MBB: American Southwest Conference

[Wydown Blvd.]

That USA Athlete International organization is definitely on the rise. Alot of d3 players and coaches are participating and coaching groups overseas.

[Ralph Turner]

Next time you are inclined to "rant at a ref", imagine your game being canceled because you could not find a ref to do the game.

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2007/jul/06/endangered-zebras/

[gccfan]

LeTourneau schedule was posted today... they head out of town to start the season at the Colorado College tournament.  I heard that George Fox and MacMurry (IL) are the other two teams there.  Another interesting note is that LETU and UMHB will be playing twice this year, once in conference and once out of conference.

[golden_dome]

I will probably release the MC schedule tomorrow even though our coaches are still looking for one more game, but I thought you might like to know the nonconference opponents.

Pensacola Christian on November 16 at home.
Wesley College on December 6 at home.

We are playing in the Hampden-Sydney Holiday Hoops Tourney and expect to play Greensboro in the opening round with a potential matchup with Hampden-Sydney in the second if we are able to beat a very good Greensboro team.

Greensboro (20-7) returns two first team all-conference players including their conference player of the year. They also return four of five starters overall so they could be ranked heading into next season.

I think Hampden-Sydney returns four of their top five scorers from a 19-win team last season. All four averaged in double figures.

[Ralph Turner]

LeTourneau schedule was posted today... they head out of town to start the season at the Colorado College tournament.  I heard that George Fox and MacMurry (IL) are the other two teams there.  Another interesting note is that LETU and UMHB will be playing twice this year, once in conference and once out of conference.

McMurry TX is going to Colorado College on Nov 16th and 17th!  That is definite!

[kid nice]

Early predictions anyone? Will MC be dethroned in the East? Has anyone other than MC won the east since the split? I think Winford will be comeback player of year since his playing time will be back up

[Ralph Turner]

... Has anyone other than MC won the east since the split?...

2003 ETBU
2004 UT-D co-champs

[Ralph Turner]

2007-08 Ozarks Schedule

The change in the selection process this year is the opponent's winning percentage (OWP) and the opponent's opponent's winning percentage )OOWP) are two new criteria for determining the seedings for the playoffs.  Only D-3 "in-region" games count in the OWP and the OOWP.

UOzarks' D-1 and D-2 games are virtually worthless to the ASC to boost the relative value of the ASC versus other conferences.

UOz must defeat Hendrix in its only non-ASC game to help the conference.

[#1ascfanman]

I have been watching the ASC for sometime after my time as a student at Louisiana College.  This is my first time on D3 hoops.  Just a little news that I have heard, MC may have had the best juco class they have had yet.  Very scary! They always have great transfers.  My ghost pic, Let U. 

[Ralph Turner]

I have been watching the ASC for sometime after my time as a student at Louisiana College.  This is my first time on D3 hoops.  Just a little news that I have heard, MC may have had the best juco class they have had yet.  Very scary! They always have great transfers.  My ghost pic, Let U. 

Miss Coll always has great JUCO's, gets to host the first 2 rounds of the NCAA's and then loses in the Sweet 16 by double digits. 

[#1ascfanman]

Hey, I would take that any day!

[#1ascfanman]

I noticed many of the teams this year are playing D1's, seems more than usual.  I know some are only exhibition games but is this hurting our cause.  I also noticed at looking at eveyone's schedule we have a few playing conference foes for nonconference games. This hurting or helping. 

Of all the teams playing d1's exhibition or not, looks like ETBU has the toughest one of all against Northwestern State, anyone agree or disagree?

[gccfan]

I know LeTourneau is playing UMHB in a non-conference game early in the season because we wanted to get in their Christmas tournament, but something happened so they said they would just come and play us.  It looks like LeTourneau and McMurry will be playing twice as well because I think both should win their first round games at Colorado College and then be forced to play each other.

I figure MC will always just reload on juco guys, LeTourneau should be pretty good, but you never know what can happen.  I like LC's starting five, but then they are a little thin after that.  It will be interesting to see how good UT Tyler is this year with their new coach.

[#1ascfanman]

I believe McMurry and ETBU are also playing a nonconference game.  ETBU has the exhibition game with Nortwestern and then they play a bunch of NAIA schools. They were terrible last year and I don't see them getting much better. McMurry is always in the mix even when you think they won't be.  I like LC starting five as well but you never know with that bunch, my favs of course.  MC has  a good schedule with D3's and will be loaded.  UT tyler has so many advantages over the private schools, as should UT dallas and Sull Ross, as far as recruiting goes, i.e. cheaper tuition.  I know they have a new coach, former MC assistant, so they are probably practicing already!haha! Predictions for the East:
MC
Tyler
Let
LC or UTdallas

For the west:
UMHB
McMurry
HSU
HPU

[Ralph Turner]

I noticed many of the teams this year are playing D1's, seems more than usual.  I know some are only exhibition games but is this hurting our cause.  I also noticed at looking at everyone's schedule we have a few playing conference foes for non-conference games. This hurting or helping. 

Of all the teams playing d1's exhibition or not, looks like ETBU has the toughest one of all against Northwestern State, anyone agree or disagree?

Playing a D-1 can be used to the school's strategic advantage.

The D-1 game fee can be used to finance the trip to a good tournament.

McMurry and ETBU do play non-conference, and there is the chance that LeTU and McM play in Colorado Springs.

IMHO, these are the most valuable non-conference games from the perspective of boosting the team's "power rating" for D3.  (There is not an official power rating, but the Selection committee considers Opponents' Winning Percentage,  Opponent's Opponents' Winning Percentage and in-region won-loss percentage as some of the criteria).

D3 South Region Opponent.

D3 non-south region opponent at a tournament that allows you to be exposed to other D3 teams from other parts of the country.

D1 opponent that allows you to finance the D3 Tourney.

I can also see some value to playing an NAIA (or D2) cross-town opponent during the time that you don't want to travel, e.g., near semester's end, but you need the game to keep the team fresh.

Pat Coleman rated the 2005-06 non-conference schedules.  Those same principles apply.