BB: USAC: USA South Athletic Conference

rolln2 · August 14, 2012, 10:50:40 AM

Is everyone getting ready for the start of the school year? The kids will be arriving soon and then fall practice will get underway. Anyone have any good news or info on the teams and incoming players?

CNU85 · August 20, 2012, 08:37:03 PM

Some of you may already know about this. I thought I would pass along the very sad news about former CNU basketball coach and AD...CJ Woollum. I made sure I had permission from CNU before posting this. I am also posting a link for anyone who wishes to sign his guestbook. From the website Caringbridge.com I quote.....

"On July 23rd doctors found a tumor in CJ's brain. It was later identified as glioblastoma multiforme - an aggressive type of brain cancer. Surgery was completed on July 27th to remove the bulk of the tumor." A subsequent journal post indicates that CJ is now in rehab.

There is not enough room on this board to post all the accomplishments of Coach Woollum. Over 500 wins in 26 seasons. Numerous All-Americans. A player drafted by the NBA. Golf Coach. Mentor to the entire CNU Athletic department. CNU athletics grew to national recognition in just about every sport under his guidance.

Please take a moment to pray for Coach Woollum and his family!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cjwoollum

Boysofsummer21 · August 27, 2012, 01:05:56 PM

Ok school is starting back up and this is a new and exciting year in the USA South. So who does everyone see as making moves forward in their programs and who will take a step back? Who's recruiting class will make the biggest impact? When does fall ball start for everyone?

rolln2 · August 28, 2012, 10:38:14 AM

Quote from: Boysofsummer21 on August 27, 2012, 01:05:56 PM
Ok school is starting back up and this is a new and exciting year in the USA South. So who does everyone see as making moves forward in their programs and who will take a step back? Who's recruiting class will make the biggest impact? When does fall ball start for everyone?

Yep most of the boys should be going back or may already be back at school. The conference will be exciting w/ the new members. It should make for a tough 24 games in conference. I see CNU still being the team to beat even though they lost most of their line-up from 2012. They still have all of their pitching back. Piedmont should challenge, and I see Methodist making a return after a down year in 2012. AU,GC and FC will build on last years good seasons. Lagrange and Maryville should also make for a tough conference, and NCW needs to get back on track after a very down 2012.

Boysofsummer21 · August 28, 2012, 01:57:25 PM

Rollin2 - Couple things, 24 games! So play each other 3 times? The way I see it (take that for what it is worth) CNU is still on top - they are losing 6 of 8 fielding players but returning their entire D3 world series pitching staff (and heard a rumor that they improved that staff with this years recruiting class). Their offensive last year was a down year so replacing a .300 BA should not be a huge issue so need to replace all that power and with their staff really just need to create 4 runs or more. I see Methodist dropping even further than last year after their loses from seniors and draft. Peidmount will be tough as always and I really like the growth from Ferrum over the last few years and look forward to seeing if they can get over the hump. So to do a list now I would say;

1. CNU
2. Peidmount
3. Ferrum
4. Greensboro
5. Methodist

there you go shoot holes in it!!

rolln2 · August 30, 2012, 11:17:18 AM

BOS21 I think you are ok w/ the predictions. The middle to the bottom is always going to be jumbled around in the USAS. You never know. FC,AU,GC all had good years in 2012. They will definitely compete for the top half. This year more than ever will depend on pitching w/ the 3 game series. That is where I think a team like CNU will do well. They are very deep in the starting rotation. This year your #4 will now be pitching mid-week games, and possibly your #5. So your staff better be deep and prepared if you want to win a title.

Boysofsummer21 · August 31, 2012, 01:35:53 PM

Rollin - well it looks like it is just you and me! So with this going to a 3 game series for conference this changes things a little bit. Personally I think this benefit CNU the most by far. The only teams that are really prepared for this are the new additions as they are accustom to playing 3 games series. I think that my 1 – 3 are still good but after that I think the drop off will be large. I don't think schools like Averett, NCWC and Greensboro have the depth to be competitive with 3 pitchers in conference. The issue here for the teams in the USA SOUTH are that CNU is returning the entire pitching staff that went to Appleton (first time I have seen no loses on a pitching staff in a long time) and I also heard rumors that with the incoming class they have actually upgraded it. CNU used 6 different starters and use 3 different pitchers in conference last year already. Peidmont is going to need someone to step up and Ferrum needs consistency out of their 2 and 3 slots.
In the table below I did some statistical analyst of returning pitching staffs using 2012 stats and removing the ones I know would not be returning (seniors and Perry) I have the ERA, win, loss and saves plus looking at the load for conference play returning pitchers who pitched more than 15 innings and then more than 25 innings. This lets us see how prepared the staff is to take on the increased pressures of conference series. I also provide the win percentage of those pitchers.

Now I think this will create a scenario where you will end up in a win the conference tournament or no real shot at regionals for most teams and I do not think we will see 2 teams from the USA South this year unless someone has a Cinderella tournament and CNU or Peidmont play to their expectations.

Team	ERA	Win	Loss	Save	Return w> 15IP	Return w/>25IP	Win %
Averett	4.18	16	13	6	5	3	55.2%
CNU	3.29	34	10	12	9	8	77.3%
Ferrum	3.80	20	15	8	5	5	57.1%
Greensboro	3.37	13	9	3	3	2	59.1%
LaGrange	4.86	17	27	3	8	5	38.6%
Maryville	5.88	18	20	8	9	3	47.4%
Methodist	5.27	12	19	2	7	5	38.7%
NCWC	6.23	11	15	7	5	4	42.3%
Pmont	4.63	18	12	0	6	3	60.0%

rolln2 · August 31, 2012, 03:27:40 PM

BOS21. That is some interesting info about the staffs. I guess the only unknown at this time will be the incoming freshman and transfer contributions if any.

D-BAT · September 01, 2012, 05:24:08 AM

CNU gets a SU transfer in Adam Emerson (Lafayette).

http://www.suhornets.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/bios/emerson%20adam%20p25g

rolln2 · September 01, 2012, 09:51:50 AM

Interesting. I guess local kid wanted to go back home. As Lafayette is close to CNU. Boy, CNU I would think will be a tough staff to transfer into w/ all of their pitchers returning.

Boysofsummer21 · September 01, 2012, 08:26:14 PM

To be honest I do not understand this unless he wants to be closer to home or does not want to pitch and just try and play the field. Being from Shenandoah he knows the pitching staff from CNU and knows innings are going to be tough to get as a pitcher. So I am going with the wants to be closer to home train of thought.

D-BAT · September 02, 2012, 09:40:01 AM

SU tuition is $13,775 (12-18 credits) per semester vs. CNU's tuition of $ 5,286.00 (12-17 credits) per semester.

rolln2 · September 02, 2012, 10:45:15 AM

D-BAT, that is probably a good reason for any college student to transfer. Especially the d3 athlete who does not receive any scholarship help. Cost definitely can be a deciding factor on where one goes to school.

Boysofsummer21 · September 02, 2012, 07:47:42 PM

Totally agree that is a big chuck of change.

PNeal7 · September 07, 2012, 09:42:22 AM

As D-Bat and Rolln2 pointed out, finances is a good reason for any dIII kid to transfer given they do not receive any athletic money. Some schools find creative ways to get kids 'academic' money, but nonetheless saving $8K + a year is appealing to either parents or a kid who will be paying back loans upon graduation.

In regards to the new conference schedule, here are my two cents: I believe a 3 game weekend series will better prepare all teams for tournament style settings. As noted below, weekday games will now be thrown by #4, #5, and #6 starters. In CNU's case, their best 2 pitchers come out of then bullpen(Fleischman and Verdillo) so they will be starting weekday games with about their 6th best pitcher on the roster. In regards to the new class coming in, from what I hear (

) CNU has a few guys who can make an immediate impact. I'm not going to be the one to let the cat out of the bag, but I'd look for 1-2 names that you haven't heard before to have good seasons, depending on how they do in the fall. I would give CNU the very, very early advantage due to the pitching staff depth; however, a lot can happen between now and February.

I'm not really up to date on any other conference programs, outside of maybe SU due to where I live, so I won't rank the remaining order...Lol