MBB: American Southwest Conference

[JACKET84]

Only as far as season record is concerned. That HPU won both games does not by necessity mean that they are the better team than McMurry overall, just that they were better that day. Of course, that's why they play the games, and I'm not trying to say that HPU is a bad team. Heck, they beat Missississippi College, and no bad team was going to beat them....but I don't hear anyone saying HPU is a better team than MC because of it. They played, HPU was better that day, and MC's season was over.

Based on your thinking, teams don't even need to play each other.  Just use some numbers to figure who is best.  McMurry knew they were play HPU.  HPU beat them twice.  Doesn't matter by how many points, who got more rebounds, etc.  HPU won.  And maybe IF they played 1000 times, HPU would beat them the majority of the time. 
   If I used your reasoning, I would say MHBU will loose their first game in the playoffs.  They won too many games by just a few points.  So, maybe they shouldn't even go to the expense of traveling to Mississippi.  Just tell the players, we've figured out they can't win. 

[Ralph Turner]

Only as far as season record is concerned. That HPU won both games does not by necessity mean that they are the better team than McMurry overall, just that they were better that day. Of course, that's why they play the games, and I'm not trying to say that HPU is a bad team. Heck, they beat Missississippi College, and no bad team was going to beat them....but I don't hear anyone saying HPU is a better team than MC because of it. They played, HPU was better that day, and MC's season was over.

Based on your thinking, teams don't even need to play each other.  Just use some numbers to figure who is best.  McMurry knew they were play HPU.  HPU beat them twice.  Doesn't matter by how many points, who got more rebounds, etc.  HPU won.  And maybe IF they played 1000 times, HPU would beat them the majority of the time. 
   If I used your reasoning, I would say MHBU will loose their first game in the playoffs.  They won too many games by just a few points.  So, maybe they shouldn't even go to the expense of traveling to Mississippi.  Just tell the players, we've figured out they can't win. 

Actually UMHB's numbers at much better than Fontbonne's!

[JACKET84]

I have my own numbers.  I can't share them.

[CUAfan]

Based on your thinking, teams don't even need to play each other.  Just use some numbers to figure who is best.  McMurry knew they were play HPU.  HPU beat them twice.  Doesn't matter by how many points, who got more rebounds, etc.  HPU won.  And maybe IF they played 1000 times, HPU would beat them the majority of the time. 

Not hardly. The teams need to play because while the numbers represent each team's average level of play, there is a certain amount of variance on a game-to-game basis. Anyone can win on any given night. This is the beauty of the NCAA tournament. It rewards the team that can play at a high level, and do so consistently (i.e., have high numbers with relatively little variance). The games matter. HPU did win twice over McMurry, did go to the tournament while McMurry did not. Good for them; I am not trying to say that HPU is a bad team or did not deserve a chance in the tournament. What I am trying to say is that, when McMurry looks back on this season, they should do so with the mindset that, if they had gotten a few more breaks, they could have posted a .500 season and were, on the basis of their whole body of work, one of the better teams in the division. Who won head-to-head and who made the tournament are important, but when a team looks back on and evaluates their season, they would be better served to look at their numbers over the course of the entire season.

   

If I used your reasoning, I would say MHBU will loose their first game in the playoffs.  They won too many games by just a few points.  So, maybe they shouldn't even go to the expense of traveling to Mississippi.  Just tell the players, we've figured out they can't win. 

That's not what I said at all. What my reasoning would say (keep in mind that I haven't seen Fontbonne's numbers), is that UMHB might not have as good a chance to win as their record might make one think. The numbers can show which team is more likely to win, if they play to their season-average level, as well as their relative strengths and weaknesses. The numbers aren't a foregone conclusion; they aren't even the end of the story. They are meant to inform the discussion, and maybe give a fresh perspective to it.

[CruGuy]

Now I know that i'm new to this discussion and certainly foreign to this board, but I come seeking some understanding from Paul or one of you other harbingers of wisdom.  I know that the number of losses is certainly not the only mark of how good a basketball team is, but there are four other teams besides UMHB with three losses. Three of them got a first round bye with a second round game on their home court. The other one got their two first games on their own court and we have to go play them there (500 miles away). The bracket above us is hosted by a team with four losses while our bracket has two teams with three, and one with two who doesn't get to host any games either. How is any of this remotely defendable ? The above foursome has a combined 34 losses while our bracket has 14. There are thirteen teams with worse records hosting at least one game and three teams with twice as many losses hosting games, including one team with six losses that gets a bye and then a home court game.  If the crusader's geography is really that much of a problem why can't we be given one of the first round bye's ?

[Toby Taff]

Now I know that i'm new to this discussion and certainly foreign to this board, but I come seeking some understanding from Paul or one of you other harbingers of wisdom.  I know that the number of losses is certainly not the only mark of how good a basketball team is, but there are four other teams besides UMHB with three losses. Three of them got a first round bye with a second round game on their home court. The other one got their two first games on their own court and we have to go play them there (500 miles away). The bracket above us is hosted by a team with four losses while our bracket has two teams with three, and one with two who doesn't get to host any games either. How is any of this remotely defendable ? The above foursome has a combined 34 losses while our bracket has 14. There are thirteen teams with worse records hosting at least one game and three teams with twice as many losses hosting games, including one team with six losses that gets a bye and then a home court game.  If the crusader's geography is really that much of a problem why can't we be given one of the first round bye's ?

As it always seems to, it comes down to travel.  Texas is on an edge of the d3 world and until that changes will be on the short end of the stick.  If 500 miles is the benchmark for bus travel, how many non-asc teams can bus in to Belton/abilene/alpine? 

[Ralph Turner]

Now I know that i'm new to this discussion and certainly foreign to this board, but I come seeking some understanding from Paul or one of you other harbingers of wisdom.  I know that the number of losses is certainly not the only mark of how good a basketball team is, but there are four other teams besides UMHB with three losses. Three of them got a first round bye with a second round game on their home court. The other one got their two first games on their own court and we have to go play them there (500 miles away). The bracket above us is hosted by a team with four losses while our bracket has two teams with three, and one with two who doesn't get to host any games either. How is any of this remotely defendable ? The above foursome has a combined 34 losses while our bracket has 14. There are thirteen teams with worse records hosting at least one game and three teams with twice as many losses hosting games, including one team with six losses that gets a bye and then a home court game.  If the crusader's geography is really that much of a problem why can't we be given one of the first round bye's ?

As it always seems to, it comes down to travel.  Texas is on an edge of the d3 world and until that changes will be on the short end of the stick.  If 500 miles is the benchmark for bus travel, how many non-asc teams can bus in to Belton/abilene/alpine?

Pure brilliance!  Clear analytical insight!

It must be those degrees that he has earned from member institutions of the ASC.
  +1!

[umhb2001]

I totally get that and understand, but teams should not be penalized for location.  If that were the case, there would be no Great Alaskan Shootout or tournaments in Hawaii.  I just don't see why the NCAA messes over the D3 school.  They'll take their money and garner their notability, but give them a fair bracket??  Never!  I see no reason as to why UMHB shouldn't have hosted.  They were nearly #1 at one point this season, and yet they are picked to be the disapointment of their bracket??  One can only hope, as I do, that we come out swinging tonight and lay it on these posers and show TPTB that the CRU can play!  Cru, Crusaders, Cru Cru, Crusaders...

[Ralph Turner]

I totally get that and understand, but teams should not be penalized for location.  If that were the case, there would be no Great Alaskan Shootout or tournaments in Hawaii.  I just don't see why the NCAA messes over the D3 school.  They'll take their money and garner their notability, but give them a fair bracket??  Never!  I see no reason as to why UMHB shouldn't have hosted.  They were nearly #1 at one point this season, and yet they are picked to be the disapointment of their bracket??  One can only hope, as I do, that we come out swinging tonight and lay it on these posers and show TPTB that the CRU can play!  Cru, Crusaders, Cru Cru, Crusaders...

Great Alaskan Shootout... Corporate sponsorships that provide... Money!

Tournaments in Hawai'i ...Corporate sponsorships and tourism dollars..Money!

The reason that UMHB did not host is the exact same reason the UMHB football team was bused to San Antonio in 2002, (Bracketgate)...Money!

The reason that HSU played HSU in the first round of the 2006 Football playoffs, instead of Millsaps going to Belton and someone else coming to HSU was two reasons...they failed to realize that the change in mileage software standards and did not know that the monetary expenditures for sending Millsaps to Belton and someone else (CNU) to HSU would be about the same...Money!

They'll take their money and garner their notability, but give them a fair bracket??  Never!

Precisely!  Division III gets 3.18% of the NCAA budget to conduct all activities.  Let's hope that the next TV contract plays even more!

[dballa]

This was in this weeks Abilene Reporter News.  Not sure if it was mentioned before or not.

Garza leaves McM

McMurry assistant men's basketball coach Gonzalo Garza has left the program after two seasons.

During Garza's two years, McMurry was 32-20. Before that, the Brownsville native was the top assistant at Collin County Junior College. He also spent three years at Clarendon College.

Garza, 31, has been a coach for eight years. He played his college basketball at UT-Pan American

[Ralph Turner]

UMHB 65, Fontbonne 62.

UMHB barely misses the ignominy of becoming the first team to lose to a SLIAC team in the NCAA playoffs.  Only hit 43% on FT's.

Coach Kenny DeWeese mentioned how hitting free throws would have put the game away early.

25-46 FG
5-10 3FG
10-23 FT's
Ray 18
Wagner 4
Dickey also played.
Stats are going by too quickly!

They play the winner of Maryville TN and Millsaps at 7 pm tomorrow.

[rimrocker]

UMHB get Milsaps Saturday night.  Should be a good one.  Also, Guilford lost tonight so that opens the bracket up a bit for tomorrow nights winner in the next round. 

[CruGuy]

Sounds like they need to get their heads on straight, or its gonna make for a long night tomorrow night on an oppenent's court. Followed by an even longer bus ride.

Does that opening mean UMHB has any shot at hosting in the second round if they can beat Millsaps ?

[HSWho2007]

That ride is alot shorter when you come home with a W.
Lets go Cru... 8)

[fcnews]

Ralph - The MH-B coached failed to mention that if the ft. attempts hadn't been so lopsided that FU may have put this one away early. Second half saw the fouls at one time 10-2 in favor of MH-B, and FU was in a zone. I'm not saying that the ref's made a difference in the outcome. But, this was never going to be a blow out.