MBB: American Southwest Conference

[SabineBBall]

My daughter is paying basically dollar for dollar what she would have paid to go to Howard Payne (after their standard $ for grades/scores).  This is based on the fact she is at UT Dallas without any aid.  Both came to about $14.5k per year.  A point higher on ACT and she could have gone to Howard Payne cheaper than UT Dallas by about $2500.  At UT Tyler tuition is cheaper by far than Dallas and is probably your cheapest in the conference (at least in Texas).  Recruiting as far as money for the conference seems fairly level playing field.  Now grade requirements seem like a whole different story.   

[Ralph Turner]

It would be wonderful to find another team in the East. Who else would be a good candidate though?

Among the NAIA schools that are "within" the East that have 5 men's and 5 women's sports, we find

Bacone OK  including football
Northwood TX (Cedar Hill) 5 and 5 but needs men's and women's basketball.
Belhaven MS   including football
Lyon College in Batesville AR.

That's all that I can find.

In the "West" we find University of the Southwest in Hobbs NM has 7 & 7.  Huston-Tillotson in Austin has 6 & 6.

[cp1123]

Guys the conference is large enough as it is, too large in many people's opinion.  We don't need to go adding additional schools.

[ASCfan237]

Hey does anyone want to start analyzing the schedule strength of the different teams....break down who has the easiest schedule based on which crossover teams a team plays on the road vs at home.

Ozarks crossover schedule looks like this:

At concordia
At MHB
At HS
At McM

At home against:
HP
SRSU
Schriener
Texas Lutheran

The way I see it it looks like Ozarks has a pretty tough schedule. They play 3 out of the 4 teams that made the tourny from the West last year on the road (HS,MHB,Concordia). They play the easier teams at home which in my mind is a disadvantage. I would rather play all the tough teams at home and the easy ones on the road but maybe that is just me. WHat do you guys think?

[etbualum]

CP

I think he was trying to help find the east a new team so that the conference can split into two AQs for the playoffs.  The bad thing about that would be the two would always end up playing each other or trinity in the first round.  

Im glad this board seems to be taking off.   May even be better than the football board.

[ASCfan237]

Looking at UTD's crossover schedule I noticed that they have the same as Ozarks.

LeT goes to HP, SRSU, Schreiner, TLU.
LeT at home has MHB, Concordia, McM,HS

ETBU has the same schedule as LeT.
At HP, SRSU, Schreiner, TLU.
Home against MHB, Concordia, McM,HS.

LC looks like
On the road against McM, HS, SRSU, HP
At home against Schreiner, TLU, MHB, Concordia

MC is the same as LC
On the road against McM, HS, SRSU, HP
At home against Schreiner, TLU, MHB, Concordia

UTT
Goes away for TLU, Schriener, Concordia, MHB
Has home games against HS,MCM,HP,SRSU


In my opinion on the East LeT and ETBU has the easiest crossover schedule. There games on the road are against the softer teams and then at home they play all the high powered teams. MC and and LC both get to host MHB and Concordia which will make their schedules easier but go on the road for HPU, HS, and McM.

Ozarks and UTD look like they have the toughest schedule, followed by UTT that has to go away to play Concordia and MHB.

Toughest Schedule
1. UTD and Ozarks
2. UTT
3. MC and LC
4. ETBU and LeT

Let me know if you guys disagree with my reasonings or with any of the projections. Someone please analyze fom the West's point of you too if you would like. 

[ASCfan237]

Hey ETBUALUM how is Courtney Waters looking in offseason. I heard he was a very good player. Just wondering if you had heard or seen anything...thanks

[Ralph Turner]

Guys the conference is large enough as it is, too large in many people's opinion.  We don't need to go adding additional schools.

CP

I think he was trying to help find the east a new team so that the conference can split into two AQs for the playoffs.  The bad thing about that would be the two would always end up playing each other or trinity in the first round.  

Right!  It would almost double the number of playoff bids that we get!

[pistol pete 22]

Looking at UTD's crossover schedule I noticed that they have the same as Ozarks.

LeT goes to HP, SRSU, Schreiner, TLU.
LeT at home has MHB, Concordia, McM,HS

ETBU has the same schedule as LeT.
At HP, SRSU, Schreiner, TLU.
Home against MHB, Concordia, McM,HS.

LC looks like
On the road against McM, HS, SRSU, HP
At home against Schreiner, TLU, MHB, Concordia

MC is the same as LC
On the road against McM, HS, SRSU, HP
At home against Schreiner, TLU, MHB, Concordia

UTT
Goes away for TLU, Schriener, Concordia, MHB
Has home games against HS,MCM,HP,SRSU


In my opinion on the East LeT and ETBU has the easiest crossover schedule. There games on the road are against the softer teams and then at home they play all the high powered teams. MC and and LC both get to host MHB and Concordia which will make their schedules easier but go on the road for HPU, HS, and McM.

Ozarks and UTD look like they have the toughest schedule, followed by UTT that has to go away to play Concordia and MHB.

Toughest Schedule
1. UTD and Ozarks
2. UTT
3. MC and LC
4. ETBU and LeT

Let me know if you guys disagree with my reasonings or with any of the projections. Someone please analyze fom the West's point of you too if you would like. 

Im not sure how the East did overall against the West last year, but I do remember the West winning all the first round games in the Conference. There has not been much talk from the West but I do not imagine it could be as strong as the East this year. With that being said I think the only real disadvantage would be playing UMHB and Concordia on the road. I think all of the other teams in the West can be beat at home by 6 of the 7 teams from the East without any problems. I know it wont happen like that, but I believe it could. Another disadvantage is traveling to SRSU but luckily they are not as good as they were in the past. Having TLU and SU on the road always helps because those are usually two easy wins.

I agree with your rankings because UTD, OU, and UTT all go to UMHB and Concordia while ETBU and LC have the easiest because they have TLU, SU, SRSU and HPU on the road. All four should be towards the bottom of the West

[#1ascfanman]

Say what you want about SRS and HPU being "easy" games, there is no such thing as an easy game in this conference anymore.  I can't agree with any of that.  To go back to earlier, I do believe the state schools still have an advantage over private schools.  I know you can argue money and that is all relevant, but no one has mentioned the fact that most state schools have somewhat easier requirements for transfers.  I think this is where Tyler will have an advantage.  Knowing Bizot, he is going to start really going after transfers.  The state schools also have the name going for them. It seems like a small factor but would you rather go to Letourneau, East Texas Baptist, Texas Lutheran or The University of Texas at Tyler or Dallas?  Name recognition helps I believe, not much, but a little.  Then you throw in the no curfue, no chapel, no requirement to live on campus.  I know many of the schools in the conference have those types of rules and it can turn players away, I know it did when I was at LC.  We also had a visitation policy that was rediculous and students don't want to be held in prison, which was a term I heard many times.  I know money usually is the deciding factor but quality of life and other things count too, as well as location.  SRSU is by far the cheapest school in the conference and has many advantages, but they are in a BAD location.  With that said, I go back to my earlier comment, its all about selling your school to the recruit, and it can be done.


GO LC!!!!!!

[pistol pete 22]

Say what you want about SRS and HPU being "easy" games, there is no such thing as an easy game in this conference anymore.  I can't agree with any of that. 

All i meant is that they are easier than playing UMHB and Concordia. They might be about equal with HSU and McM. But I see where your coming from because LC lost to both last year at LC! Anything can happen!

[CUAfan]

All i meant is that they are easier than playing UMHB and Concordia. They might be about equal with HSU and McM. But I see where your coming from because LC lost to both last year at LC! Anything can happen!

It feels good to see CTX spoken of in this way. It wasn't too long ago we were coming in toward the bottom of the conference. Bonewitz has done an excellent job of building the program, IMO, and I hope he sticks around a while.

I think (and this is just going by my gut) that the key for CTX this year will be finding a good point guard. Michael Moore is done, McDonald can't play the point effectively, and Michael Mann is not a good starter IMO (honestly, I think he's a situational backup, but maybe that's just me). I don't know who they have that's new that could step in, but I hope they have one or the offense could take a step back from last year.

[pistol pete 22]

I think (and this is just going by my gut) that the key for CTX this year will be finding a good point guard. Michael Moore is done, McDonald can't play the point effectively, and Michael Mann is not a good starter IMO (honestly, I think he's a situational backup, but maybe that's just me). I don't know who they have that's new that could step in, but I hope they have one or the offense could take a step back from last year.

Playing a little defense might also help! 

[pistol pete 22]

big day tomorrow! cant believe its already here!

[pistol pete 22]

Preseason Polls are out!  http://www.ascsports.org/News/mbball/2008/10/15/ASC_MBB_PRESEASON0809.asp?path=mbball

WEST
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (18)
183 26-4, 19-2 ASC

2. Concordia Texas (3)
168 19-9, 14-7 ASC

3. Howard Payne (1)
127 14-13, 11-10 ASC

4. McMurry 111 12-13, 9-12 ASC

5. Hardin-Simmons (1)
107 15-12, 13-8 ASC

6. Sul Ross State (1)
82 8-17, 7-14 ASC

7. Texas Lutheran 48 3-22, 3-18 ASC

8. Schreiner 38 5-20, 5-16 ASC

EAST
1. Mississippi College (19) 145 19-6, 16-4 ASC

2. Texas-Dallas (1)
109 17-9, 13-7 ASC

3. Texas-Tyler (1)
103 14-12, 13-7 ASC

4. East Texas Baptist 79 9-17, 9-11 ASC

5. LeTourneau 74 12-13, 9-11 ASC

6. Louisiana College 46 9-15, 8-12 ASC

7. Ozarks 32 8-17, 5-15 ASC

WEST POY
Tilmon Gaddy, W, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor

EAST POY
Josh Johnson, F, Sr., Louisiana College

Basically the same that I predicted, just switch SRSU and HSU in 5th and 6th in the West and switch LeT and ETBU in 4th and 5th in the East. Tilmon Gaddy is the obvious choice for POY for the West but I dont think Johnson should get POY if his teams finishes in 6th in the East.

Im just guessing that HSU and SRSU voted for themselves to win the division? Thats interesting!! Practices started today!!! Cant wait till we start having some games.