game when CUA was pressing to get back in the refs let the teams play and that resulted in several turnovers.  Some of the disparity in free throws was also fouling to get back in the game at the end. In the last 2 minutes ETBU took 10 free throws.


Half of etbu's problems this year come from a lack of outside shooting.  A majority of the shots our team takes are in the paint.  The three guys that combined to shoot 30 of the 39 fts probably took 3 shots outside of the paint.   The interesting thing about CUA is that the overall team speed is great, but they did not do a good job of moving their feet.  I would venture to say etbu had about 7 or 8 basket plus the foul shots.  Probably 2 of those were ticky-tack the rest were justified.    Other than Maxwell CUA settled a lot for jumpers. 

I think Baptiste would help in the middle more at least altering shots but the pace of the game was too quick for him. 

CUA reminded me a lot of the mavericks against the kings a few years back.  Lots of reaching fouls on drives to the basket.  ETBU was 21-28 for 75% in the second half from the floor and only took 2 threes the entire game.

[etbualum]

Meador was very good.  Ryan Vines was an LC guy that was also a dead eye and they played together at least one year.  Salinas from UTD also deserves mentioning.  He can get hot.  An ASC 3 pt contest would be something to watch.

McDonald-CUA
Weasby- UTT
Salinas- UTD
Bradley-LETU(at least the way he shot it against us last week, although it was the only time I have seen him play)

Bring back Meador and Vines, and I am sure that some of the old MCM teams probably had some great shooters.

[gccfan]

Bradley is a little like Salinas in that both can go awhile without doing much and then all of a sudden they hit like 4 straight three's on you.  Pickelman may be the best pure shooter in the league this year.  He has already hit a number of clutch three's this season.  Probably not as explosive, but more consistent.

Free Throws may come into play today in the LETU-CUA game.  The YellowJackets have struggled all season from the line shooting just 60%.  I see that as a key to the game.

[dsc]

Final

Trinity 67 @ HSU 60

Saturday, December 16.