DDSCB: Race to the Top

Brian Swartz · 01-18-2008, 12:35 PM

This is over at the WS forums as well, but since there's a number of DDSCB dynasties here I thought I'd join the fray.

**There is nothing official whatsoever about this dynasty. It is 100% fiction, and does not depict any actual academic institutions, coaches, players, and/or events**

This is an alternate NCAA history, though somewhat different from the 'Harry Turtledove' thread. For this setup, I edited prestige ratings based on total wins only -- a quick'n'dirty method which has the effect of making the traditional powers still the best for the most part, but adds a lot of parity. I also gave all conferences a conference tournament, with the most teams possible participating. Illegal recruiting is off, limited ratings, conference movement on. I then simmed 27 seasons(1938-1964), so that the coaches we will follow here were born at the birth of the NCAA, and they step into an association with a good amount of history built up.
The basic concept here is that each coach is set up with roughly rookie-level starting abilities, good but not great potential(total of 400 points each coach, or 80 average for each ability), and differing philosphies/approaches. I find that I sometimes get bored with doing the same thing, so this gives me the chance to try out differing styles simultaneously. I'll be giving an overview, nothing hugely indepth, of each coach's progression. But before we meet them, a few words about where we are now.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The first dynasty of the association came in 1941-43, when the Temple Owls made it to three consecutive title games, losing the first two before finally winning over Kansas in ’43. They won a second crown in 1947, but have reached the Final Four just once since then(’56), and in the eight years since the school has missed the tournament twice, and been eliminated in the first two rounds the other six seasons.

In 1945 Kansas, losers in that ’43 title game, were the first truly dominant team. The Jayhawks lost only once at Samford en route to their first and only championship. They’ve been a solid but mostly unspectacular program in the interim, failing to return to the season’s final weekend and making the Sweet 16 only once in the last eight years.

The first half of the 1950s belonged to the Cincinatti Bearcats, who cut down the nets in 1949 and 1951, then posted the first ever repeat titles in 54 and 55. They’ve continued to be a force despite the retirement of longtime coach Calvin Davey four years ago, but it’s now been ten years since that last championship – the school’s fifth, which remains a record. The 1955 season was notable for another reason: North Carolina was considered the favorite most of the season. The Tar Heels were the first team to run the table in the regular season undefeated, but were shocked by Ohio State in the regional semifinals, 74-61.

Throughout all of those first 15 years or so, St. John’s was the model of consistency: they appeared in the first 14 Sweet 16s without missing one, a substantial feat when you consider that every other school in the nation failed to reach that point at least three times in the same time frame. They had won two titles, neither of them particularly remarkable, but it was still an impressive record.

Then in 1957, an impressive string of achievements began with the first championship for Notre Dame. Their run through the tournament was unmatched at that time: they lost only once all year, by a single point at then-#3 Pennsylvania, and had only one challenge from Texas in the Final Four(72-70) before claiming the title. They defended their crown in 1958, and returned to the Final Four in 1959 for the most-anticipated game in the history of college basketball -- they were bidding for an unprecedented third straight title, facing a team that was worthy of the challenge.

Their opponent was the Red Storm, an apt description for they way they’d played. St. John’s came into the game with an unblemished 37-0 record. In the only meeting between the conference rivals, during the regular season, they’d put up a classic: St. John’s won in South Bend, but not until the game went to overtime.

Sadly, it didn’t live up to the hype. St. John’s pounded the Irish 77-58 – it was as close a game as they had in the tournament, incredibly, and they went on to smash UCLA 82-59 to finish off the first and to date the only perfect season in college basketball history. Outscoring their opponents by an average of 73-49 during the tournament, the Red Storm were simply untouchable. That overtime win over Notre Dame was the only game out of 39 that wasn’t over well before the final buzzer. The key stars of history’s greatest team to date were junior center Bobby Soloman(6-10, 266, 13.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg – almost 5 of them offensive, and 2.5 bpg) and freshman sensation point guard J.P. Boythe(6-1, 171, 14.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.6 spg, 2.3 bpg), but it was a very balanced team, with five players averaging 9.6 ppg or more.

The following year, 1960, St. John’s lost three of their first four, but then reeled off a 28-game winning streak. They met the Irish again, this time in the title game, and this time Notre Dame prevailed 70-57. In 1961 Notre Dame beat St. John’s yet again in the Final Four, an incredible third straight meeting in the final weekend for the Big East rivals – Arizona beat the Irish in the title game though.

The meteoric run of both programs has come to a halt the last three years – St. John’s Matt Darden and Notre Dame’s Nate Walker both retired, and their coaching replacements have not lived up to those lofty standards, to put it mildly. But for a few years it was almost as if the other 339 schools didn’t even matter – the entire season was a prelude to a final clash of these two titans. St. John’s magical and utterly dominant 1959 squad and Notre Dame’s three titles in four years, and four title game appearances in five, stand alone in the annals of history – and they incredibly happened in the same time period.

The vacuum was filled quickly by the Kentucky Wildcats, champions in 1962 and 1963, the third school to win back-to-back. Missouri State won in 64, their first title, bringing us to the current situation.

As you might guess from how often they appear in this overview, the Big East has established itself as the dominant conference, the center of the college basketball universe. 12 of the 27 national titles have come from the Big East, and only three teams have won three or more – all from the same conference: Cincinatti has won five, with Notre Dame and St. John’s snagging three apiece.

Brian Swartz · 01-18-2008, 12:36 PM

Prestige rankings(all conferences and the top 25 teams), as of 1965:

CONFERENCES

Big East(83)
Big Twelve(74)
ACC(73)
Atlantic 10(70)
Big Ten(68)
MVC(68)
Pac 10(68)
SEC(67)
Ivy League(60)
Mountain West(51)
Conference USA(48)
WCC(47)
MAC(46)
WAC(46)
Big Sky(45)
Sun Belt(42)
Horizon(40)
Ohio Valley(40)
Patriot(38)
Southern(33)
Southland(31)
Colonial(30)
Metro-Atlantic(30)
SWAC(26)
NEC(20)
Big South(18)
Atlantic Sun(16)
Big West(15)
Summit(15)
America East(14)
MEAC(14)
Independents(0)

SCHOOLS

1. Arizona(98)
1. Kentucky(98)
3. Cincinatti(97)
3. Missouri State(97)
5. Fordham(95)
5. St. John’s(95)
7. Notre Dame(94)
8. Kansas(90)
8. UCLA(90)
10. Ohio State(87)
10. Pennsylvania(87)
12. BYU(86)
13. Illinois(84)
13. Murray State(84)
13. St. Joseph’s(84)
16. Eastern Washington(83)
16. North Carolina(83)
16. Virginia(83)
16. Utah(83)
20. Syracuse(82)
20. Texas(82)
20. Western Kentucky(82)
23. Temple(81)
24. Detroit(80)
24. Oklahoma(80)
24. Southern Illinois(80)

Brian Swartz · 01-18-2008, 12:39 PM

It's now time to meet the five coaches we'll be following -- all of whom enter their first top job in 1965. In case you're wondering how I determined where they went, it's basically the five worst jobs that happened to be open this year. All coaches were based on the rookie scale, with no ratings higher than 40 to start.

RALPH PERRY

Call him the Salesman. Ralph Perry could sell day-old fish for deodorant, or market ice to Eskimos. His greatest skill is charisma, though in terms of actual basketball knowledge he's the least skilled of this group. His coaching philosophy is unleashing each player's creativity and overwhelming the opponent with a relentless barrage, putting as much pressure on the opponent as possible on both ends of the court. He values outside shooting and athleticism most highly, and has very low interest in academics or discipline -- he just wants to win, and he's got no qualms with leaving a job at the drop of a hat if something better appears. This attitude is probably why he ended up with the worst starting job, as he didn't have the patience to wait for a better offer. He's an incredibly recruiter, and his charismatic personality makes him a slightly above average player developer as well.

School: CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners(Independents)
Reputation: 11
Contract: 5 years, $69,000
Goals: Finish 1st in Conference

SCHOOL HISTORY

Jean Oates(38-49) – 192-132(.593), no post-season, 10 winning seasons, 1 20-win season(20-7 in 1944).

Jerry Baxter(50-53) – 47-61(.435), no post-season, 1 winning season, no 20-win seasons.

Joe Mills(54-64) – 130-167(.438), no post-season, 3 winning seasons, no 20-win seasons.

Total: 369-361(.509), no post-season, 14 winning seasons, 1 20-win season.

The Roadrunners(a very apt name for Perry’s extreme up-tempo style) have been a modestly successful independent school, with an all-time record of even or better against the other independents with the exception of North Carolina Central(24-30). After a string of 11 consecutive .500 or worse seasons, they’ve posted winning records in three of the last four seasons – Perry is expected to maintain that trend, but it’s not secret that even if he is successful, he’ll be out of here at the first sign of greener pastures. It’s a first coaching job for him, and a chance for the school to hopefully improve it’s attractiveness to the next coach down the line.

Team Prestige: 5
Conference Prestige: 0
Facilities: D+
SAT Minimum: 860
Recruiting budget: $23,000

DENNY GRANT

In almost every way, Grant is Perry's polar opposite. He's a firm believer in discipline and the importance of the student part of student-athlete. It's an interesting twist of fate that he ends up a recruiting competitor for Ralph Perry in California, taking the position at Cal-Davis. Coach Grant believes in making teams play defense for the full 35 seconds of the shot-clock, running the princeton offense and emphasizing defense and patience. His stifling man-to-man half-court defense is his calling card as a coach: he's a genius in that regard. Efficiency and execution, not individual creativity, are the hallmarks of this philosophy.

School: Cal-Davis Aggies(Big West)
Reputation: 11
Contract: 4 years, $68,000
Goals: Win Big West Tournament

[u]SCHOOL HISTORY[u]

Antione Hart(38-51) – 141-260(.352), 1 NCAA bid(conference champs in 1949, lost in 1st round), 86-138(.384) in Big West. Hart had a string of seven straight 20-loss seasons prior to the ’49 campaign, which remains the only conference title and NCAA appearance in school history.

Clyde Bradley(52-55) – 43-70(.381), 23-41(.359) in Big West. No winning seasons or post-season bids.

Brian Brown(56-64) – 131-129(.504), 78-66(.542) in Big West.

Total: 315-459(.407)

Brown brought an embarrassing program to respectability with .500 or better records in the last six seasons, including a NIT bid in 1963 with a school-best 21-9 mark. Despite that string of successes though, he was never able to bring them a conference title. This is a good starting job for Denny Grant, a program that appears to be on the rise to bigger and better things for him to learn the ropes at.

Team Prestige: 6
Conference Prestige: 15
Facilities: D-
SAT Minimum: 940
Recruiting Budget: $101,550

STEVE STAHL

Stahl's gift is that of a teacher -- he excels at helping players reach their full potential. He prefers his players to be comfortable and confident on the court, retaining the traditional style of play wherever he goes and focusing instead on making his players as successful as they can be in it. The one notable aspect of his philosophy is an emphasis on rebounding -- creating new possessions for his team and limiting those of his opponent, wearing them down.

School: Mercer Bears(Atlantic Sun)
Reputation: 11
Contract: 3 years, $61,000
Goals: Don't finish last in the Atlantic Sun, win 10+ games

SCHOOL HISTORY

Casey Seamon(38-48) – 175-154(.532), 99-77(.563) in-conference. Casey had three 20-win seasons, three NCAA bids(conference titles in 39, 40, and 44), and one NIT appearance. In 1940, he led Mercer to its first, and so far its only win in the tournament before losing in the second round. Unfortunately, his successors could not duplicate this level of success.

Quentin McDermontt(49-53) – 57-88(.393), 35-45(.438) conference. Four consecutive losing seasons and no post-season.

Robert Taylor(54-61) – 86-144(.371), 51-77(.398) conference. Two winning seasons, but no conference titles or post-season bids, and back-to-back 6-22 seasons in 60 and 61, by far the darkest days in the school’s history, got him the axe.

Brandon Collins(62) – 15-14(.517), 8-8(.500) conference. Collins quickly left for greener pastures.

Jeremy Blossom(63-64) – 22-35(.386), 14-18(.438) conference. Another quick exit.

Total: 355-435(.449), 3 conference championships, 3 NCAA appearances, 1 NIT appearance.

With no post-season in the last 20 years, and only three winning seasons in the last 15, the Bears are desperate for a savior – Steve Stahl has a long history of losing to reverse.

Team Prestige: 16
Conference Prestige: 16
Facilities: C-
SAT Minimum: 940
Recruiting Budget: 140,597

AVERY FOSTER

Avery is the most cerebral and analytical of the group, possessing the logical brilliance of a mathematician. His greatest skill is a willingness to burn the midnight oil dispassionately breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of both his team and the opposition -- he won't hesitate to make lineup changes at the drop of a hat if a player is hurting the team. Foster runs a basic motion offense and high-pressure man defense, believing that good passing and player movement, along with defending the 3-point line on defense, are the biggest keys to success.

School: Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils(SWAC)
Reputation: 11
Contract: 4 years, $84,000
Goals: Finish in SWAC Top 3

SCHOOL HISTORY

Cedric Belton(38-43) – 85-90(.486), 52-56(.481) conference. NIT appearance in 1941(21-11), advanced to 2nd round.

Gerald Johnson(44-47) – 67-51(.568), 45-27(.625) conference. .500 or better in conference each year, NCAA 1st round in ‘46, NIT 2nd round in ’47 before taking a well-deserved better job.

David Williams(48-56) – 129-131(.496), 86-76(.531) conference. Four winning seasons, including three straight with 17 or more wins 51-53, including an NCAA appearance in 52, the last school conference title. Didn’t finish above .500 in conference for the last three years however.

Michael Laster(57-62) – 68-107(.389), 39-69(.361) conference. Laster took the program from mediocre to miserable, with 20-loss seasons in his last three(60-62). One winning season, and no post-season appearances.

Speedy Bradford(63-64) – 31-29(.517), 17-19(.472) conference. No post-season, but he did break the school’s streak of four losing seasons in his last year.

Total: 380-408(.482), 2 conference titles, 2 NCAA appearances, 2 NIT bids. No post-season since 1952, and 7 losing seasons in the last nine. It's no wonder the school is looking for a fresh face and a new direction.

Team Prestige: 7
Conference Prestige: 26
Facilities: C+
Minimum SAT: 880
Recruiting Budget: $100,328

Brian Swartz · 01-18-2008, 12:41 PM

WESTON CATTLEY

Weston isn't a great recruiter, doesn't know more than a lot of coaches do about Xs and Os, and isn't particularly notable at developing talent. But opposing coaches are never happy to see him on the opposing bench in a game. Cattley is a master tactician, a game management genius who squeezes every possible advantadge out of the situation. He likes to run a 2-3 zone on defense, and the triangle set on offense.

School: Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners(Southland)
Reputation: 12
Contract: 4 years, $63,000
Goals: Win Southland Tournament

SCHOOL HISTORY

Tobe Covert(38-45) – 94-136(.409), 57-71(.445) conference. Only one winning season, no post-season, and left after a school-worst 7-22 record in 1945.

Reggie Johnson(46-54) – 91-168(.351), 50-94(.347) conference. No winning seasons, no post-season, although things did improve after four straight seasons of less than ten wins(4-12 conference each year) to open his tenure. That isn’t saying much though.

Kelvin Collins(55-60) – 75 – 99(.431), 35-61(.365) conference. Three winning seasons, not bad after there had only been one in the school’s previous 17 years, but Collins had no better luck in conference play – it was largely a mirage of success, and no post-season.

Quentin Grundy(61) – 10-18(.357), 9-7(.563) conference. One and done.

Leon West(62-63) – 31-25(.554), 17-15(.531) conference.

Chris Nicholson(64) – 17-11(.607), 10-6(.625) conference.

Total: 318-457(.410), no conference titles, no post-season bids.
It’s a strange situation here: Weston Cattley becomes the fourth coach in five years, yet the team is coming off of three straight winning seasons. They are still looking for their first conference title or post-season bid of any kind though, and that’s the real measuring stick. It’s certainly a good opportunity, as the program appears to be on it’s way up.

Team Prestige: 12
Conference Prestige: 31
Facilities: D-
Minimum SAT: 860
Recruiting Budget: $55,650

Brian Swartz · 01-18-2008, 12:42 PM

1965 SEASON PREVIEWS

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

Perry found it very difficult to get any recruits interested, losing out to San Diego State, Fresno State, San Francisco, etc. on marginally talented players. He was only able to get one summer commitment – but what a huge one it was. SF Joe Hall of Strathmore is an enormous coup – an elite player consistently ranked 22nd to 25th nationally. At 6-8, 231 lbs. he has good size, and the only real knock on his game is that he’s a subpar free-throw shooter. Joe has the skills to be a star anywhere: at the independent level, he’s liable to be a whale in a bathtub, and will be expected to completely transform the program.

The Roadrunners are expected to be the best of the Independents this year, with longtime nemesis North Carolina Central their top competition. The strength of the team is in the backcourt, with junior Ryan Nunn(3.7 apg) and fifth-year senior Valery Person(17.1 ppg over the last two seasons as a starter) leading the way. Person is a perfect fit for Perry’s bombs-away philosophy and should flourish even more this year, having attempted 67.8% of his career field goals from beyond the three-point line. He’s increased his accuracy from there every year, hitting on 39.6% last season. CSU Bakersfield will start three seniors and two juniors this year, with three more seniors as key reserves – this is likely to be their best team for a while, and Joe Hall will be part of a rebuilding effort next year.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

With three scholarships to give out, Denny has had mixed success in recruiting so far. He’s got one verbal commitment from 6-1 guard Jordan Williams of Utah. Williams has been ranked in the 1100-1500 range, but has good enough athleticism, defense, and ballhandling skills to convince the staff that’s he’s better than that, at worst a competent floor general. Another Williams from Utah, a forward with the first name of Mike, is seriously considering Cal-Davis – but Coach Grant has had no luck filling the priority need at the small forward position so far and Mike is more of a power forward type of player.

The Aggies are expected to fall short of last year’s 18-10 mark, and have been picked 5th, middle of the pack in the Big West. Pacific, Cal-Santa Barbara, and Cal-Irvine are the top contenders. Senior guard Mike Smiley is the top returning scorer(12.4 ppg, 43.2% from three-point range), with 6-10 junior center Ricardo Smith(8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 52.9% fg) the only real experienced size on the team. Sophomore forward Ryan Coon has impressed with his defense and shot selection(56.3% fg as a freshman in 12.6 mpg) and earned himself a starting spot – he’ll be one to keep an eye on.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

Only one verbal so far, a local one in guard Mate Ramage(6-4, 192). Mate is a miserable defensive player, but has good athleticism, rebounding, and passing skills, and has a solid jumper as well. He’s been consistently ranked in the 800-900 range nationally. Mercer is a frontrunner for forward Justin McCasland of Kentucky, and has a shot at a few other frontcourt players still as well, so this could become a solid class depending on how things work out.

Mercer has been projected as an average Atlantic Sun team, picked to finish 6th. Belmont, East Tennessee State, and Stetson are the main powers. Junior guard Jamal Brown(13.3 ppg, 50.7% fg last year) and senior center Adam Wall(8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2nd team All-Conference in 1963) should anchor the team. The wild card is senior forward Adam Kelly, on academic suspension. If he can regain his eligibility he will be a key factor in the conference season – he’s been a three-year starter alongside Wall in the frontcourt(9.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg last year). Another key will be the complete lack of decent play at the point last year, and whether or not that remains as big a concern this season.
There’s a lot of youth on this team, and enough of it in the frontcourt has some talent to make this a potential Atlantic Sun contender in a couple years if things go well.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

No commitments yet, with a couple of local guards the only immediately apparent opportunities to turn that round. Criag Sarpy, a 6-1 point guard with excellent passing skills, is probably the best of the group but still appears to be waiting for a better offer.

It will be impossible for Mississippi Valley State to underachieve this year: they’ve been picked dead last in the SWAC. The senior guard combo of Rashif Merton(6.9 ppg, 3.7 apg) and Kevin Hallbauer(11.6 ppg) gives the Delta Devils the most hope of changing that expectation. The frontcourt is a total disaster though. There are a couple guys with a chance to become solid players, but nobody that’s ready to be a strong contributor right now. The good news is that this another young squad, so there’s at least some potential that they’ll be better in a couple years than they are now.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

Mostly concerned about frontcourt depth, Weston has gotten his only commitment instead from a guard, Mike Boozer(6-0, 195) of Midland, TX. Boozer is a good offensive guard who can shoot, create, pass, and handle the ball, with good athleticism as well. Defensively though I wouldn’t expect much from him.

The front line should be the strength of a team expected to be middle of the pack or slightly better in the Southland, picked 5th in preseason. Sophomore center Shahar Brown(10.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg as a freshman) leads the way, with junior forward Jamaal Winston(7.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) also a solid contributor, and new JC transfer Charlie Dwiggins could crack the lineup as well.

The wild card is freshman guard Antonio Banks from North Dakota, who has excellent size at 6-5 and thus far has shown a lot more ability than a guy ranked #1610 as a recruit has any right to. If he’s half as good at running the point as he looks so far, the Roadrunners could make some noise in the Southland Conference this season. Other than Banks though, there is precisely zero talent in the backcourt.

Brian Swartz · 01-18-2008, 12:44 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

11.15 Brown(0-0) @ CSU Bakersfield(0-0) – W 71-57
11.18 NC-Greensboro(1-1) @ CSU Bakersfield(1-0) – L 73-72
11.22 CSU Bakersfield(1-1) @ Vermont(0-2) – L 84-76
11.25 Canisius(0-1) @ CSU Bakersfield(1-2) – W 77-69

The first loss of Perry’s career came in a last-minute loss to UNC-Greensboro, as their center hit a game-winning jumper with seven seconds left from the baseline. The next game they gave up 53 points in the second half to Vermont to blow a first-half lead, so all of them have been winnable so far.

Valery Person has been much less of a factor than expected, averaging only 8.5 ppg but with 4.3 rebounds. He’s been deferring more than expected to senior center Ishmael Morris(17.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg), and the way Morris has been playing it’s hard to argue with that. The team’s #2 scorer is another senior, DeWayne Bell, who has 9.3 a game as the top reserve guard, and has proven to be the most willing 3-point shooter on the team so far. Point guard Ryan Nunn has flourished in the more open offensive style(6.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, only 2.3 topg), a 50% increase on his assist average from last year.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

11.14 Cal-Davis(0-0) @ St.Mary’s(1-0) -- L 87-72
11.17 Cal-Davis(0-1) @ Northwestern(2-0) -- L 84-54
11.21 Centenary(1-1) @ Cal-Davis(0-2) – L 50-43
11.24 Cal-Davis(0-3) @ Portland State(1-2) – W 72-65

The Aggies have been mostly miserable on both ends of the court so far, particularly offensively where they just haven’t shown the patience needed for Coach Grant’s system, committing 14.3 turnovers a game and shooting 42% from the field. Of our five coaches Denny is clearly having the most troubled start. Both of those were at lot worse until the last game, when after struggling again early Mike Smiley erupted for 18 points in 12 minutes to lead them to their first win of the year. Their defense has also been pretty horrific(49.5% fg against), though they are doing a good job of creating turnovers at 17.5 a game, it hasn’t been enough particularly combined with frequent foul trouble.

Smiley leads the team with 14.0 ppg, with Ricardo Smith the top complement at 8.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg in the middle. Smiley is shooting just 37.9% though, and that needs to come up as well as pretty much everybody else’s accuracy on the team except for Smith(48.5%). Starting freshman Ryan Coon at forward hasn’t been regretted so far – he doesn’t score much but does rebound a little(5.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and doesn’t take bad shots, while being solid on the defense end.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

11.16 San Diego State(0-1) @ Mercer(0-0) – W 84-77
11.19 Dartmouth(1-0) @ Mercer(1-0) – W 73-71
11.23 #25 DePaul(2-0) @ Mercer(2-0) – W 66-55
11.26 Mercer(3-0) @ San Jose State(3-0) – L 67-47

A string of impressive victories to start the season ended with a thud against the Spartans in Mercer’s first road game – they were exposed in almost every aspect of the game and just got flattened, but they’ve still been off to an excellent start overall. As expected, Jamal Brown is leading the way, consistently beating his man off the dribble to free himself up for scoring opportunities(12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 50% fg). Adam Wall has shown a remarkably versatile all-around game, adding passing to scoring and rebounding(10.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.8 apg, 56% fg), and leads the team in assists as a starting center, a considerable rarity. The Bears have gotten pretty good balance as well, and are looking pretty good right now, particularly on offense.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

11.14 Oregon(0-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(0-0) – L 57-47
11.17 Bucknell(0-1) @ Mississippi Valley State(0-1) – W 64-57
11.21 Miami(OH)(0-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(1-1) – W 72-62
11.24 Mississippi Valley State(2-1) @ Cal-Santa Barbara(2-1) – W 89-74

The Delta Devils appear to be a lot better than expected. After a predictable opening-night loss they have increased their scoring total in each successive game, thanks largely to the explosiveness of Kevin Hallbauer(15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.8 apg). He’s been a streaky shooter, but is hitting 37% from 3-point range and isn’t afraid to take them. Freshman forward Jason Barlow, questioned as a starter by many in the preseason, is second on the team with 9.5 ppg and 5 rebounds, senior point guard Rashif Merton sports a better than 2:1 assist to turnover ratio, and quite surprisingly, the frontcourt is getting a lot of solid contributions after having virtually nothing expected of it.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

11.16 North Carolina Central(0-0) @ Texas-San Antonio(0-0) -- W 68-56
11.19 Hawaii(2-0) @ Texas-San Antonio(1-0) – W 68-61
11.23 Texas-San Antonio(2-0) @ Washington State(0-2) – L 68-66
11.26 Texas-San Antonio(2-1) @ Pennsylvania(1-2) – L 80-42

The story for the Roadrunners has been the continued development of star sophomore center Shahar Brown(18.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 spg). Brown is shooting a respectable 44.6% from the field, and while he isn’t a huge rebounding force his scoring is up over seven points a game from his freshman year and on a team that does rebounding by committee(four starters at 5.0 or more), he’s still good enough to tie for the team lead. Freshman point guard Antonio Banks has been – well, he’s been a freshman point guard(41.7% fg, 7.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 4.8 topg), but he’s shown himself to be a legitimate three-point shooter and should become more effective with more seasoning and experience. Forwards Jamaal Winston(8.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 spg) and Hilton Hogue(7.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg) have been effective as well, though the backcourt remains a key weakness as expected. They’ve performed fairly well as a unit overall, despite being grossly overmatched by Penn in their last game.

Brian Swartz · 01-21-2008, 01:59 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

11.29 CSU Bakersfield(2-2) @ Oklahoma State(2-2) – L 81-61
12.2 Portland State(2-3) @ CSU Bakersfield(2-3) – W 93-72
12.6 CSU Bakersfield(3-3) @ Dayton(2-4) – L 82-77

The Roadrunners had an offensive explosion in the first half against Portland State(62 points), which was not coincidentally Valery Person's best game(19 of those first-half points by himself). They couldn't back it up, losing the turnover battle 19-7 in a tough, close loss against the Flyers a few days later.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

11.28 Boston College(3-1) @ Cal-Davis(1-3) – W 75-68
12.1 Illinois State(2-5) @ Cal-Davis(2-3) – L 76-53
12.5 Cal-Davis(2-4) @ Binghamton(5-1) – L 68-61
12.8 Cal-Davis(2-5) @ Pittsburgh(5-1) – L 70-46

Mike Smiley tied the school single-game scoring record with 34 points against Binghamton(14-21 fg) but got no help -- the rest of the starters combined shot 4-12, and Smiley missed his last two as the Aggies squandered a 15-point second-half lead, and have now lost three straight for the second time this year. They have improved defensively, but still struggle on the boards and offensively when Smiley isn't shooting well.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

11.30 Mercer(3-1) @ Appalachian State(0-4) – L 96-68
12.3 St. Peter’s(3-2) @ Mercer(3-2) – W 82-80
12.7 Rider(2-2) @ Mercer(4-2) – L 66-62
12.10 Mercer(4-3) @ Loyola-Chicago(0-5) – L 79-76(OT)

After an embarrasing blowout against Appalachian State(Faulkner scored 41 points for their first win, and they shot 63% from the field as a team), the Bears were much more aggressive against St. Peter's, grinding out a close win with 47 trips to the free-throw line. What followed were two losses that should have been wins, as Mercer held the lead entering the final minutes but key turnovers sent them down to defeat. Now 4-4, the Bears could very easily be 6-2, and late-game execution is a huge question mark.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

11.28 Mississippi Valley State(3-1) @ Stephen F. Austin(1-3) – L 57-33
12.1 Centenary(3-2) @ Mississippi Valley State(3-2) – W 57-47
12.5 Mississippi Valley State(4-2) @ Cleveland State(3-3) – L 57-54

A truly horrific offensive effort(10-54, 18.5% fg) against SFA broke the winning streak, with Hallbauer scoring just six points on 3-15. He went scoreless for 37 minutes against Centenary … and then scored a dozen in the final three minutes to break it open, only to see the road woes continue with another loss in the next contest. To try to get more balanced offense, Tre Roe has been inserted as starting power forward, with Ricky Brown headed to the bench. It's a risky move, as Brown is a much better rebounder.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

11.30 Texas-San Antonio(2-2) @ IUPUI(2-0) – W 80-68
12.3 Ohio(2-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(3-2) – W 62-61
12.7 Texas-San Antonio(4-2) @ Wisconsin-Milwaukee(1-3) – W 59-50
12.10 Texas-San Antonio(5-2) @ #2 Louisiana Tech(9-0) – L 62-26

Shahar Brown exploded against previously unbeated IUPUI for 36 points(13-22 fg) and 14 rebounds. It was the third-highest scoring game in school history(Mike Rohwer had 44 against TX Corpus Christi in 1944), and tied the top mark for rebounds. His next game was not so impressive(5 points in 15 minutes before fouling out), and it went right down to the wire. After Kevin Young recovered his own blocked shot to retain possession, Antonio Banks salvaged a poor performance overall in the game by sinking a mid-range jumper from the right wing at the buzzer to stave off Ohio. In the most recent game Brown showed that he can play against the best competition, scoring 12, almost half of the team's total in a game they had no chance to win.

Brian Swartz · 01-24-2008, 11:26 AM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

12.13 CSU Bakersfield(3-4) @ Central Connecticut(5-1) – L 91-87
12.20 CSU Bakersfield(3-5) @ Long Island(2-6) – W 84-71

Almost a big road win, but too many turnovers late cost the Roadrunners against CC, and they squandered a good second-half lead. Both teams shot well from the field in a real track meet, just the kind of game Perry wants, and DeWayne Bell scored 24 off the bench in a losing cause. A similar game at home against Long Island, but the visitors lost their touch down the stretch and got sloppy, allowing CSU Bakersfield to pull away.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

12.12 Cal-Davis(2-6) @ Northwestern State(5-2) – L 58-47
12.15 Cal-Davis(2-7) @ SE Missouri State(4-4) – L 67-54
12.19 West Virginia(1-8) @ Cal-Davis(2-8) – W 75-47

Home cooking and a particularly inept opponent in the Mountaineers stopped the losing streak at five. The Aggies had 15 offensive rebounds in that game, about as many as they managed in the previous three games combined.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

12.13 Mercer(4-4) @ SMU(7-2) – L 65-36
12.17 Mercer(4-5) @ Richmond(5-4) – L 83-58
12.21 Weber State(3-7) @ Mercer(4-6) – W 69-61

There was no waiting till the end to blow the SMU game with careless turnovers – the Bears committed 19 in the FIRST HALF. A fine game from Adam Wall(16 points, 9 rebounds) was wasted. The losing streak reached four the next game as Richmond couldn’t miss from 3-point range(8-12 in the first half), and the Bears are clearly in free-fall.

Going back home was the cure for their ills as well, as Mercer shot 71% in the first half to bust out against Weber State, then held on for the win.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

12.12 Mississippi Valley State(4-3) @ Davidson(8-1) – L 76-61
12.19 Youngstown State(4-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(4-4) – W 79-68

Tre Roe played well in his first start(12 points, 4 rebounds), but the bench couldn’t compete against a stronger Davidson team. Roe will remain in the lineup for now though, as long as he continues to play like this. The Delta Devils shot well at home(10-18 3-point fg) to get back in the winning column in against Youngstown State.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

12.14 Texas-San Antonio(5-3) @ Dartmouth(5-3) – L 63-42
12.17 Texas-San Antonio(5-4) @ Air Force(4-4) – L 71-68
12.20 Texas-San Antonio(5-5) @ Houston(2-9) – W 68-59

A hard-fought loss against the Air Force once again showed Banks’ limitations – he missed the front end of a one-and-one and then had his shot blocked in the lane, missed one of two more foul shots, and then fouled out, all in the last two minutes. Kevin Young, who had a brilliant game, bailed them out with a triple from the wing with six seconds left to tie the score, but Air Force guard Aaron Strohm did him one better with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, and the Roadrunners lost their third in a row.

Houston finally provided an opportunity to get back above .500 and in the win column, with TXSA getting their most balanced scoring of the year: Hogue, Banks, and Brown each had 13 or more on the night.

Brian Swartz · 01-24-2008, 11:29 AM

PRE-CONFERNCE REPORT

It’s Christmas 1965, and the conference season is upon us. All standings are listed in order of RPI ranking(RPI, W-L)

INDEPENDENTS STANDINGS

TX Pan American(126, 6-3)
Winston Salem State(143, 5-4)
NJIT(178, 4-5)
Utah Valley State(225, 5-4)
CSU Bakersfield(253, 4-5)
Presbyterian(287, 6-3)
Savannah State(301, 2-7)
Longwood(308, 2-7)
Chicago State(319, 3-6)
North Carolina Central(331, 1-8)

CSU BAKERSFIELD TEAM LEADERS

Points: Ishmael Morris(13.9), Valery Person(10.9), Donald Young(9.3)
Rebounds: Ishmael Morris(5.6), Valery Person(4.3), Clyde Kurtz(3.4)
Assists: Ryan Nunn(4.8), Dewayne Bell(2.4), Bo Green(1.6)
Steals: Valery Person(1.7), Dewayne Bell(0.9), Clyde Kurtz(0.7)
Blocks: Clyde Kurtz(0.8), Valery Person(0.7), Dewayne Bell(0.7)

Morris continues to shoot at a torrid pace(70.5% fg), and he and Person are a good senior inside-outside combo. The Roadrunners are 4th in the nation in scoring(77.6 ppg), but nearly last in points allowed(75.6). They’re a fun team to watch, no question, but opponents are shooting 46%, which is bad even for an Independent team, and they have a 2.3-turnover per game deficit. They’ll need to take better care of the ball if they want to fulfill preseason expectations of finishing atop the independents. Freshman Donald Young has started the last couple games, sending Kurtz to the bench, and he’s done reasonably well(10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg) in those starts, giving the offense more balance.

There’s no new news on the recruiting front, a few local players that might eventually sign, but none imminent – Joe Hall remains the only commitment.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Cal St. Fullerton(100, 8-3)
Cal-Santa Barbara(149, 6-5)
Pacific(157, 4-7)
Cal St. Northridge(246, 5-6)
Cal-Davis(250, 3-8)
Cal-Irvine(267, 4-7)
Cal-Riverside(282, 5-6)
Long Beach State(315, 3-8)
Cal-Poly(323, 2-9)

Middle of the pack, just as expected. A fairly tough conference schedule could perhaps pay dividends, but only if the Aggies start rebounding better.

CAL-DAVIS TEAM LEADERS

Points: Mike Smiley(18.3), Ricardo Smith(7.5), Camara Rickey(5.6)
Rebounds: Ricardo Smith(4.5), Ryan Coon(4.2), Mike Smiley(3.8)
Assists: Robert Collins(3.9), Adam Dissinger(1.8), Camara Rickey(1.5)
Steals: Mike Smiley(0.9), Tim Denis(0.9), Robert Collins(0.8)
Blocks: Kevin Chambless(0.8), Ryan Coon(0.5), Mike Smiley(0.2)

As you can see, no rebounding, no defensive presence, no scoring balance. So it’s up to Mike Smiley to carry the team – and when he and Ricardo Smith graduate at the end of the year, it could be a long rebuilding period.

Jordan Williams remains the only commitment, with forward Mike Williams still a solid maybe and ditto for another forward, 6-8 Tyler McColpin of Idaho. Several lesser players have shown significant interest, so it looks this will at least be a passable class, but it’s still up in the air who the other two signees will end up being.

ATLANTIC SUN STANDINGS

North Florida(91, 7-4)
East Tennessee State(116, 5-6)
Belmont(203, 5-6)
Kennesaw State(208, 5-6)
Stetson(224, 5-6)
Lipscomb(234, 5-6)
Mercer(237, 5-6)
Florida Gulf Coast(272, 3-8)
SC Upstate(279, 4-7)
Campbell(296, 3-8)
Gardner-Webb(306, 4-7)
Jacksonville(325, 3-8)

With only North Florida boasting a winning record coming in, there looks to be a lot of parity in the conference this season, and the Mercer Bears are right in the thick of it.

MERCER TEAM LEADERS

Points: Jamal Brown(13.1), Adam Wall(10.2), Aubrey Bullock(7.9)
Rebounds: Bill Daniels(5.4), Adam Wall(5.1), Scott Conrad(4.8)
Assists: Aubrey Bullock(2.6), Adam Wall(2.5), Bob King(1.5)
Steals: Adam Wall(0.8), Scott Conrad(0.8), Bill Daniels(0.6)
Blocks: Jamal Brown(1.0), Adam Wall(0.5), Bill Daniels(0.1)

As a team, the Bears have shot well(48.8%) and allowed their opponents to do so as well(48.6%). Turnovers have been a major, major concern(18.1, only 11.8 forced), and unless that improves they will struggle in the A-Sun this year. Adam Kelly is back from academic suspension, and he’s improved his grades dramatically. He’ll start immediately, moving Conrad to the bench, and will improve a solid front line with added scoring punch.

Still just the one commitment on the recruiting front, SG Mate Ramage. Justin McCasland appears to be a lock though, and they’ve got good prospects with local center Ben Lindquist[(6-10, 237) and a decent shot at a couple of other forwards.

SWAC STANDINGS

Jackson State(25, 7-2)
Alabama State(35, 5-4)
Alcorn State(88, 4-5)
Mississippi Valley State(107, 5-4)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff(152, 4-5)
Grambling(175, 3-6)
Prairie View A&M(176, 5-4)
Southern(297, 4-5)
Alabama A&M(318, 4-5)
Texas Southern(321, 5-4)

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE TEAM LEADERS

Points: Kevin Hallbauer(13.9), Brendon Tucker(7.7), Tre Roe(6.9)
Rebounds: Brendon Tucker(6.0), Ricky Brown(5.0), Kevin Hallbauer(4.6)
Assists: Rashif Merton(3.8), Kevin Hallbauer(1.8), Brendon Tucker(1.8)
Steals: Ricky Brown(1.0), Tre Roe(0.7), Kevin Hallbauer(0.6)
Blocks: Jason Gresham(0.7), Anwar Kliewer(0.6), Brett White(0.6)

The Delta Devils have far exceeded their pre-season expectations, and come into the conference schedule with every expectation of being competitive. There’s one big problem though – senior Rashif Merton has been suspended for academic ineligibility, and he’s by far the best point guard on the team. True freshman Brett White will take his place, and while he’s been an effective passer in limited time, his shot selection and overall scoring skills aren’t nearly as good as Merton’s. Even more of the scoring load will fall on Hallbauer, which doesn’t bode well unless White performs better than expected.

No commitments yet, but local guard Criag Sarpy looks like a lock, and another local guard, Lydell Jones, has been showing increasing interest in recent weeks.

SOUTHLAND STANDINGS

TX Corpus Christi(45, 8-3)
Texas-San Antonio(84, 6-5)
Northwestern State(124, 8-3)
Lamar(151, 7-4)
Central Arkansas(219, 7-4)
Sam Houston State(228, 5-6)
Texas State(241, 5-6)
Stephen F. Austin(242, 4-7)
Nicholls State(243, 7-4)
Texas-Arlington(259, 5-6)
McNeese State(311, 6-5)
SE Louisiana(332, 1-10)

TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO TEAM LEADERS

Points: Shahar Brown(17.0), Kevin Young(9.0), Antonio Banks(7.1)
Rebounds: Hilton Hogue(7.1), Shahar Brown(5.9), Jamaal Winston(5.1)
Assists: Kevin Young(2.9), Antonio Banks(2.7), Jamaal Winston(2.2)
Steals: Shahar Brown(1.0), Hilton Hogue(0.8), Jamaal Winston(0.4)
Blocks: Hilton Hogue(0.8), Kevin Young(0.5), Todd Henson(0.5)

A tough non-conference schedule was handled fairly well, and the Roadrunners appear poised for a strong season. Antonio Banks has been benched in favor of junior Todd Henson – Banks is shooting just 35% from the field, has been weak defensively, and has more turnovers than assists … obviously not capable of leading the team consistently, at least not yet.

No further news on the recruiting trail, Mike Boozer remains the only commit.

Brian Swartz · 01-26-2008, 12:39 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

12.27 CSU Bakersfield(4-5) @ Winston Salem State(5-4) – L 78-71
12.30 Chicago State(4-6) @ CSU Bakersfield(4-6) – L 91-79
1.3 CSU Bakersfield(4-7) @ Presbyterian(7-4) – W 74-71
1.6 Longwood(2-10) @ CSU Bakersfield(5-7) – W 77-59

After losing the first two games against other independents, the Roadrunners got a buzzer-beating three-pointer from an unlikely source – point guard Ryan Nunn – to get back in the win column.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

12.29 Cal-Davis(3-8) @ Long Beach State(4-8) – L 79-50
1.2 Cal-St. Northridge(6-7, 1-1) @ Cal-Davis(3-9, 0-1) – L 69-63
1.5 Cal-Davis(3-10, 0-2) @ Cal-Irvine(6-8, 2-1) – L 64-43

After a crushing loss to Long Beach State, some tempers boiled over in practice the next day. In particular, junior forward Frank Gostin and junior guard Michael Walton nearly came to blows. Frank was a man about it afterwards, admitting that he needs to change his attitude, but Michael was a different story. His anti-team display has him on suspension for the next two weeks. Walton is the last guy off the bench, and has the talent to be a successful guard at this level but has never really developed it. If this keeps up, he’ll be lucky if he continues to see so much as continued garbage time. Some coaches would be more lenient, but Grant has no patience for this kind of nonsense.

They had a shot at beating Northridge, but the Irvine game was a microcosm of everything that’s horribly wrong with this team. They did a lot of things well, but the Aggies never had a chance with the starting frontcourt combining to shoot 1-14 for a total of seven points. Mike Smiley scored 11, and the rest of the team was invisible offensively.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

12.31 Mercer(5-6) @ North Florida(7-4) – L 69-44
1.4 Belmont(6-6, 1-0) @ Mercer(5-7, 0-1) – L 71-65
1.7 Mercer(5-8, 0-2) @ Stetson(6-7, 1-1) – W 78-65

The Bears ended their skid against Stetson by not doing all the things they normally do wrong – specifically, only seven turnovers all game long and more balanced scoring with the Adams' combining for 26 points.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

12.26 Mississippi Valley State(5-4, 0-0) @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff(4-5, 0-0) – L 68-65
12.29 Alabama A&M(5-5, 1-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(5-5, 0-1) – W 74-70
1.2 Mississippi Valley State(6-5, 1-1) @ Alcorn State(5-6, 1-1) – L 89-72
1.5 Texas Southern(7-5, 2-1) @ Mississippi Valley State(6-6, 1-2) – W 69-67

Kevin Hallbauer got hot in the second half of the first two games. It was too little too late in the conference opener, but enough for a comeback win back at home as he scored 21. Junior Jason Gresham was inserted as the latest attempt at a functional replacement at the point for Merton after the Alabama A&M win, and in his second start he hit the game-winner with 18 seconds left against Texas Southern.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

12.31 Texas-San Antonio(6-5) @ Stephen F. Austin(4-7) – L 67-49
1.4 Texas-Corpus Christi(9-3, 1-0) @ Texas – San Antonio(6-6, 0-1) – L 69-55
1.7 Texas-San Antonio(6-7, 0-2) @ Texas-Arlington(5-8, 0-2) – L 79-62

Texas-San Antonio has looked just horrible in their first stretch of games against conference opponents, getting torched on the defensive end while averaging nearly 20 turnovers a game offensively.

Izulde · 01-26-2008, 01:37 PM

I think I'll be cheering for Weston Cattley, as he's the closest to me out of this group.

Brian Swartz · 01-27-2008, 10:21 PM

Closest to you geographically or philosophically? Just curious since I don't expect these guys to stay in the same place indefinitely. Coach Wattley is currently not doing so hot, working on finding every possible way to lose at the moment unfortunately.

Izulde · 01-28-2008, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Closest to you geographically or philosophically? Just curious since I don't expect these guys to stay in the same place indefinitely. Coach Wattley is currently not doing so hot, working on finding every possible way to lose at the moment unfortunately.

In terms of personality, mostly. I'm not a fan of recruiting, though I have no idea how good I'd be at it admittedly, not really an Xs and Os guy, not much of a developer, but when it comes to game management, yeah that's how I roll.

I also greatly prefer the 2-3 zone. I'd consider myself a motivator and a team builder, in the sense of building esprit de corps, though I'd imagine those all fall under game management.

Brian Swartz · 01-28-2008, 12:01 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

1.10 CSU Bakersfield(6-7) @ NJIT(6-7) – L 81-79
1.13 Utah Valley State(9-5) @ CSU Bakersfield(6-8) – L 76-74
1.17 TX Pan American(11-4) @ CSU Bakersfield(6-9) – L 95-77
1.20 CSU Bakersfield(6-10) @ North Carolina Central(4-12) – W 86-68

Against NJIT and UVS the Roadrunners lost very, very winnable games, losing leads in the final minute. They are doing a solid job overall rebounding and in the turnover battle, but soft defense continues to be the Achilles heel here, and they don’t quite have the firepower to overcome it lately. The skid ended against North Carolina Central, in a matchup of two teams having disappointing seasons, having been picked as the top independent teams but definitely not living up to that so far.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

1.9 Cal-Poly(5-10, 3-1) @ Cal-Davis(3-11, 0-3) – L 71-63
1.12 Cal-Davis(3-12, 0-4) @ Pacific(8-7, 4-0) – W 69-57
1.16 Cal-Riverside(6-10, 1-4) @ Cal-Davis(4-12, 1-4) – W 89-76
1.19 Cal-Davis(5-12, 2-4) @ Cal St. Fullerton(10-7, 2-4) – W 66-62

Tied at 57 with Cal-Poly, the Aggies went to sleep on both ends, giving up a 14-0 run and their best chance at a Big West victory. The next game against Pacific was well worth mentioning though, and not just because they won. They beat arguably the best team in the Big West, on their own floor, and did so with a consistent, decisive effort. They were decent in the turnover department(lost 14-13), rebounded well(35-25, + 10), got to the line more than their hosts(35-18), and out-shot them from the field. It was by far the Aggies’ best performance of the year, and one that gives hope that they are starting to build something. What made it even more impressive is that junior center Ricardo Smith missed the final 38 minutes of the game with what thankfully is only a minor sprain.

The next game out against Cal-Riverside, Cal-Davis lost a big first half lead and were in danger of another home loss, but Mike Smiley simply wouldn’t let them lose, exploding in the second half for a school-record 40 points(15-26 fg) and adding 10 rebounds, while freshman forward Tim Denis put in a career-high 18 points in place of Smith to help bring the Aggies a second straight win. The winning streak is now at three games, doubling the amount of victories they had in their first 15 games combined – it appears Cal-Davis has really turned a corner here.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

1.11 Mercer(6-8, 1-2) @ SC Upstate(6-8, 2-1) – L 89-61
1.14 Lipscomb(5-10, 0-4) @ Mercer(6-9, 1-3) – W 66-65
1.18 Mercer(7-9, 2-3) @ Kennesaw State(7-9, 2-3) – W 67-58
1.21 Mercer(8-9, 3-3) @ Campbell(7-10, 4-2) – L 79-59

Mercer nearly gave away the Lipscomb game after leading almost the entire way, but a runner in the lane by senior forward Bill Daniels, only his second field goal of the night, won it with 11 seconds left.

SF Justin McCasland(6-7, 241, KY, 3.2 GPA) made it official with a verbal commitment. He’s an athletic player, subpar defensively, and doesn’t look for his own shot much, considered average in all other respects. He doesn’t turn any heads with his national ranking(#1769), but has an very good work ethic and Coach Stahl believes he can turn this zero into a hero with time.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

1.9 Southern(5-8, 1-3) @ Mississippi Valley State(7-6, 2-2) – W 80-62
1.12 Mississippi Valley State(8-6, 3-2) @ Jackson State(10-4, 3-2) – W 75-66
1.16 Prairie View A&M(7-8, 2-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(9-6, 4-2) – W 84-73
1.19 Mississippi Valley State(10-6, 5-2) @ Alabama State(10-6, 5-2) – L 72-46

Despite the most recent blowout loss(Hallbauer shot a horrific 2-17), the Delta Devils are the surprise team in the SWAC right now, refusing to roll over as expected and getting consistent production from the frontcourt. Tre Roe has scored in double figures five of the last six games, with double-doubles in the last two.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

1.11 Texas-San Antonio(6-8, 0-3) @ Sam Houston State(5-9, 0-3) – L 66-62
1.14 Texas State(9-6, 4-0) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-9, 0-4) – L 63-62
1.18 Texas-San Antonio(6-10, 0-5) @ SE Louisiana(3-13, 2-3) – L 68-55
1.21 McNeese State(10-7, 4-2) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-11, 0-6) – L 70-65

A pair of devastating losses that should have been wins – the Roadrunners have been playing much better overall lately, particularly against Texas State, but they lost the lead late as Jamaal Winston missed a pair of free throws in the final minute, while Shahar Brown had his worst game in over a month, going 0-3 with two turnovers in the last minute and a half. It was the beginning of what has become a serious slump for Brown, and Texas-San Antonio is desperate for any kind of win right now, having lost 10 of 11 after a 5-2 start to the season.

Brian Swartz · 01-29-2008, 12:27 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

1.24 Savannah State(6-11) @ CSU Bakersfield(7-10) – L 72-60
1.27 Winston-Salem State(10-8) @ CSU Bakersfield(7-11) – W 94-88
1.31 CSU Bakersfield(8-11) @ Chicago State(6-13) – W 102-99
2.3 Presbyterian(11-9) @ CSU Bakersfield(9-11) – W 85-60

The Chicago State game was notable in a couple of ways, as the Roadrunners avenged an earlier loss at home and cracked the century mark for the first time. The scoring was balanced, with Valery Person leading the way with 22 points, and both teams pulled the trigger from long range, shooting a combined 53% from beyond the arc. With 85 or more points scored in the last three games, all wins, CSU Bakersfield is just a game under .500 and really appears to be hitting their stride.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

1.23 Cal-Santa Barbara(8-10, 2-5) @ Cal-Davis(6-12, 3-4) – W 69-60
1.30 Long Beach State(10-10, 7-2) @ Cal-Davis(7-12, 4-4) – W 73-56
2.2 Cal-Davis(8-12, 5-4) @ Cal St. Northridge(10-11, 5-5) – L 57-55

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

1.25 East Tennessee State(11-7, 6-1) @ Mercer(8-10, 3-4) – W 71-51
1.28 Florida Gulf Coast(4-15, 1-7) @ Mercer(9-10, 4-4) – W 54-43
2.1 Mercer(10-10, 5-4) @ Gardner-Webb(7-13, 3-6) – L 83-64
2.4 Jacksonville(5-16, 2-8) @ Mercer(10-11, 5-5) – W 68-48

The game against ETSU was extremely encouraging, the Bears finest performance of the year as the pummeled one of the top teams in the Atlantic Sun from tipoff to buzzer.

The Bears also got a third recruit commitment:

PF Lionel Louis(6-6, 224, GA, 2.8 GPA). Louis has little athletic ability, and has a number of holes in his game, but is durable, has a good work ethic, and can score effectively in the paint. He’s ranked #1403 nationally.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

1.23 Grambling(6-11, 3-5) @ Mississippi Valley State(10-7, 5-3) – L 75-64
1.26 Arkansas-Pine Bluff(9-9, 5-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(10-8, 5-4) – W 74-67
1.30 Mississippi Valley State(11-8, 6-4) @ Alabama A&M(12-7, 8-2) – L 91-68
2.2 Alcorn State(10-10, 6-5) @ Mississippi Valley State(11-9, 6-5) – W 74-51

A career-high 21 points from Tre Roe against Grambling couldn’t stop the Delta Devils from a very damaging home loss. Kevin Hallbauer had his best game in weeks with a 25-point effort, and Roe scored 12 of his 13 in the second half to hold off Arkansas-Pine Bluff and stop the bleeding.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

1.25 Central Arkansas(11-7, 4-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-12, 0-7) – L 66-63
1.28 Texas-San Antonio(6-13, 0-8) @ Nicholls State(9-10, 2-6) – L 78-54
2.1 Northwestern State(12-8, 4-5) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-14, 0-9) – W 70-53
2.4 Texas-San Antonio(7-14, 1-9) @ Lamar(12-9, 5-5) – L 81-62

Shahar Brown got his rhythm back against the Central Arkansas Grizzlies(15 points, 7 rebounds), but it wasn’t enough to stave off the best player in the conference, UCA’s senior guard Ben Smith, who scored 28 points, many of them late. Another 21 turnovers doomed the Roadrunners. Finally the streak ended against Northwestern State as Texas-San Antonio marched out to a 20-4 lead and never really looked back.

Brian Swartz · 01-31-2008, 11:55 AM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

2.7 CSU Bakersfield(10-11) @ Longwood(5-16) – W 73-57
2.10 NJIT(12-10) @ CSU Bakersfield(11-11) – W 91-89
2.14 CSU Bakersfield(12-11) @ Utah Valley State(14-9) – W 78-70
2.17 CSU Bakersfield(13-11) @ TX Pan American(18-6) – W 87-85

Ishmael Morris hit the game-winner with 11 seconds left against NJIT, then sealed it with a rebound at the end to keep the winning streak going. The seventh straight victory came against the unquestioned king of the independents this year, a team that had blasted the Roadrunners by 18 at home some weeks ago. After losing a 13-point lead, CSU Bakersfield hung tough at the end, and Donald Young’s turnaround in the lane with two seconds left on the clock was the game-winner. The first half was an incredible shooting display, with the teams combining for 99 points and nearly 60% from the field.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

2.6 Cal-Irvine(11-11, 7-4) @ Cal-Davis(8-13, 5-5) – L 70-56
2.9 Cal-Davis(8-14, 5-6) @ Cal-Poly(8-15, 6-6) – L 73-71
2.13 Pacific(12-11, 8-4) @ Cal-Davis(8-15, 5-7) – W 80-67
2.16 Cal-Davis(9-15, 6-7) @ Cal-Riverside(7-17, 2-11) – L 92-80

Mike Smiley killed the Pacific Tigers for a second time(29 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists), a pair of losses that will likely keep them from the Big West regular-season title, and have kept the Aggies within striking distance of a .500 conference record. And then they decided to take the first half off against Riverside and paid the price, trailing 50-29 before a comeback attempt came up short. Coach Grant was disgusted by the total lack of defense, as his boys allowed the worst team in the conference to shoot 54% from the field and hit 10 of 23 3-pointers.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

2.8 North Florida(13-9, 6-5) @ Mercer(11-11, 6-5) – W 70-62
2.11 Mercer(12-11, 7-5) @ Belmont(15-8, 10-2) – L 61-53
2.15 Stetson(12-12, 7-6) @ Mercer(12-12, 7-6) – L 70-66
2.18 SC Upstate(16-9, 12-2) @ Mercer (12-13, 7-7) – L 79-74

Mercer had a great shot to beat conference-leading Belmont, but down only a single point they once again fell apart at the end, with two last-minute turnovers leading to fast breaks going the other way. The Stetson game was similar to this as well – with a chance to tie or win at the end, Adam Kelly lost the handle and in effect, the game with a turnover with 12 seconds left. The number of winnable games the Bears have fumbled away this year, literally in many cases, is just uncanny. Adam Wall had a career game against conference-leading SC Upstate, scoring most of his 24 in the first half and grabbing 10 rebounds, but the Bears needed a near-perfect game and didn’t quite have enough.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

2.6 Mississippi Valley State(12-9, 7-5) @ Texas Southern(9-12, 4-8) – L 64-62
2.9 Mississippi Valley State(12-10, 7-6) @ Southern(6-16, 2-11) – L 72-57
2.13 Jackson State(13-10, 6-8) @ Mississippi Valley State(12-11, 7-7) – W 81-67
2.16 Mississippi Valley State(13-11, 8-7) @ Prairie View A&M(13-11, 8-7) – L 82-71

The Texas Southern game was a great opportunity for Tre Roe to show that he’s ready to be a star. It was a tough road game, the Devils trailed most of the way, but he stepped to the line for a one-and-one with 11 seconds left and a chance to tie the score … and bricked the first one, blowing a chance for Foster’s charges to stay within two games of the conference leaders. It was only the last of nine missed free throws in the game(13-22). To add to the misery, they then went ice-cold in the second half against Southern, extending the losing streak by scoring only 16 points in the second half.

Sophomore center Brendon Tucker had a breakout game to change that against Jackson State, scoring 24 on 9-13 shooting. It was only the second team he’s scored more than a dozen in a game: the first time was earlier this year, when he put in 14 against the same opponent.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

2.8 Stephen F. Austin(11-11, 7-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(7-15, 1-10) – W 66-51
2.11 Texas-San Antonio(8-15, 2-10) @ TX Corpus Christi(15-8, 7-5) – W 87-72
2.15 Texas-Arlington(10-14, 5-8) @ Texas-San Antonio(9-15, 3-10) – W 70-56
2.18 Sam Houston State(10-15, 5-9) @ Texas-San Antonio(10-15, 4-10) – L 69-62

The Roadrunners got a huge upset win against Corpus Christi, and their third win in four games, by shooting a ridiculous 67% from the field, as all five starters had 10 or more points. Two games later their shooting failed them, in the form of 14 missed free throws in a home loss.

Brian Swartz · 02-02-2008, 12:34 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

2.21 North Carolina Central(8-17) @ CSU Bakersfield(14-11) – W 84-65
2.24 CSU Bakersfield(15-11) @ Savannah State(10-16) – L 94-60

The wheels fell off in a season-ending blowout loss, probably the worst game they played this year. Still, it was a very strong finish to the season overall.

FINAL INDEPENDENTS STANDINGS

TX Pan American(20-7)
Utah Valley State(16-11)
NJIT(15-12)
CSU Bakersfield(15-12)
Winston Salem State(15-12)
Presbyterian(14-13)
Savannah State(11-16)
Chicago State(8-19)
North Carolina Central(8-19)
Longwood(6-21)

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

2.20 Cal St. Fullerton(16-9, 8-6) @ Cal-Davis(9-16, 6-8) – W 70-63
2.23 Cal-Davis(10-16, 7-8) @ Cal-Santa Barbara(11-15, 5-10) – L 76-63

Robert Collins scored a season-high 22 against Fullerton in a hard-earned win, including clutch free throws at the end to hold them off.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Pacific(15-12, 11-5)
Cal Poly(12-15, 10-6)
Cal St. Fullerton(17-10, 9-7)
Cal-Irvine(13-14, 9-7)
Long Beach State(11-6, 8-8)
Cal St. Northridge(12-15, 7-9)
Cal-Davis(10-17, 7-9)
Cal-Santa Barbara(12-15, 6-10)
Cal-Riverside(10-17, 5-11)

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

2.22 Mercer(12-14, 7-8) @ Lipscomb(7-19, 2-13) – W 89-82

ATLANTIC SUN STANDINGS

SC Upstate(18-9, 14-2)
Belmont(17-10, 12-4)
Campbell(13-14, 10-6)
East Tennessee State(15-12, 10-6)
Kennesaw State(15-12, 10-6)
North Florida(15-12, 8-8)
Mercer(13-14, 8-8)
Stetson(13-14, 8-8)
Gardner-Webb(10-17, 6-10)
Jacksonville(8-19, 5-11)
Florida Gulf Coast(6-21, 3-13)
Lipscomb(7-20, 2-14)

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

2.20 Alabama State(16-9, 11-5) @ Mississippi Valley State(13-12, 8-8) – L 72-70
2.23 Mississippi Valley State(13-13, 8-9) @ Grambling(12-14, 9-8) – L 67-56

The Delta Devils are sliding at the end of the season, but things are looking up a bit on the recruiting front after their first verbal came in:

SG Lydell Jones(6-0, 178, MS, 3.2 GPA). Lydell is ranked #1486 nationally, and is a good shooter who is athletic enough to create his own shot. He particularly excels at attacking the basket off the dribble, and is very reliable at the free-throw line. There is some question about his team attitude, however.

SWAC STANDINGS

Alabama State(18-9, 13-5)
Alabama A&M(17-10, 13-5)
Prairie View A&M(15-12, 10-8)
Grambling(13-14, 10-8)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff(14-13, 10-8)
Alcorn State(13-14, 9-9)
Mississippi Valley State(13-14, 8-10)
Jackson State(15-12, 8-10)
Texas Southern(11-16, 6-12)
Southern(7-20, 3-15)

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

2.22 Texas-San Antonio(10-16, 4-11) @ Texas State(13-13, 8-7) – L 77-49

Not an inspiring end to the regular season, to be sure.

SOUTHLAND STANDINGS

EAST DIVISION

McNeese State(11-5)
Central Arkansas(10-6)
Lamar(9-7)
Nicholls State(8-8)
Northwestern State(7-9)
SE Louisiana(6-10)

WEST DIVISION

Stephen F. Austin(11-5)
TX Corpus Christi(9-7)
Texas State(9-7)
Sam Houston State(7-9)
Texas-Arlington(5-11)
Texas-San Antonio(4-12)

Brian Swartz · 02-03-2008, 11:05 PM

BIG WEST TOURNAMENT

3.2 Quarterfinals – Cal-Davis(10-17) vs. Cal-Poly(12-15)

The Mustangs played nearly flawless basketball early, and jumped out to a quick 11-point lead. It took over ten minutes for someone other than Smiley to score for the Aggies, and it looked like a return to their early-season offensive struggles was underway. The bench provided a bit of a spark though, and by the half the deficit was down to 37-32.

The momentum continued in the second half, and Mike Smiley hit his first three shots, the last of which was a tough one in the lane to give the Aggies their first lead since the opening moments at 50-48 with just under fifteen minutes to go. Both teams struggled to score after that, and with three minutes left it was still anybody’s game, with Poly in the lead by two at 66-64. Both teams made plenty of mistakes after that, but [b]Ricardo Smith’s[b/] rebounding and a key shot in the final minute by Smiley were enough to get the Aggies over the hump, 76-68.

Mike Smiley finished with 23 points and 7 boards, Robert Collins had 17 with 5 assists, and Ricardo Smith pitched in 11 points, 8 rebounds, and a pair of steals – half of the rebounds coming in the final critical minutes.

3.3 Semifinals – Cal St. Fullerton(18-10) vs. Cal-Davis(11-17)

Cal-Davis played well early, but couldn’t keep Fullerton off the foul line, and struggled mightily from the field themselves in falling behind 30-22 at the half. Not much changed in the second half: it was a horrific night offensively for the Aggies across the board, and though they played well in other aspects, it wasn’t enough to overcome their shooting woes and Fullerton moved on the Big West title game, 53-46.

Mike Smiley hit on just 5 of 24 shots in his final game for a total of 13 points, with no-one else in double figures. Cal-Davis shot 31% from the floor total.

ATLANTIC SUN TOURNAMENT

3.1 First Round -- Jacksonville(8-19) vs. Mercer(13-14)

The Bears played a sluggish first half, leading only by three at the break, but came out focused in the second half and quickly pulled away for a comfortable win, 70-55. Jamal Brown, Bill Daniels, and Adam Kelly scored 11 apiece, with Brown adding nine rebounds as well. Mercer forced 21 turnovers, most of them in the second half, and shot 53% from the floor.

3.2 Quarterfinals – Mercer(14-14) vs. Belmont(17-10)

The Bruins jumped out 24-7 early, courtesty of 8 early Mercer turnovers and superior execution, and this game was over almost immediately. They were never able to make a serious run, ending their season on the short end of a 73-52 rout. Adam Kelly scored 14 in defeat.

SWAC TOURNAMENT

3.3 First Round – Southern(7-20) vs. Mississippi Valley State(13-14)

Despite going up against the conference’s worst team, this was a tight match almost the entire way. The Delta Devils jumped out to a solid lead midway through the first half, but Southern came right back to close it up. With about six minutes left, Mississippi Valley State managed to edge out to a six-point lead again, but entering the final minute they had nearly lost it, clinging to a 66-65 margin. Only the ineptness of the opponent allowed them to survive for a 68-65 win, their last of the season if they don’t play better than this.

Kevin Hallbauer and Brendon Tucker each scored 14, with Hallbauer snatching six steals as well. Tre Roe added 13 points.

3.4 Quarterfinals – Mississippi Valley State(14-14) vs. Alabama A&M(17-10)

MVS certainly picked it up a notch in the effort category for this one, trailing only 38-36 at the half to the regular season co-champions thanks to a strong effort on the boards. After falling behind by as many as nine points, the Delta Devils came back strong to tie it at 68 on Kevin Hallbauer’s triple with two minutes left … but couldn’t hit a shot the rest of the way, and lost a well-fought battle 72-68.

Hallbauer had 14 and 7 rebounds to finish off his collegiate career, but also shot just 5-16 from the floor and committed 5 turnovers. Tre Roe pitched in 12 points, 4 rebounds, and a pair of steals.

The next day, there was news from the recruiting front: another verbal commit for the Devils.

PG Criag Sarpy(6-1, 183, MS, 2.9 GPA). Ranked near the bottom
at #1749, Criag is a subpar prospect but is an excellent passer which could give him some potential. He’s also known to be quite durable physically. Defense is Sarpy’s biggest weakness.

SOUTHLAND TOURNAMENT

3.3 First Round – Texas-San Antonio(10-17) vs. Lamar(16-11)

Nobody could score early in an incredibly ugly game – the score was 4-3 after six minutes. It got a little better, but not much, and the Roadrunners led a tight contest 26-22 at intermission, with both squads still desperately seeking any consistent way to score. The shooting picked up, particularly late, and Texas-San Antonio held a small, but stable lead the rest of the way, just barely enough to hold off a bit of a late comeback, 61-59.

Kevin Young led the scoring with 13, while Shahar Brown put in 12 and 9 boards.

3.4 Quarterfinals – Texas-San Antonio(11-17) vs. TX Corpus Christi(17-10)

Contrary to expectations, the Roadrunners’ front line was able to counter the highly favored Islanders early, with Brown, Hogue, and reserve Scott Johnson all able to score inside. It was an even match for the balance of the first half, with both teams executing and shooting well offensively for the most part. TX Corpus Christi eked out a five-point halftime lead, but they were still clearly in a battle.

The lead was pushed a bit larger to open the second half, but then Texas-San Antonio struck with some of their best basketball of the season. Playing inspired on both ends, they went on a 17-0 tear covering several minutes, staking claim to a 54-44 lead with ten minutes left, forcing five turnovers and committing zero during the run. The Islanders soon came roaring back, reclaiming the lead at 61-60 with five minutes to go, and it was starting to look like the Roadrunners were running out of steam finally.

With 45 seconds left, they still clung to life, down by three. Brown, having his finest game in months, nailed a jumper to cut the lead to 67-66, but TX Corpus Christi made the ensuing free throws and Todd Henson missed a desperation shot to tie at the buzzer. It was a noble effort, but not quite enough as they lost this one 69-66 to end their season.

Shahar Brown scored 24 and nabbed 9 rebounds, with Hilton Hogue adding 14 and 6 boards while Todd Henson pitched in 10. A six-turnover deficit(18-12) was ultimately the deciding factor.

1965 NCAA TOURNAMENT

Unsurprisingly, none of our coaches sniffed the post-season. There was still plenty of interest in the post-season this year, with the top three teams in the rankings all worthy of acclaim. UCLA, Louisiana Tech, and Fordham have lost only four games combined this year, and are head and shoulders above the rest of the field. UCLA marched through the opening weekend winning by an average of better than 30 points, while Louisiana Tech and Fordham each survived a mild first-round scare, then won easily in the second round to stay alive.

The Fordham Rams met their end unexpectedly soon against BYU, 71-60 in the Sweet Sixteen. They were uncharacteristically sloppy, and Cougars guard Lonny Bellamy torched them for 25 points, with forward Mario Fisher adding 15. Their perimeter attack was enough to get them by Cinderella 10th-seed Southern Illinois and into the Final Four.

Louisiana Tech had no such problems, continuing on with solid wins against Pittsburgh and High Point in the second weekend. UCLA has continued to dominate, and is the clear favorite now after dispatching Duke 77-57 in the regional finals – their closest game of the tournament so far.

The first game of the Final Four was Ohio State taking on BYU, and the clock struck midnight for Cinderella quickly. The Buckeyes ran over the Cougars 79-55. Not to worry, because the primetime matchup was the marquee one. #1 UCLA vs. #2 Louisiana Tech. A combined record of 71-3 coming in. This was sure to be a classic, right? Erm, no. Another snoozer. The Bruins treated their highly touted opponents like just another pushover, slamming Louisiana Tech 77-52. So much for all the hype.

The final against OSU was UCLA’s toughest test yet, which is another way of saying it wasn’t completely over for 35 minutes instead of the usual 25 or 30. The pre-season #1 pushed aside the Buckeyes 60-48, culminating a dominant tournament run and a 37-1 season that only a handful of teams at most in the history of the sport can match. There’s no question who the best team was in 1965: UCLA claimed the school’s first title in truly impressive fashion.

Brian Swartz · 02-05-2008, 12:08 PM

1965 OFFSEASON

There were no serious job offers for any of the coaches after their first year, which stands to reason: none of them have earned any interest yet.

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

Final Record: 15-12, 211 RPI

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Valery Person(12.1), Ishmael Morris(11.9), DeWayne Bell(10.1)
Rebounds: Ishmael Morris(5.1), Donald Young(3.6), Clyde Kurtz(3.5)
Assists: Ryan Nunn(5.0), Bo Green(2.1), DeWayne Bell(1.8)
Steals: Valery Person(1.1), DeWayne Bell(1.0), Marquis East(0.8)
Blocks: DeWayne Bell(0.6), Ishmael Morris(0.6), Clyde Kurtz(0.5)

CSU Bakersfield was the top scoring team in the nation at 78.9 ppg, while surrendering second-most with 77.0. They both shot and allowed a little under 47% from the field, and keeping up that offensive pace will be difficult with six graduating seniors, including Bell, Person, and Morris, the top three scorers. Those seniors can be proud of a late-season eight-game winning streak, which made this the second-best season in the school’s last 15 years. The board was pleased with that strong showing, despite failing to meet their one goal of having the best record in the independents.

Reputation: 13(+2)
Contract: 4 years, $69,000
Job Security: 11
Goals: Finish 1st in Independents

Team Prestige: 5(no change)
Conference Prestige: 0(no change)
Facilities: D+
Recruiting Budget: $23,000

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

SF Joe Hall(6-8, 231, CA, #26)
PF Greg Kitchings(6-6, 235, CA, #929)
PG Frank Watson(6-2, 199, CA, #1132)

Two open scholarships went unfilled.

Once again CSU Bakersfield has been picked first among the Independents, but this year it’s more likely to be a reality. Senior point guard Ryan Nunn returns improved, with two solid seasons as a starter under his belt(5.1 ppg, 5.0 apg last year). He’s not a great shooter but doesn’t take bad shots either, and last year had a 1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio. 6-5 sophomore Bo Green will start as the only other returning guard with experience, and he also handles the ball well and shoots well from long range, averaging 5.7 ppg in less than 13 mpg last year.

The frontcourt is headed up of course by the new big man on campus, Joe Hall. He’s a whale in a bathtub here and is expected to star immediately. Nobody gets a ton of minutes in Coach Ralph Perry’s system predicated on waves of players, interchangeable parts, and constant pressure, but Hall is expected to be the team’s primary scorer immediately and have a huge impact on both ends of the floor. Sophomore Donald Young hasn’t played well in the preseason, but he still gets the nod at power forward thanks to his performance last year: 9.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 50.3% fg. Senior walkon David Watkins will be at center, but there are plenty of bodies to shuffle in there, though not much is expected of them.

Of the other freshmen, guard Frank Watson has the appearance of a major bust, and will see limited time despite the lack of depth in the backcourt. Forward Greg Kitchings doesn’t figure in this year’s plans and will redshirt, but Perry’s staff thinks he has the potential to be a star.

The biggest factor this year will be the maturation of Joe Hall – how good he is and how soon will determine whether the Roadrunners do anything worthy of notice beyond the proverbial armpit of college basketball that is the independents. Another young swingman has been impressed by Perry on the recruiting trail, and forms the lone early commitment:

SF Linton Shipley(6-7, 196, CA, 2.9 GPA). Linton is ranked #143 in the nation, mostly on the strength of his scoring ability. He’s a below-average player otherwhise, but really excels in breaking down defenses one-on-one. Not in Hall’s talent range by any means, but still a darn fine prospect for this program. Another truly elite local forward, Virgil Holst, considered CSU Bakersfield but ultimately chose the far more prestigious atmosphere at the University of Arizona instead.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

Final Record: 11-18(7-9), 269 RPI

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Mike Smiley(19.6), Ricardo Smith(7.1), Robert Collins(5.1)
Rebounds: Mike Smiley(5.1), Ricardo Smith(4.5), Ryan Coon(4.3)
Assists: Robert Collins(4.0), Adam Dissinger(1.7), Kevin Chambless(1.5)
Steals: Mike Smiley(1.0), Ricardo Smith(0.7), Kevin Chambless(0.7)
Blocks: Kevin Chambless(0.6), Mike Smiley(0.4), Ryan Coon(0.4)

Mike Smiley was the 1965 Aggies team, smashing the single-season school scoring mark by scoring 568 points – the previous high was 480, set by Damon Smith in 1947. Not surprisingly, he was named the Big West’s Player of the Year. It was also the eighth-best scoring season in Big West Conference history. Along with Smiley, Kevin Chambless and Adam Dissinger are also graduating, though four starters and most of the bench will return.

The biggest challenge will be finding ways to score without him. Cal-Davis was 8th in the Big West in scoring 63.1 ppg, and 4th in allowing 67.1. The biggest thing they need to improve on to drop that second number is rebounding, a battle they lost by 3.3 boards a game in 1965. The Aggies didn’t come close to meeting the board’s singular goal of winning the Big West Tournament, but they did affirm that they still have confidence in Coach Grant.

Reputation: 12(+1)
Contract: 3 years, $68,000
Job Security: 10(no change)
Goals: Finish in Big West Top 3

Team Prestige: 4(-2)
Conference Prestige: 15(no change)
Facilities: D-
Recruiting Budget: $101,550

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

C Jamie Belton(6-9, 272, CA, #495)
SF Tyler McColpin(6-8, 197, ID, #958)
PG Jordan Williams(6-1, 181, UT, #1559)

Jamie Belton was quite a find, a good defensive big man, and Coach Grant outdueled Ralph Perry for his services.

Cal-Davis has been predicted to finish 8th in the Big West, and it’s not hard to see why. With the season approaching, no-one including coach Denny Grant has any idea how they are going to score. There are three returning starters: senior guard Robert Collins(5.1 ppg, 4.0 apg, 37.6% fg), junior forward Ryan Coon(3.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 61.4% fg) and senior center Ricardo Smith(7.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 44.9% fg). Collins has improved, the other two have not, and none of them showed the ability to score consistently before. The graduation of Mike Smiley, the greatest scorer in Aggies history, has left a huge void.

There is more depth on the team, and there will certainly be more balance than last year. Rebounding should be improved. Collins and Coon were the best defenders on the team, and having them back will help in that department. But there’s nobody on this team that scares anyone with their playmaking.

The future could perhaps be brighter at least. All three new recruits appear to have the talent to contribute, but none are expected to do so this year. Jordan Williams and Jamie Belton will redshirt. Belton has the talent to be a star here, but there is enough marginally talented depth in the middle and he’s raw enough that another year of developing his skills will do him good. Forward Tyler McColpin will likely see very limited time off the bench, playing behind competent seniors David Scott and Frank Gostin.

Two commitments have come in on the recruiting trail, ensuring that the experienced big men on the team will have ample replacements.
C Tim Alexander(6-10, 271, 3.1 GPA, #606). Alexander is an excellent scorer in the paint, and should provide the first real post prescence on the offensive end. He’s only adequate at best defensively however.

F Michael Dare(6-7, 236, 3.3 GPA, #341). Dare is for the most part a dream come true for Coach Grant. He’s a good scorer inside, passes well, and is an excellent defensive player. Michael is not particularly athletic and is a turnover factory, but he, Jamie Belton, and Tim Alexander as a rotating trio on the front line is a fond prospect to look forward to.

Brian Swartz · 02-05-2008, 12:10 PM

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

Final Record: 14-15(8-8), RPI 261

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Jamal Brown(13.0), Adam Kelly(10.6), Adam Wall(8.3)
Rebounds: Adam Kelly(6.6), Bill Daniels(4.6), Jamal Brown(4.2)
Assists: Aubrey Bullock(3.0), Adam Wall(1.8), Bob King(1.7)
Steals: Adam Kelly(1.0), Jamal Brown(0.9), Adam Wall(0.8)
Blocks: Jamal Brown(0.8), Adam Wall(0.5), Bill Daniels(0.3)

The theme this year was losing winnable or nearly won games for the Mercer Bears. If they’d won even half of those close contests, they would have had 17 or 18 wins and we’d be talking here about what a great job Steve Stahl did in his first season here. As it is, it was still better than most seasons(the last time the Bears finished above .500 in the conference was 1959) and still enough to pass both of the season’s goals: staying out of last place and winning at least 10 games. The school board was quite pleased with this. Jamal Brown’s season was good enough to earn him 2nd Team All-Atlantic Sun honors.

With the entire starting frontcourt(Adam Kelly, Adam Wall, and Bill Daniels) graduating, it will be difficult to build on this success next year. Coach Stahl was pleased to see the team hold a +1.6 rebounding edge over their opponents this year, but as expected point guard was the weakest position, displaying itself with a -3.1 turnover margin. Particularly with rebounding expected to suffer next year, that will need to improve.

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

PF Phillip Frederick(JC, 6-7, 228, GA, #119)
SG Mate Ramage(6-4, 192, GA, #813)
PF Lionel Louis(6-6, 224, GA, #1403)
SF Brent Calvert(6-8, 224, GA, #1404)
SF Justin McCasland(6-7, 241, KY, #1769)

Reputation: 12(+1)
Contract: 2 years, $61,000
Job Security: 12(+2)
Goals: Don’t finish last, Win 10+ games

Team Prestige: 14(no change)
Conference Prestige: 16(no change)
Facilities: C-
Recruiting Budget: $187,700

The word on the Mercer Bears is that they will finish 8th in the Atlantic Sun, and the reason for this is the team is basically senior guard Jamal Brown(13.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 53.6% fg). Brown almost never takes a bad shot, and is fine player to build a team around. But there’s really just him and role players, nobody else ready to take the load. There’s nobody who can do what the now-graduated senior frontcourt did last year. Senior Scott Conrad(4.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg in 22.4 min) is the only returning big man of any consequence.

Given that situation, it will be a pair of freshman starting at forward: Brent Calvert and Justin McCasland. They aren’t incapable, but will definitely be overmatched against most opposing starters. There are a lot of forwards on this team who fit that bill, and almost none of them have significant playing time on the collegiate level. Roster shuffling is a significant likelihood here. JC transfer Phillip Frederick will see significant time off the bench to begin the year.

Because of the logjam at forward, freshman Lionel Louis will redshirt. He’s about as good as any of the others, but there aren’t enough minutes for everyone. Joining him will be the extremely raw freshman guard Mate Ramage. All of the new players have the potential to be solid contributors, which makes Steve Stahl very optimistic about the future – and very busy helping each develop their skills. As for the present, that 8th-place finish might actually be optimistic.

There’s only two scholarships to fill, and the first has gone to guard Tyler Criddle(6-3, 213, GA, 3.3 GPA, #1027). Mercer thinks he’s better than that, and his ranking has dipped each month. Criddle can score from the outside, defend, and handle the ball well, with few real weaknesses. Not a projected star, but definitely a very solid player.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

Final Record: 14-15(8-10), 193 RPI

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Kevin Hallbauer(14.3), Tre Roe(10.3), Brendon Tucker(7.9)
Rebounds: Brendon Tucker(5.8), Tre Roe(5.0), Kevin Hallbauer(3.9)
Assists: Rashif Merton(3.8), Jason Gresham(2.8), Kevin Hallbauer(2.0)
Steals: Kevin Hallbauer(1.1), Jason Barlow(0.7), Ricky Brown(0.7)
Blocks: Kevin Hallbauer(0.3), Jason Gresham(0.3), Ricky Brown(0.2)

Thanks to unexpected production from the young frontcourt, MVS beat almost everyone’s expectations this year. Except for the board, which wanted a Top 3 SWAC finish from a team most expected to finish dead last. They weren’t upset with the results, but are expecting more next year from a team that loses only Rashif Merton, who missed the conference season entirely, and team MVP and 2nd team All-SWAC performer Kevin Hallbauer. The frontcourt remains intact, and four starters will return as well as the entire bench.

Reputation: 12(+1)
Contract: 3 years, $84,000
Job Security: 10(no change)
Goals: Finish in SWAC Top 3

Team Prestige: 5(-2)
Conference Prestige: 25(-1)
Facilities: C+
Recruiting Budget: $100,328

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

SF Matt Guy(6-7, 227, MS, #240)
PF Jeremy Young(6-6, 229, MS, #966)
SG Lydell Jones(6-0, 178, MS, #1486)
PG Criag Sarpy(6-1, 183, MS, #1749)

One open scholarship was not filled.

Once again, Mississippi Valley State has been picked dead last. Once again it appears a good choice. The frontcourt is back, and we’ll find out if they overachieved last year. Sophomore forwards Jason Barlow and Tre Roe along with junior center Brendon Tucker, and senior Jason Gresham returns at point guard.

The big question is at off guard, where freshman Lydell Jones steps in, due partly to a plethora of extremely limited backcourt players and partly due to the fact that he’s shown far more promise than anyone expected. Perhaps the Delta Devils have found a new star. Another newcomer, forward Matt Guy, could challenge for a starting role after a while – he also has very good potential. The other three freshmen however appear to be duds: guard Criag Sarpy and forwards Lee Searcy and Jeremy Young have shown nothing to indicate that they are or even can become serious contributors.

Three new recruits have already announced their verbals:

C Josh Cravens(6-11, 282, MS, 2.9 GPA, #93). Cravens has many weaknesses, but does one thing very well: score in the paint. He’s a fine catch for coach Foster, and is expected to provide a serious offensive threat in the post.

SG Nate Spann(6-1, 208, MS, 2.4 GPA, #611). Spann is an athletic player who can defend, pass, and score: MVS thinks he’s significantly better than his ranking would indicate. If they’re right, he’ll have an immediate impact.

SF Jason Singletary(6-7, 202, MS, 2.8 GPA, #1002). Singletary is another athletic player should provide a good amount of scoring punch, though his shot selection is very questionable, and he’s clearly not in the class of the other two recruits. A solid player, but not overly impressive.

Brian Swartz · 02-05-2008, 12:11 PM

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

Final Record: 11-18(4-12), 241 RPI

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Shahar Brown(15.3), Hilton Hogue(8.0), Kevin Young(7.7)
Rebounds: Hilton Hogue(6.3), Shahar Brown(5.7), Jamaal Winston(5.1)
Assists: Kevin Young(3.2), Todd Henson(2.6), Antonio Banks(2.2)
Steals: Shahar Brown(0.9), Jamaal Winston(0.9), Hilton Hogue(0.8)
Blocks: Todd Henson(0.6), Hilton Hogue(0.5), Jamaal Winston(0.4)

Hogue is the only graduating senior, which bodes well for next year if the young players improve. A big question is Shahar Brown’s confidence, as he had a number of horrific games in the conference season. Brown was named to the All-Southland first team. A large part of that was only partially his fault however – the Roadrunners were a miserable passing team, committing 4.8 more turnovers than they forced.

That was a big reason why they were dead last in scoring(61.0 ppg) in the Southland, and will have to change for them to be competitive.
The board wanted a conference title, something the school has never achieved, and the Roadrunners didn’t come close in 1965. They expect improvement next year, but seem to be understanding of the obstacles Coach Cattley faced and don’t hold this year’s failure against him too much.

Reputation: 12(no change)
Contract: 3 years, $63,000
Job Security: 10(no change)
Goals: Don’t finish last

Team Prestige: 10(-2)
Conference Prestige: 31(no change)
Facilities: D-
Recruiting Budget: $53,650

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

PF John Merfeld(JC, 6-8, 212, TX, #226)
PG Mike Boozer(6-0, 195, TX, #1109)
PG Brian Simmons(6-5, 186, TX, #1144)
PF Jerome Layne(JC, 6-6, 192, KS, #1782)

One scholarship wasn’t filled.

Texas-San Antonio has been projected 5th in the Southland, just above average. The key will be improved guard play, which they should get with everybody returning. Senior Todd Henson(6.4 ppg, 2.6 apg, 3.3 rpg) and junior Kevin Young(7.7 ppg, 3.2 apg, 4.1 rpg) will be pushed by sophomore Antonio Banks(4.4 ppg, 34.4% fg) if his shot proves to be more reliable than it was last year. Two of the freshman guards, Brian Simmons and Mike Boozer, show promise and will redshirt, though Boozer has been incredibly lazy in his practice habits and is unlikely to benefit much.

Shahar Brown returns as the team’s star after a fine sophomore season, but has not shown signs of improvement after averaging 15.2 ppg but shooting only 40% on the year. A lot depends on which guy shows up: the guy who was great pre-conference and in the Southland tournament, or the guy who shot less than 30% for most of the conference season. JC transfer Jerome Layne will start immediately at forward alongside last year’s sixth man, junior Scott Johnson(4.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 57.5% fg).

Despite having a ton of them already, a point guard was the top recruiting target: local diminutive athletic Tony Ramage. They'll be seeing him for the next four years, but only twice a year as he spurned Texas-San Antonio to play for Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin.

There have been some quality signings however for the Roadrunners:

PF Julius Garnett(6-8, 214, TX, 2.3 GPA, #199) – Garnett has bounced around from 200 to 1000 in the rankings, and probably should be somewhere in the middle of that range. An athletic player, his strengths are a mid-range game on offense and good defensive skills. He’s not much of an inside prescence, and free-throw shooting and turnovers are weaknesses.

SF Steve Warren(6-6, 242, TX, 2.6 GPA, #424) – Another athletic forward who scores well primarily from the perimeter, Warren is also a good rebounder, though not as good as Garnett defensively.

C Tyrone Lane(6-11, 253, TX, 2.2 GPA, #563, JC) – Lane gives an inside prescence on both ends, capable of scoring in the paint and providing rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. He has very little athletic ability though, and turnovers are a concern here as well.

Brian Swartz · 02-07-2008, 01:55 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

11.15 Georgia State(0-0) @ CSU Bakersfield(0-0) – W 84-73
11.18 CSU Bakersfield(1-0) @ UMKC(0-1) – W 80-67
11.22 CSU Bakersfield(2-0) @ Wyoming(0-1) – L 83-79
11.25 CSU Bakersfield(2-1) @ #25 Louisiana-Lafayette(2-2) – L 83-69

A great opening game for the Roadrunners. A comeback win at home, and if the Bo Green(23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks) and Joe Hall(15 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds) scoring tandem plays this well together often, there will be many more victories to come for CSU Bakersfield.

After the opener, Joe Hall has quickly made this his team, attempting at least 16 shots a game since then and averaging 17.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 2.5 apg, shooting 40.3% from the field. Bo Green has become the second option(12.3 ppg), and junior center Jason Jenkins has earned the starting spot away from David Watkins with his consistently good shot selection and rebounding.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

11.14 Cal-Davis(0-0) @ Winthrop(1-0) – L 81-51
11.17 Georgia State(0-1) @ Cal-Davis(0-1) – W 75-71
11.21 Arkansas-Little Rock(0-0) @ Cal-Davis(1-1) – W 77-49
11.24 Eastern Kentucky(2-1) @ Cal-Davis(2-1) – L 72-69

The first half against Georgia State was the best game of Ricardo Smith’s career(20 points, 8 rebounds), and the Aggies bounced back strong after a crushing loss to open the season, barely surviving after allowing 48 second-half points.

As for the who scores question, Smith is the early answer. He’s been on a tear so far, averaging 17.3 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. Robert Collins(11.3 ppg) and senior forward David Scott(9.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.0 apg) are giving the Aggies much better balance than they had last season. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Correy Collison has been playing better than expected, and may be starting soon if it continues.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

11.16 Arkansas-Pine Bluff(0-0) @ Mercer(0-0) – L 75-70
11.19 VA Commonwealth(1-0) @ Mercer(0-1) – W 80-61
11.23 Mercer(1-1) @ Centenary(1-1) – L 64-56
11.26 Mercer(1-2) @ Prairie View A&M(0-2) – W 78-70

A major strategic change for the Bears this year, as they will have a much more freestyle look on offense. With two starting freshmen, coach Steve Stahl felt it was a necessity to give them a chance to succeed on that end of the floor, as opposed to a more regimented approach with last year’s senior frontcourt. They had bigger problems to begin with in the season opener, as the visiting Golden Lions hit on 15 of their first 16 shots to take a commanding lead early, one which they never lost despite a furious Mercer comeback.

As for the freshmen, well … they can play it looks like. While Jamal Brown was suffering through a 3/11 performance(6 points), Brent Calvert led the team with 17 points, and Justin McCasland scored 12 with three assists and three boards, shooting a perfect 5 of 5 from the floor. If there had been any semblance of defense(ARPB shot 61% on the night), this would probably have been one in the win column.
The win against Prairie View was a masterpiece of team balance: Scott Conrad had a double-double with 11 points and 13 boards, and all five starters plus Art White scored in double figures. Perhaps more importantly, it was a tie game with two minutes left, and this time the Bears executed exceptionally down the stretch to get the win, a sharp contrast to their typical performance in such situations last year.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

11.14 Mississippi Valley State(0-0) @ Stephen F. Austin(0-1) – L 85-68
11.17 Mississippi Valley State(0-1) @ La Salle(1-0) – W 85-74
11.21 Mississippi Valley State(1-1) @ Montana(2-0) – L 73-64
11.24 Buffalo(2-1) @ Missisippi Valley State(2-1) – L 72-61

Anyone wondering whether freshman Lydell Jones could really be as important to MVS as we’ve heard got their answer right away. In his first game, Jones led the team with 16 points, but shot just 2 of 12 from 3-point range. Unfortunately the hosts played a near-perfect game with just five turnovers and were +20 in free-throw attempts, but there’s no question Lydell will be a big factor – and that he needs to harness his game if he really wants to excel.

He’ll have plenty of time to think about it after breaking his shooting wrist early in the second half of the team’s first win against La Salle. Sophomore Brett White, who came on to score 19 points in 24 minutes, leading the Delta Devils to the victory, will replace him in the starting lineup. Lydell Jones is expected to be out until late December, and had already scored 16 in the game in as many minutes(5-15 fg).
While Jones is out, White(10.8 ppg) and Tre Roe(10.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) will share the scoring load, but they’ve struggled to score the last couple games and there’s no real encouraging signs that will change until he returns.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

11.16 Texas-San Antonio(0-0) @ Northeastern(0-0) – L 67-58
11.19 Vermont(0-1) @ Texas-San Antonio(0-1) – W 80-71
11.23 Texas-San Antonio(1-1) @ Fresno State(0-1) – L 74-66
11.26 Pacific(2-1) @ Texas-San Antonio(1-2) – W 82-76(OT)

The season opener showed two things primarily: JC transfer Jerome Layne can play, and the Roadrunners have not lost any perfection of the art of the turnover(5 in the first six minutes). As for Layne, he had a very solid first game: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists. Well done. Unfortunately for Northeastern, that was just the FIRST HALF! Fortunately for the hosts, however, TXSA fell apart after the break, turning a tie game into a clear loss. Layne didn’t score in the second half, but did finish with a game-high 12 rebounds, while Shahar Brown got his year off to a great start with 22 points and five rebounds.

Kevin Young’s streaky nature was also on display again, as he shot 2-11 in the opener only to hit four of his first five next time out against Vermont, scoring nine in the first few minutes to pace the team to an early lead. He finished with 23 and sealed the game in the final minute.

The Pacific game was a barnburner. After a barrage by Shahar Brown(31 points, 7 rebounds, 13-19 fg) gave the Roadrunners a solid second-half lead, the Tigers came back to even the game in the final two minutes. Both teams made big shots late, then each coughed it up on their final possessions before overtime. The extra session was all Texas-San Antonio though. 25 turnovers almost gave it away, but shooting 61% from the floor was just enough to overcome that.

Texas-San Antonio has gotten a great start from the frontcourt, which looks to be definitely improved over last year. Shahar Brown leads the way of course(20.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.8 spg), but Scott Johnson(13.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Jerome Layne(10.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.0 apg) have also played well. Senior guard Kevin Young makes it four starters in double figures at 10.3 ppg along with 6.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He’s playing so well, in fact, that he’s moving over to the point despite his scorer’s mentality, as they’ve gotten nothing there to speak of from Todd Henson or Antonio Banks. Turnovers and rebounding are the team’s twin weaknesses, and are holding them back despite the impressive balance and Brown’s fast start.

Brian Swartz · 02-09-2008, 12:13 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

11.29 McNeese State(1-2) @ CSU Bakersfield(2-2) – W 75-59
12.2 CSU Bakersfield(3-2) @ Buffalo(4-1) – L 78-73
12.6 Jackson State(1-4) @ CSU Bakersfield(3-3) – L 75-47

Back home the two-game skid was ended emphatically, with Hall once again showing the way with his best game so far: 23 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. CSU Bakersfield is making a habit of pounding the offensive glass, making up for the fact that their offense is not as efficient as last year. In his first start, Jason Jenkins had nine rebounds, six of them offensive, and 22 offensive boards for the team.

The next game was even more stunning. It looked ugly with a capital U early on, as the Bulls took a 16-2 lead with Hall missing his first five shots. He didn’t miss often after that, including a three-pointer that cut the Buffalo lead to one for the third time with 1:19 left in the game, but it wasn’t quite enough to get the win: the slow start proved just too much to overtime. Hall’s line for the game: 36 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 5 turnovers. Three of the turnovers were in the brutal early start, but for the balance of the game he had two and hit 15 of his last 21 shots(15-26 overall). Jenkins added 14 rebounds.

Only Brad Greene in Roadrunners history has scored more in a game(43 against Indiana in 1941 and several games in the high 30s). Pretty good company for a guy playing his sixth collegiate outing. It came crashing down with another loss against Jackson State though, by far the team’s worst offensive output under Ralph Perry. Hall was no hero himself, scoring only 10 points on 5-20 shooting, and the rest of the team fared little better at less than 33% on the day, including 0 for 9 from 3-point range.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

11.28 Cal-Davis(2-2) @ Long Island(2-1) – L 79-62
11.31 Cal-Davis(2-3) @ Wyoming(3-1) – W 66-63
12.5 Cal-Davis(3-3) @ FIU(1-5) – W 83-74
12.8 Gardner-Webb(3-4) @ Cal-Davis(4-3) – L 64-59

After getting blown out in their first two road contests, Cal-Davis got a huge win against a Wyoming team off to a fast start, overcoming 20 turnovers by holding them to 35% shooting from the field. The defensive focus is starting to catch hold here.

Any home loss hurts, but the one to the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs was costly in more ways than one. Early in the first half, Robert Collins was lost with a toe injury for about two weeks, and without him the offense really bogged down. Ricardo Smith also fouled out, in just 12 scoreless minutes, and so the Aggies effectively played without their two best players, and for most of the game they looked like it.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

11.30 Cal St. Fullerton(2-2) @ Mercer(2-2) – W 69-58
12.3 George Washington(2-3) @ Mercer(3-2) – W 69-60
12.7 Mercer(4-2) @ Charlotte(4-2) – L 70-66
12.10 Mercer(4-3) @ Fairleigh-Dickinson(5-0) – W 72-66

Junior point guard Aubrey Bullock has continued to improve and has been a pleasant surprise so far. Against GW, he had a fine all-around game, scoring 16 points with 8 rebounds and 6 assists, performing the impressive feat of leading the team in all three categories. Then the turnover bug struck again(18-7, -11) against the 49ers, and the Bears couldn’t quite get over the hump in what would have been a big road win, but made up for it next the game.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

11.28 Michigan State(1-3) @ Mississippi Valley State(1-3) – W 86-68
11.31 San Diego State(1-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(2-3) – W 80-58
12.5 Lipscomb(0-6) @ Mississippi Valley State(3-3) – W 87-77

Freshman guard Criag Sarpy made his first waves in a runaway win over the Aztecs, scoring 15 points off the bench and showing solid decision-making as well. The Delta Devils had 22 assists, and are quickly showing they can score just fine without Lydell Jones, thank you.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

11.30 Texas-San Antonio(2-2) @ Loyola-Chicago(3-1) – W 71-59
12.3 Northern Arizona(2-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(3-2) – W 69-67
12.7 Texas-San Antonio(4-2) @ UMBC(0-6) – L 62-58
12.10 Sacred Heart(1-5) @ Texas-San Antonio(4-3) – W 77-62

Jerome Layne got to play hero against Northern Arizona, hitting a game-winning jumper from the right wing with nine seconds left as Texas-San Antonio barely avoided disaster after blowing a double-digit lead in the second half. Layne had only two points on 1-4 fg prior to that last possession.

Next against UMBC, the Roadrunners laid a total egg, falling behind by 15 points in the first half to the winless Retrievers, only to take a double-digit second-half lead after a huge comeback … and then completely fall apart down the stretch, ending the game as victims of a 12-0 run over the last four minutes to blow a game they should have won easily.

Brian Swartz · 02-11-2008, 09:48 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

12.13 CSU Bakersfield(3-4) @ Missouri(5-3) – L 80-68
12.20 CSU Bakersfield(3-5) @ Delaware State(4-5) – W 85-57

INDEPENDENTS STANDINGS
Utah Valley State(6-3, 101)
CSU Bakersfield(4-5, 125)
Presbyterian(5-4, 162)
TX Pan American(5-4, 210)
Savannah State(4-5, 229)
Chicago State(4-5, 265)
Winston Salem State(4-5, 278)
NJIT(2-7, 315)
Longwood(1-8, 332)
North Carolina Central(3-6, 336)

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Joe Hall(20.4), Donald Young(10.0), Bo Green(8.8)
Rebounds: Joe Hall(4.2), Jason Jenkins(4.2), Donald Young(3.1)
Assists: Ryan Nunn(4.0), Joe Hall(2.3), Scott Wilson(1.6)
Steals: Bo Green(0.8), Joe Hall(0.6), Ryan Nunn(0.6)
Blocks: Bo Green(1.3), Joe Hall(1.1), David Watkins(0.7)

Joe Hall has really found his shooting stroke of late, and is up to 45.6% on the year. His current scoring pace would give him 552 points for the season if he can sustain it, which would place it as the 5th-best in school history, behind only Brad Greene’s 1941-1944 seasons. However, Bo Green(39.7%) and Ryan Nunn(31.3%, 3.6 topg) have been offensively speaking disappointments so far, and the Roadrunners as a whole are well off the pace of their shooting last season at this point with the same record. They have played a tougher schedule, and had a chance to win three of the losses in the final minutes, but still at times they seem far too content to simply watch Hall try to lead them to victory instead of last year’s more team-oriented effort. Utah Valley State is two games ahead of CSU Bakersfield, and poised to repeat as the top team in the independents.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

12.12 Sacred Heart(1-6) @ Cal-Davis(4-4) – W 62-54
12.15 Cal-Davis(5-4) @ Evansville(4-3) – L 82-56
12.19 Cal-Davis(5-5) @ New Mexico(3-8) – L 58-55

The first two were played without Robert Collins, and the Aggies shot 31% in the game they won. The game against the Aces was – well, let’s just say they didn’t win any meaningful stat category. There’s no need to discuss that debacle again. Ever. For any reason. Period.

The next one against New Mexico hurt even worse. Leading at the end of the game after a tough battle, having played well most of the way, the Aggies committed three turnovers in the final minute and a half, leading to six points and effectively handing the game over, including one on the final possession when they trailed only 56-55 with 11 seconds left.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Cal-Santa Barbara(8-3, 20)
Cal St. Fullerton(8-3, 46)
Cal-Irvine(6-5, 107)
Cal Poly(6-5, 143)
Pacific(6-5, 145)
Long Beach State(6-5, 209)
Cal St. Northridge(5-6, 294)
Cal-Davis(5-6, 304)
Cal-Riverside(4-7, 313)

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Ricardo Smith(14.6), Robert Collins(8.5), David Scott(7.3)
Rebounds: Ricardo Smith(3.4), Ryan Coon(3.3), David Scott(3.0)
Assists: Correy Collison(2.7), John Waldon(2.5), Robert Collins(1.9)
Steals: Robert Collins(1.1), David Scott(0.8), Derek Davis(0.7)
Blocks: Robert Collins(0.9), Isaac Hale(0.5), Ryan Coon(0.5)

Collins is healthy again for the start of the Big West season, but the Aggies rebounding troubles are obvious and aren’t going to fixed much by his return. They are -0.8 rebounds a game, and -3.1 turnovers a game so far, committing 16, the most in the conference. That will need to change, and after weighing things for a while Coach Grant is pulling freshman John Waldon from the starting lineup. Sophomore Correy Collison will replace him, and there’s hope that this will improve the team, though marginally, on both ends of the court: Collison isn’t a great defender or floor general, but he turns it over a bit less than Waldon, who has been the team’s weakest defensive performer so far. This could be a multi-year change, as unless a talented young point guard is brought in, the winner of this battle will probably run the team for a couple years into the future.

Ricardo Smith has more than doubled last year’s scoring average so far(7.1 to 14.6). With the top three scorers all graduating at the end of the year, this conference season is critical for Denny Grant. They’ve got to perform at least respectably, or he may not be given enough time to develop the young players that are coming in.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

12.14 Mercer(5-3) @ Arizona State(3-4) – L 55-40
12.17 Mercer(5-4) @ North Carolina State(3-5) – L 75-67
12.21 Southern Utah(5-3) @ Mercer(5-5) – W 76-65

The ASU game was the first time Mercer has been clearly outclassed this season: they’ve had a shot to win all of the others fairly late in the contest. It was Jamal Brown’s worst game of his career, as he played only 15 minutes and was scoreless, missing all four attempts from the field. Only Scott Conrad(12 points, 6 rebounds) was effective.

ATLANTIC SUN STANDINGS

Belmont(6-5, 58)
Mercer(6-5, 96)
East Tennessee State(5-6, 129)
Campbell(6-5, 155)
SC Upstate(6-5, 181)
Kennesaw State(5-6, 185)
North Florida(5-6, 195)
Gardner-Webb(4-7, 196)
Jacksonville(4-7, 205)
Florida Gulf Coast(3-8, 319)
Stetson(1-10, 329)
Lipscomb(1-10, 331)

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Jamal Brown(14.4), Scott Conrad(11.6), Aubrey Bullock(8.8)
Rebounds: Scott Conrad(6.4), Brent Calvert(4.9), Jamal Brown(4.5)
Assists: Aubrey Bullock(4.1), Art White(2.1), Scott Conrad(1.6)
Steals: Brent Calvert(1.1), Bob King(0.7), Jamal Brown(0.7)
Blocks: Brent Calvert(1.2), Jamal Brown(1.0), Dean Jeffries(0.2)

Mercer appears poised to do better than the 8th-place finish predicted: I’d be surprised if they don’t stay in the top half of the conference. They did get one bit of bad news, as junior backup point guard Art White being named academically ineligible, but there are other players who can fill that void, and White wasn’t a major contributor. Jamal Brown is doing his usual thing, though shooting a bit worse at 46%, he’s come on lately. The big men are the surprises. Senior Scott Conrad has been better than expected, and among the freshmen forward Brent Calvert has clearly been the best, probably the third-best player on the team behind Brown and Conrad.

Calvert would be the odds-on favorite as next year’s MVP if you asked me today. He does a little bit of everything(7.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.2 bpg), and doesn’t take too many bad shots, shooting 50.8% on the year and a respectable 73% from the free-throw line. At the other forward, freshman Justin McCasland has been decent but inconsistent, and his audition is over. He’s being replaced by junior Andy Rushing, who averaged 10 minutes a game last year and has dramatically improved his rebounding and defense in very limited time this season. McCasland will still see time as the team’s sixth man, and he’ll have a chance to earn back the starting job next year, but Rushing’s experience and consistency could be key to the Bears breaking through for a strong conference run.
The bench overall has been an improvement for Mercer, as there are several players, most of them young, who can contribute a little bit of this or that from time to time. Unlike last year, the team is winning the turnover battle as often as they are losing it. Aside from a rough schedule, their biggest problem has been abysmal shot-selection: the Bears are shooting a conference-worst 26.1% from 3-point range. There isn’t a good 3-point shooter on the team, and some of the young players particularly off the bench like to jack them up much more than they should.

Brian Swartz · 02-11-2008, 09:50 PM

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

12.12 Mississippi Valley State(4-3) @ Georgetown(3-4) – L 72-55
12.19 Columbia(7-3) @ Mississippi Valley State(4-4) – L 73-58

SWAC STANDINGS

Alabama A&M(6-3, 43)
Jackson State(4-5, 50)
Alcorn State(6-3, 67)
Grambling(4-5, 161)
Texas Southern(5-4, 173)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff(4-5, 191)
Alabama State(3-6, 216)
Mississippi Valley State(4-5, 244)
Prairie View A&M(4-5, 325)
Southern(2-7, 333)

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Lydell Jones(16.0), Tre Roe(10.6), Brett White(9.6)
Rebounds: Tre Roe(5.4), Brendon Tucker(4.4), Jason Barlow(3.8)
Assists: Jason Gresham(3.8), Andre Chenowith(3.1), Jason Barlow(1.3)
Steals: Brett White(1.2), Brendon Tucker(1.1), Jason Barlow(0.7)
Blocks: Anwar Kliewer(1.0), Brett White(0.7), Jason Gresham(0.6)

It’s an interesting situation for Lydell Jones, to say the least. He’s played a total of 40 minutes of collegiate basketball, and now fully recovered from his broken wrist, he’s expected to step back in and lead MVS through the SWAC season. They’ll be up against it more often than not, having performed only adequately against a pretty easy non-conference slate other than the last couple of games.

While the frontcourt continues to play well as a whole, one interesting player to watch is freshman guard Criag Sarpy. He wasn’t highly regarded at all coming in(#1749), but has shot extremely well off the bench(52.4%, 6.9 ppg in 11.6 mpg) and played excellent defense, though he also has a turnover problem. Sarpy creates a dilemma for coach Avery Foster, as with Jones coming back into the lineup, he’s got to bench a guard who has been playing well. Sophomore Brett White has played well as a starter, as the team’s second option offensively just behind Tre Roe, shooting a respectable percentage, and a solid defender though not as good as Sarpy. Meanwhile, senior Andre Chenowith has been the team’s best rebounding guard despite standing only 5-10, a very productive distributor, and a decent defender in his own right.

In the end, Brett White tumbles all the way from the starting lineup to basically little more than a garbage-time guard, and not through any fault of his own – the other two are just too good a combo off the bench, Chenowith setting the table and Sarpy the sharpshooter and defender. It’s a great problem for any coach to have.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

12.14 Santa Clara(2-6) @ Texas-San Antonio(5-3) – L 82-75(OT)
12.17 Rhode Island(4-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(5-4) – L 77-70(OT)
12.21 Texas-San Antonio(5-5) @ Dayton(1-8) – W 75-73

After a rash of late-game turnovers surrendered the lead, Kevin Young hit a three to tie it in the final minute, then blocked the final attempt by Rhode Island to send the Roadrunners to a second straight overtime, the team’s third of the season already in only ten games. For the second game in a row though, they came up short in the extra period. Three losses that all probably should have been won and all certainly could have been in the last four games, and there are rumblings of last year’s mid-season frustrations setting in.

The Dayton Flyers almost provided an incredible third straight overtime, and led the entire game except the final 18 seconds, when Shahar Brown’s turnaround in the lane put the Roadrunners on top for the first time. Dayton guard Walter Dove missed a three at the end, and their miserable season continues.

SOUTHLAND STANDINGS

TX Corpus Christi(9-2, 16)
Stephen F. Austin(7-4, 42)
Texas State(6-5, 87)
Nicholls State(8-3, 95)
Northwestern State(6-5, 186)
Lamar(2-9, 192)
SE Louisiana(6-5, 216)
Texas-Arlington(6-5, 260)
McNeese State(3-8, 273)
Texas-San Antonio(6-5, 274)
Sam Houston State(4-7, 323)
Central Arkansas(4-7, 326)

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Shahar Brown(18.5), Kevin Young(11.7), Scott Johnson(11.1)
Rebounds: Jerome Layne(7.7), Shahar Brown(7.3), Scott Johnson(5.6)
Assists: Kevin Young(5.0), Todd Henson(3.2), Jerome Layne(2.1)
Steals: Shahar Brown(1.3), Todd Henson(0.9), Kevin Young(0.9)
Blocks: Kevin Young(0.8), Jerome Layne(0.6), Todd Henson(0.5)

Compared to last season, TXSA has increased balance, both in scoring and rebounding, but significant weaknesses remain. They could easily be 8-3 or even 9-2 at this point, but the schedule has been quite weak. That will not be the case now with four Southland opponents in the Top 100 RPI, including the TX Corpus Christi Islanders who by far the highest-ranking team in the RPI without a national rank, and are undefeated at home.

The Roadrunners have allowed 70 points a game so far on 44.2% shooting, while committing a conference-high 16.4 turnovers, a -2.0 margin. The turnovers have been dropping somewhat since Kevin Young took over at the point, but the defense will need to continue improving. Perhaps most importantly, have the ghosts of Shahar Brown’s horrific conference season been exorcised? Last year at this time, he was putting up 17.1 ppg on 45.3% shooting: this year, 18.5 ppg on 44.7% shooting. His rebounds, assists, and steals are up, with turnovers down. If he can keep it going consistently this year, a winning record in the Southland is achievable with a huge gap between the top four teams and the rest of the league.

Brian Swartz · 02-13-2008, 12:14 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

12.27 Chicago State(4-5) @ CSU Bakersfield(4-5) – W 88-72
12.30 CSU Bakersfield(5-5) @ NJIT(3-7) – W 77-57
1.3 Savannah State(5-6) @ CSU Bakersfield(6-5) – W 77-62
1.6 CSU Bakersfield(7-5) @ Longwood(3-9) – W 75-58

The Roadrunners have gotten off to a curious pattern. Ryan Nunn and Donald Young miss shots early, then Joe Hall takes over for a few possessions, missing most of his. CSU Bakersfield falls behind, Hall goes to the bench. The reserves play the opposing team even. Hall comes back in, goes on a tear, and they take the lead, usually for good. A nervewracking situation for coach Perry to be sure, but a far worse condition for their opponents is this: they haven’t been seriously threatened for an entire game yet in their first batch of games against fellow independents, and Bo Green appears to have rediscovered his jumper.

The bad news for CSU Bakersfield is that senior starting point guard Ryan Nunn will be out the next two weeks with a sprained finger. The timing is awful, with the tougher part of the schedule coming up. Sophomore Scott Wilson will replace him in the lineup.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

12.26 Cal-Irvine(6-5, 0-0) @ Cal-Davis(5-6, 0-0) – W 70-57
12.29 Cal-Davis(6-6, 1-0) @ Cal St. Fullerton(8-4, 0-1) – L 67-47
1.2 Cal-Santa Barbara(8-5, 0-2) @ Cal-Davis(6-7, 1-1) – L 72-69
1.5 Cal-Davis(6-8, 1-2) @ Cal-Poly(7-6, 1-1) – L 74-62

After splitting the first two, the third game was one that had all the appearance of a game of destiny. The Cal-Santa Barbara Gauchos were among the Big West favorites, yet had inexplicably dropped their first two games. Cal-Davis played well most of the game, and had a small lead with about six minutes left when the bottom fell out. They allowed eight of 12 offensive rebounds in those final minutes, began an inexplicable rash of turnovers, and yet still had chances in the final two minutes.

Down one in the final minute, they allowed yet another offensive board after the Gauchos missed, and the deficit stretched to to 68-65 after the putback. Ricardo Smith had a chance for a three-point play with 27 seconds left … but he missed the free throw, and the Aggies had to foul. Correy Collison missed a final chance to tie at the buzzer, and a home loss that they just flat-out blew ensued, 72-69. It showed just how far this team has to go, despite being clearly improved over last year’s squad. Even though Smith(23 points) and Collins(17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) played well, they just couldn’t get it done.

The next game out against the Mustangs, the Aggies shot almost 60% on the road … and weren’t even close thanks to rebounding and 23 turnovers. It’s going south in a hurry here.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

12.31 North Florida(5-6, 0-0) @ Mercer(6-5, 0-0) – L 76-70
1.4 Mercer(6-6, 0-1) @ Belmont(7-5, 1-0) – L 73-60
1.7 Stetson(1-12, 0-2) @ Mercer(6-7, 0-2) – W 79-77

After a disappointing loss to start the A-Sun season off, the Bears got off to a fast start against the heavily favored Bruins, leading 17-6 early. And then they crumbled, to the tune of 22 turnovers, never leading after halftime.

Leading by as many as 25 early in the second half against the lowly Stetson Hatters, Mercer just plain stopped playing, and Stetson came all the way back to tie it, requiring a nice runner in the lane by Andy Rushing with four seconds left to get their first conference victory.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

12.26 Mississippi Valley State(4-5, 0-0) @ Alabama A&M(6-3, 0-0) – L 75-63
12.29 Arkansas-Pine Bluff(5-5, 1-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(4-6, 0-1) – W 75-66
1.2 Mississippi Valley State(5-6, 1-1) @ Alabama State(5-6, 2-0) – L 84-73
1.5 Grambling(7-5, 3-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(5-7, 1-2) – W 73-63

Winning at home, losing on the road, but there is reason for optimism after the last game against Grambling. It was tight until the very end, and Lydell Jones rose to the occasion with his best game to date(29 points on 11-24 fg, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals). With no-one else scoring in double figures, he carried the Delta Devils to the win to get back to .500 in the SWAC, and there will be more wins if he shoots as well in the future.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

12.31 Texas-Arlington(6-5, 0-0) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-5, 0-0) – L 83-65
1.4 Texas-San Antonio(6-6, 0-1) @ TX Corpus Christi(9-3, 0-1) – L 83-61
1.7 Texas-San Antonio(6-7, 0-2) @ Stephen F. Austin(8-5, 1-1) – L 68-45

Just a flat-out ugly start to the Southland season. Texas-San Antonio is struggling to score at times, but mostly they just can’t defend anybody. Another big problem is the total disappearance of Scott Johnson, who has scored just 14 points combined in the three games, including his first bagel of the season against SFA. He’s also only getting half the rebounds he was in the non-conference part of the schedule.

Brian Swartz · 02-15-2008, 10:46 AM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

1.10 TX Pan American(7-6) @ CSU Bakersfield(8-5) – W 81-63
1.13 CSU Bakersfield(9-5) @ Winston Salem State(6-8) – W 91-73
1.17 Utah Valley State(11-4) @ CSU Bakersfield(10-5) – L 82-76
1.20 CSU Bakersfield(10-6) @ Presbyterian(8-8) – W 76-67

It didn’t matter much that Nunn was out, at least for the first game he missed. Joe Hall and Donald Young combined for 21 points in the first eight minutes against TXPA, more than twice their TEAM’s total of ten points. Freshman Frank Watson came off the bench with three quick buckets to take advantadge of his more prominent role, and this one was over very quickly. Hall exceeded his season scoring average by the end of the first half. and was limited to 29 points and 9 boards only because the starters were pulled early.

The game against Utah Valley State was absolutely critical, and it was the last one Nunn would miss before returning from his injury. The rest of the independents were already in the rear-view mirror, and a win here would draw the two teams even in the standings. After leading comfortably most of the way, CSU Bakersfield surrendered the lead late in a stunning collapse they won’t soon forget. Joe Hall scored 22 with 6 rebounds but misfired on his last several attempts, while UVS freshman guard Michael Jackson went wild for 30 on 12-20 fg to bring them the win. The two teams will meet again near the end of the season, and the pressure is now on the Roadrunners to run the table until that meeting, which the Wolverines will host.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

1.9 Long Beach State(9-5, 3-0) @ Cal-Davis(6-9, 1-3) -- W 67-59
1.16 Cal-Davis(7-9, 2-3) @ Cal St. Northridge(6-11, 1-5) – L 76-65
1.19 Pacific(9-8, 3-3) @ Cal-Davis(7-10, 2-4) – W 78-64

A great win against the 49ers to snap a three-game losing streak, and the Aggies did most of the little things right, holding Long Beach State to 37% shooting and only committing 10 turnovers.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

1.11 SC Upstate(9-5, 3-0) @ Mercer(7-7, 1-2) – L 80-67
1.14 Mercer(7-8, 1-3) @ Lipscomb(4-11, 3-1) – L 83-72
1.18 Kennesaw State(6-10, 1-4) @ Mercer(7-9, 1-4) – W 75-65
1.21 Campbell(10-7, 4-2) @ Mercer(8-9, 2-4) – L 74-73

The defending Atlantic Sun champions remained unbeaten in the conference this year despite a herculean career-best effort from Jamal Brown, who scored 28 with 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and two blocked shots. Losing two of their first three home games in the conference has given the Bears a huge mountain to climb. After stopping the bleeding, they lost a heartbreaker against Campbell when Joseph Telly’s foul-line jumper at the buzzer sent them to defeat with a tough stretch of road games upcoming.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

1.9 Mississippi Valley State(6-7, 2-2) @ Texas Southern(6-7, 1-3) – W 90-64
1.12 Southern(4-10, 2-3) @ Mississippi Valley State(7-7, 3-2) – W 80-62
1.16 Mississippi Valley State(8-7, 4-2) @ Prairie View A&M(6-9, 2-4) – W 69-65
1.19 Mississippi Valley State(9-7, 5-2) @ Jackson State(10-6, 6-1) – L 73-56

A crushing first half against Texas Southern – Mississippi Valley State didn’t make a single turnover, and their hosts shot just 25% from the field. Jones went on a tear to start the second half(26 points on 10-18 fg for the game), and the lead soon reached 30 points. Extensive garbage time in this one, and with two straight impressive wins the Delta Devils looked on top of their game.

The winning streak reached five before they visited Jackson State Tigers, a game that showed early that while a 5-3 start to the conference season is nothing to be ashamed of, MVS is not in the same class as the SWAC’s best yet. JS jumped out quickly 18-4, as Lydell Jones missed his first six shots from the field. While the Devils cut the lead to 45-43 early in the second half, they soon ran out of gas, unable to sustain for an entire game the level of play required to compete with the Tigers. They turned it over 19 times, and only Jones(16 points) managed double-figure scoring.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

1.11 Sam Houston State(4-10, 0-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-8, 0-3) – L 82-67
1.14 Texas-San Antonio(6-9, 0-4) @ Texas State(9-6, 3-1) – L 66-58
1.18 Texas-San Antonio(6-10, 0-5) @ SE Louisiana(8-8, 2-3) – W 65-57
1.21 McNeese State(6-11, 3-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(7-10, 1-5) – W 73-51

If there’s a worse team defensively in the country than the Roadrunners, I’d like to know who it is. Shahar Brown scored 18 of his 25 in the first half of a battle of the remaining winless Southland teams, and all it did was keep it from being a blowout as they still trailed by 13. Sam Houston State shot 54% in the half, including 8-11 from 3-point range. The second half didn’t improve matters, and if things don’t change dramatically I don’t see how Texas-San Antonio will even win a single game in the conference.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The biggest problem the team has is their horrific 3-point defense: some of that goes with territory when you run the 2-3 zone of course, but a lot of Southland teams play zone, and only Lamar is worse in 3-point defense – Texas-San Antonio allows 38.1%. In the conference games it’s been much worse: 45-88, or 51.1%. More than 11 triples a game. There are no words for that level of turnstile-quality defense. Despite the team’s glut of guards, almost all of them are poor defenders, and it’s definitely shown.

Kevin Young is doing ok, but both Antonio Banks and Todd Henson have been absolute disasters. And there is no more time for patience. 6-4 sophomore Blake Land, who has a grand total of 54 minutes of collegiate playing time to his credit, has been promoted to the starting lineup. He’s the only player other than Young who has shown any ability whatsoever to defend on the perimeter, so Henson goes to the bench, and Banks will have his minutes cut as the fourth guard. He’s been a truly massive disappointment in his first year and a half.

It took only one half for Wattley to be sure it was the right move. Despite 13 turnovers, the team was tied, on the road, against a solid Texas State team shooting only 3-14 from 3-point range. The ball pressure was much better, and at least they now had a fighting chance. The Roadrunners still lost, but they made a game of it, and the loss was more due to the final element of Kevin Young’s perverse triple-double(13 points, 12 rebounds, 10 turnovers) than anything else. -17 in turnovers and they still had a shot at it. Blake Land had 10 points in his debut, and will remain in the starting lineup permanently.

It’s been nothing short of a breathtaking turnaround – the new lineup has had more impact than Coach Wattley could have possibly hoped for. Back-to-back wins now, and the team that flattened McNeese State bears no resemblance to the one on the floor for the first five conference games.

Brian Swartz · 02-17-2008, 11:48 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

1.24 North Carolina Central(4-13) @ CSU Bakersfield(11-6) – W 82-53
1.27 CSU Bakersfield(12-6) @ Chicago State(9-9) -- L 97-94(OT)
1.31 NJIT(8-11) @ CSU Bakersfield(12-7) – W 97-65
2.3 CSU Bakersfield(13-7) @ Savannah State(8-12) – W 85-66

After drubbing Chicago State by 16 earlier in the year, the second meeting was much more competitive. The Cougars had pushed Utah Valley State to overtime before losing by three earlier in the year, and after an explosive first half and a defensive last few minutes with lots of big runs on both sides, they were headed for another extra period at home trying to play spoiler. At 5-2 against the other independent teams, they were a stiff challenge, and this time they had better luck thanks to some late turnovers by the Roadrunners. Zack Molinari’s 40 points didn’t hurt either, or the fact that Joe Hall had an off night(8-26 fg, 24 points).

Worse yet, Ryan Nunn was knocked out for another two weeks during the loss, this time with a toe injury. This time junior Brandon Manning, ineligible until recently for a year and a half but playing well, has been given the starting assignment. In fact, he’s played so well that depending on how things go the next two weeks, he may not be returning to the bench at all.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

1.23 Cal-Davis(8-10, 3-4) @ Cal-Riverside(6-12, 2-5) – L 78-63
1.26 Cal-Davis(8-11, 3-5) @ Cal-Irvine(8-11, 2-6) – L 72-68
1.30 Cal St. Fullerton(13-7, 5-4) @ Cal-Davis(8-12, 3-6) – L 88-55
2.2 Cal-Davis(8-13, 3-7) @ Cal-Santa Barbara(15-6, 7-3) – L 60-49

The loss to the Cal-Irvine Anteaters was a great example of how dysfunctional Cal-Davis can be. They shot 56% from the field and did a decent job defensively and on the boards … but they still couldn’t win thanks to 24 turnovers. A career-best 19 points from Correy Collison was wasted. They’ve now lost four straight, despite some decent performances, and appear headed for another disappointing season. Best of all, Ricardo Smith will miss the next week and a half with a sprained toe.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

1.25 Mercer(8-10, 2-5) @ East Tennessee State(8-10, 3-4) – L 76-66
1.28 Mercer(8-11, 2-6) @ Florida Gulf Coast(6-13, 3-5) – L 59-43
2.1 Gardner-Webb(9-11, 5-4) @ Mercer(8-12, 2-7) – W 94-74
2.4 Mercer(9-12, 3-7) @ Jacksonville(10-11, 6-4) – L 74-72

A career night for both Jamal Brown(34 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) and Andy Rushing(15 points) paced the Bears to an easy romp over Gardner-Webb, but these kinds of games have been too few and far between. Case in point, the Bears scored eight more points in the first half(51) than they had in the entire miserable game against Florida Gulf Coast.

One game doesn’t mean much to a team that’s struggled like Mercer has recently, but they followed it up with a great effort on the road against Jacksonville. Trailing by a moderate margin most of the game, they never gave up and fought back to finally tie it on a drive by Rushing with 15 seconds to go. And then their demons appeared.

A foolish touch foul on the perimeter by Conrad gave the Dolphins a pair of free-throws to go ahead, and Aubrey Bullock’s pass to Brown for a potentially game-winning shot was stolen at the end. Other than Bullock, all four starters were in double figures, and it was Brent Calvert’s best game in weeks – the freshman scored 14, all in the first half – but it was all for nothing on this night.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

1.23 Alcorn State(10-7, 4-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(9-8, 5-3) – L 81-55
1.26 Alabama A&M(10-8, 4-5) @ Mississippi Valley State(9-9, 5-4) – L 73-57
1.30 Mississippi Valley State(9-10, 5-5) @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff(7-12, 3-7) – W 75-67
2.2 Alabama State(12-8, 9-2) @ Mississippi Valley State(10-10, 6-5) – L 84-62

I just can’t figure this team out. The offense sputters through two horrific home losses, then comes to life on the road. Overall though, it’s been an ugly picture with four losses in their last five games, and none of them particularly close.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

1.25 Northwestern State(11-7, 5-2) @ Texas-San Antonio(8-10, 2-5) – W 80-78
1.28 Texas-San Antonio(9-10, 3-5) @ Lamar(3-16, 1-7) – L 67-53
2.1 Nicholls State(12-8, 4-5) @ Texas-San Antonio(9-11, 3-6) – W 65-50
2.4 Texas-San Antonio(10-11, 4-6) @ Central Arkansas(7-14) – L 62-54

Shahar Brown got off to an incredible start against Northwestern State, outscoring them personally with 19 points in the first ten minutes, including hitting his first seven attempts from the field. Texas-San Antonio had a double-digit lead most of the game, but the Demons came back to tie the score with 6:18 left, just as Kevin Young was fouling out. Blake Land proved his mettle by driving for the go-ahead score with 54 seconds left, then scored again for insurance on the next possession. Land finished with ten points, while Brown had a career-high 37 to go with six rebounds. This wasn’t just any win either – Northwestern State was tied for the lead in the East Division, and scored 47 second-half points in a furious comeback, but Texas-San Antonio played impressively smart and physical, dominating the boards to beat a more highly-skilled opponent. Three straight wins for the Roadrunners, and Brown’s total was the third-highest in school history, topping his best of 34 against IUPUI last season.

Then Texas-San Antonio decided to take the first half off defensively against Lamar(48 points, 8-14 3-point fg), and a 20-point deficit was too much as the winning streak was broken against the Southland’s most inept team. There were more problems after the game. There have been periodic spats between redshirting freshman Brian Simmons and Scott Johnson all season long, but they really exploded tonight. The end result was a one-week suspension for both, and Simmons has shown no signs of being willing to change his tune. He could be a problem for a while. Senior Jamaal Winston took Johnson’s place in the starting lineup.

Brian Swartz · 02-20-2008, 04:50 PM

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

2.7 Longwood(8-13) @ CSU Bakersfield(14-7) – W 90-68
2.10 CSU Bakersfield(15-7) @ TX Pan American(12-10) – W 81-77
2.14 Winston-Salem State(10-13) @ CSU Bakersfield(16-7) – W 98-76
2.17 CSU Bakersfield(17-7) @ Utah Valley State(18-6) – L 97-75

A third straight decisive win came against Longwood, showing that the Roadrunners are back on track. Ryan Nunn was healthy for the next game, but remained on the bench thanks largely to Brandon Manning’s performance against the Lancers. The junior had 23 points, 7 assists, and three steals, leading the team in all three categories, and showing that he can help make the attack much more balanced. Hall was muted with only nine points, but only because he really wasn’t needed much. With Manning in the lineup, there are four of five starters capable of going for 20 on any given night, making this a very hard team to defend.

TX Pan American provided a tough test, but with Hall fouled out at the end Bo Green(24 points) and Donald Young made the big plays down the stretch to get the victory.

The rematch with Utah Valley State was as big a game as there can be for a couple of independent teams. If CSU Bakersfield could return the favor and beat the Wolverines on their home floor, the two would be tied and the Roadrunners would control their own destiny for at least a share of the best record. If they lost again, they’d be two games down with two to go and having been swept head-to-head.

Joe Hall missed seven of eight early, and UVS took a 13-7 lead out of the gate. It wasn’t just him though – nobody could hit a thing for the Roadrunners, and by halftime it was already horribly ugly, down 42-23 with no end in sight, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range. They picked up the shooting pace after that, but they couldn’t stop the Wolverines from scoring, and could never get close. The lopsided final left no doubt who the best team was. Hall finished with 21 points, while nobody else managed more than eight.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

2.6 Cal Poly(12-9, 6-4) @ Cal-Davis(8-14, 3-8) – L 74-57
2.9 Cal-Davis(8-15, 3-9) @ Long Beach State(14-8, 8-3) – L 69-52
2.16 Cal St. Northridge(9-16, 4-10) @ Cal-Davis(8-16, 3-10) – W 82-77

Barely squeaking by the fellow cellar-dweller Matadors in Smith’s first game back was hardly a major success, but at least it breaks a six-game skid and gives the Aggies a leg up on CSN in the race to avoid last place in the Big West.

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

2.8 Mercer(9-13, 3-8) @ North Florida(10-12, 5-6) – L 67-65
2.11 Belmont(13-10, 7-5) @ Mercer(9-14, 3-9) – W 60-42
2.15 Mercer(10-14, 4-9) @ Stetson(6-18, 5-8) – L 73-64
2.18 Mercer(10-15, 4-10) @ SC Upstate(18-7, 12-2) – L 70-53

Is the season over yet?

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

2.6 Mississippi Valley State(10-11, 6-6) @ Grambling(12-9, 8-4) – L 76-59
2.9 Texas Southern(8-14, 3-10) @ Mississippi Valley State(10-12, 6-7) – W 86-65
2.13 Mississippi Valley State(11-12, 7-7) @ Southern(7-16, 5-9) – W 72-59
2.16 Prairie View A&M(10-14, 6-9) @ Mississippi Valley State(12-12, 8-7) – W 80-73

A tough game against the Panthers gives MVS three wins in a row, and guarantees a .500 season in the conference or better. It took everything they had, including a season-high 31 from Lydell Jones and a strong collective rebounding effort that produced 12 offensive boards. Prairie View A&M shot almost 54% from the field, but went scoreless for a three-minute stretch early in the second half that allowed the Delta Devils to take control of the game.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

2.8 Texas-San Antonio(10-12, 4-7) @ Texas-Arlington(11-11, 5-6) – L 63-59
2.11 TX Corpus Christi(17-6, 8-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(10-13, 4-8) – L 72-66
2.15 Stephen F. Austin(18-6, 11-2) @ Texas-San Antonio(10-14, 4-9) – L 75-57
2.18 Texas-San Antonio(10-15, 4-10) @ Sam Houston State(10-15, 6-8) – W 63-58

Top scorers Kevin Young(10 points, 10 rebounds) and Shahar Brown(12 points, 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles in a tough, comeback win on the road against Sam Houston State. The Roadrunners were outplayed most of the game, but played smart and gave themselves a chance at the end by being tough on the boards. As a result, they still have a chance to stay out of the Southland cellar, and the four-game losing streak is over.

Izulde · 02-20-2008, 05:36 PM

Foster definitely seems to be the biggest success of the group so far in terms of what he's done vs. expectations.

Wonder how long before Perry jumps ship to a new school.

Brian Swartz · 02-22-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Foster definitely seems to be the biggest success of the group so far in terms of what he's done vs. expectations.

Wonder how long before Perry jumps ship to a new school.

Indeed. Foster has been blessed with low expectations. The frontcourt trio of Tucker, Roe, and Barlow aren't and won't be stars, but they do a lot of the little things and the experts don't respect them for it seemingly.

CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry)

2.21 Presbyterian(12-13) @ CSU Bakersfield(17-8) – W 77-74
2.24 CSU Bakersfield(18-8) @ North Carolina Central(5-21) – W 79-60

Frank Watson had a season-high 21 in the finale, while Hall was far more subdued, scoring a season-low six points.

INDEPENDENTS FINAL STANDINGS

Utah Valley State(20-7)
CSU Bakersfield(19-8)
TX Pan American(14-13)
NJIT(13-14)
Presbyterian(13-14)
Winston Salem State(13-14)
Chicago State(12-15)
Longwood(10-17)
Savannah State(9-18)
North Carolina Central(5-22)

A huge gap between the top two and the rest of the independents, but once again the Roadrunners fell short. A fine season overall though.

Cal-Davis(Denny Grant)

2.20 Cal-Davis(9-16, 4-10) @ Pacific(14-11, 8-6) – L 58-51
2.23 Cal-Riverside(10-16, 6-9) @ Cal-Davis(9-17, 4-11) – W 77-56

22 points and 7 boards for Ricardo Smith in the finale, his first strong game since returning from injury. Solid performances in the last three gives a little reason for optimism in the tournament.

BIG WEST FINAL STANDINGS

Cal Poly(11-5, 17-10)
Long Beach State(11-5, 17-10)
Cal St. Fullerton(10-6, 18-9)
Cal-Santa Barbara(10-6, 18-9)
Pacific(9-7, 15-12)
Cal-Riverside(6-10, 10-17)
Cal St. Northridge(5-11, 10-17)
Cal-Davis(5-11, 10-17)
Cal-Irvine(5-11, 11-16)

Mercer(Steve Stahl)

2.22 Lipscomb(10-16, 9-6) @ Mercer(10-16, 4-11) – W 85-70

ATLANTIC SUN FINAL STANDINGS

SC Upstate(14-2, 20-7)
Jacksonville(11-5, 15-12)
Campbell(10-6, 16-11)
Lipscomb(9-7, 10-17)
Belmont(9-7, 15-12)
Gardner-Webb(8-8, 12-15)
North Florida(7-9, 12-15)
East Tennessee State(7-9, 12-15)
Stetson(6-10, 7-20)
Florida Gulf Coast(6-10, 9-18)
Mercer(5-11, 11-16)
Kennesaw State(4-12, 9-18)

SC Upstate rolled to a second straight convincing title despite more dire predictions from the pundits. As for Mercer, only a strong run in the conference tourney can salvage a disappointing conference season.

Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster)

2.20 Jackson State(19-6, 15-1) @ Mississippi Valley State(13-12, 9-7) – W 87-65
2.23 Mississippi Valley State(14-12, 10-7) @ Alcorn State(14-12, 8-9) – L 90-71

Facing a team that has locked up the regular-season title with a four-game edge on their closest rivals, the Delta Devils did the most unlikely thing – they dominated from the opening tip, leading 46-30 after a nearly perfect first half in which they were by far the more aggressive team and shot better than 63%. Impressively, they never took their foot of the accelerator, totally routing the highly favored Tigers in what is hands down the signature win so far of Avery Foster’s two seasons here. Despite sitting out the last several minutes of garbage time, Jones had another strong game with 26 points and 7 boards, while Tre Roe added 18 points, and Jason Gresham dished out a career-high 10 assists. Jackson State had won 11 straight coming into the game.

SWAC FINAL STANDINGS

Jackson State(16-2, 20-7)
Alabama State(13-5, 16-11)
Grambling(11-7, 15-12)
Mississippi Valley State(10-8, 14-13)
Alcorn State(9-9, 15-12)
Alabama A&M(8-10, 14-13)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff(7-11, 11-16)
Prairie View A&M(6-12, 10-17)
Southern(6-12, 8-19)
Texas Southern(4-14, 9-18)

Fourth place is a darn fine finish given the dire expectations, and right now they are on a roll heading into the tournament.

Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley)

2.22 Texas State(17-9, 11-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(11-15, 5-10) – W 59-47

This isn’t a team that comes to mind first when you think of stifling defense – or ever, for that matter. The season finale against the Texas State Bobcats was a different story though. If they play with this level of intensity in the tournament, there won’t be many Southland teams who want to take them on, regardless of their poor record. Going in with back-to-back wins won’t hurt their confidence in any case.

SOUTHLAND FINAL STANDINGS

EAST DIVISION

Northwestern State(9-7, 15-12)
SE Louisiana(8-8, 14-13)
Central Arkansas(7-9, 11-16)
Nicholls State(6-10, 14-13)
Lamar(6-10, 8-19)
McNeese State(6-10, 9-18)

WEST DIVISION

Stephen F. Austin(13-3, 20-7)
Texas State(11-5, 17-10)
TX Corpus Christi(11-5, 20-7)
Texas-Arlington(7-9, 13-14)
Sam Houston State(6-10, 10-17)
Texas-San Antonio(6-10, 12-15)

The West was murderous this year, and once again the Roadrunners finish at the bottom of it.

Brian Swartz · 02-24-2008, 07:33 PM

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS, 1966

BIG WEST TOURNAMENT

3.1 First Round: Cal-Irvine(11-16) vs. Cal-Davis(10-17)

The Aggies beat the Anteaters 70-57 at home, then lost 72-68 at Cal-Irvine in a game they should have won. This is the sacrificial lamb game, as the winner gets a likely blasting in the quarters. But everyone’s still in it until they are officially beaten.

Robert Collins, usually mostly invisible on offense, got off to a fast start with a couple quick threes, and Cal-Davis jumped out to a 15-7 lead. The defense really shut Irvine down most of the half, and with five minutes until the break they had exploded to a 36-15 advantadge.
The Anteaters began chipping away at the lead late in the first half, and with five minutes to go in the second it was down to 66-62, and Cal-Davis was the team playing ragged on the offensive end. Twice they pulled to within a single point, and then a triple by forward Steve Willard pulled them even at 74 all with 25 seconds to play. The 21-point lead was gone, and the Aggies had the ball needing someone to step up and make a play.

Ricardo Smith was the logical choice. He was fouled, and stepped up to swish both attempts. Willard tried to play the hero again … but he traveled and the Aggies advanced in a tight one, 76-74. Smith scored 26 with 8 rebounds, one of his finest games – and they needed every point. David Scott chipped in one of his better games as well, adding 17.

3.2 Quarterfinals: Cal-Davis(11-17) vs. Cal Poly(17-10)

Davis vs. Goliath. Poly beat Cal-Davis both meetings, and neither was close, averaging a margin of 14.5 points. They’ll need to play a flawless game to have a chance here.

If you defend you have a chance – that’s coach Denny Grant’s mantra. The Aggies defended in the first half, and trailed only by a single point when it was finished. As the second half started, they kept up the pressure, and at the midway point David Scott sank a three to put them in front 49-47.

As the minutes ticked slowly away, it became clear that this was no mirage – Cal-Davis wasn’t going to go away easily. With five to go, they still owned a small lead at 62-58. Smith was absolutely going nuts, with a career-best 30 points already, and they were giving the Mustangs nothing easy. It was clear the seniors weren’t ready to end their season just yet.

Finally, with less than two minutes to go, guard Deaundra Berry ended a shooting slump for both teams and hit from long range to put Poly back in front, 66-64. As well as they’d played, the Aggies needed one final push. Berry stole the ball from Robert Collins on three straight possessions however, ending one with another three, and that pretty much was the nail in the coffin. The final was 72-66, and Collins won’t sleep well for quite some time after the way he just ended his career.
Smith finished with 30 and 6 rebounds, with no other player scoring more than eight. It was a great individual effort, but it just wasn’t quite enough.

ATLANTIC SUN TOURNAMENT

3.1 First Round: Mercer(11-16) vs. Gardner-Webb(12-15)

The only meeting this year was an explosive success at home for the Bears, who scored a season-high 94 points to win by 20. It was the best game of Jamal Brown’s career(34 points, 7 rebounds) – hopefully he won’t need a repeat performance of that this time.

The Bears missed an early chance to get a lead, converting only two of six early free-throws, and it was a tight, ugly affair during the opening minutes. At intermission Mercer clung to a one-point lead, thanks to an efficient half by Brown(10 points on 5-6 fg) and poor shooting by the Bulldogs.

Jamal Brown found the going tougher in the second half, but freshman Brent Calvert picked up the slack and the game remained even. Mercer got a small lead in the last several minutes, but couldn’t shake GW, and this one went down to the wire. Leading by only one with five seconds left, Aubrey Bullock missed a pair at the line … but Scott Conrad grabbed the board and put it in to seal the victory, 69-66.

Brown had 21 and seven boards to lead the scoring, with Calvert and Andy Rushing adding 11 each. Conrad had eight points, and also snagged 13 rebounds. 21 turnovers gave the Bears a -8 in that category, typical of them both this season and last, and fatal against any quality opponent.

3.2 Quarterfinals: Mercer(12-16) vs. Campbell(16-11)

Only one meeting this year, which Mercer hosted and Campbell won on a buzzer-beater, 74-73. A chance for revenge here, and while they are underdogs it’s a winnable matchup.

Another quick start for Brown, and the Bears jumped out in from 10-2. The lead lasted a while, but Mercer hit a cold shooting spell the last few minutes of the half and went into the locker room up only by two, and their star missing seven of his last nine.

After managing to hold them off for several minutes, Mercer surrendered the lead 49-47 with 11:06 left. Less than four minutes later, they found themselves down by nine, fighting just to stay in the game. They just couldn’t get their rhythm back, and the seasons end here, 74-63.

Jamal Brown hit on just 3 of 19 after the opening minutes, finishing with 14 points in his final game. Junior forward Phillip Frederick had a season-high 13 off the bench, but it was slim pickings beyond that offensively. Campbell lived at the free-throw line, getting 33 attempts to only 14 for Mercer.

SWAC TOURNAMENT

3.4 Quarterfinals: Alcorn State(15-12) vs. Mississippi Valley State(14-13)

A tough matchup here, as Alcorn State beat MVS soundly both times this season. They’ve done a great job keeping the Delta Devils’ frontcourt off the boards, and that unfortunately didn’t change early with Alcorn surging to a ten-point lead late in the first half.

Lydell Jones was on target early in the second half, and MVS came back to grab the lead fairly quickly. During one stretch, he personally scored on five straight possessions(12 points total). Jones got plenty of help from Tre Roe(13 points, 5 rebounds) and Jason Barlow(12 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds), but he was the main weapon. A season-high 39 for the freshman on 13-21 fg, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Mississippi Valley State. They gradually pulled away for a 82-69 victory, including a season-best 55 in the second half, and they’ll advance.

3.5 Semifinals: Mississippi Valley State(15-13) vs. Southern(10-19)

This, ladies and gentlemen, is an absolute GIFT. Southern shocked top-seeded Jackson State 56-49 in the previous round, presenting MVS with a positively golden opportunity. The only thing standing between them and the SWAC championship game is a team that they beat twice, by 18 and 13 points.

The Jaguars weren’t in a particularly cooperative mood for the third meeting, matching the Devils shot for shot and leading by five at the half. Unfortunately for them, Jones didn’t leave all his jumpers on the floor in the quarters, and MVS grabbed their largest lead of the game at 52-45 with 13 minutes to go behind his shooting. Southern cut the lead to as little as three and fought the whole way, but they didn’t have enough firepower to get all the way back. Mississippi Valley State won it 74-69, and they’re into the championship game!

It was Lydell Jones leading the scoring again, this time with ‘only’ 29. Tre Roe had 17 and six rebounds, with Barlow adding another 12.

3.6 Final: Mississippi Valley State(16-13) vs. Alabama State(18-11)

40 minutes away from the NCAA Tournament. Not bad for the scrappy team that simply refuses to be as bad as the experts say they are. This time, however, the odds are pretty stacked against them. Alabama State blasted them twice this year, the most recent being an 84-62 rout, at home – probably Mississippi Valley State’s worst loss of the year. All eyes are on the freshman, Lydell Jones. The question is, does he have another salvo up his sleeve against an opponent that has held him to 12-32 from the floor in those previous matchups?

The Hornets quickly grabbed a double-digit lead as Jones missed five of his first six. They clearly didn’t want the Delta Devils hanging around for his typical second-half barrage. He recovered to hit his next four though, and MVS quickly drew even again. Even so, Alabama State led by seven at the break, scoring almost at will most of the time.

The Hornets continued to pound away in the second half, and the Delta Devils just couldn’t stop them. Mississippi Valley State could never find a solution, and they end up one win shy of the title, losing 86-68. Jones certainly didn’t embarrass himself, scoring 25 on 11-25 fg, and Tre Roe did his part(14 points, 7 rebounds), but Barlow and the rest of the team were pretty well shut down. Meanwhile, Alabama State’s inside-outside combo of Rob Thomas and Deron Keith had 22 apiece and a lot more help.

A fine run, it just wasn’t enough to get to the dance.

SOUTHLAND TOURNAMENT

3.3 First Round: Texas-San Antonio(12-15) vs. Central Arkansas(11-15)

The Grizzlies hold the mental edge, as the Roadrunners have lost winnable games to them this year and last. On paper though, it’s a very even matchup.

0-8 fg and down 12-0 after five minutes didn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence that Texas-San Antonio was ready to exorcise their demons against this particular foe. The lead reached 17 before they showed the most remote semblance of life, and Shahar Brown missed his first five from the field. At the break, it was still a huge deficit at 36-18, and absolutely nothing was working on the offense end of the court.

The first eight points of the second half belonged to the Roadrunners, nearly cutting the deficit in half and making this a game at least. Central Arkansas nearly blew it open again, but Texas-San Antonio was determined to make a serious push. With nine minutes left it was 48-40, and they were playing much better, but another run was needed to really put the pressure on. A couple minutes later, Brown came through with a three-point play to cut the gap to just three points, and this was no longer a one-sided rout.

It was as close as they would get. Central Arkansas put it away with one final barrage, and the Roadrunners were unceremoniously dismissed 69-57. Shahar Brown came back with a strong second half to finish with 19 points and 9 rebounds, and Kevin Young’s was solid as well: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists. As usual, 3-point shooting was the death of them: the Grizzlies shot 10 of 18, while Texas-San Antonio hit only 2 of 10 on their side.

Brian Swartz · 03-08-2008, 10:21 AM

1966 NCAA TOURNAMENT

This season the favorite was top-ranked Ohio State, who went undefeated in the Big Ten, 29-3 overall – but lost to Illinois in the conference tournament. Another team to watch is #3 Murray State, who lost a spot in the polls and fell to a #2 seed despite a 31-1 overall record and winning the conference tournament. Notre Dame(#6) and St. John’s(#8) are back on top of the Big East, with the Irish getting the conference crown this year. And as for UCLA, last year’s champs? They won the Pac-10, but aren’t even ranked thanks to a spat of early-season losses. They have a 8-seed, and could face OSU in the second round!

OPENING ROUNDS

The Bruins and Buckeyes did indeed hook up in the second round … and UCLA shocked the nation’s #1 team, 65-61!! Point guard Awvee Howard was a one-man wrecking crew, scoring 33 points and dishing out six assists. Meanwhile, Ohio State shot just 36% from the field, and their dreams are over.

The other favorites all advanced easily in what is now a wide-open field.

SWEET 16

UCLA knocked out another ranked opponent, beating #23 Princeton by seven. Notre Dame was stomped by Fordham 74-53, and the Rams then ended the Bruins repeat bid 58-53 to reach the Final Four. St. John’s squeaked by Delaware 72-70, only to have their season ended by Oklahoma.

Meanwhile the Murray State Racers should have earned the respect now they didn’t get from the selection committee. They’ve rolled through the first two weekends with only one game decided by less than a dozen points.

FINAL FOUR

Oklahoma and Fordham squared off in the first semifinal, in a weekend that is a celebration of new blood. None of the semifinalists have won a national title before – which team would be able to claim their first? Fordham stopped the Sooners pretty easily, 76-64.

The marquee matchup was #2 BYU against #3 Murray State in the second game. The Racers finally met their match, unable to get their offense going in a 57-47 loss to the Cougars that was a big disappointment from an entertainment point of view.

The title game was a tight one if low-scoring, and the Fordham Rams who snuck under the radar a bit after their great regular-season last year, edged the BYU Cougars 50-47. Their defense was positively stifling, allowing only 30% shooting in an ugly game that featured a combined 43 turnovers. Center Cliff Gibson(16 points, 8 rebounds) was named player of the game in Fordham’s first title.

Brian Swartz · 03-08-2008, 10:23 AM

1967 OFFSEASON

AWARDS

Mercer – Brent Calvert was named the Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year(6.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg) in a down year for newcomers in the conference. Jamal Brown and Scott Conrad both went out with a bang after being named to the All-Atlantic Sun First Team.

Cal-Davis – Ricardo Smith’s season was enough for him to make
First Team All-Big West, the only Aggie to earn any honors this year(and deservedly so).

Texas-San Antonio – Shahar Brown was named First Team All-Southland.

Mississippi Valley State – Lydell Jones was no surprise whatsoever as the SWAC Freshman of the Year, and frankly deserved Player of the Year honors as well but Southern’s Marlin Braun won that award. The duo highlighted the All-SWAC First Team, while Tre Roe earned a Second Team mention.

JOB OFFERS

Most coaches would be thrilled at winning 63% of their games the first two seasons of their career, having a stud like Joe Hall and other young talent surrounding him, and a secure coaching position. Ralph Perry is not most coaches however. Disgusted at the lack of exposure and no shot at a post-season appearance that is a fact of life for independent schools, he aggressively pursued other options. Surely there would be some school out there interested in a young, energetic coach who’d proven that at least at the armpit level of college basketball, he could put together a winner.

Enter the Texas Southern Tigers. After a miserable 9-19 year, they are desperate for a new coach and willing to pay more than most small schools are to get one -- $95,000 a year, but only for two seasons. For someone as unconcerned with long-term consequences as Ralph, it’s a no-brainer. And so Coach Perry heads off recklessly to the SWAC, ditching CSU Bakersfield after just two seasons and a 34-20 record. The squad he inherits has … *ahem* … considerably less talent than the one he leaves, to put it mildly.

TEXAS SOUTHERN SCHOOL HISTORY

Bruce Hill(38-42) – 43-103(.295), 27-63(.300). Hill left as a disgrace, with a hideous 1-27 mark in 1942 and only 5 wins the year before, after making the first NCAA field with a 16-16 mark in ’38.

Jay McDyess(43-62) – 271-303(.472), 172-188(.477). McDyess is by far the winningest coach in Tigers’ history, giving the program its finest season at 21-11 in 1948. It remains the only time Texas Southern has won 20 games in a season, and earned them their second and last NCAA appearance.

Bryan Gipson(63-65) – 40-45(.471), 27-27(.500). Gipson was only here three years, long enough to take a solid team and make them a loser, declining each year to only 11 wins in ’65.

Corey Cunningham(66) – 9-19(.321), 4-14(.222).
Total: 363-470(.436), 230-292(.441). Two NCAA appearances, nearly two decades since the last one, and both times Texas Southern was bounced in the first round. Not a pretty picture.

Brian Swartz · 03-08-2008, 10:25 AM

Ralph Perry(Texas Southern)

Final Record: 9-19(4-14), 315 RPI

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Jeff Dodson(11.8), Brandon Boykin(10.2), Tony Radford(8.5)
Rebounds: Jeff Dodson(4.4), Tony Radford(4.4), Derek Phillips(4.0)
Assists: Brandon Boykin(3.0), Jeff Dodson(2.5), Richie Green(1.6)

The team that welcomes Coach Perry is losing two key players in Radford and Boykin, and one rather used to a more sedentary pace(59.0 ppg in 1966, last in the SWAC). To say the least, things will be a little different around here, and in a right big hurry. In fact, the Tigers didn’t do much of anything well.

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

C Donnell Silvine(6-8, 243, SD, #1030)
PG Aaron Petion(6-0, 174, CA, #1031)
SG Justin Condill(6-1, 196, TX, #1129)
SF Bryan Battier(6-3, 227, TX, #1597)
C Damon Orvis(6-9, 254, CO, #1754)

Interestingly, Perry tried and failed to recruit Petion at CSU Bakersfield.

BY THE NUMBERS

Reputation: 14(+1)
Contract: 2 years, $95,000
Job Security: 10
Goals: Don’t finish last in the SWAC
Team Prestige: 8
Conference Prestige: 25
Facilities: D+
Recruiting Budget: $102,250

Texas Southern returns All-SWAC Second Team guard Jeff Dodson(11.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 44.5% fg), but he’s the only guard that’s even serviceable. True freshman Arthur Smith will start at the point. The frontcourt is more solid, but unproven. Senior Derek Phillips(6.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg) is the only returning starter, with junior Antonio Graham and sophomore Ty Thomas getting their first cracks at some real time.

There’s some talent in the freshman class, but other than Smith none of them are expected to see significant time until their skills mature a little more.

Unlike the situation he came into with CSU Bakersfield, this squad has no experience running the diamond-and-one press. Ralph Perry will have to be more patient, and there won’t be much full-court pressure from this group initially. The Tigers have been picked 9th in the SWAC, and that’s probably about right. Even a competitive team would be a tremendous accomplishment for Perry. They’ve won a combined 10 games in the conference in the last two years, and it won’t be easy to improve on that average this season.

RECRUITING

An interesting recruiting battle shaped up in the fall between Ralph Perry and Weston Cattley. The recruit in question was Texan JC forward Gregg Howard, an eligibility risk with a 2.1 GPA and small at 6-6, 190, but a guy with great ability to score inside and adequate defense and athleticism. Most schools stayed away because of the academic questions, and by the time September rolled around he listed Texas Southern 5th and Texas-San Antonio 4th among his choices.

That only lasted as long as the first round of in-home visits by the top coaches. There Ralph Perry’s charisma came to the forefront, and Texas Southern started moving up the list while Coach Wattley was able to make no similar headway. However, even Perry wasn’t quite able to convince him. Howard ended up committing to Alabama State, where he could terrorize both Texas Southern and Coach Foster at Mississippi Valley State for the next two years.

In general, Ralph Perry found it much tougher to recruit here than out on the West coast. But that isn’t to say he was without victories. By season’s opening he had filled one of his two scholarships, and it was very good one, having outdueled most of the big Texas schools to get his man.

SG Ken Collins(6-4, 174, TX, 2.2 GPA, #331, JC). Collins is a 4-star talent with good athleticism, scoring, passing, and perimeter shooting abilities. Free-throw shooting is his only important weakness. He’s a very good fit for Perry’s system, and should help immediately. Texas, Texas Tech, and conference rival Stephen F. Austin all wanted him, and on most of the top prospects those schools won, but not this time.

Denny Grant(Cal-Davis)

Final Record: 11-18(5-11), 276 RPI

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Ricardo Smith(16.0), Isaac Hale(8.3), David Scott(7.9)
Rebounds: Ricardo Smith(5.1), Ryan Coon(4.3), David Scott(3.8)
Assists: Correy Collison(3.2), John Waldon(2.2), Robert Collins(2.2)

A second consecutive 11-win season for Cal-Davis, once again falling well short of the goal of being in the Big West’s top three: this year the Aggies were in a three-way tie for dead last. Denny Grant’s defensive focus has had some effect, as the team allowed only a average 43.4% shooting rate by the opposition, and was one of the best at defending the three(34.8%). Once again though rebounding(-1.6) and turnover differential(a staggering -3.7) were their fatal flaws. For the second straight year there was little balance in the team, and a dominant senior scorer, Ricardo Smith in this case, graduates. This year the Aggies also lose fellow starters in Robert Collins and David Scott, the third and fourth-highest scorers on the team.

Though the school is content to be patient for now, Grant’s regime certainly doesn’t appear to be headed in the right direction so far. They also seem to realize that for now, contending for the Big West title is unreasonable. Next year, they just want him to stay out of the cellar.

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

PF Michael Dare(6-7, 236, CA, #341)
C Tim Alexander(6-10, 271, CA, #606)
SG Thaydeus Reece(6-1, 180, WA, #859)
SF Bob Watkins(6-8, 216, NV, #992)
SF Lydell James(6-8, 219, MT, #1464)

BY THE NUMBERS

Reputation: 13(+1)
Contract: 2 years, $68,000
Job Security: 10(no change)
Goals: Don’t finish last in the Big West
Team Prestige: 4(no change)
Conference Prestige: 16(+1)
Facilities: D-
Recruiting Budget: $101,550

On paper, this will be the weakest team yet in Denny Grant’s three years here. Junior Correy Collison(4.4 ppg, 49.5% fg, 3.2 apg, 3.3 topg) returns as starting point guard only because there’s nobody better. In this kind of patient offense, having that position be the weakest on the team isn’t encouraging. The other returning starter is senior Ryan Coon, who has posted identical averages of 3.9 points and 4.3 rebounds the last two years. He may not score much but he doesn’t take bad shots either, shooting over 60% for his career. He’ll move over to his more natural small forward position, and is by far the best returning defender on the team.

Fellow seniors Derek Davis and Jamaal Monfre will round out the starting frontcourt. Both of them also have good shot selection, but neither has distinguished themselves the last couple years. They will have to play well together and rebound by committee. These three seniors and one junior will be joined by the preseason’s surprise, freshman guard Thaydeus Reece. Reece is not a great defender by any stretch, but he can create havoc on both ends of the floor and should provide playmaking ability the program has been sorely missing. Unless Coon loses some of his reluctance to shoot a la Ricardo Smith last season, Reece will probably be the team’s leading scorer.

The rest of the freshmen will either redshirt(Michael Dare and Tim Alexander) -- Dare has a lot of people excited but both of them are still raw – or probably remain laminated to the end of the bench. A couple guys from the previous class, redshirt freshman center Jamie Belton and sophomore Tyler McColpin will see their first significant time as key bench players. The overall talent level on the team has improved somewhat over the last couple years, but it will need to translate into wins on the court soon, and so far Grant has struck out looking for a point guard to lead the team. Some thought redshirt freshman Jordan Williams would be that guy, but right now he looks like a complete bust, and is the last guard off the bench until he proves otherwhise.

Three open scholarships this year, and Grant’s top priority is finding that quality point guard. Reece looks like a capable scorer, and the frontcourt has solid young talent at all positions. Optimally, he’d like to pick up a couple guards at least.

The experts have Cal-Davis pegged as 4th in the conference, behind Long Beach State, Cal-Poly, and Pacific. Then again, they’ve had them 5th and 6th the last two seasons, both of which the Aggies finished last.

Denny Grant has had a tough summer on the recruiting trail. He has three scholarships, and all have still gone unfilled, though there are some decent prospects for changing that situation during the season.

Brian Swartz · 03-08-2008, 10:27 AM

Steve Stahl(Mercer)

Final Record: 12-17(5-11), 237 RPI

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Jamal Brown(17.3), Scott Conrad(9.2), Aubrey Bullock(8.2)
Rebounds: Scott Conrad(6.7), Jamal Brown(5.5), Brent Calvert(4.4)
Assists: Aubrey Bullock(4.0), Bob King(2.7), Art White(2.1)

Mercer had the same two problems this year as last: they couldn’t win the close games(1-6) and they had turnover problems(-1.5 per game). Though they fell a couple wins shy of last year’s total and had a miserable Atlantic Sun campaign, Steve Stahl still achieved the board’s goals for the second year in a row by keeping the Bears out of the cellar. He was rewarded with a small raise and a new contract extension through the 1972 season, and surprisingly with no new strings attached – the expectations are still just to win 10 games or more and not finish last, despite the fact that Mercer’s prestige has dropped from 16 to 13 under his watch.

With Brown and Conrad graduating, he’ll need to find new leaders for the team, but he’s proven successful at that so far. One example is Aubrey Bullock who will be back. Most observers and in fact the rest of his staff wanted Art White as the starter the last couple years, and while Aubrey isn’t a top point guard by any stretch he’s certainly proven himself worthy of that trust.

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

PF Ryan Brinkley(6-9, 211, GA, #637)
SG Tyler Criddle(6-3, 213, GA, #1021)

BY THE NUMBERS

Reputation: 13(+1)
Contract: 6 years, $64,000
Job Security: 14(+2)
Goals: Don’t finish last in the Atlantic Sun, Win 10+ games
Team Prestige: 13(-1)
Conference Prestige: 15(-1)
Facilities: C-
Recruiting Budget: $132,037

Sophomore Brent Calvert, coming off a decent freshman year(6.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 48.7% fg) in which he was named Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year, has shown outstanding progress and appears ready to be the man this year. A pair of seniors, point guard Aubrey Bullock(8.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.0 apg) and forward Phillip Frederick, will provide the primary support. The clear weak link on the team is at center, where true freshman Ryan Brinkley will start. On the whole, the squad is a little more talented, and more balanced top to bottom, but they are also a little more raw and just as young. It’s unlikely that the string of four consecutive losing seasons will end this year.

The other freshman is guard Tyler Criddle, who will be this year’s lone redshirt. One thing that could help, particularly with a lack of quality backcourt depth, is if senior Art White could get himself eligible. Unless he does, redshirt freshman Mate Ramage will have to play a more significant bench role than he is probably prepared for.

The media has Mercer finishing 3rd this year, just behind Belmont and Lipscomb. I’ll have some of what they’re smoking if they don’t mind. Unless the Bears find a way to consistently win close games instead of consistently losing them, there is precisely zero chance of that happening.

RECRUITING

A strong summer for Steve Stahl recruiting, as he’s already filled all four of his open spots. Particularly notable are two guys that his staff feels are 4-star talents:

C Dionsio Salyers(6-9, 258, GA, 2.8 GPA, #323) – Salyers is a good inside scorer and also has good rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. Athleticism and shooting range are his primary weaknesses.

SG Eddie Bonney(6-3, 174, GA, 2.9 GPA, #354) – Bonney is good athlete and perimeter defender. He passes well and can create offense for himself, though his shot selection is average at best. No glaring weaknesses. He placed in the Top 25 at Memphis.

There are also a couple of lower-ranked players that are more likely to become projects for Coach Stahl.

PF Jerome Watson(6-6, 223, GA, 3.0 GPA, #1313) – Probably the weakest member of the class, Watson still has good scoring ability in the paint and is a good defender. Size and subpar ball skills are his biggest drawbacks, but he is a durable, hard-working player, just the kind of kid who should thrive under Stahl’s tutelage.

PG David Snyder(6-3, 196, GA, 3.1 GPA, #1324) – Snyder has good size, and there are hopes he could be a real solution at the point. The Bears feel he has been done a grave injustice by the national rankings, pegging him as a high 3-star talent at worst. David is an excellent passer, and can create for himself and handle the ball well also. He’s athletic, with good defensive skills and a solid touch from the perimeter. Most of his weaknesses are not things point guards are expected to do well anyway, though free-throw shooting is a big exception to that, and he struggles from the line.

Overall, Mercer is very excited about having what looks to be a strong class incoming along with their current crop of players.

Avery Foster(Mississippi Valley State)

Final Record: 16-14(10-8), 163 RPI

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Lydell Jones(22.2), Tre Roe(11.3), Jason Barlow(7.8)
Rebounds: Brendon Tucker(5.4), Tre Roe(5.1), Jason Barlow(4.6)
Assists: Jason Gresham(4.4), Andre Chenowith(3.2), Jason Barlow(2.0)

Mississippi Valley State both scored(71.2 ppg) and allowed(72.2) the most points in the conference. It will be interesting to see if that’s still the case with Ralph Perry now incoming. Defense(45.7% opposing fg, only 14.1 turnovers) was the team’s biggest flaw, but with everybody except the senior point guard combo of Chenowith and Gresham returning, hopes are high after a good season.

All the school wanted was to stay out of last place in the SWAC. 16 wins, the team’s best season in several years, has them thinking bigger thoughts. Next year the bar’s been raised – they want a top three finish in the conference.

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

C Josh Cravens(6-11, 282, MS, #93)
SG Nate Spann(6-1, 208, MS, #611)
SF Jason Singletary(6-7, 202, MS, #1002)
SG Joe Taflinger(6-1, 179, MS, #1034)
PF Isaac Hare(6-8, 236, MS, #1185)

BY THE NUMBERS

Reputation: 14(+2)
Contract: 2 years, $84,000
Job Security: 11(+1)
Goals: Finish in SWAC Top Three
Team Prestige: 7(+2)
Conference Prestige: 25(no change)
Facilities: B+
Recruiting Budget: $100,328

Sophomore Lydell Jones still headlines the team, but Foster and his staff are expecting the standout guard to suffer from somewhat of a sophomore slump. Another sophomore, 6-1 Craig Sarpy(39.1% 3pt fg) will be the new starter at the point.

The frontcourt needs no introduction: for the third straight year it's juniors [b]Jason Barlow and Tre Roe, along with senior Brendon Tucker. Highly regarded freshman Josh Cravens could upset that apple cart before the season is over, however. Another newcomer, guard Nate Spann, is expected to see significant time off the bench.

Media predictions are always a joke, but this time it’s even worse. Once again MVS is picked dead last in the SWAC, the only team worse than Perry’s Texas Southern Tigers. This is the third straight year they’ve thought that, and the team should be improved over last year’s fourth-place finish.

Avery Foster gets a year off from recruiting – the Delta Devils have no seniors on scholarship this year.

Brian Swartz · 03-08-2008, 10:29 AM

Weston Cattley(Texas-San Antonio)

Final Record: 12-16(6-10), 240 RPI

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Shahar Brown(17.2), Kevin Young(9.0), Scott Johnson(8.5)
Rebounds: Shahar Brown(7.4), Jerome Layne(6.6), Scott Johnson(5.3)
Assists: Kevin Young(4.2), Todd Henson(2.5), Jerome Layne(2.3)

After Blake Land joined the lineup, Texas-San Antonio improved their perimeter defense … but still finished last in the Southland at 37.1% allowed from long range. They had their problems offensively as well, with a -2.8 turnover differential per game and poor perimeter shooting. Without question rebounding was the strength of the team, at +6.7 a game.

A second straight last-place finish in the Southland was offset by a strong finish, one that Cattley must carry over to the next season. With most of the key players back, there’s no excuse if there isn’t significant improvement now.

FINAL RECRUITING CLASS

SF Shannon Grundman(6-7, 197, TX, #165)
PF Julius Garnett(6-8, 214, TX, #199)
SF Steve Warren(6-6, 242, TX, #424)
PG Robert Hill(6-2, 184, TX, #437)
C Tyrone Lane(6-11, 253, TX, #563, JC)

BY THE NUMBERS

Reputation: 13(+1)
Contract: 2 years, $63,000
Job Security: 11(+1)
Goals: Don’t finish last in the Southland
Team Prestige: 9(-1)
Conference Prestige: 30(-1)
Facilities: D-
Recruiting Budget: $53,650

A very strong recruiting class for Texas-San Antonio, but most of them don’t figure much in this year’s team. There will be a changing of the guard here next season, but this year there will be four returning starters. The backcourt remains the same, with senior Kevin Young(9.0 ppg, 4.7 apg) and junior Blake Land(4.6 ppg in less than 17 mpg) returning. Both, particularly Land, come back improved.

The frontcourt should make the best rebounding team in the conference last year even more so. Senior Jerome Layne(6.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.3 apg) gave the team a rugged, versatile presence at small forward last season. First Team All-Southland performer Shahar Brown(17.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg) is a favorite for player of the year in the conference, and returns for his final year with 84 career starts and already ranks 4th all-time on the school’s scoring and rebounding lists. Another year like last one and he’ll finish second in scoring and #1 in rebounding before he graduates.

The new face is junior college transfer Tyrone Lane, who will give the Roadrunners even more size, allowing Brown to move over to power forward. At 6-11, 253, Tyrone gives Coach Cattley more size than he’s ever had in the middle, and is a solid rebounder and a good shotblocker. Even playing alongside good players like Brown and Layne, he isn’t expected to be weak link – Lane will hold his own.

While the starters are by far the best group of these last three years, the bench is completely unproven and, for the most part, quite raw. In effect, the play of the reserves this year will be an audition for which players will lead this team the next couple of seasons down the road. Right now, it’s wide-open. Sophomore guard Steven Billips is the only underclassman expected to see significant time right off the bat.
The pundits are mildly optimistic, pegging the Roadrunners as an average Southland team with a predicted 6th-place finish. Really, anything less than .500 in the conference should be unacceptable this season.

RECRUITING

Weston Cattley has filled two of his four slots, but has dwindling funds and prospects for the other two.

PF Brett Daniels(6-7, 228, TX, 2.0 GPA, #239) – Daniels is a 4-star talent, but with a big academic asterisk: there’s a decent chance he could fail to pass admissions. Assuming he does, he’s a good positional defender though not much of a rebounder or shot-blocker. Brett also is a good athlete who can score inside.

C Will Myles(6-10, 246, TX, 2.9 GPA, #971) – Myles comes without the risk, but also without as much talent. He’s a good passer, rebounder, and shot-blocker, and has great touch around the basket, though he tends not to look for his own shot all that much. He’s also a turnover factory, subpar in his defensive rotations and positioning, and a disaster outside the lane or at the foul line.

Brian Swartz · 03-10-2008, 10:47 AM

Ralph Perry(Texas Southern)

11.15 Washington State(0-0) @ Texas Southern(0-0) – W 77-70
11.18 Texas Southern(1-0) @ Florida(0-2) – W 68-64
11.22 Utah State(0-2) @ Texas Southern(2-0) – W 81-75
11.25 Texas Southern(3-0) @ Northwestern State(1-2) – L 93-86

There could have been easier opponents certainly for Perry’s first game at his new job, but at least he had the advantadge of the home crowd. His Tigers jumped out fabulously, scoring the season’s first 12 points over three minutes, led by Dodson as one might expect. Incredibly avoiding making a single turnover in the first half, they thrilled the fans by still holding a lead of a dozen points over the highly favored visitors at the end of it.

The second half went much the same way until the last few minutes, when WSU made a strong run to cut the lead to two points on multiple occasions. They would get no closer though, and a huge opening win for the Tigers, one almost nobody expected them to get. Senior forward Derek Phillips was huge, scoring 22 with 13 rebounds. Jeff Dodson(17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) and Matt Cliff(12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) finished off a senior-led trio of strong all-around performances.

Three straight win to open the season with a new team – and then they ran into the buzzsaw at Northwestern State, the first team to come into playing the Tigers having already won a game. They scored 62 in the first half, by which time it was already over. Welcome to reality.

So far the perimeter defense has been horrible, but that’s no surprise. What is a surprise is how well Texas Southern has adapted to the up-tempo style. Senior center Derek Phillips(20.8 ppg, 62% fg, 6.0 rpg) has been tearing it up, with Jeff Dodson(16.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.8 apg) also playing well. Among the younger players, sophomore forward Ty Thomas(8.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg) has also been solid. A very encouraging start overall for Ralph Perry’s new charges.

Denny Grant(Cal-Davis)

11.15 St. Peter’s(0-0) @ Cal-Davis(0-0) – L 69-64
11.18 Morgan State(0-1) @ Cal-Davis(0-1) – L 72-70
11.22 Cal-Davis(0-2) @ East Carolina(2-2) – L 65-57
11.25 Cal-Davis(0-3) @ Tennessee Tech(1-2) – L 78-69

A rough stretch in the second half doomed the Aggies first effort of the year, as they fell behind by 15 and a 18-8 run to close the game only made the final more respectable. Junior Correy Collison(15 points, 5 reb, 5 to) led the scoring, and Thaydeus Reece(13 points) showed a willingness and ability to score, but not a whole lot of accuracy, finishing 3-14 from the field. Another freshman, Jamie Belton, scored 7 with six boards in 13 minutes off the bench.

Hopefully the young players will learn quickly on the defensive end. They allowed St. Peter’s to shoot 50% from the field, which was the difference in the game. Cal-Davis will need to get more consistent stops. They sure didn’t improve on it the next game, when visiting Morgan State erased a 15-point second-half lead, winning via a 3-pointer in the final seconds.
The Aggies have now lost their first four games by an average of less than five points … but they’ve still lost four straight to start the season.

Thaydeus Reece(19.8 ppg, 34.6% fg) has improved his scoring each game, including 31 against Tennessee Tech, but it still wasn’t enough. Shot selection is still a work in progress as well. Another freshman is entering the starting lineup, as Jamie Belton(8.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 12.0 mpg) has totally outperformed senior Derek Davis. In fact, Belton is the team’s 2nd-leading scorer, demonstrating suprising range and versatility. He should provide more balance, hopefully allowing Reece to take more shots in rhythm. Both big men, along with Jamaal Monfre(7.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg) are playing well defensively.

If there’s a lot to like inside, the perimeter has been an absolute sieve defensively – the Aggies are allowing 71 ppg and almost 47% shooting. It’s a problem across the board, with no immediately obvious solution – Reece and junior Correy Collison are no worse than backups Waldon and Hale, and the reserves can’t handle the ball either which at least the two starters are doing a decent job of.

Steve Stahl(Mercer)

11.14 Mercer(0-0) @ San Jose State(0-1) – W 62-55
11.17 Hampton(0-1) @ Mercer(1-0) – L 66-57
11.21 Delaware State(1-1) @ Mercer(1-1) – W 67-49
11.24 Mercer(2-1) @ LaSalle(3-0) – L 86-74

A lot of surprises in the opener for Mercer. They played well down the stretch to win one on the road, and with an unlikely source leading the way. After being considered the weak point on the team coming in, freshman center Ryan Brinkley had a brilliant debut, scoring 14 with 16 rebounds. Junior Dean Jeffries had 14 as well in his first start, while the tandem expected to lead the team, Aubrey Bullock and Brent Calvert, went scoreless on a combined 0-5 from the floor. Calvert did contribute six rebounds, three assists, and a pair of blocks, but they’ll need him to provide some offense as well.

A decent start to the year, and Ryan Brinkley has been a huge surprise, leading the team in scoring(12.0 ppg) and rebounding(7.0) so far. Another freshman, Lionel Louis, has been fabulous off the bench(9.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg in 17 mpg), and Stahl is starting to think about making him a starter if he keeps playing this well. Meanwhile presumed star Brent Calvert isn’t scoring at all(3.5 ppg), though he is playing well in other areas(5.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.5 bpg). Junior Dean Jeffries has demonstrated a solid all-around game as well.

So far the Bears are losing the rebounding battle, though only by 0.5 boards a game, but that is a concern. As always, turnovers are also a problem(-1.0).

Avery Foster(Mississippi Valley State)

11.15 Mississippi Valley State(0-0) @ Gardner-Webb(0-0) – L 75-60
11.18 Dayton(0-1) @ Mississippi Valley State(0-1) – L 71-62
11.22 Oregon(0-1) @ Mississippi Valley State(0-2) – W 72-56
11.25 Mississippi Valley State(1-2) @ Purdue(3-0) – L 66-55

A horrific start on the offense end had the Delta Devils trailing 21-6 with nine to go in the first half. They made a bit of a run in the second half as Lydell Jones found his rhythm to score 29, but were never able to mount a serious comeback thanks mostly to 23 turnovers. Hopefully the frontcourt trio just had an off night, as they combined for four points on 2-10 fg. Freshman Nate Spann scored eight off the bench … but also fouled out in just 14 minutes.

It’s been a rougher than expected start for Mississippi Valley State, and it’s really a problem across the board. Lydell Jones has struggled(14.3 ppg, 35% fg), Tre Roe has suddenly become more hesitant to shoot(6.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg), and senior center Brendon Tucker’s shot has disappeared(34.8% fg, 3.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg). His rebounds are well up, but with the need for more balanced offense Tucker is headed to the bench and freshman Josh Cravens(7.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg in 14 mpg) will join the starting lineup. Cravens is clearly the future, and if Tucker isn't playing well, there's no reason other than sentimentality to keep him in the lineup.

You won’t win many games shooting 41% as a team, especially not with continued subpar defense. Roe needs to be more aggressive, and the Delta Devils need Cravens to provide some balance to get this thing turned around. If Jones could manage to stay out of foul trouble and find his rhythm, that wouldn’t hurt either.

Weston Cattley(Texas-San Antonio)

11.14 Texas-San Antonio(0-0) @ Manhattan(0-0) – L 67-51
11.17 Texas-San Antonio(0-1) @ Marquette(1-0) – L 55-54
11.21 Texas-San Antonio(0-2) @ Portland(1-1) – L 59-45
11.24 SC Upstate(1-2) @ Texas-San Antonio(0-3) – W 78-55

The Roadrunners shot horribly early on in the season opener, with the rest of the team save Shahar Brown going 2-19 in the first half combined. Turnovers(-8) and poor perimeter defense did the rest, and they never had a chance in this one. Brown scored 18 with 9 rebounds, but got very little help.

The second game was much different, an indicator of how good this team can be. On the road again, against a solid Marquette team, they gave the Golden Eagles all they could handle all game long, matching them in a physical defensive struggle that they would have an edge in if it weren’t for their struggles at the line(11-20). Twice in the final minutes Blake Land beat his man off the dribble to give them the lead, the second time coming with 40 seconds left to make the score 54-52, but Marquette had the last laugh and hit the game-winner with 10 seconds left.

Back at home, they finally got their first win of the year, embarrassing the two-time defending Atlantic Sun champions as Tyrone Lane and Shahar Brown combined for 39 points.

Once again it’s Shahar Brown(14.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.0 spg) leading the way for Texas-San Antonio, but Tyrone Lane(10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) has been productive as well. Jerome Layne(2.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.0 apg) has been invisible offensively but still has solid all-around credentials. Kevin Young has always been streaky, and he’s on a bad one so far, shooting just 28% from the field over the first couple of weeks, and perimeter defense is just as horrible as it was last year(40.4% 3pt fg allowed).

Most importantly though, shot selection has been pretty poor outside of Brown and Blake Land. Shooting 40% as a team isn’t going to get it done for the Roadrunners, and the young reserves need to learn quickly in order to change that. Right now TXSA is struggling on both ends, and it's showing.

Izulde · 03-10-2008, 02:29 PM

I'm surprised people haven't been calling for Grant's firing yet... and who would've thought Baker would come out so hot with Texas Southern?

Brian Swartz · 03-10-2008, 11:29 PM

I assure you it's only because Cal-Davis sucks so bad normally that there's virtually no such thing as expectations

.

Brian Swartz · 03-14-2008, 10:39 AM

Ralph Perry(Texas Southern)

11.29 Utah Valley State(1-1) @ Texas Southern(3-1) – W 83-78
12.2 Texas Southern(4-1) @ SC Upstate(1-4) – W 85-75
12.6 Michigan(1-5) @ Texas Southern(5-1) – W 80-67

An interesting twist of fate with last year’s nemesis at CSU Bakersfield visiting Health & PE Arena. The Wolverines showed they hadn’t forgotten how to play against a Perry-coached team, jumping out to a quick 14-3 lead. The Tigers came back though, and took command midway through the second half to extract a measure of revenge for their new coach, fending off a late rally by the visitors. Jeff Dodson really made it happen, scoring 28 with five assists.

Denny Grant(Cal-Davis)

11.29 Rutgers(1-3) @ Cal-Davis(0-4) – W 76-65
12.2 Cal-Davis(1-4) @ South Carolina State(0-4) – L 71-47
12.6 Kansas State(4-2) @ Cal-Davis(1-5) – L 74-72(2 OT)
12.9 Wright State(5-0) @ Cal-Davis(1-6) – W 85-60

The Belton experiment paid off immediately. He scored 14 with six rebounds in his first collegiate start, while Reece poured in 23 and sophomore Tyler McColpin had a career-best eight boards off the bench. More importantly Cal-Davis finally got into the win column, with ease, scoring 47 in the first half and cruising from there.

After the debacle at SC State(Belton was in foul trouble the whole game, which didn’t help), Grant made another lineup change. He would have waited longer if things were going well, which they manifestly are not. Another senior was benched(Ryan Coon) in favor of sophomore Tyler McColpin. Ryan has not been nearly as effective defensively at small forward as he has been in previous years inside, and Tyler has been pretty effective so far in his first significant time(2.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.8 apg in 12.8 minutes). Now those aren’t great numbers of course, but they are better than Coon’s – and Grant thinks the younger McColpin has a lot of room to grow. The youth movement is in full swing for the Aggies now, with two freshman, a sophomore, a junior, and only Jamaal Monfre as the lone senior in the starting lineup. If Cal-Davis is going to embarrass themselves like this all year long, the least Coach Grant can do is to prepare the young guys for a more productive future by getting them on the floor more.

The next game, against Kansas State, was an epic battle the whole way. Both teams got buzzer-beating shots to extend it, and it was one heck of a moral victory – but at this point Cal-Davis needs more than that. Wildcats forward Darcel Holmes banked one in over Jamie Belton at the buzzer in the second overtime to dash the Aggies hopes, and Reece scored 29 … but needed 32 shots to do it and was mostly invisible in the extra sessions. He was a bit more efficient in the next game, a blowout of previously unbeaten Wright State, scoring 20 in the first eight minutes as Cal-Davis was on fire all night, hitting 13 three-pointers. They’ve looked good three of the last four times out – maybe they are starting to turn this around. Maybe.

Steve Stahl(Mercer)

11.28 MD Eastern Shore(1-3) @ Mercer(2-2) – L 56-55
12.1 Lafayette(3-2) @ Mercer(2-3) – L 77-73(OT)
12.5 Mercer(2-4) @ Tennessee(2-5) – W 65-55
12.8 Mercer(3-4) @ Western Carolina(3-4) – L 87-53

The game against Eastern Shore was typical of what has happened to this team repeatedly for going on three years now. They led the entire way, but just couldn’t put their opponent away – then collapsed down the stretch. Leading by nine with 56 seconds left, they allowed guard Ales Hatcher to hit three trifectas in the final less than a minute, while Aubrey Bullock missed all three free-throw attempts and had a pair of turnovers as well in the last few possessions. This is as depressing a loss as can almost be imagined, ruining what was until then a well-played game, particularly defensively.

The pattern repeated itself against Lafayette, as the Bears led the whole way until three of four free throws were missed in the final half-minute allowing the visitors to force overtime – two of the misses were again by Bullock. In the extra session, the senior point guard handed away the lead with a turnover in a final minute that led to a layup, and Mercer’s incredible inability to finish doomed them once again.

You might wonder why the senior is still the starting point guard given his inability to execute. The short answer is simply that he’s still clearly the best option available. Fellow senior Art White is still on academic suspension for three more weeks, leaving only junior Bob King as a remotely viable alternative. Both are shooting horribly(less than 35% from the field), and neither can keep a remotely competent opponent out of the paint, though ball pressure is good for both of them. But Stahl’s patience is over with Bullock, who has had no confidence since really the last several games of last year. King is in as the starter – he can’t really do any worse, can he?

Avery Foster(Mississippi Valley State)

11.29 UT-Chattanooga(0-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(1-3) – W 83-76
12.2 Mississippi Valley State(2-3) @ Northern Arizona(1-4) – W 66-65
12.6 Auburn(3-3) @ Mississippi Valley State(3-3) – L 69-68

Josh Cravens also made a big impact in his first start(17 points, four rebounds, three steals), tying with Jones for the scoring lead in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score. The Delta Devils committed just six turnovers, and now appear to have a legitimate inside-outside scoring threat that should make them very difficult to defend, and it showed with 20 team assists.

Both struggled with foul trouble in the next game(Jones logged only 11 minutes), but Cravens rebounded his own miss and put it back in with only three seconds left to put MVS over the top and get them back to .500 on the year.

Weston Cattley(Texas-San Antonio)

11.28 Sacramento State(1-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(1-3) – L 72-54
12.1 Texas-San Antonio(1-4) @ Rutgers(1-4) – W 60-51
12.5 Texas-San Antonio(2-4) @ Charleston(2-5) – L 72-60
12.8 Texas-San Antonio(2-5) @ Mt. Saint Mary’s(3-3) – L 65-59

Shahar Brown moved into third all-time on the Texas-San Antonio scoring list early in the second half against Rutgers, en route to 21 points and eight boards in leading the Roadrunners to their second win of the year.

Bad things tend to happen when you commit five turnovers before making your first field goal on the road. That’s what happened at Charleston, leading to an early 20-7 deficit. Overall, the rest of the game wasn’t much of an improvement.

Brian Swartz · 03-16-2008, 07:33 AM

Ralph Perry(Texas Southern)

12.13 Gardner-Webb(2-6) @ Texas Southern(6-1) – W 81-75
12.20 Texas Southern(7-1) @ Hampton(5-3) – L 86-65

The Pirates brought the Tigers’ impressive winning ways to an abrupt halt, shutting down their open threes and limiting Dodson to just 3-15 shooting.

SWAC STANDINGS

Alabama State(8-2, 63)
Prairie View A&M(5-4, 109)
Alcorn State(6-4, 111)
Jackson State(4-5, 147)
Texas Southern(7-2, 157)
Southern(5-4, 203)
Grambling(5-4, 211)
Mississippi Valley State(5-4, 217)
Alabama A&M(1-8, 320)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff(3-6, 325)

No question Texas Southern is headed for a much better season than last year – they only need three more wins to beat last season’s total. Their weak non-conference schedule begs the question of how good though, and they’ll start to answer that question in SWAC competition. Certainly a .500 record in the conference would give them a very nice season, and should be well within reach.

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Jeff Dodson(18.2), Derek Phillips(17.8), Ty Thomas(8.2)
Rebounds: Ty Thomas(7.6), Derek Phillips(6.1), Jeff Dodson/Antonio Graham(4.4)
Assists: Jeff Dodson(4.1), Arthur Smith(3.8), Richie Green(2.1)

Aside from the scoring, Jeff Dodson also leads the team in steals(1.8) and blocks(1.6). He’s a very versatile performer, and along with Derek Phillips forms the best duo in the conference. Perry needs to make hay while he can – both will be graduating at the end of the season.

Denny Grant(Cal-Davis)

12.13 Fairfield(2-4) @ Cal-Davis(2-6) – W 75-60
12.16 Cal-Davis(3-6) @ SMU(5-5) – L 58-47
12.20 Cal-Davis(3-7) @ Delaware State(4-4) – W 82-73

Back to back wins? What kind of nonsense is this? Jamie Belton(18 points, 8-9 fg) helped the Aggies finish on a 14-0 run, and Jamaal Monfre’s double-double(11 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists) helped overcome a 4-21 night from Thaydeus Reece.

BIG WEST STANDINGS

Long Beach State(8-3, 35)
Cal Poly(7-4, 64)
Pacific(8-3, 106)
Cal St. Fullerton(7-4, 158)
Cal-Riverside(5-6, 246)
Cal-Davis(4-7, 248)
Cal St. Northridge(2-9, 266)
Cal-Santa Barbara(4-7, 308)
Cal-Irvine(5-6, 317)

Avoiding another finish at the bottom will be a pretty tall order for Cal-Davis this year.

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Thaydeus Reece(21.4), Jamie Belton(8.7), Jamaal Monfre(8.4)
Rebounds: Jamaal Monfre(8.0), Jamie Belton(4.3), Thaydeus Reece/Tyler McColpin(3.1)
Assists: Correy Collison(3.7), Jamaal Monfre(2.8), John Waldon(2.1)

Thaydeus Reece has well over three times the shot attempts of any other Aggie, and is hitting on only 35% of those attempts. Belton(64%) and Monfre(59%) are both very efficient, but tend to disappear against quality opponents. When Reece is the only real option, the team really struggles.

Defensively Tyler McColpin is learning quickly, and he’s helped, but in the backcourt Collison and Reece are a little subpar and there have been plenty of open shots on the perimeter for Cal-Davis’ opponents. Interior defense has been sound, and for the first time in Grant’s tenure they are doing a solid job on the boards(+0.2 per game). Jamaal Monfre’s emergence as a good rebounder and passer in the paint is the main reason for that. To compete in the Big West, Cal-Davis will need continued development from Reece, Belton, and McColpin, and they’ll need to cut down on the turnovers(14.4 per game).

Steve Stahl(Mercer)

12.12 Dayton(5-3) @ Mercer(3-5) – W 81-52
12.15 Southern Miss(3-7) @ Mercer(4-5) – W 68-57
12.19 Mercer(5-5) @ Buffalo(3-7) – L 54-53

Another tough one against the Bulls. Again Mercer outplayed their opponent badly, but they just couldn’t buy a shot, hitting on only 33% while Buffalo made their first six from the field. They totally outworked the home squad though, grabbing 15 offensive rebounds and forcing 21 turnovers to stay in it. Twice in the final 90 seconds they cut the gap to a single point, but were unable to get over the top. Ryan Brinkley’s line was symptomatic: only six points on 2-14 fg, but two steals, four assists, and 15 rebounds. Jimmy Barker had 12 points off the bench but no-one else could buy a shot consistently.

ATLANTIC SUN STANDINGS

East Tennessee State(7-4, 98)
Florida Gulf Coast(8-3, 103)
Lipscomb(7-4, 125)
Campbell(7-4, 129)
Kennesaw State(5-6, 136)
Belmont(4-7, 155)
Mercer(5-6, 222)
Stetson(4-7, 290)
SC Upstate(2-9, 297)
Gardner-Webb(4-7, 322)
North Florida(2-9, 323)
Jacksonville(3-8, 338)

Same old song for Mercer. They should have at least 7-8 wins, which would put them right up with the best in the conference so far. No reason why they can’t compete IF they can reverse their tradition of losing won/close games. A big if though, and one they haven’t managed to solve yet.

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Ryan Brinkley(10.5), Phillip Frederick(7.6), Lionel Louis(7.2)
Rebounds: Ryan Brinkley(6.4), Brent Calvert(4.6), Phillip Frederick(3.6)
Assists: Aubrey Bullock(3.5), Bob King(2.7), Ryan Brinkley(1.7)

As you can see, the Bears aren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard. On paper Ryan Brinkley is clearly the team’s surprise MVP and yet his numbers don’t exactly scare anybody. No, this year’s team is doing it with outstanding defense. Brent Calvert leads the way, and he might still be the best player on the team, just not as much as a scorer as was expected. It is that defense which keeps Lionel Louis, one of the few subpar players on the team in that area, firmly fastened to the bench. Mercer is second in the conference to Florida Gulf Coast in most defensive categories, allowing opponents to shoot 40.9%. They are doing reasonably well in turnovers(+0.2) and competing in rebounding(-0.3) – their biggest problem is that there is no three-point threat on the team to stretch defenses. Brinkley thinks he is one but is 0-15 on the year. Dean Jefferies can shoot it(42%) but doesn’t try all that many(26 attempts so far).

Senior Art White is back from suspension, and he’ll take over the backup point guard spot. Aubrey Bullock has done nothing to earn his way back into the lineup, and sadly he’ll likely play out the rest of this season, the last of his career, at the end of the bench in disgrace. He was decent for a couple years, but he just gave away too many games with his fragile psyche and poor decision-making.

Brian Swartz · 03-16-2008, 07:35 AM

Avery Foster(Mississippi Valley State)

12.13 Mississippi Valley State(3-4) @ UTEP(2-7) – W 77-62
12.20 Mississippi Valley State(4-4) @ Middle Tennessee State(1-7) – W 78-77

It got late early for the Miners: 19-2 MVS over the first almost nine minutes. That would be four wins in a row were it not for the nailbiter loss against Auburn last time out. Nate Spann hit the game-winner against MTSU with 25 seconds left after Josh Cravens(16 points) spearheaded a second-half comeback. Jones fouled out in only 17 minutes, but Tre Roe(16 points, 6 boards) had one of his best games of the year.

SWAC STANDINGS

Alabama State(8-2, 63)
Prairie View A&M(5-4, 109)
Alcorn State(6-4, 111)
Jackson State(4-5, 147)
Texas Southern(7-2, 157)
Southern(5-4, 203)
Grambling(5-4, 211)
Mississippi Valley State(5-4, 217)
Alabama A&M(1-8, 320)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff(3-6, 325)

The RPI rankings don’t look too promising, but the Delta Devils are 4-1 with Josh Cravens starting.

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Lydell Jones(13.6), Josh Cravens(12.2), Nate Spann(8.3)
Rebounds: Brendon Tucker(5.1), Tre Roe(4.8), Josh Cravens(4.3)
Assists: Criag Sarpy(3.6), Riley Coulter(3.4), Lydell Jones(1.7)

Point guard play has been mostly horrific on both ends, and yet MVS has proven very difficult to defend. It seems clear that Cravens will likely be the team’s leading scorer by the end of the year: he’s scored 16.4 in his five starts and 16-19 in four of them, shooting 57% in those games. Fellow freshman Nate Spann is instant offense off the bench and the team’s best perimeter defender, but he is just wholly unsuited to playing the point and so is stuck playing behind Lydell Jones for at least the rest of the year. Getting almost 22 points a game from the position makes Jones’ reduced productivity a lot more palatable – and Cravens is taking a lot of those shots anyway.

The Delta Devils are still a substandard defensive team, and they’re going to have to continue to try to just outscore everybody – something they are reasonably well suited to. They do a good job at creating turnovers(+2.1) which masks that weakness to a significant extent.

Foster decided to pull the string on some more lineup changes heading into the SWAC schedule. The first one involves point guard, where sophomore Criag Sarpy has been struggling to find his shot(36% fg). His three-point shooting was considered a strength last year, but it’s down quite a bit this season and hasn’t come around much. He’ll switch places with backup junior Riley Coulter, who like Sarpy was not highly regarded as a recruit. Coulter runs the offense better, having the best ratio at 1.9 on the team, and he has been shooting the ball with more and more confidence as the season has worn on. He’s shot over 50% from the field over the last five games, though his defense is horrific – even worse than his younger teammates. The clincher is that the Delta Devils just play with a lot more confidence when he’s on the floor: his net +/- of +30 is second only to Lydell Jones. Coulter averaged only five minutes a game last year and has never started, but he’s given every indication he’s ready.

The other choice deals with junior Jason Barlow at small forward. Barlow is part of the frontcourt trio that did so much the last couple years, and he had some big games down the stretch last year, including playing a key role in both of their conference tournament wins. He’s not a guy anybody enjoys benching – but while he’s been a good prescence defensively, offensively he’s been a nightmare, shooting less than 36%, less than 50% from the line, and only 3-11 from 3-point range. Once again, it’s time to look to the future – in this case, freshman Jason Singletary. Singletary’s a decent defender, though not as good as Barlow, but offers more versatility particularly offensively as he has three-point range, even if he does shoot a few too many of them. He’ll help spread the floor, and has a lot more upside.

The resulting lineup is now Riley Coulter/Lydell Jones/Jason Singletary/Tre Roe/Josh Cravens. Two juniors, a sophomore, and two freshmen. It’s certainly jumbling the lineup like this on the eve of the conference schedule, but Avery Foster is playing for the future here. A couple extra games lost this year are a risk, but the team should be stronger than they would be otherwhise at the end of the season, and next year they’ll be glad of the extra seasoning, particularly in Jason Singletary’s case. With the lineup getting even younger, they will run a little more up-tempo, freestyle offensively.

Weston Cattley(Texas-San Antonio)

12.12 South Dakota State(4-2) @ Texas-San Antonio(2-6) – W 62-53
12.15 Northeastern(3-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(3-6) – W 56-44
12.19 Boston College(4-6) @ Texas-San Antonio(4-6) – W 66-55

With Tyrone Lane hobbled with a minor knee injury against Northeastern, Shahar Brown(26 points, 9 rebounds) and John Merfeld(career-high nine rebounds, seven points) stepped up to give the Roadrunners their first back-to-back wins of the year. Lane had a triumphant return to full health against BC, scoring a season-high 21(16 in the first half) and grabbing 7 boards in a third straight win.

SOUTHLAND STANDINGS

Stephen F. Austin(6-5, 50)
Lamar(6-5, 57)
Texas State(7-5, 80)
SE Louisiana(6-5, 81)
McNeese State(6-5, 89)
Northwestern State(8-3, 104)
Texas-Arlington(6-5, 169)
Nicholls State(6-5, 216)
TX Corpus Christi(5-6, 224)
Central Arkansas(6-5, 235)
Sam Houston State(4-7, 257)
Texas-San Antonio(5-6, 265)

The Roadrunners are certainly up against it in a conference that is loaded with several very solid teams this year. Coach Cattley desperately needs to keep them out of last place, but it won’t be easy.

TEAM LEADERS

Points: Shahar Brown(16.7), Tyrone Lane(10.9), Blake Land(7.5)
Rebounds: Shahar Brown(7.7), Jerome Layne(7.0), Tyrone Lane(6.5)
Assists: Kevin Young(4.8), Jerome Layne(2.4), Blake Land(2.1)

Shahar Brown is hitting on nearly half his attempts this year, and Lane has been effective as well(47%), though that is unfortunately better than his atrocious rate at the free-throw line(10-26). Kevin Young has started to find his shot again, while the bench, unproven at the beginning of the year is … still unproven. Only sophomore Steven Billips has shown much of anything, and his turnover problems keep him right where he is for now.

The Roadrunners really shine on the boards, where they have a better than +8 differential per game. The defense on the perimeter still isn’t great, but it’s been a little better than last year’s overall. The biggest problem remains as it was early in the season: shot selection is horrible off the bench(Grundman and Merfeld are disasters, but there really isn’t any viable alternative to either, and at least they rebound some.) Also, TXSA is dead last in the Southland in free-throw shooting at less than 66%. Anytime they have foul trouble, particularly on the front line, it’s a real struggle to score. The starters really have to carry the load, and they’ll probably lose some games in the conference schedule due to this lack of quality depth.

Brian Swartz · 03-18-2008, 10:23 AM

Ralph Perry(Texas Southern)

12.27 Jackson State(4-5, 0-0) @ Texas Southern(7-2, 0-0) – W 82-70
12.30 Texas Southern(8-2, 1-0) @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff(3-7, 0-1) – L 90-65
1.3 Alcorn State(8-4, 2-0) @ Texas Southern(8-3, 1-1) – L 78-75
1.6 Texas Southern(8-4, 1-2) @ Mississippi Valley State(5-7, 0-3) – W 103-93

A very solid opening win at home by the score, but the Tigers got lucky – Jackson State shot much more poorly than usual and had 23 offensive rebounds. You won’t win many games like that, but they got away with it this time. Not so much in their next one against the Golden Lions – they looked downright awful on both ends of the floor. Their first back to back losses and first setback at home both came courtesy of another lesson in the value of rebounding(16 offensive) by Alcorn State.

Denny Grant(Cal-Davis)

12.27 Cal-Santa Barbara(4-7, 0-0) @ Cal-Davis(4-7, 0-0) – W 73-58
1.3 Cal-Davis(5-7, 1-0) @ Cal-Riverside(6-7, 1-1) – L 67-63
1.6 Cal St. Northridge(2-12, 0-3) @ Cal-Davis(5-8, 1-1) – W 58-47

Cal-Davis got the Big West season off to a very strong start with a convincing win against the Gauchos, holding them to 34% shooting and getting 33 points from Reece in one of his best games.

The Northridge game looked like a real matchup between a cellar dweller and a solid team – and for once the Aggies were the latter. It was never close, and they’ve gotten off to a fine start in the Big West.

Steve Stahl(Mercer)

12.29 Mercer(5-6, 0-0) @ North Florida(2-9, 0-0) – L 67-50
1.2 Belmont(4-8, 0-1) @ Mercer(5-7, 0-1) – W 78-63
1.5 Mercer(6-7, 1-1) @ Stetson(6-7, 2-0) – W 81-73

The Bears and Ospreys, ostensibly on the floor for a demonstration of quality collegiate basketball, decided to put on a clinic instead in the art of throwing the ball directly to a member of the other team. Mercer won handily, 27-19. Do not adjust your set. 46 combined turnovers in a game that wasn’t played at a particularly quick pace. The result was predictable – and nearly unwatchable. Ugly with a capital U. The starting frontcourt combining to shoot 2-17 wasn’t particularly helpful either.

The Bears bounced back strong in a must-win game, dominating Belmont physically in the early going. Then freshman Ryan Brinkley made a personal decision that they simply weren’t going to lose against the Stetson Hatters, scoring a career-high 30 points on 11-15 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds as Bob King dished out 12 assists and the Bears shot nearly 60% for the game.

Avery Foster(Mississippi Valley State)

12.27 Alcorn State(6-4, 0-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(5-4, 0-0) – L 84-71
12.30 Mississippi Valley State(5-5, 0-1) @ Grambling(5-5, 0-1) – L 71-53
1.3 Mississippi Valley State(5-6, 0-2) @ Alabama A&M(2-9, 1-1) – L 74-55
1.6 Texas Southern(8-4, 1-2) @ Mississippi Valley State(5-7, 0-3) – L 103-93

MVS had the look of a team getting used to the new lineup and rotation early in the conference opener, falling behind 11-0 as they had no points and five turnovers over the first six minutes. They set a season high with 16 first-half turnovers, not surprisingly trailing by 20 at the break. Alcorn State never had to sweat in the second half, while Criag Sarpy set a career-high in turnovers(13), validating the choice to bench him as Coulter was in foul trouble early and had to sit.

Lydell Jones was the lone bright spot(20 points, 8 rebounds, three steals), but this was a very costly loss for one other reason. They lost Josh Cravens midway through the first half in a violent collision under the basket. The standout freshman center will miss at least two weeks with a bruised stomach muscle, and senior Brendon Tucker will step back in the lineup temporarily.

The first matchup between Avery Foster and Ralph Perry was quite anticlimactic – the Delta Devils had lost three in a row and were in a tailspin, while the Tigers had lost two in a row and were clearly struggling to keep up with the level of competition in the conference. Both teams like to score and aren’t quite as good on the defensive end, and this game provided plenty of opportunities for the sharpshooters on both squads.

A late first-half rally put Texas Southern up 52-42 at the half, as Jason Singletary had a horrific shooting first half(1-10) for MVS. Lydell Jones led them back to even quickly after the break, but Jeff Dodson had the hotter hand down the stretch, and the Tigers soon pulled away behind his 33 points. Jones finished with 23, and Nate Spann’s first game back to full health saw him score 15 off the bench in 14 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Texas Southern’s 3-point barrage(16-27).

Weston Cattley(Texas-San Antonio)

12.29 Stephen F. Austin(6-5, 0-0) @ Texas-San Antonio(5-6, 0-0) – L 54-42
1.2 Texas-San Antonio(5-7, 0-1) @ Texas State(8-5, 1-0) – W 69-59
1.5 TX Corpus Christi(6-7, 1-1) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-7, 1-1) – W 61-41

Another thoroughly revolting display of basketball, with the teams combining to shoot less than 29% in the first half, for 46 total points. The Roadrunners never got their offense going, but the visitors did for a brief stretch just after the break, and in this kind of a game it was all they needed.

The Texas State Bobcats were the recipients of a determined TXSA team that made of 11 of their first 14 shots, leading to a first half in which they scored exactly the same 42 points they’d managed in the entire game against SFA. After the fast start they led comfortably until a very late Texas State run in their most impressive win of the season to date – and against one of the better teams in the Southland to boot. A few more performances like this and they won’t be anywhere near the cellar.

I’m sure it’s possible for a team to look worse than the visiting Islanders did in the next game, but I’ve never seen it. Turnovers, horrible shot selection, stupid fouls putting the Roadrunners in the penalty before the midpoint of the first half, they made just about every stupid mistake a team can make on the basketball court. After 15 minutes it was 26-6 … and this is with them out-rebounding TXSA 14-8, no easy task there. This wasn’t a game, it was gift – one that has the Roadrunners thinking happier thoughts than usually is the case this time of year about their prospects in the Southland Conference.

Brian Swartz · 03-19-2008, 09:59 AM

Ralph Perry(Texas Southern)

1.10 Alabama A&M(3-10, 2-2) @ Texas Southern(9-4, 2-2) – W 80-66
1.13 Texas Southern(10-4, 3-2) @ Grambling(7-7, 2-3) – L 68-66
1.17 Texas Southern(10-5, 3-3) @ Southern(6-9, 1-5) – W 76-67
1.20 Alabama State(12-5, 4-3) @ Texas Southern(11-5, 4-3) – L 83-72

The game against Southern looked ugly for a half, but the Tigers turned up the defense, forcing 20 turnovers to survive despite 11 missed free-throws. Forward Matt Cliff had a strong game with 16 off the bench – when he’s on, he can really score in a hurry. Unfortunately that’s almost never, but it got them a road win here.

Denny Grant(Cal-Davis)

1.10 Cal-Davis(6-8, 2-1) @ Cal Poly(8-7, 1-3) – L 65-59
1.13 Long Beach State(10-5, 2-2) @ Cal-Davis(6-9, 2-2) – W 62-52
1.17 Cal-Davis(7-9, 3-2) @ Cal St. Fullerton(10-6, 3-2) – W 75-54
1.20 Cal-Irvine(8-9, 3-3) @ Cal-Davis(8-9, 4-2) – W 58-56

Well you have to give Thaydeus Reece credit for playing hard against the Mustangs, but his first half was one of the strangest lines I’ve ever seen. Nine rebounds, but 0-15 from the field. It’s hard to be that bad. The rest of the team was a combined 5-12, so they weren’t really lighting it up either.

What’s even stranger is what happened after that. It was 33-14 at the half. Five minutes later the gap was only 40-35, as the shooter with no conscience had gone 4-7 for 13 points in the interim. After a silent first half, Jamie Belton played great on both ends in the second half to keep it close, but they never quite managed to get all the way back. Reece finished with 19 points and 11 boards on 7-26 shooting(7-11 in the second half), but he just dug the Aggies too big a hole.

A really impressive win at Cal-State Fullerton gave them back to back victories thanks to a 27-8 start over the first ten minutes, as their hosts couldn’t deal with either Reece or Belton. Jamie Belton in particular had a strong day(18 points, 6 rebounds) and Cal-Davis shot 55% for the game.
A third straight win, at home against the Anteaters, came in the most unlikely way. In foul trouble throughout, Thaydeus Reece was scoreless until the final minute. Cal-Davis still managed to hold a small lead until then, with Tyler McColpin(14 points, 6 rebounds) having by far his best game(eight points was his previous best), Correy Collison(12 points) and Isaac Hale(10 points) pitching in with the scoring to overcome a miserable job at the line(9-17 FT). After Irvine had come back to tie it, Reece(0-5 fg at that point) got free for a jumper from the wing to restore the lead – and they got the final stop to preserve it. The kid’s confidence is just amazing … he always believes the next shot is going in, no matter how horribly he might have played.

At 5-2 in the Big West, the Aggies have had a remarkable turnaround from the woes earlier in the year, and are tied for the conference lead now with Pacific ... who is their next opponent. It’s not possible this team could seriously contend for the conference, is it?

Steve Stahl(Mercer)

1.9 Mercer(7-7, 2-1) @ SC Upstate(4-10, 2-1) – L 72-58
1.12 Lipscomb(9-6, 2-2) @ Mercer(7-8, 2-2) – W 82-74
1.16 Mercer(8-8, 3-2) @ Kennesaw State(9-7, 4-1) – L 61-49
1.19 Mercer(8-9, 3-3) @ Campbell(9-8, 2-4) – W 71-64

As usual, SC Upstate is off to another good start to the A-Sun season after a rough non-conference record, and a 15-2 run over the first five minutes showed they weren’t impressed by the Bears early success. Mercer didn’t really even compete, and were smashed by the two-time defending conference champs despite a solid effort from Brinkley(16 points, 6 rebounds). Bob King had a career-best 22 in the next outing, with Brinkley having his third straight strong game(21 points, 6 rebounds) to help the Bears defend their home court.

On the road again, for the fifth time in seven games to open the A-Sun slate, there was a chance to extract a pound of flesh from last year’s nemesis, the Campbell Camels. For those who have forgotten – certainly nobody on the Mercer campus – they endured a one-point loss at home to Campbell in the regular season on a buzzer-beater, then had their season ended by them in the tournament quarterfinals in much more convincing style, 74-63.

After an uneven start to the game, Mercer went on a 15-0 run to close the first half with Ryan Brinkley leading the way once again, then held on late for the win. If the Bears can managed even a 5-4 finish in the last nine games – hardly a Herculean feat when six of them will be at home – they’ll have the first winning season in Steve Stahl’s tenure, and the first since 1959. When they aren’t too busy throwing the ball away to random fans in the fourth row(another 20 turnovers today), they really do some excellent thing on both ends. Oh, and Brinkley had 16 and 11, while Bob King had an unfortunate double, 16 with 10 turnovers.

And Stahl made another switch at backup point guard – Art White has been such a disaster in almost every way that he’s been thrown to the end of the bench and Aubrey Bullock is getting another chance at some small measure redemption. Bob King’s still the starter and that won’t change – he’s gives the Bears four good defenders out of five starters, and that’s why they are winning – but White was averaging a turnover about every four minutes. Yuck.

Avery Foster(Mississippi Valley State)

1.10 Mississippi Valley State(5-8, 0-4) @ Southern(6-7, 1-3) – W 74-64
1.13 Alabama State(11-4, 3-2) @ Mississippi Valley State(6-8, 1-4) – W 79-72
1.17 Mississippi Valley State(7-8, 2-4) @ Prairie View A&M(8-7, 3-3) – L 72-69
1.20 Jackson State(10-6, 6-1) @ Mississippi Valley State(7-9, 2-5) – L 75-56

The bleeding finally stopped against Southern, as with Cravens still out Jason Singletary validated his starting role somewhat with his best game yet, 18 points and four rebounds including a couple key buckets down the stretch to salt it away. Jones and Roe each added 11 as well in a much more balanced effort than they’ve had recently.

After a bit of an uneven start for the Delta Devils, the big man’s first game back against Alabama State was a fabulous game with a lot of tense back-and-forth action. The Hornets held a small lead most of the way, but Roe tied it up and then Lydell Jones hit a three to put MVS on top for the first time in a while with 1:03 left. Despite missing 3 of 4 free throws at the end, the defense was equal to the task and the brutal losing streak of the SWAC’s first two weeks is just a memory now. Jones had 16, and Cravens 14 with seven boards.

A tough game against Prairie View, a game the Delta Devils should have won as they were in control most of the second half until a 12-0 run spanning several frustrating minutes where they just couldn’t get anything to go down. Trailing 72-69 with 10 seconds left, they had one final shot, but Craig Sarpy’s three was off-target and a win they really should have had went by.

23 turnovers doomed them against conference-leading and defending champions Jackson State – you just don’t beat them without playing your best, and they didn’t have the magic of last year’s upset. Still a long hill to climb in the SWAC for the Devils.

Weston Cattley(Texas-San Antonio

1.9 Texas-San Antonio(7-7, 2-1) @ Sam Houston State(6-8, 2-1) – L 59-56
1.12 Texas-Arlington(6-9, 0-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(7-8, 2-2) – W 79-68
1.16 Texas-San Antonio(8-8, 3-2) @ McNeese State(7-9, 1-4) – L 67-57
1.19 Central Arkansas(8-9, 2-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(8-9, 3-3) – W 71-51

A better effort than usual against Sam Houston, but the Roadrunners still trailed by double digits most of the way. And then late in the second half as the starters were getting their final break, a strange thing happened. The bench led a stirring comeback – Shannon Grundman, John Merfeld, Steven Billips, the much maligned second unit all made big plays, and when they sat with two and a half minutes left they had cut the gap to 59-56! Neither team could score over the next couple minutes, so it remained a three-point game as the Roadrunners took possession after another stop with only seven ticks left on the clock. Senior Kevin Young was the only choice to take the shot(40% on the year from 3-point range, 2-6 today). They doubled him though, forcing Blake Land to take a return pass, and he bricked it – only his fourth attempt on the season. And so a brave effort went by the boards. Once again free-throw shooting hurt, as the Roadrunners missed 7 of 18 attempts.

They deserved to lose against McNeese State, trailing 51-33 at one point in the second half, but Shahar Brown really turned it up to lead a 17-2 run that cut the gap to three with nine minutes left. It was turnover central after that though(they finished with 25, eight of them in the final nine minutes) and they would score only seven points in those final minutes.

Blake Land was hurt in the opening moments against the Grizzlies, and Coach Cattley was decidedly nervous without his best perimeter defender on the floor – Billips took his place as usual. The whole team played well, particularly on the defensive end, and the outcome was never in doubt. Thankfully Land will be back at full strength for the next game, though Tyrone Lane is a question mark after he tweaked his calf. It’s not a major concern though, he’ll miss one game at the most.

Brian Swartz · 03-21-2008, 08:29 AM

Ralph Perry(Texas Southern)

1.24 Texas Southern(11-6, 4-4) @ Prairie View A&M(9-8, 4-4) – L 79-77
1.27 Texas Southern(11-7, 4-5) @ Jackson State(12-6, 8-1) – L 67-57
1.31 Arkansas-Pine Bluff(8-11, 5-5) @ Texas Southern(11-8, 4-6) – W 79-74
2.3 Texas Southern(12-8, 5-6) @ Alcorn State(13-8, 7-4) – L 82-72

Against Prairie View the vaunted Tigers offense devolved into a pair of desperation threes in the final minute by backup freshman guard Aaron Petion -- neither of which was close.

Jackson State didn’t forget their loss to the Tigers in the conference opener – they haven't lost since. They showed how much they’ve learned in holding Texas Southern to a season low this time around, and sending them to their third straight defeat, a season high. Derek Phillips, who scored 22, was the only guy with a pulse offensively. The rest of the team shot 13-46.

Denny Grant(Cal-Davis)

1.24 Cal-Davis(9-9, 5-2) @ Pacific(13-5, 5-2) – L 73-70
1.27 Cal-Davis(9-10, 5-3) @ Cal-Santa Barbara(8-11, 4-4) – W 88-76
2.3 Cal-Riverside(9-12, 4-6) @ Cal-Davis(10-10, 6-3) – W 78-67

Without question the matchup with Pacific was the most significant game to date of Coach Grant’s career. The Tigers had won ten straight(including then-#13 Tulsa in their list of victims) before dropping two of their last three. They haven’t been beaten at home since November though, and are the top-scoring team in the conference at 71.5 ppg – while the Aggies haven’t allowed more than 67 to any Big West foe. A clear battle of styles, and there’s no question that despite identical conference records, Cal-Davis was the clear underdog.

Both teams came out and played very focused – there were few second-shot opportunities and virtually no careless passes, it was a great game to watch early. After Cal-Davis took a 41-33 halftime lead, Pacific really did a job on Reece in the second half, crowding him very effectively, but they were unable to take control of a game that seemed destined to go down to the wire.

With a minute left, the freshman star managed to shake free of the Tigers zone and sank a three to cut their lead to 69-68. They couldn’t quite get there during the final minute, including a key turnover by Collison, but it was one heck of an effort – and Pacific will have to face them again at Cal-Davis Pavillion in the season’s final game. Thaydeus Reece showed once again he’s not afraid of the big moments, scoring 25 with six rebounds, but wasn’t able to get enough scoring support.

The Aggies have played particularly well lately on the offensive end, and with Isaac Hale coming off the bench to score 19 against Riverside, they’ve kept it going with back-to-back wins after the loss to Pacific.

Steve Stahl(Mercer)

1.23 East Tennessee State(10-8, 3-4) @ Mercer(9-9, 4-3) – W 73-66
1.26 Florida Gulf Coast(14-5, 6-2) @ Mercer(10-9, 5-3) – L 57-55
1.30 Mercer(10-10, 5-4) @ Gardner-Webb(8-12, 4-5) – W 68-59
2.2 Jacksonville(8-13, 5-5) @ Mercer(11-10, 6-4) – W 79-71

A great win against the Buccanners got the Bears to 10 victories on the year – the kind of game they normally lose. East Tennessee State shot well most of the game, but the focus was there for Mercer and they kept it close with a decent job on the boards and only eight turnovers. Eventually the visitors started missing, and Mercer was able to take advantadge with a late run. Brinkley led with 17 points, but it was a pretty balanced team effort.

Brinkley slumped badly in the last two, but Dean Jefferies picked up the slack, scoring 32 points in the games combined to keep the Bears on track.

Avery Foster(Mississippi Valley State)

1.24 Mississippi Valley State(7-10, 2-6) @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff(6-11, 3-5) – L 71-64
1.27 Mississippi Valley State(7-11, 2-7) @ Alcorn State(11-8, 5-4) – L 84-50
1.31 Grambling(11-8, 6-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(7-12, 2-8) – L 68-64
2.3 Alabama A&M(5-15, 4-7) @ Mississippi Valley State(7-13, 2-9) – W 70-60

Despite having finally snapped another losing streak – they’ve now had a five and a four-game slide in this conference season – MVS is officially a disaster. Nobody is playing well consistently, they are typically getting about ten solid minutes a game and playing like chumps the rest of it. It took Lydell Jones’s best game(25 points) since the season opener to get them this win – at home – against another horrible SWAC team – that turned it over 21 times. Cravens and Roe are occasionally decent, but usually invisible, Jones has been erratic, and the rest of the team pretty much hasn’t shown up at all lately. Right now the Devils are just waiting for this nightmare to end.

Weston Cattley(Texas-San Antonio)

1.23 Nicholls State(11-7, 5-2) @ Texas-San Antonio(9-9, 4-3) – L 76-62
1.26 Texas-San Antonio(9-10, 4-4) @ Lamar(10-9, 4-4) – L 72-66
1.30 Texas-San Antonio(9-11, 4-5) @ Northwestern State(12-8, 4-5) – L 61-50
2.2 SE Louisiana(11-10, 5-5) @ Texas-San Antonio(9-12, 4-6) – W 62-54

Lane started the game against Nicholls State, but had to be spelled regularly. Shahar Brown came out determined though, scoring 11 points in the first five minutes to get TXSA off to an early lead. It didn’t last long though, with the Lancers raining threes – nine of them in the first half. In the end, it was the bench(other John Merfeld’s first double-double) and the inability to stop the threes(17-34) that did the Roadrunners in, especially late.

The Roadrunners stellar rebounding has all but disappeared, and their consistency in executing offensively has also dropped dramatically in the last few games. And then Lane got hurt again early against SE Louisiana, the last thing the struggling Roadrunners needed. An excellent defensive game combined with a strong effort from Shahar Brown(18 points, 8 rebounds) gave them an easy win regardless, but they need to have this kind of effort more to stay afloat down the stretch.

Brian Swartz · 03-23-2008, 04:20 PM

Ralph Perry(Texas Southern)]

2.7 Mississippi Valley State(8-13, 3-9) @ Texas Southern(12-9, 5-7) – W 73-70
2.10 Texas Southern(13-9, 6-7) @ Alabama A&M(6-16, 5-8) – L 78-54
2.14 Grambling(12-11, 7-7) @ Texas Southern(13-10, 6-8) – W 90-69
2.17 Southern(10-14, 5-10) @ Texas Southern(14-10, 7-8) – W 81-71

The second meeting between the new conference rivals was not as up-tempo as the first, but it was very competitive, going right down to the final minutes. MVS freshman Jason Singletary had his shot blocked with just over a minute left, but got the rebound and eventually a return pass for a jumper from the right wing to put the Delta Devils in front 70-69 with a hair under a minute left.

After traveling on their ensuing possession, Tigers sophomore Ty Thomas stole an errant Lydell Jones(21 points) pass which ended up in the hands of Richie Green eventually for a layup, putting them back ahead. Josh Cravens(11 points, 8 rebounds) had a key turnover late, and Corey Clarke got the better of his more famous sophomore counterpart Jones, blocking his last-second attempt to preserve the win and a sweep of the matchups this year for Texas Southern and Coach Perry.

The usual suspects got the job done, with seniors Jeff Dodson and Derek Phillips combining for 27 points. For Mississippi Valley State, Riley Coulter had a career-high 11 assists in defeat.

Denny Grant(Cal-Davis)

2.7 Cal-Davis(11-10, 7-3) @ Cal St. Northridge(4-18, 2-9) – L 72-62
2.10 Cal Poly(15-8, 8-4) @ Cal-Davis(11-11, 7-4) – W 86-80(OT)
2.14 Cal-Davis(12-11, 8-4) @ Long Beach State(13-10, 5-7) – L 91-73
2.17 Cal St. Fullerton(14-10, 7-6) @ Cal-Davis(12-12, 8-5) – W 85-75(2 OT)

After a six-point loss to the Cal Poly Mustangs on their court earlier in the year, the return matchup was a must-win for the Aggies if they wanted to stay in contention for the Big West title. It was a fantastic game, extremely close other than a brief period when Poly broke out in the first half, and was still tied entering the final minute. Both teams hit big shots at the end, and with 11 seconds left the Aggies got the ball, the score still even. Tyler McColpin missed the potential game-winner, and it was overtime in a game absolutely critical to both schools.

The Aggies got enough stops in overtime to prevent any more last-minute heroics, as McColpin made a three and Reece hit two of them to seal the win. Thaydeus Reece finished with 26, with McColpin adding 12 and Jamaal Monfre playing a strong all-around game, totaling 11 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds. Being their 12th win of the year, it also made this officially the best of Grant’s three seasons at Cal-Davis.

They are definitely fading a little here at the wrong time of the year, but had another classic game against Fullerton in the most recent outing. After trailing most of the game, the final minute was a series of incredible plays. Monfre scored inside to tie it at 65, then after CSF star Tim Alexander hit a three, Tyler McColpin came right back with one of his own to tie it at 68 with seven seconds left. They forced a turnover and an overtime session at the end.

The extra period went back and forth, but it looked like they would end up a little bit short – until Correy Collison drilled a three at the buzzer, tying it at 75 and sending the game to a SECOND overtime! It was all Aggies from there on, as they didn’t allow a single point in the final period. Collison’s 17 were huge, and Reece scored 25.

Steve Stahl(Mercer)

2.6 North Florida(6-16, 4-7) @ Mercer(12-10, 7-4) – L 62-58
2.9 Mercer(12-11, 7-5) @ Belmont(9-14, 5-7) – L 69-58
2.13 Stetson(14-10, 10-3) @ Mercer(12-12, 7-6) – W 81-62
2.16 SC Upstate(7-18, 5-9) @ Mercer(13-12, 8-6) – W 85-67

The Bears had about 15 half-decent minutes offensively against the Ospreys, which wasn’t quite enough to avoid getting upset at home. A lot more troublesome is the fact that they got out-rebounded 37-28. It was the worst Mercer has looked in weeks.

Brent Calvert’s finest offensive game all year(13 points, 6 rebounds) helped Mercer to an impressive defeat of the Stetson Hatters, and demonstrated again that when they are clicking they can play with anyone in the conference. He then scored 15 in the next game as the frontcourt dominated in a huge second-half comeback.

Avery Foster(Mississippi Valley State)

2.7 Mississippi Valley State(8-13, 3-9) @ Texas Southern(12-9, 5-7) – L 73-70
2.10 Southern(9-13, 4-9) @ Mississippi Valley State(8-14, 3-10) – W 81-68
2.14 Mississippi Valley State(9-14, 4-10) @ Alabama State(17-7, 9-5) – L 68-63
2.17 Prairie View A&M(13-11, 8-7) @ Mississippi Valley State(9-15, 4-11) – W 71-61

The Delta Devils have played much better lately – not well, mind you, but better. They could have won all four games over the last two weeks, and should have won the last three. A great overall game against Alabama State that they led by ten most of the way was blown by mistakes over the last few minutes, something you can’t do against a team of their caliber. They have managed to stop disappearing for entire halves though, and clearly haven’t given up on the year yet. Riley Coulter has been playing better in particular, and he put in 19 in their most recent victory.

Weston Cattley(Texas-San Antonio)

2.6 Texas-San Antonio(10-12, 5-6) @ Stephen F. Austin(15-7, 9-2) – L 73-69
2.9 Texas State(15-9, 8-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(10-13, 5-7) – W 71-62
2.13 Texas-San Antonio(11-13, 6-7) @ TX Corpus Christi(10-14, 5-8) – W 54-46
2.16 Sam Houston State(12-13, 8-6) @ Texas-San Antonio(12-13, 7-7) – W 79-61

Shahar Brown’s strong play of late continued with ten points in as many minutes to open the SFA game, and Southland’s dominant team trailed early at home. As usual though the Lumberjacks defensive pressure took its toll eventually. A mammoth gap in turnovers(20 to just FOUR) was a tad too much to overcome, but a very strong effort regardless.

Next up was the always-tough Texas State, but Brown had one of the better games of his illustrious career in store, basically keeping their entire frontcourt in foul trouble by himself for most of the game. He scored 23 and was pretty much a diversion down the stretch, and Blake Land had a strong supporting role(12 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds) as they ground out a big win with a strong finish.

Against Sam Houston State, the Roadrunners got a breakout game from a reserve who has been playing a little better lately – forward Shannon Grundman - the freshman hit on all six of his attempts … 5-5 from 3-point range … for a career best 17 points to lead the team in only 13 minutes. He’s making Coach Cattley less and less concerned lately about the imminent graduation of two-year starter Jerome Layne, particularly the way Layne has been turning it over recently.

Brian Swartz · 03-25-2008, 08:38 AM

Ralph Perry(Texas Southern)

2.21 Texas Southern(15-10, 8-8) @ Alabama State(19-7, 11-5) – W 85-73
2.24 Prairie View A&M(14-12, 9-8) @ Texas Southern(16-10, 9-8) – W 73-64

The Tigers appear to be putting it all together at the right time. A very impressive second half against Alabama State, including one of Jeff Dodson’s excellent all-around games(23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks) gives them three wins in a row.

FINAL SWAC STANDINGS

Jackson State(18-9, 14-4)
Alabama State(20-8, 12-6)
Alcorn State(17-11, 11-7)
Texas Southern(17-10, 10-8)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff(12-15, 9-9)
Prairie View A&M(14-13, 9-9)
Grambling(12-15, 7-11)
Alabama A&M(8-19, 7-11)
Southern(11-16, 6-12)
Mississippi Valley State(10-17, 5-13)

Denny Grant(Cal-Davis)

2.21 Cal-Davis(13-12, 9-5) @ Cal-Irvine(11-14, 6-8) – L 70-58
2.24 Pacific(19-7, 11-4) @ Cal-Davis(13-13, 9-6) – L 79-64

The return match against Pacific showed just how far the Aggies have fallen since their three-point loss a few weeks ago. They fell behind 29-10 early and that was pretty much the game, despite another strong effort from Reece(31 points, 6 rebounds). Giving up 55 points in the first half is hardly the mark of a defensive-oriented team.

FINAL BIG WEST STANDINGS

Pacific(20-7, 12-4)
Cal Poly(18-9, 11-5)
Cal-Davis(13-14, 9-7)
Cal St. Fullerton(15-12, 8-8)
Long Beach State(16-11, 8-8)
Cal-Irvine(12-15, 7-9)
Cal-Riverside(12-15, 7-9)
Cal-Santa Barbara(11-16, 7-9)
Cal St. Northridge(5-22, 3-13)

Steve Stahl(Mercer)

2.20 Mercer(14-12, 9-6) @ Lipscomb(13-13, 6-9) – L 63-61

After fighting through a lot of adversity in the second half, the Bears reverted to the sad form of the last two years in the final minute, with a couple turnovers and three of four free-throws missed. Those mistakes paved the way for them to be beaten at the buzzer, and the question is whether or not they can recover mentally from this loss to perform well in the conference tournament.

FINAL ATLANTIC SUN STANDINGS

Kennesaw State(18-9, 13-3)
Florida Gulf Coast(20-7, 12-4)
Stetson(15-12, 11-5)
Mercer(14-13, 9-7)
Belmont(12-15, 8-8)
Lipscomb(14-13, 7-9)
North Florida(9-18, 7-9)
Gardner-Webb(11-16, 7-9)
Campbell(13-14, 6-10)
Jacksonville(9-18, 6-10)
SC Upstate(8-19, 6-10)
East Tennessee State(11-16, 4-12)

Avery Foster(Mississippi Valley State)

2.21 Mississippi Valley State(10-15, 5-11) @ Jackson State(17-8, 13-3) – L 79-65
2.24 Arkansas-Pine Bluff(11-15, 8-9) @ Mississippi Valley State(10-16, 5-12) – L 65-57

Rock bottom for the Delta Devils, at least offensively. They shot 6-30 from the floor in the first half against ARPB, and were never able to make it up despite 14 offensive rebounds. Jones scored 26, but they still shot only 28% for the game.

FINAL SWAC STANDINGS

Jackson State(18-9, 14-4)
Alabama State(20-8, 12-6)
Alcorn State(17-11, 11-7)
Texas Southern(17-10, 10-8)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff(12-15, 9-9)
Prairie View A&M(14-13, 9-9)
Grambling(12-15, 7-11)
Alabama A&M(8-19, 7-11)
Southern(11-16, 6-12)
Mississippi Valley State(10-17, 5-13)

Weston Cattley(Texas-San Antonio)

2.20 Texas-San Antonio(13-13, 8-7) @ Texas-Arlington(11-15, 5-10) – L 68-45

Everything they’ve done well the last several games, the Roadrunners threw out the window in their season finale. The result was every bit as humiliating and ridiculous as the final score indicates. Nobody hit double figures in scoring, and it’s hard to succeed when you have twice as many turnovers as assists. On the other end, 15 threes surrendered is a good barometer of how sharp the defensive rotations were.

FINAL SOUTHLAND STANDINGS

EAST DIVISION

Nicholls State(16-11, 10-6)
Northwestern State(17-10, 9-7)
SE Louisiana(15-12, 9-7)
Lamar(14-13, 8-8)
Central Arkansas(12-15, 6-10)
McNeese State(10-17, 4-12)

WEST DIVISION

Stephen F. Austin(18-9, 12-4)
Texas State(17-11, 10-6)
Texas-San Antonio(13-14, 8-8)
Sam Houston State(12-15, 8-8)
Texas-Arlington(12-15, 6-10)
TX Corpus Christi(11-16, 6-10)

Brian Swartz · 03-27-2008, 09:45 AM

**Note: I've decided in the interests of making it a more dramatic and natural way of reporting it to put up only one round at a time for the post-season, as long as one of the five coaches is still live, starting with this year**

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS -- FIRST ROUND

Mercer, Cal-Davis, and Texas Southern all earned byes in their respective conferences.

SOUTHLAND

McNeese State(10-17) vs. Texas-San Antonio(13-14)

TXSA has the distinction of being the best team to not warrant a first-round bye, meaning they get to play the hapless last-place Cowboys. They weren’t so hapless in their lone meeting this year, beating the Roadrunners 67-57 at McNeese State. A win in their finale stopped a six-game losing streak, and they have yet to win back-to-back conference games this season. Cattley doesn’t intend to change that here.
An ugly first half for the most part, and the Roadrunners were lucky to be hanging around after looking particularly bad in a 12-5 start. Missed free throws and too many open threes on the defensive end, as always, were the culprit in a one-point halftime deficit.

They did play hard though, particularly in the second half, and eventually the foul trouble for the Cowboys started to mount. McNeese State hung close almost the whole way, but a couple key baskets by Shahar Brown(19 points) down the stretch made sure Texas-San Antonio stayed in front. The final was 72-59, but it was a good deal closer than that would indicate, and tougher than it probably should have been. It’ll be their last win if the execution doesn’t improve.

SWAC

Mississippi Valley State(10-17) vs. Grambling(12-15)

Grambling beat the Delta Devils twice this year, forming part of both of their big losing streaks. Every game is MVS’s last from here on out unless they win, and it’ll be today unless they put together more good minutes then they’ve been able to most nights this season.

In a wild first half the Devils’ defense was as porous as ever, but they made their share of plays as well and were down only one, 36-35. Eventually their athleticism started to have a little more effect than the mistakes, and MVS began to pull away with about eight minutes left in the second half. They had a ton of steals in the game, but none bigger than one by Jason Singletary that led to a Lydell Jones layup, restoring a five-point lead with less than two minutes as Grambling was on the comeback trail. They would not allow another point, finishing off strong for a 75-64 win to prolong their season at least one more game.

They had 15 steals on the game, getting balanced scoring from Jones(18 points, 3 steals), Tre Roe(13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals), and Josh Cravens(10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals). Senior Brendon Tucker has 12 as well in as many minutes.

Brian Swartz · 03-28-2008, 07:29 AM

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS -- QUARTERFINALS

ATLANTIC SUN

The only real first-round surprise was (11) SC Upstate easily knocking out (6) Lipscomb, 81-68. They may have lost their champions pedigree but they are apparently not ready to surrender the crown they’ve owned the last two seasons quietly.

3.2 Belmont(13-15) vs. Mercer(14-13)

Belmont got past last-place East Tennessee State 73-67 in the first round to set up a rubber match with Mercer. Both teams won by double digits on their home floor during the regular season. The biggest concern is getting Ryan Brinkley’s scoring back: they can compete with anybody in the conference when he’s on, but he hasn’t scored more than 10 points in the last eight games, after having 14 or more in seven straight prior to that. It’s not an accident that Mercer went 5-2 in those seven contests.

The Bruins jumped out 15-4 after eight minutes – Brinkley had the four – and generally the Bears just didn’t look ready to play. Nobody was stepping up and shooting with any confidence. The bench came in and got things going a bit though, particularly Lionel Louis, and then Brent Calvert hit a couple shots when he got back in the game, and Mercer crawled back to a 33-33 tie at the half, even briefly taking the lead a couple times.

They came out for the second half fired up, and a triple from Phillip Frederick pushed them out to an eight-point lead with 14 minutes to go. The closest it got after that was the final of 70-65, and Mercer kept the gap large enough that they were never really in danger. It was the most balanced scoring effort of the season, with all five starters scoring nine points or more. Bob King’s 13 was the team high. After the tough start, they just flat-out played smarter and executed better.

BIG WEST

3.2 Cal-Irvine(12-15) vs. Cal-Davis(13-14)

Irvine was a tough opponent for the Aggies, beating them 70-58 in the season’s final week and nearly winning on Cal-Davis’ home floor before falling by two earlier in the year. They need to shake off their late-season struggles and play well here to advance.

Both teams struggled to score early, but the Anteaters broke open a tight game two-thirds of the way through the first half, taking advantadge of a series of ill-considered Cal-Davis passes to go in front 28-15. The deficit hadn’t changed at the break, and the Aggies were in serious need of Reece(1-8 fg) rediscovering his stroke and now.

It didn’t happen until far too late, and Irvine remained in control the entire way to bounce Cal-Davis 77-65. A thoroughly disheartening end to the season for the Aggies, who with Jamaal Monfre banged up couldn’t compete on the boards(-14). Thaydeus Reece scored 21 on 6-17, but made half of those field goals after the game was already decided. Jamie Belton and Correy Collison played well, adding 13 apiece, but the bench provided little and the rebounding was a fatal weakness in this contest.

SOUTHLAND

3.4 Texas-San Antonio(14-14) vs. Northwestern State(17-10)

The lone meeting was a 61-50 loss, hosted by Northwestern State. They are one of the better shooting teams in the Southland, so there will be a lot of pressure on the Texas-San Antonio zone to keep this one close enough to give them a shot at the end.

On second thought, throw away that scouting report. The Demons couldn’t hit a blasted thing early, going 1-10 over the first seven minutes to spot TXSA a 12-3 lead. Controlling the boards like they did early in the year, the Roadrunners did their part by not letting them get any second chances for easy, confidence-building tallies. They even hit five of six free-throws to start the game – will wonders never cease?

Unfortunately they weren’t exactly scoring at will down on the other end. With their own extended droughts to worry about, they had a big halftime lead at 30-18, but it was far from insurmountable, and the Demons were starting to pick up a little steam.

Northwestern State did manage to crack the zone some, but only in spurts and not nearly enough to make up for their continued inability to stop the Roadrunners on the boards. They cruised in shockingly one-sided fashion to a 69-59 win that was twice that margin before the bench was emptied. As usual, it was the big men getting it done. Shahar Brown(15 points, 10 rebounds, three steals) and Tyrone Lane(12 points, 7 rebounds) were ably assisted though by perhaps the best game yet from sophomore reserve guard Steven Billips(9 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) .

SWAC

3.4 Mississippi Valley State(11-17) vs. Alabama State(20-8)

A miracle is needed here, and that might not be enough.

None was imminent. The Hornets took control early 24-12, but a stunning Devils rally ended with a buzzer-beating triple from Jones to give them a 37-36 halftime lead. A few spectators started entertaining thoughts of last year’s run through the SWAC tournament … but that run ended at the hands of Alabama State as well.

As the second half ticked away, everyone waited for the inevitable run that would crush the insipient underdog. Five minutes gone … still even. Ten minutes gone … down only 58-55, far too close for comfort. Only five minutes left … a little more breathing room at 69-64, but not out of the woods yet. They finally did run out of gas a little, losing 82-75, but it was a noble effort(despite 20 turnovers). MVS dominated the boards(+8) and competed the whole game. Imagine if they’d played half their season like this. It doesn’t erase all the misery that came before, but at least the year ended in a way they can be proud of.

Lydell Jones had 25, Jason Singletary stepped up with 12 and five boards, and Josh Cravens did a bit of everything, scoring nine with 7 rebounds, three steals, two assists, and nary a turnover – unusual for him.

3.4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff(12-15) vs. Texas Southern(17-10)

Which team will show up – the one that has won four straight, or the one that got embarrassed against these same Golden Lions 90-65 back in December? No question the Tigers have the talent to pass this test.
Texas Southern jumped out 14-4, but ARPB came back just as quickly, owning the glass en route to a 41-39 halftime lead.

They were increasingly successful at frustrating the Tigers’ shooters as the game wore on, and won this one going away, 88-71. Derek Phillips and Jeff Dodson had 15 apiece, but 7-32 from 3-point range is not exactly the normal fare for this bunch. Coach Perry has learned what it’s like in a real conference – a lot tougher grade of competition on a nightly basis.

02-20-2008, 05:36 PM	#30
Izulde Head Coach Join Date: Sep 2004	Foster definitely seems to be the biggest success of the group so far in terms of what he's done vs. expectations. Wonder how long before Perry jumps ship to a new school. __________________ 2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty)

03-10-2008, 02:29 PM	#39
Izulde Head Coach Join Date: Sep 2004	I'm surprised people haven't been calling for Grant's firing yet... and who would've thought Baker would come out so hot with Texas Southern? __________________ 2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty)

01-18-2008, 12:36 PM	#2
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Prestige rankings(all conferences and the top 25 teams), as of 1965: CONFERENCES Big East(83) Big Twelve(74) ACC(73) Atlantic 10(70) Big Ten(68) MVC(68) Pac 10(68) SEC(67) Ivy League(60) Mountain West(51) Conference USA(48) WCC(47) MAC(46) WAC(46) Big Sky(45) Sun Belt(42) Horizon(40) Ohio Valley(40) Patriot(38) Southern(33) Southland(31) Colonial(30) Metro-Atlantic(30) SWAC(26) NEC(20) Big South(18) Atlantic Sun(16) Big West(15) Summit(15) America East(14) MEAC(14) Independents(0) SCHOOLS 1. Arizona(98) 1. Kentucky(98) 3. Cincinatti(97) 3. Missouri State(97) 5. Fordham(95) 5. St. John’s(95) 7. Notre Dame(94) 8. Kansas(90) 8. UCLA(90) 10. Ohio State(87) 10. Pennsylvania(87) 12. BYU(86) 13. Illinois(84) 13. Murray State(84) 13. St. Joseph’s(84) 16. Eastern Washington(83) 16. North Carolina(83) 16. Virginia(83) 16. Utah(83) 20. Syracuse(82) 20. Texas(82) 20. Western Kentucky(82) 23. Temple(81) 24. Detroit(80) 24. Oklahoma(80) 24. Southern Illinois(80)

01-18-2008, 12:39 PM	#3
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	It's now time to meet the five coaches we'll be following -- all of whom enter their first top job in 1965. In case you're wondering how I determined where they went, it's basically the five worst jobs that happened to be open this year. All coaches were based on the rookie scale, with no ratings higher than 40 to start. RALPH PERRY Call him the Salesman. Ralph Perry could sell day-old fish for deodorant, or market ice to Eskimos. His greatest skill is charisma, though in terms of actual basketball knowledge he's the least skilled of this group. His coaching philosophy is unleashing each player's creativity and overwhelming the opponent with a relentless barrage, putting as much pressure on the opponent as possible on both ends of the court. He values outside shooting and athleticism most highly, and has very low interest in academics or discipline -- he just wants to win, and he's got no qualms with leaving a job at the drop of a hat if something better appears. This attitude is probably why he ended up with the worst starting job, as he didn't have the patience to wait for a better offer. He's an incredibly recruiter, and his charismatic personality makes him a slightly above average player developer as well. School: CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners(Independents) Reputation: 11 Contract: 5 years, $69,000 Goals: Finish 1st in Conference SCHOOL HISTORY Jean Oates(38-49) – 192-132(.593), no post-season, 10 winning seasons, 1 20-win season(20-7 in 1944). Jerry Baxter(50-53) – 47-61(.435), no post-season, 1 winning season, no 20-win seasons. Joe Mills(54-64) – 130-167(.438), no post-season, 3 winning seasons, no 20-win seasons. Total: 369-361(.509), no post-season, 14 winning seasons, 1 20-win season. The Roadrunners(a very apt name for Perry’s extreme up-tempo style) have been a modestly successful independent school, with an all-time record of even or better against the other independents with the exception of North Carolina Central(24-30). After a string of 11 consecutive .500 or worse seasons, they’ve posted winning records in three of the last four seasons – Perry is expected to maintain that trend, but it’s not secret that even if he is successful, he’ll be out of here at the first sign of greener pastures. It’s a first coaching job for him, and a chance for the school to hopefully improve it’s attractiveness to the next coach down the line. Team Prestige: 5 Conference Prestige: 0 Facilities: D+ SAT Minimum: 860 Recruiting budget: $23,000 DENNY GRANT In almost every way, Grant is Perry's polar opposite. He's a firm believer in discipline and the importance of the student part of student-athlete. It's an interesting twist of fate that he ends up a recruiting competitor for Ralph Perry in California, taking the position at Cal-Davis. Coach Grant believes in making teams play defense for the full 35 seconds of the shot-clock, running the princeton offense and emphasizing defense and patience. His stifling man-to-man half-court defense is his calling card as a coach: he's a genius in that regard. Efficiency and execution, not individual creativity, are the hallmarks of this philosophy. School: Cal-Davis Aggies(Big West) Reputation: 11 Contract: 4 years, $68,000 Goals: Win Big West Tournament [u]SCHOOL HISTORY[u] Antione Hart(38-51) – 141-260(.352), 1 NCAA bid(conference champs in 1949, lost in 1st round), 86-138(.384) in Big West. Hart had a string of seven straight 20-loss seasons prior to the ’49 campaign, which remains the only conference title and NCAA appearance in school history. Clyde Bradley(52-55) – 43-70(.381), 23-41(.359) in Big West. No winning seasons or post-season bids. Brian Brown(56-64) – 131-129(.504), 78-66(.542) in Big West. Total: 315-459(.407) Brown brought an embarrassing program to respectability with .500 or better records in the last six seasons, including a NIT bid in 1963 with a school-best 21-9 mark. Despite that string of successes though, he was never able to bring them a conference title. This is a good starting job for Denny Grant, a program that appears to be on the rise to bigger and better things for him to learn the ropes at. Team Prestige: 6 Conference Prestige: 15 Facilities: D- SAT Minimum: 940 Recruiting Budget: $101,550 STEVE STAHL Stahl's gift is that of a teacher -- he excels at helping players reach their full potential. He prefers his players to be comfortable and confident on the court, retaining the traditional style of play wherever he goes and focusing instead on making his players as successful as they can be in it. The one notable aspect of his philosophy is an emphasis on rebounding -- creating new possessions for his team and limiting those of his opponent, wearing them down. School: Mercer Bears(Atlantic Sun) Reputation: 11 Contract: 3 years, $61,000 Goals: Don't finish last in the Atlantic Sun, win 10+ games SCHOOL HISTORY Casey Seamon(38-48) – 175-154(.532), 99-77(.563) in-conference. Casey had three 20-win seasons, three NCAA bids(conference titles in 39, 40, and 44), and one NIT appearance. In 1940, he led Mercer to its first, and so far its only win in the tournament before losing in the second round. Unfortunately, his successors could not duplicate this level of success. Quentin McDermontt(49-53) – 57-88(.393), 35-45(.438) conference. Four consecutive losing seasons and no post-season. Robert Taylor(54-61) – 86-144(.371), 51-77(.398) conference. Two winning seasons, but no conference titles or post-season bids, and back-to-back 6-22 seasons in 60 and 61, by far the darkest days in the school’s history, got him the axe. Brandon Collins(62) – 15-14(.517), 8-8(.500) conference. Collins quickly left for greener pastures. Jeremy Blossom(63-64) – 22-35(.386), 14-18(.438) conference. Another quick exit. Total: 355-435(.449), 3 conference championships, 3 NCAA appearances, 1 NIT appearance. With no post-season in the last 20 years, and only three winning seasons in the last 15, the Bears are desperate for a savior – Steve Stahl has a long history of losing to reverse. Team Prestige: 16 Conference Prestige: 16 Facilities: C- SAT Minimum: 940 Recruiting Budget: 140,597 AVERY FOSTER Avery is the most cerebral and analytical of the group, possessing the logical brilliance of a mathematician. His greatest skill is a willingness to burn the midnight oil dispassionately breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of both his team and the opposition -- he won't hesitate to make lineup changes at the drop of a hat if a player is hurting the team. Foster runs a basic motion offense and high-pressure man defense, believing that good passing and player movement, along with defending the 3-point line on defense, are the biggest keys to success. School: Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils(SWAC) Reputation: 11 Contract: 4 years, $84,000 Goals: Finish in SWAC Top 3 SCHOOL HISTORY Cedric Belton(38-43) – 85-90(.486), 52-56(.481) conference. NIT appearance in 1941(21-11), advanced to 2nd round. Gerald Johnson(44-47) – 67-51(.568), 45-27(.625) conference. .500 or better in conference each year, NCAA 1st round in ‘46, NIT 2nd round in ’47 before taking a well-deserved better job. David Williams(48-56) – 129-131(.496), 86-76(.531) conference. Four winning seasons, including three straight with 17 or more wins 51-53, including an NCAA appearance in 52, the last school conference title. Didn’t finish above .500 in conference for the last three years however. Michael Laster(57-62) – 68-107(.389), 39-69(.361) conference. Laster took the program from mediocre to miserable, with 20-loss seasons in his last three(60-62). One winning season, and no post-season appearances. Speedy Bradford(63-64) – 31-29(.517), 17-19(.472) conference. No post-season, but he did break the school’s streak of four losing seasons in his last year. Total: 380-408(.482), 2 conference titles, 2 NCAA appearances, 2 NIT bids. No post-season since 1952, and 7 losing seasons in the last nine. It's no wonder the school is looking for a fresh face and a new direction. Team Prestige: 7 Conference Prestige: 26 Facilities: C+ Minimum SAT: 880 Recruiting Budget: $100,328

01-18-2008, 12:41 PM	#4
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	WESTON CATTLEY Weston isn't a great recruiter, doesn't know more than a lot of coaches do about Xs and Os, and isn't particularly notable at developing talent. But opposing coaches are never happy to see him on the opposing bench in a game. Cattley is a master tactician, a game management genius who squeezes every possible advantadge out of the situation. He likes to run a 2-3 zone on defense, and the triangle set on offense. School: Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners(Southland) Reputation: 12 Contract: 4 years, $63,000 Goals: Win Southland Tournament SCHOOL HISTORY Tobe Covert(38-45) – 94-136(.409), 57-71(.445) conference. Only one winning season, no post-season, and left after a school-worst 7-22 record in 1945. Reggie Johnson(46-54) – 91-168(.351), 50-94(.347) conference. No winning seasons, no post-season, although things did improve after four straight seasons of less than ten wins(4-12 conference each year) to open his tenure. That isn’t saying much though. Kelvin Collins(55-60) – 75 – 99(.431), 35-61(.365) conference. Three winning seasons, not bad after there had only been one in the school’s previous 17 years, but Collins had no better luck in conference play – it was largely a mirage of success, and no post-season. Quentin Grundy(61) – 10-18(.357), 9-7(.563) conference. One and done. Leon West(62-63) – 31-25(.554), 17-15(.531) conference. Chris Nicholson(64) – 17-11(.607), 10-6(.625) conference. Total: 318-457(.410), no conference titles, no post-season bids. It’s a strange situation here: Weston Cattley becomes the fourth coach in five years, yet the team is coming off of three straight winning seasons. They are still looking for their first conference title or post-season bid of any kind though, and that’s the real measuring stick. It’s certainly a good opportunity, as the program appears to be on it’s way up. Team Prestige: 12 Conference Prestige: 31 Facilities: D- Minimum SAT: 860 Recruiting Budget: $55,650

01-18-2008, 12:42 PM	#5
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	1965 SEASON PREVIEWS CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) Perry found it very difficult to get any recruits interested, losing out to San Diego State, Fresno State, San Francisco, etc. on marginally talented players. He was only able to get one summer commitment – but what a huge one it was. SF Joe Hall of Strathmore is an enormous coup – an elite player consistently ranked 22nd to 25th nationally. At 6-8, 231 lbs. he has good size, and the only real knock on his game is that he’s a subpar free-throw shooter. Joe has the skills to be a star anywhere: at the independent level, he’s liable to be a whale in a bathtub, and will be expected to completely transform the program. The Roadrunners are expected to be the best of the Independents this year, with longtime nemesis North Carolina Central their top competition. The strength of the team is in the backcourt, with junior Ryan Nunn(3.7 apg) and fifth-year senior Valery Person(17.1 ppg over the last two seasons as a starter) leading the way. Person is a perfect fit for Perry’s bombs-away philosophy and should flourish even more this year, having attempted 67.8% of his career field goals from beyond the three-point line. He’s increased his accuracy from there every year, hitting on 39.6% last season. CSU Bakersfield will start three seniors and two juniors this year, with three more seniors as key reserves – this is likely to be their best team for a while, and Joe Hall will be part of a rebuilding effort next year. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) With three scholarships to give out, Denny has had mixed success in recruiting so far. He’s got one verbal commitment from 6-1 guard Jordan Williams of Utah. Williams has been ranked in the 1100-1500 range, but has good enough athleticism, defense, and ballhandling skills to convince the staff that’s he’s better than that, at worst a competent floor general. Another Williams from Utah, a forward with the first name of Mike, is seriously considering Cal-Davis – but Coach Grant has had no luck filling the priority need at the small forward position so far and Mike is more of a power forward type of player. The Aggies are expected to fall short of last year’s 18-10 mark, and have been picked 5th, middle of the pack in the Big West. Pacific, Cal-Santa Barbara, and Cal-Irvine are the top contenders. Senior guard Mike Smiley is the top returning scorer(12.4 ppg, 43.2% from three-point range), with 6-10 junior center Ricardo Smith(8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 52.9% fg) the only real experienced size on the team. Sophomore forward Ryan Coon has impressed with his defense and shot selection(56.3% fg as a freshman in 12.6 mpg) and earned himself a starting spot – he’ll be one to keep an eye on. Mercer(Steve Stahl) Only one verbal so far, a local one in guard Mate Ramage(6-4, 192). Mate is a miserable defensive player, but has good athleticism, rebounding, and passing skills, and has a solid jumper as well. He’s been consistently ranked in the 800-900 range nationally. Mercer is a frontrunner for forward Justin McCasland of Kentucky, and has a shot at a few other frontcourt players still as well, so this could become a solid class depending on how things work out. Mercer has been projected as an average Atlantic Sun team, picked to finish 6th. Belmont, East Tennessee State, and Stetson are the main powers. Junior guard Jamal Brown(13.3 ppg, 50.7% fg last year) and senior center Adam Wall(8.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2nd team All-Conference in 1963) should anchor the team. The wild card is senior forward Adam Kelly, on academic suspension. If he can regain his eligibility he will be a key factor in the conference season – he’s been a three-year starter alongside Wall in the frontcourt(9.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg last year). Another key will be the complete lack of decent play at the point last year, and whether or not that remains as big a concern this season. There’s a lot of youth on this team, and enough of it in the frontcourt has some talent to make this a potential Atlantic Sun contender in a couple years if things go well. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) No commitments yet, with a couple of local guards the only immediately apparent opportunities to turn that round. Criag Sarpy, a 6-1 point guard with excellent passing skills, is probably the best of the group but still appears to be waiting for a better offer. It will be impossible for Mississippi Valley State to underachieve this year: they’ve been picked dead last in the SWAC. The senior guard combo of Rashif Merton(6.9 ppg, 3.7 apg) and Kevin Hallbauer(11.6 ppg) gives the Delta Devils the most hope of changing that expectation. The frontcourt is a total disaster though. There are a couple guys with a chance to become solid players, but nobody that’s ready to be a strong contributor right now. The good news is that this another young squad, so there’s at least some potential that they’ll be better in a couple years than they are now. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) Mostly concerned about frontcourt depth, Weston has gotten his only commitment instead from a guard, Mike Boozer(6-0, 195) of Midland, TX. Boozer is a good offensive guard who can shoot, create, pass, and handle the ball, with good athleticism as well. Defensively though I wouldn’t expect much from him. The front line should be the strength of a team expected to be middle of the pack or slightly better in the Southland, picked 5th in preseason. Sophomore center Shahar Brown(10.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg as a freshman) leads the way, with junior forward Jamaal Winston(7.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) also a solid contributor, and new JC transfer Charlie Dwiggins could crack the lineup as well. The wild card is freshman guard Antonio Banks from North Dakota, who has excellent size at 6-5 and thus far has shown a lot more ability than a guy ranked #1610 as a recruit has any right to. If he’s half as good at running the point as he looks so far, the Roadrunners could make some noise in the Southland Conference this season. Other than Banks though, there is precisely zero talent in the backcourt.

01-18-2008, 12:44 PM	#6
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 11.15 Brown(0-0) @ CSU Bakersfield(0-0) – W 71-57 11.18 NC-Greensboro(1-1) @ CSU Bakersfield(1-0) – L 73-72 11.22 CSU Bakersfield(1-1) @ Vermont(0-2) – L 84-76 11.25 Canisius(0-1) @ CSU Bakersfield(1-2) – W 77-69 The first loss of Perry’s career came in a last-minute loss to UNC-Greensboro, as their center hit a game-winning jumper with seven seconds left from the baseline. The next game they gave up 53 points in the second half to Vermont to blow a first-half lead, so all of them have been winnable so far. Valery Person has been much less of a factor than expected, averaging only 8.5 ppg but with 4.3 rebounds. He’s been deferring more than expected to senior center Ishmael Morris(17.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg), and the way Morris has been playing it’s hard to argue with that. The team’s #2 scorer is another senior, DeWayne Bell, who has 9.3 a game as the top reserve guard, and has proven to be the most willing 3-point shooter on the team so far. Point guard Ryan Nunn has flourished in the more open offensive style(6.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, only 2.3 topg), a 50% increase on his assist average from last year. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 11.14 Cal-Davis(0-0) @ St.Mary’s(1-0) -- L 87-72 11.17 Cal-Davis(0-1) @ Northwestern(2-0) -- L 84-54 11.21 Centenary(1-1) @ Cal-Davis(0-2) – L 50-43 11.24 Cal-Davis(0-3) @ Portland State(1-2) – W 72-65 The Aggies have been mostly miserable on both ends of the court so far, particularly offensively where they just haven’t shown the patience needed for Coach Grant’s system, committing 14.3 turnovers a game and shooting 42% from the field. Of our five coaches Denny is clearly having the most troubled start. Both of those were at lot worse until the last game, when after struggling again early Mike Smiley erupted for 18 points in 12 minutes to lead them to their first win of the year. Their defense has also been pretty horrific(49.5% fg against), though they are doing a good job of creating turnovers at 17.5 a game, it hasn’t been enough particularly combined with frequent foul trouble. Smiley leads the team with 14.0 ppg, with Ricardo Smith the top complement at 8.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg in the middle. Smiley is shooting just 37.9% though, and that needs to come up as well as pretty much everybody else’s accuracy on the team except for Smith(48.5%). Starting freshman Ryan Coon at forward hasn’t been regretted so far – he doesn’t score much but does rebound a little(5.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and doesn’t take bad shots, while being solid on the defense end. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 11.16 San Diego State(0-1) @ Mercer(0-0) – W 84-77 11.19 Dartmouth(1-0) @ Mercer(1-0) – W 73-71 11.23 #25 DePaul(2-0) @ Mercer(2-0) – W 66-55 11.26 Mercer(3-0) @ San Jose State(3-0) – L 67-47 A string of impressive victories to start the season ended with a thud against the Spartans in Mercer’s first road game – they were exposed in almost every aspect of the game and just got flattened, but they’ve still been off to an excellent start overall. As expected, Jamal Brown is leading the way, consistently beating his man off the dribble to free himself up for scoring opportunities(12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 50% fg). Adam Wall has shown a remarkably versatile all-around game, adding passing to scoring and rebounding(10.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.8 apg, 56% fg), and leads the team in assists as a starting center, a considerable rarity. The Bears have gotten pretty good balance as well, and are looking pretty good right now, particularly on offense. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 11.14 Oregon(0-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(0-0) – L 57-47 11.17 Bucknell(0-1) @ Mississippi Valley State(0-1) – W 64-57 11.21 Miami(OH)(0-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(1-1) – W 72-62 11.24 Mississippi Valley State(2-1) @ Cal-Santa Barbara(2-1) – W 89-74 The Delta Devils appear to be a lot better than expected. After a predictable opening-night loss they have increased their scoring total in each successive game, thanks largely to the explosiveness of Kevin Hallbauer(15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.8 apg). He’s been a streaky shooter, but is hitting 37% from 3-point range and isn’t afraid to take them. Freshman forward Jason Barlow, questioned as a starter by many in the preseason, is second on the team with 9.5 ppg and 5 rebounds, senior point guard Rashif Merton sports a better than 2:1 assist to turnover ratio, and quite surprisingly, the frontcourt is getting a lot of solid contributions after having virtually nothing expected of it. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 11.16 North Carolina Central(0-0) @ Texas-San Antonio(0-0) -- W 68-56 11.19 Hawaii(2-0) @ Texas-San Antonio(1-0) – W 68-61 11.23 Texas-San Antonio(2-0) @ Washington State(0-2) – L 68-66 11.26 Texas-San Antonio(2-1) @ Pennsylvania(1-2) – L 80-42 The story for the Roadrunners has been the continued development of star sophomore center Shahar Brown(18.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 spg). Brown is shooting a respectable 44.6% from the field, and while he isn’t a huge rebounding force his scoring is up over seven points a game from his freshman year and on a team that does rebounding by committee(four starters at 5.0 or more), he’s still good enough to tie for the team lead. Freshman point guard Antonio Banks has been – well, he’s been a freshman point guard(41.7% fg, 7.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, 4.8 topg), but he’s shown himself to be a legitimate three-point shooter and should become more effective with more seasoning and experience. Forwards Jamaal Winston(8.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 spg) and Hilton Hogue(7.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg) have been effective as well, though the backcourt remains a key weakness as expected. They’ve performed fairly well as a unit overall, despite being grossly overmatched by Penn in their last game.

01-21-2008, 01:59 PM	#7
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 11.29 CSU Bakersfield(2-2) @ Oklahoma State(2-2) – L 81-61 12.2 Portland State(2-3) @ CSU Bakersfield(2-3) – W 93-72 12.6 CSU Bakersfield(3-3) @ Dayton(2-4) – L 82-77 The Roadrunners had an offensive explosion in the first half against Portland State(62 points), which was not coincidentally Valery Person's best game(19 of those first-half points by himself). They couldn't back it up, losing the turnover battle 19-7 in a tough, close loss against the Flyers a few days later. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 11.28 Boston College(3-1) @ Cal-Davis(1-3) – W 75-68 12.1 Illinois State(2-5) @ Cal-Davis(2-3) – L 76-53 12.5 Cal-Davis(2-4) @ Binghamton(5-1) – L 68-61 12.8 Cal-Davis(2-5) @ Pittsburgh(5-1) – L 70-46 Mike Smiley tied the school single-game scoring record with 34 points against Binghamton(14-21 fg) but got no help -- the rest of the starters combined shot 4-12, and Smiley missed his last two as the Aggies squandered a 15-point second-half lead, and have now lost three straight for the second time this year. They have improved defensively, but still struggle on the boards and offensively when Smiley isn't shooting well. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 11.30 Mercer(3-1) @ Appalachian State(0-4) – L 96-68 12.3 St. Peter’s(3-2) @ Mercer(3-2) – W 82-80 12.7 Rider(2-2) @ Mercer(4-2) – L 66-62 12.10 Mercer(4-3) @ Loyola-Chicago(0-5) – L 79-76(OT) After an embarrasing blowout against Appalachian State(Faulkner scored 41 points for their first win, and they shot 63% from the field as a team), the Bears were much more aggressive against St. Peter's, grinding out a close win with 47 trips to the free-throw line. What followed were two losses that should have been wins, as Mercer held the lead entering the final minutes but key turnovers sent them down to defeat. Now 4-4, the Bears could very easily be 6-2, and late-game execution is a huge question mark. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 11.28 Mississippi Valley State(3-1) @ Stephen F. Austin(1-3) – L 57-33 12.1 Centenary(3-2) @ Mississippi Valley State(3-2) – W 57-47 12.5 Mississippi Valley State(4-2) @ Cleveland State(3-3) – L 57-54 A truly horrific offensive effort(10-54, 18.5% fg) against SFA broke the winning streak, with Hallbauer scoring just six points on 3-15. He went scoreless for 37 minutes against Centenary … and then scored a dozen in the final three minutes to break it open, only to see the road woes continue with another loss in the next contest. To try to get more balanced offense, Tre Roe has been inserted as starting power forward, with Ricky Brown headed to the bench. It's a risky move, as Brown is a much better rebounder. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 11.30 Texas-San Antonio(2-2) @ IUPUI(2-0) – W 80-68 12.3 Ohio(2-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(3-2) – W 62-61 12.7 Texas-San Antonio(4-2) @ Wisconsin-Milwaukee(1-3) – W 59-50 12.10 Texas-San Antonio(5-2) @ #2 Louisiana Tech(9-0) – L 62-26 Shahar Brown exploded against previously unbeated IUPUI for 36 points(13-22 fg) and 14 rebounds. It was the third-highest scoring game in school history(Mike Rohwer had 44 against TX Corpus Christi in 1944), and tied the top mark for rebounds. His next game was not so impressive(5 points in 15 minutes before fouling out), and it went right down to the wire. After Kevin Young recovered his own blocked shot to retain possession, Antonio Banks salvaged a poor performance overall in the game by sinking a mid-range jumper from the right wing at the buzzer to stave off Ohio. In the most recent game Brown showed that he can play against the best competition, scoring 12, almost half of the team's total in a game they had no chance to win.

01-24-2008, 11:26 AM	#8
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 12.13 CSU Bakersfield(3-4) @ Central Connecticut(5-1) – L 91-87 12.20 CSU Bakersfield(3-5) @ Long Island(2-6) – W 84-71 Almost a big road win, but too many turnovers late cost the Roadrunners against CC, and they squandered a good second-half lead. Both teams shot well from the field in a real track meet, just the kind of game Perry wants, and DeWayne Bell scored 24 off the bench in a losing cause. A similar game at home against Long Island, but the visitors lost their touch down the stretch and got sloppy, allowing CSU Bakersfield to pull away. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 12.12 Cal-Davis(2-6) @ Northwestern State(5-2) – L 58-47 12.15 Cal-Davis(2-7) @ SE Missouri State(4-4) – L 67-54 12.19 West Virginia(1-8) @ Cal-Davis(2-8) – W 75-47 Home cooking and a particularly inept opponent in the Mountaineers stopped the losing streak at five. The Aggies had 15 offensive rebounds in that game, about as many as they managed in the previous three games combined. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 12.13 Mercer(4-4) @ SMU(7-2) – L 65-36 12.17 Mercer(4-5) @ Richmond(5-4) – L 83-58 12.21 Weber State(3-7) @ Mercer(4-6) – W 69-61 There was no waiting till the end to blow the SMU game with careless turnovers – the Bears committed 19 in the FIRST HALF. A fine game from Adam Wall(16 points, 9 rebounds) was wasted. The losing streak reached four the next game as Richmond couldn’t miss from 3-point range(8-12 in the first half), and the Bears are clearly in free-fall. Going back home was the cure for their ills as well, as Mercer shot 71% in the first half to bust out against Weber State, then held on for the win. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 12.12 Mississippi Valley State(4-3) @ Davidson(8-1) – L 76-61 12.19 Youngstown State(4-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(4-4) – W 79-68 Tre Roe played well in his first start(12 points, 4 rebounds), but the bench couldn’t compete against a stronger Davidson team. Roe will remain in the lineup for now though, as long as he continues to play like this. The Delta Devils shot well at home(10-18 3-point fg) to get back in the winning column in against Youngstown State. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 12.14 Texas-San Antonio(5-3) @ Dartmouth(5-3) – L 63-42 12.17 Texas-San Antonio(5-4) @ Air Force(4-4) – L 71-68 12.20 Texas-San Antonio(5-5) @ Houston(2-9) – W 68-59 A hard-fought loss against the Air Force once again showed Banks’ limitations – he missed the front end of a one-and-one and then had his shot blocked in the lane, missed one of two more foul shots, and then fouled out, all in the last two minutes. Kevin Young, who had a brilliant game, bailed them out with a triple from the wing with six seconds left to tie the score, but Air Force guard Aaron Strohm did him one better with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, and the Roadrunners lost their third in a row. Houston finally provided an opportunity to get back above .500 and in the win column, with TXSA getting their most balanced scoring of the year: Hogue, Banks, and Brown each had 13 or more on the night.

01-24-2008, 11:29 AM	#9
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	PRE-CONFERNCE REPORT It’s Christmas 1965, and the conference season is upon us. All standings are listed in order of RPI ranking(RPI, W-L) INDEPENDENTS STANDINGS TX Pan American(126, 6-3) Winston Salem State(143, 5-4) NJIT(178, 4-5) Utah Valley State(225, 5-4) CSU Bakersfield(253, 4-5) Presbyterian(287, 6-3) Savannah State(301, 2-7) Longwood(308, 2-7) Chicago State(319, 3-6) North Carolina Central(331, 1-8) CSU BAKERSFIELD TEAM LEADERS Points: Ishmael Morris(13.9), Valery Person(10.9), Donald Young(9.3) Rebounds: Ishmael Morris(5.6), Valery Person(4.3), Clyde Kurtz(3.4) Assists: Ryan Nunn(4.8), Dewayne Bell(2.4), Bo Green(1.6) Steals: Valery Person(1.7), Dewayne Bell(0.9), Clyde Kurtz(0.7) Blocks: Clyde Kurtz(0.8), Valery Person(0.7), Dewayne Bell(0.7) Morris continues to shoot at a torrid pace(70.5% fg), and he and Person are a good senior inside-outside combo. The Roadrunners are 4th in the nation in scoring(77.6 ppg), but nearly last in points allowed(75.6). They’re a fun team to watch, no question, but opponents are shooting 46%, which is bad even for an Independent team, and they have a 2.3-turnover per game deficit. They’ll need to take better care of the ball if they want to fulfill preseason expectations of finishing atop the independents. Freshman Donald Young has started the last couple games, sending Kurtz to the bench, and he’s done reasonably well(10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg) in those starts, giving the offense more balance. There’s no new news on the recruiting front, a few local players that might eventually sign, but none imminent – Joe Hall remains the only commitment. BIG WEST STANDINGS Cal St. Fullerton(100, 8-3) Cal-Santa Barbara(149, 6-5) Pacific(157, 4-7) Cal St. Northridge(246, 5-6) Cal-Davis(250, 3-8) Cal-Irvine(267, 4-7) Cal-Riverside(282, 5-6) Long Beach State(315, 3-8) Cal-Poly(323, 2-9) Middle of the pack, just as expected. A fairly tough conference schedule could perhaps pay dividends, but only if the Aggies start rebounding better. CAL-DAVIS TEAM LEADERS Points: Mike Smiley(18.3), Ricardo Smith(7.5), Camara Rickey(5.6) Rebounds: Ricardo Smith(4.5), Ryan Coon(4.2), Mike Smiley(3.8) Assists: Robert Collins(3.9), Adam Dissinger(1.8), Camara Rickey(1.5) Steals: Mike Smiley(0.9), Tim Denis(0.9), Robert Collins(0.8) Blocks: Kevin Chambless(0.8), Ryan Coon(0.5), Mike Smiley(0.2) As you can see, no rebounding, no defensive presence, no scoring balance. So it’s up to Mike Smiley to carry the team – and when he and Ricardo Smith graduate at the end of the year, it could be a long rebuilding period. Jordan Williams remains the only commitment, with forward Mike Williams still a solid maybe and ditto for another forward, 6-8 Tyler McColpin of Idaho. Several lesser players have shown significant interest, so it looks this will at least be a passable class, but it’s still up in the air who the other two signees will end up being. ATLANTIC SUN STANDINGS North Florida(91, 7-4) East Tennessee State(116, 5-6) Belmont(203, 5-6) Kennesaw State(208, 5-6) Stetson(224, 5-6) Lipscomb(234, 5-6) Mercer(237, 5-6) Florida Gulf Coast(272, 3-8) SC Upstate(279, 4-7) Campbell(296, 3-8) Gardner-Webb(306, 4-7) Jacksonville(325, 3-8) With only North Florida boasting a winning record coming in, there looks to be a lot of parity in the conference this season, and the Mercer Bears are right in the thick of it. MERCER TEAM LEADERS Points: Jamal Brown(13.1), Adam Wall(10.2), Aubrey Bullock(7.9) Rebounds: Bill Daniels(5.4), Adam Wall(5.1), Scott Conrad(4.8) Assists: Aubrey Bullock(2.6), Adam Wall(2.5), Bob King(1.5) Steals: Adam Wall(0.8), Scott Conrad(0.8), Bill Daniels(0.6) Blocks: Jamal Brown(1.0), Adam Wall(0.5), Bill Daniels(0.1) As a team, the Bears have shot well(48.8%) and allowed their opponents to do so as well(48.6%). Turnovers have been a major, major concern(18.1, only 11.8 forced), and unless that improves they will struggle in the A-Sun this year. Adam Kelly is back from academic suspension, and he’s improved his grades dramatically. He’ll start immediately, moving Conrad to the bench, and will improve a solid front line with added scoring punch. Still just the one commitment on the recruiting front, SG Mate Ramage. Justin McCasland appears to be a lock though, and they’ve got good prospects with local center Ben Lindquist[(6-10, 237) and a decent shot at a couple of other forwards. SWAC STANDINGS Jackson State(25, 7-2) Alabama State(35, 5-4) Alcorn State(88, 4-5) Mississippi Valley State(107, 5-4) Arkansas-Pine Bluff(152, 4-5) Grambling(175, 3-6) Prairie View A&M(176, 5-4) Southern(297, 4-5) Alabama A&M(318, 4-5) Texas Southern(321, 5-4) MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE TEAM LEADERS Points: Kevin Hallbauer(13.9), Brendon Tucker(7.7), Tre Roe(6.9) Rebounds: Brendon Tucker(6.0), Ricky Brown(5.0), Kevin Hallbauer(4.6) Assists: Rashif Merton(3.8), Kevin Hallbauer(1.8), Brendon Tucker(1.8) Steals: Ricky Brown(1.0), Tre Roe(0.7), Kevin Hallbauer(0.6) Blocks: Jason Gresham(0.7), Anwar Kliewer(0.6), Brett White(0.6) The Delta Devils have far exceeded their pre-season expectations, and come into the conference schedule with every expectation of being competitive. There’s one big problem though – senior Rashif Merton has been suspended for academic ineligibility, and he’s by far the best point guard on the team. True freshman Brett White will take his place, and while he’s been an effective passer in limited time, his shot selection and overall scoring skills aren’t nearly as good as Merton’s. Even more of the scoring load will fall on Hallbauer, which doesn’t bode well unless White performs better than expected. No commitments yet, but local guard Criag Sarpy looks like a lock, and another local guard, Lydell Jones, has been showing increasing interest in recent weeks. SOUTHLAND STANDINGS TX Corpus Christi(45, 8-3) Texas-San Antonio(84, 6-5) Northwestern State(124, 8-3) Lamar(151, 7-4) Central Arkansas(219, 7-4) Sam Houston State(228, 5-6) Texas State(241, 5-6) Stephen F. Austin(242, 4-7) Nicholls State(243, 7-4) Texas-Arlington(259, 5-6) McNeese State(311, 6-5) SE Louisiana(332, 1-10) TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO TEAM LEADERS Points: Shahar Brown(17.0), Kevin Young(9.0), Antonio Banks(7.1) Rebounds: Hilton Hogue(7.1), Shahar Brown(5.9), Jamaal Winston(5.1) Assists: Kevin Young(2.9), Antonio Banks(2.7), Jamaal Winston(2.2) Steals: Shahar Brown(1.0), Hilton Hogue(0.8), Jamaal Winston(0.4) Blocks: Hilton Hogue(0.8), Kevin Young(0.5), Todd Henson(0.5) A tough non-conference schedule was handled fairly well, and the Roadrunners appear poised for a strong season. Antonio Banks has been benched in favor of junior Todd Henson – Banks is shooting just 35% from the field, has been weak defensively, and has more turnovers than assists … obviously not capable of leading the team consistently, at least not yet. No further news on the recruiting trail, Mike Boozer remains the only commit.

01-26-2008, 12:39 PM	#10
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 12.27 CSU Bakersfield(4-5) @ Winston Salem State(5-4) – L 78-71 12.30 Chicago State(4-6) @ CSU Bakersfield(4-6) – L 91-79 1.3 CSU Bakersfield(4-7) @ Presbyterian(7-4) – W 74-71 1.6 Longwood(2-10) @ CSU Bakersfield(5-7) – W 77-59 After losing the first two games against other independents, the Roadrunners got a buzzer-beating three-pointer from an unlikely source – point guard Ryan Nunn – to get back in the win column. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 12.29 Cal-Davis(3-8) @ Long Beach State(4-8) – L 79-50 1.2 Cal-St. Northridge(6-7, 1-1) @ Cal-Davis(3-9, 0-1) – L 69-63 1.5 Cal-Davis(3-10, 0-2) @ Cal-Irvine(6-8, 2-1) – L 64-43 After a crushing loss to Long Beach State, some tempers boiled over in practice the next day. In particular, junior forward Frank Gostin and junior guard Michael Walton nearly came to blows. Frank was a man about it afterwards, admitting that he needs to change his attitude, but Michael was a different story. His anti-team display has him on suspension for the next two weeks. Walton is the last guy off the bench, and has the talent to be a successful guard at this level but has never really developed it. If this keeps up, he’ll be lucky if he continues to see so much as continued garbage time. Some coaches would be more lenient, but Grant has no patience for this kind of nonsense. They had a shot at beating Northridge, but the Irvine game was a microcosm of everything that’s horribly wrong with this team. They did a lot of things well, but the Aggies never had a chance with the starting frontcourt combining to shoot 1-14 for a total of seven points. Mike Smiley scored 11, and the rest of the team was invisible offensively. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 12.31 Mercer(5-6) @ North Florida(7-4) – L 69-44 1.4 Belmont(6-6, 1-0) @ Mercer(5-7, 0-1) – L 71-65 1.7 Mercer(5-8, 0-2) @ Stetson(6-7, 1-1) – W 78-65 The Bears ended their skid against Stetson by not doing all the things they normally do wrong – specifically, only seven turnovers all game long and more balanced scoring with the Adams' combining for 26 points. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 12.26 Mississippi Valley State(5-4, 0-0) @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff(4-5, 0-0) – L 68-65 12.29 Alabama A&M(5-5, 1-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(5-5, 0-1) – W 74-70 1.2 Mississippi Valley State(6-5, 1-1) @ Alcorn State(5-6, 1-1) – L 89-72 1.5 Texas Southern(7-5, 2-1) @ Mississippi Valley State(6-6, 1-2) – W 69-67 Kevin Hallbauer got hot in the second half of the first two games. It was too little too late in the conference opener, but enough for a comeback win back at home as he scored 21. Junior Jason Gresham was inserted as the latest attempt at a functional replacement at the point for Merton after the Alabama A&M win, and in his second start he hit the game-winner with 18 seconds left against Texas Southern. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 12.31 Texas-San Antonio(6-5) @ Stephen F. Austin(4-7) – L 67-49 1.4 Texas-Corpus Christi(9-3, 1-0) @ Texas – San Antonio(6-6, 0-1) – L 69-55 1.7 Texas-San Antonio(6-7, 0-2) @ Texas-Arlington(5-8, 0-2) – L 79-62 Texas-San Antonio has looked just horrible in their first stretch of games against conference opponents, getting torched on the defensive end while averaging nearly 20 turnovers a game offensively.

01-26-2008, 01:37 PM	#11
Izulde Head Coach Join Date: Sep 2004	I think I'll be cheering for Weston Cattley, as he's the closest to me out of this group. __________________ 2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty)

01-27-2008, 10:21 PM	#12
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Closest to you geographically or philosophically? Just curious since I don't expect these guys to stay in the same place indefinitely. Coach Wattley is currently not doing so hot, working on finding every possible way to lose at the moment unfortunately.

01-28-2008, 12:01 PM	#14
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 1.10 CSU Bakersfield(6-7) @ NJIT(6-7) – L 81-79 1.13 Utah Valley State(9-5) @ CSU Bakersfield(6-8) – L 76-74 1.17 TX Pan American(11-4) @ CSU Bakersfield(6-9) – L 95-77 1.20 CSU Bakersfield(6-10) @ North Carolina Central(4-12) – W 86-68 Against NJIT and UVS the Roadrunners lost very, very winnable games, losing leads in the final minute. They are doing a solid job overall rebounding and in the turnover battle, but soft defense continues to be the Achilles heel here, and they don’t quite have the firepower to overcome it lately. The skid ended against North Carolina Central, in a matchup of two teams having disappointing seasons, having been picked as the top independent teams but definitely not living up to that so far. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 1.9 Cal-Poly(5-10, 3-1) @ Cal-Davis(3-11, 0-3) – L 71-63 1.12 Cal-Davis(3-12, 0-4) @ Pacific(8-7, 4-0) – W 69-57 1.16 Cal-Riverside(6-10, 1-4) @ Cal-Davis(4-12, 1-4) – W 89-76 1.19 Cal-Davis(5-12, 2-4) @ Cal St. Fullerton(10-7, 2-4) – W 66-62 Tied at 57 with Cal-Poly, the Aggies went to sleep on both ends, giving up a 14-0 run and their best chance at a Big West victory. The next game against Pacific was well worth mentioning though, and not just because they won. They beat arguably the best team in the Big West, on their own floor, and did so with a consistent, decisive effort. They were decent in the turnover department(lost 14-13), rebounded well(35-25, + 10), got to the line more than their hosts(35-18), and out-shot them from the field. It was by far the Aggies’ best performance of the year, and one that gives hope that they are starting to build something. What made it even more impressive is that junior center Ricardo Smith missed the final 38 minutes of the game with what thankfully is only a minor sprain. The next game out against Cal-Riverside, Cal-Davis lost a big first half lead and were in danger of another home loss, but Mike Smiley simply wouldn’t let them lose, exploding in the second half for a school-record 40 points(15-26 fg) and adding 10 rebounds, while freshman forward Tim Denis put in a career-high 18 points in place of Smith to help bring the Aggies a second straight win. The winning streak is now at three games, doubling the amount of victories they had in their first 15 games combined – it appears Cal-Davis has really turned a corner here. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 1.11 Mercer(6-8, 1-2) @ SC Upstate(6-8, 2-1) – L 89-61 1.14 Lipscomb(5-10, 0-4) @ Mercer(6-9, 1-3) – W 66-65 1.18 Mercer(7-9, 2-3) @ Kennesaw State(7-9, 2-3) – W 67-58 1.21 Mercer(8-9, 3-3) @ Campbell(7-10, 4-2) – L 79-59 Mercer nearly gave away the Lipscomb game after leading almost the entire way, but a runner in the lane by senior forward Bill Daniels, only his second field goal of the night, won it with 11 seconds left. SF Justin McCasland(6-7, 241, KY, 3.2 GPA) made it official with a verbal commitment. He’s an athletic player, subpar defensively, and doesn’t look for his own shot much, considered average in all other respects. He doesn’t turn any heads with his national ranking(#1769), but has an very good work ethic and Coach Stahl believes he can turn this zero into a hero with time. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 1.9 Southern(5-8, 1-3) @ Mississippi Valley State(7-6, 2-2) – W 80-62 1.12 Mississippi Valley State(8-6, 3-2) @ Jackson State(10-4, 3-2) – W 75-66 1.16 Prairie View A&M(7-8, 2-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(9-6, 4-2) – W 84-73 1.19 Mississippi Valley State(10-6, 5-2) @ Alabama State(10-6, 5-2) – L 72-46 Despite the most recent blowout loss(Hallbauer shot a horrific 2-17), the Delta Devils are the surprise team in the SWAC right now, refusing to roll over as expected and getting consistent production from the frontcourt. Tre Roe has scored in double figures five of the last six games, with double-doubles in the last two. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 1.11 Texas-San Antonio(6-8, 0-3) @ Sam Houston State(5-9, 0-3) – L 66-62 1.14 Texas State(9-6, 4-0) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-9, 0-4) – L 63-62 1.18 Texas-San Antonio(6-10, 0-5) @ SE Louisiana(3-13, 2-3) – L 68-55 1.21 McNeese State(10-7, 4-2) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-11, 0-6) – L 70-65 A pair of devastating losses that should have been wins – the Roadrunners have been playing much better overall lately, particularly against Texas State, but they lost the lead late as Jamaal Winston missed a pair of free throws in the final minute, while Shahar Brown had his worst game in over a month, going 0-3 with two turnovers in the last minute and a half. It was the beginning of what has become a serious slump for Brown, and Texas-San Antonio is desperate for any kind of win right now, having lost 10 of 11 after a 5-2 start to the season.

01-29-2008, 12:27 PM	#15
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 1.24 Savannah State(6-11) @ CSU Bakersfield(7-10) – L 72-60 1.27 Winston-Salem State(10-8) @ CSU Bakersfield(7-11) – W 94-88 1.31 CSU Bakersfield(8-11) @ Chicago State(6-13) – W 102-99 2.3 Presbyterian(11-9) @ CSU Bakersfield(9-11) – W 85-60 The Chicago State game was notable in a couple of ways, as the Roadrunners avenged an earlier loss at home and cracked the century mark for the first time. The scoring was balanced, with Valery Person leading the way with 22 points, and both teams pulled the trigger from long range, shooting a combined 53% from beyond the arc. With 85 or more points scored in the last three games, all wins, CSU Bakersfield is just a game under .500 and really appears to be hitting their stride. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 1.23 Cal-Santa Barbara(8-10, 2-5) @ Cal-Davis(6-12, 3-4) – W 69-60 1.30 Long Beach State(10-10, 7-2) @ Cal-Davis(7-12, 4-4) – W 73-56 2.2 Cal-Davis(8-12, 5-4) @ Cal St. Northridge(10-11, 5-5) – L 57-55 Mercer(Steve Stahl) 1.25 East Tennessee State(11-7, 6-1) @ Mercer(8-10, 3-4) – W 71-51 1.28 Florida Gulf Coast(4-15, 1-7) @ Mercer(9-10, 4-4) – W 54-43 2.1 Mercer(10-10, 5-4) @ Gardner-Webb(7-13, 3-6) – L 83-64 2.4 Jacksonville(5-16, 2-8) @ Mercer(10-11, 5-5) – W 68-48 The game against ETSU was extremely encouraging, the Bears finest performance of the year as the pummeled one of the top teams in the Atlantic Sun from tipoff to buzzer. The Bears also got a third recruit commitment: PF Lionel Louis(6-6, 224, GA, 2.8 GPA). Louis has little athletic ability, and has a number of holes in his game, but is durable, has a good work ethic, and can score effectively in the paint. He’s ranked #1403 nationally. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 1.23 Grambling(6-11, 3-5) @ Mississippi Valley State(10-7, 5-3) – L 75-64 1.26 Arkansas-Pine Bluff(9-9, 5-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(10-8, 5-4) – W 74-67 1.30 Mississippi Valley State(11-8, 6-4) @ Alabama A&M(12-7, 8-2) – L 91-68 2.2 Alcorn State(10-10, 6-5) @ Mississippi Valley State(11-9, 6-5) – W 74-51 A career-high 21 points from Tre Roe against Grambling couldn’t stop the Delta Devils from a very damaging home loss. Kevin Hallbauer had his best game in weeks with a 25-point effort, and Roe scored 12 of his 13 in the second half to hold off Arkansas-Pine Bluff and stop the bleeding. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 1.25 Central Arkansas(11-7, 4-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-12, 0-7) – L 66-63 1.28 Texas-San Antonio(6-13, 0-8) @ Nicholls State(9-10, 2-6) – L 78-54 2.1 Northwestern State(12-8, 4-5) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-14, 0-9) – W 70-53 2.4 Texas-San Antonio(7-14, 1-9) @ Lamar(12-9, 5-5) – L 81-62 Shahar Brown got his rhythm back against the Central Arkansas Grizzlies(15 points, 7 rebounds), but it wasn’t enough to stave off the best player in the conference, UCA’s senior guard Ben Smith, who scored 28 points, many of them late. Another 21 turnovers doomed the Roadrunners. Finally the streak ended against Northwestern State as Texas-San Antonio marched out to a 20-4 lead and never really looked back. Last edited by Brian Swartz : 01-29-2008 at 12:28 PM.

01-31-2008, 11:55 AM	#16
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 2.7 CSU Bakersfield(10-11) @ Longwood(5-16) – W 73-57 2.10 NJIT(12-10) @ CSU Bakersfield(11-11) – W 91-89 2.14 CSU Bakersfield(12-11) @ Utah Valley State(14-9) – W 78-70 2.17 CSU Bakersfield(13-11) @ TX Pan American(18-6) – W 87-85 Ishmael Morris hit the game-winner with 11 seconds left against NJIT, then sealed it with a rebound at the end to keep the winning streak going. The seventh straight victory came against the unquestioned king of the independents this year, a team that had blasted the Roadrunners by 18 at home some weeks ago. After losing a 13-point lead, CSU Bakersfield hung tough at the end, and Donald Young’s turnaround in the lane with two seconds left on the clock was the game-winner. The first half was an incredible shooting display, with the teams combining for 99 points and nearly 60% from the field. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 2.6 Cal-Irvine(11-11, 7-4) @ Cal-Davis(8-13, 5-5) – L 70-56 2.9 Cal-Davis(8-14, 5-6) @ Cal-Poly(8-15, 6-6) – L 73-71 2.13 Pacific(12-11, 8-4) @ Cal-Davis(8-15, 5-7) – W 80-67 2.16 Cal-Davis(9-15, 6-7) @ Cal-Riverside(7-17, 2-11) – L 92-80 Mike Smiley killed the Pacific Tigers for a second time(29 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists), a pair of losses that will likely keep them from the Big West regular-season title, and have kept the Aggies within striking distance of a .500 conference record. And then they decided to take the first half off against Riverside and paid the price, trailing 50-29 before a comeback attempt came up short. Coach Grant was disgusted by the total lack of defense, as his boys allowed the worst team in the conference to shoot 54% from the field and hit 10 of 23 3-pointers. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 2.8 North Florida(13-9, 6-5) @ Mercer(11-11, 6-5) – W 70-62 2.11 Mercer(12-11, 7-5) @ Belmont(15-8, 10-2) – L 61-53 2.15 Stetson(12-12, 7-6) @ Mercer(12-12, 7-6) – L 70-66 2.18 SC Upstate(16-9, 12-2) @ Mercer (12-13, 7-7) – L 79-74 Mercer had a great shot to beat conference-leading Belmont, but down only a single point they once again fell apart at the end, with two last-minute turnovers leading to fast breaks going the other way. The Stetson game was similar to this as well – with a chance to tie or win at the end, Adam Kelly lost the handle and in effect, the game with a turnover with 12 seconds left. The number of winnable games the Bears have fumbled away this year, literally in many cases, is just uncanny. Adam Wall had a career game against conference-leading SC Upstate, scoring most of his 24 in the first half and grabbing 10 rebounds, but the Bears needed a near-perfect game and didn’t quite have enough. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 2.6 Mississippi Valley State(12-9, 7-5) @ Texas Southern(9-12, 4-8) – L 64-62 2.9 Mississippi Valley State(12-10, 7-6) @ Southern(6-16, 2-11) – L 72-57 2.13 Jackson State(13-10, 6-8) @ Mississippi Valley State(12-11, 7-7) – W 81-67 2.16 Mississippi Valley State(13-11, 8-7) @ Prairie View A&M(13-11, 8-7) – L 82-71 The Texas Southern game was a great opportunity for Tre Roe to show that he’s ready to be a star. It was a tough road game, the Devils trailed most of the way, but he stepped to the line for a one-and-one with 11 seconds left and a chance to tie the score … and bricked the first one, blowing a chance for Foster’s charges to stay within two games of the conference leaders. It was only the last of nine missed free throws in the game(13-22). To add to the misery, they then went ice-cold in the second half against Southern, extending the losing streak by scoring only 16 points in the second half. Sophomore center Brendon Tucker had a breakout game to change that against Jackson State, scoring 24 on 9-13 shooting. It was only the second team he’s scored more than a dozen in a game: the first time was earlier this year, when he put in 14 against the same opponent. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 2.8 Stephen F. Austin(11-11, 7-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(7-15, 1-10) – W 66-51 2.11 Texas-San Antonio(8-15, 2-10) @ TX Corpus Christi(15-8, 7-5) – W 87-72 2.15 Texas-Arlington(10-14, 5-8) @ Texas-San Antonio(9-15, 3-10) – W 70-56 2.18 Sam Houston State(10-15, 5-9) @ Texas-San Antonio(10-15, 4-10) – L 69-62 The Roadrunners got a huge upset win against Corpus Christi, and their third win in four games, by shooting a ridiculous 67% from the field, as all five starters had 10 or more points. Two games later their shooting failed them, in the form of 14 missed free throws in a home loss.

02-02-2008, 12:34 PM	#17
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 2.21 North Carolina Central(8-17) @ CSU Bakersfield(14-11) – W 84-65 2.24 CSU Bakersfield(15-11) @ Savannah State(10-16) – L 94-60 The wheels fell off in a season-ending blowout loss, probably the worst game they played this year. Still, it was a very strong finish to the season overall. FINAL INDEPENDENTS STANDINGS TX Pan American(20-7) Utah Valley State(16-11) NJIT(15-12) CSU Bakersfield(15-12) Winston Salem State(15-12) Presbyterian(14-13) Savannah State(11-16) Chicago State(8-19) North Carolina Central(8-19) Longwood(6-21) Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 2.20 Cal St. Fullerton(16-9, 8-6) @ Cal-Davis(9-16, 6-8) – W 70-63 2.23 Cal-Davis(10-16, 7-8) @ Cal-Santa Barbara(11-15, 5-10) – L 76-63 Robert Collins scored a season-high 22 against Fullerton in a hard-earned win, including clutch free throws at the end to hold them off. BIG WEST STANDINGS Pacific(15-12, 11-5) Cal Poly(12-15, 10-6) Cal St. Fullerton(17-10, 9-7) Cal-Irvine(13-14, 9-7) Long Beach State(11-6, 8-8) Cal St. Northridge(12-15, 7-9) Cal-Davis(10-17, 7-9) Cal-Santa Barbara(12-15, 6-10) Cal-Riverside(10-17, 5-11) Mercer(Steve Stahl) 2.22 Mercer(12-14, 7-8) @ Lipscomb(7-19, 2-13) – W 89-82 ATLANTIC SUN STANDINGS SC Upstate(18-9, 14-2) Belmont(17-10, 12-4) Campbell(13-14, 10-6) East Tennessee State(15-12, 10-6) Kennesaw State(15-12, 10-6) North Florida(15-12, 8-8) Mercer(13-14, 8-8) Stetson(13-14, 8-8) Gardner-Webb(10-17, 6-10) Jacksonville(8-19, 5-11) Florida Gulf Coast(6-21, 3-13) Lipscomb(7-20, 2-14) Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 2.20 Alabama State(16-9, 11-5) @ Mississippi Valley State(13-12, 8-8) – L 72-70 2.23 Mississippi Valley State(13-13, 8-9) @ Grambling(12-14, 9-8) – L 67-56 The Delta Devils are sliding at the end of the season, but things are looking up a bit on the recruiting front after their first verbal came in: SG Lydell Jones(6-0, 178, MS, 3.2 GPA). Lydell is ranked #1486 nationally, and is a good shooter who is athletic enough to create his own shot. He particularly excels at attacking the basket off the dribble, and is very reliable at the free-throw line. There is some question about his team attitude, however. SWAC STANDINGS Alabama State(18-9, 13-5) Alabama A&M(17-10, 13-5) Prairie View A&M(15-12, 10-8) Grambling(13-14, 10-8) Arkansas-Pine Bluff(14-13, 10-8) Alcorn State(13-14, 9-9) Mississippi Valley State(13-14, 8-10) Jackson State(15-12, 8-10) Texas Southern(11-16, 6-12) Southern(7-20, 3-15) Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 2.22 Texas-San Antonio(10-16, 4-11) @ Texas State(13-13, 8-7) – L 77-49 Not an inspiring end to the regular season, to be sure. SOUTHLAND STANDINGS EAST DIVISION McNeese State(11-5) Central Arkansas(10-6) Lamar(9-7) Nicholls State(8-8) Northwestern State(7-9) SE Louisiana(6-10) WEST DIVISION Stephen F. Austin(11-5) TX Corpus Christi(9-7) Texas State(9-7) Sam Houston State(7-9) Texas-Arlington(5-11) Texas-San Antonio(4-12)

02-03-2008, 11:05 PM	#18
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	BIG WEST TOURNAMENT 3.2 Quarterfinals – Cal-Davis(10-17) vs. Cal-Poly(12-15) The Mustangs played nearly flawless basketball early, and jumped out to a quick 11-point lead. It took over ten minutes for someone other than Smiley to score for the Aggies, and it looked like a return to their early-season offensive struggles was underway. The bench provided a bit of a spark though, and by the half the deficit was down to 37-32. The momentum continued in the second half, and Mike Smiley hit his first three shots, the last of which was a tough one in the lane to give the Aggies their first lead since the opening moments at 50-48 with just under fifteen minutes to go. Both teams struggled to score after that, and with three minutes left it was still anybody’s game, with Poly in the lead by two at 66-64. Both teams made plenty of mistakes after that, but [b]Ricardo Smith’s[b/] rebounding and a key shot in the final minute by Smiley were enough to get the Aggies over the hump, 76-68. Mike Smiley finished with 23 points and 7 boards, Robert Collins had 17 with 5 assists, and Ricardo Smith pitched in 11 points, 8 rebounds, and a pair of steals – half of the rebounds coming in the final critical minutes. 3.3 Semifinals – Cal St. Fullerton(18-10) vs. Cal-Davis(11-17) Cal-Davis played well early, but couldn’t keep Fullerton off the foul line, and struggled mightily from the field themselves in falling behind 30-22 at the half. Not much changed in the second half: it was a horrific night offensively for the Aggies across the board, and though they played well in other aspects, it wasn’t enough to overcome their shooting woes and Fullerton moved on the Big West title game, 53-46. Mike Smiley hit on just 5 of 24 shots in his final game for a total of 13 points, with no-one else in double figures. Cal-Davis shot 31% from the floor total. ATLANTIC SUN TOURNAMENT 3.1 First Round -- Jacksonville(8-19) vs. Mercer(13-14) The Bears played a sluggish first half, leading only by three at the break, but came out focused in the second half and quickly pulled away for a comfortable win, 70-55. Jamal Brown, Bill Daniels, and Adam Kelly scored 11 apiece, with Brown adding nine rebounds as well. Mercer forced 21 turnovers, most of them in the second half, and shot 53% from the floor. 3.2 Quarterfinals – Mercer(14-14) vs. Belmont(17-10) The Bruins jumped out 24-7 early, courtesty of 8 early Mercer turnovers and superior execution, and this game was over almost immediately. They were never able to make a serious run, ending their season on the short end of a 73-52 rout. Adam Kelly scored 14 in defeat. SWAC TOURNAMENT 3.3 First Round – Southern(7-20) vs. Mississippi Valley State(13-14) Despite going up against the conference’s worst team, this was a tight match almost the entire way. The Delta Devils jumped out to a solid lead midway through the first half, but Southern came right back to close it up. With about six minutes left, Mississippi Valley State managed to edge out to a six-point lead again, but entering the final minute they had nearly lost it, clinging to a 66-65 margin. Only the ineptness of the opponent allowed them to survive for a 68-65 win, their last of the season if they don’t play better than this. Kevin Hallbauer and Brendon Tucker each scored 14, with Hallbauer snatching six steals as well. Tre Roe added 13 points. 3.4 Quarterfinals – Mississippi Valley State(14-14) vs. Alabama A&M(17-10) MVS certainly picked it up a notch in the effort category for this one, trailing only 38-36 at the half to the regular season co-champions thanks to a strong effort on the boards. After falling behind by as many as nine points, the Delta Devils came back strong to tie it at 68 on Kevin Hallbauer’s triple with two minutes left … but couldn’t hit a shot the rest of the way, and lost a well-fought battle 72-68. Hallbauer had 14 and 7 rebounds to finish off his collegiate career, but also shot just 5-16 from the floor and committed 5 turnovers. Tre Roe pitched in 12 points, 4 rebounds, and a pair of steals. The next day, there was news from the recruiting front: another verbal commit for the Devils. PG Criag Sarpy(6-1, 183, MS, 2.9 GPA). Ranked near the bottom at #1749, Criag is a subpar prospect but is an excellent passer which could give him some potential. He’s also known to be quite durable physically. Defense is Sarpy’s biggest weakness. SOUTHLAND TOURNAMENT 3.3 First Round – Texas-San Antonio(10-17) vs. Lamar(16-11) Nobody could score early in an incredibly ugly game – the score was 4-3 after six minutes. It got a little better, but not much, and the Roadrunners led a tight contest 26-22 at intermission, with both squads still desperately seeking any consistent way to score. The shooting picked up, particularly late, and Texas-San Antonio held a small, but stable lead the rest of the way, just barely enough to hold off a bit of a late comeback, 61-59. Kevin Young led the scoring with 13, while Shahar Brown put in 12 and 9 boards. 3.4 Quarterfinals – Texas-San Antonio(11-17) vs. TX Corpus Christi(17-10) Contrary to expectations, the Roadrunners’ front line was able to counter the highly favored Islanders early, with Brown, Hogue, and reserve Scott Johnson all able to score inside. It was an even match for the balance of the first half, with both teams executing and shooting well offensively for the most part. TX Corpus Christi eked out a five-point halftime lead, but they were still clearly in a battle. The lead was pushed a bit larger to open the second half, but then Texas-San Antonio struck with some of their best basketball of the season. Playing inspired on both ends, they went on a 17-0 tear covering several minutes, staking claim to a 54-44 lead with ten minutes left, forcing five turnovers and committing zero during the run. The Islanders soon came roaring back, reclaiming the lead at 61-60 with five minutes to go, and it was starting to look like the Roadrunners were running out of steam finally. With 45 seconds left, they still clung to life, down by three. Brown, having his finest game in months, nailed a jumper to cut the lead to 67-66, but TX Corpus Christi made the ensuing free throws and Todd Henson missed a desperation shot to tie at the buzzer. It was a noble effort, but not quite enough as they lost this one 69-66 to end their season. Shahar Brown scored 24 and nabbed 9 rebounds, with Hilton Hogue adding 14 and 6 boards while Todd Henson pitched in 10. A six-turnover deficit(18-12) was ultimately the deciding factor. 1965 NCAA TOURNAMENT Unsurprisingly, none of our coaches sniffed the post-season. There was still plenty of interest in the post-season this year, with the top three teams in the rankings all worthy of acclaim. UCLA, Louisiana Tech, and Fordham have lost only four games combined this year, and are head and shoulders above the rest of the field. UCLA marched through the opening weekend winning by an average of better than 30 points, while Louisiana Tech and Fordham each survived a mild first-round scare, then won easily in the second round to stay alive. The Fordham Rams met their end unexpectedly soon against BYU, 71-60 in the Sweet Sixteen. They were uncharacteristically sloppy, and Cougars guard Lonny Bellamy torched them for 25 points, with forward Mario Fisher adding 15. Their perimeter attack was enough to get them by Cinderella 10th-seed Southern Illinois and into the Final Four. Louisiana Tech had no such problems, continuing on with solid wins against Pittsburgh and High Point in the second weekend. UCLA has continued to dominate, and is the clear favorite now after dispatching Duke 77-57 in the regional finals – their closest game of the tournament so far. The first game of the Final Four was Ohio State taking on BYU, and the clock struck midnight for Cinderella quickly. The Buckeyes ran over the Cougars 79-55. Not to worry, because the primetime matchup was the marquee one. #1 UCLA vs. #2 Louisiana Tech. A combined record of 71-3 coming in. This was sure to be a classic, right? Erm, no. Another snoozer. The Bruins treated their highly touted opponents like just another pushover, slamming Louisiana Tech 77-52. So much for all the hype. The final against OSU was UCLA’s toughest test yet, which is another way of saying it wasn’t completely over for 35 minutes instead of the usual 25 or 30. The pre-season #1 pushed aside the Buckeyes 60-48, culminating a dominant tournament run and a 37-1 season that only a handful of teams at most in the history of the sport can match. There’s no question who the best team was in 1965: UCLA claimed the school’s first title in truly impressive fashion.

02-05-2008, 12:08 PM	#19
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	1965 OFFSEASON There were no serious job offers for any of the coaches after their first year, which stands to reason: none of them have earned any interest yet. CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) Final Record: 15-12, 211 RPI TEAM LEADERS Points: Valery Person(12.1), Ishmael Morris(11.9), DeWayne Bell(10.1) Rebounds: Ishmael Morris(5.1), Donald Young(3.6), Clyde Kurtz(3.5) Assists: Ryan Nunn(5.0), Bo Green(2.1), DeWayne Bell(1.8) Steals: Valery Person(1.1), DeWayne Bell(1.0), Marquis East(0.8) Blocks: DeWayne Bell(0.6), Ishmael Morris(0.6), Clyde Kurtz(0.5) CSU Bakersfield was the top scoring team in the nation at 78.9 ppg, while surrendering second-most with 77.0. They both shot and allowed a little under 47% from the field, and keeping up that offensive pace will be difficult with six graduating seniors, including Bell, Person, and Morris, the top three scorers. Those seniors can be proud of a late-season eight-game winning streak, which made this the second-best season in the school’s last 15 years. The board was pleased with that strong showing, despite failing to meet their one goal of having the best record in the independents. Reputation: 13(+2) Contract: 4 years, $69,000 Job Security: 11 Goals: Finish 1st in Independents Team Prestige: 5(no change) Conference Prestige: 0(no change) Facilities: D+ Recruiting Budget: $23,000 FINAL RECRUITING CLASS SF Joe Hall(6-8, 231, CA, #26) PF Greg Kitchings(6-6, 235, CA, #929) PG Frank Watson(6-2, 199, CA, #1132) Two open scholarships went unfilled. Once again CSU Bakersfield has been picked first among the Independents, but this year it’s more likely to be a reality. Senior point guard Ryan Nunn returns improved, with two solid seasons as a starter under his belt(5.1 ppg, 5.0 apg last year). He’s not a great shooter but doesn’t take bad shots either, and last year had a 1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio. 6-5 sophomore Bo Green will start as the only other returning guard with experience, and he also handles the ball well and shoots well from long range, averaging 5.7 ppg in less than 13 mpg last year. The frontcourt is headed up of course by the new big man on campus, Joe Hall. He’s a whale in a bathtub here and is expected to star immediately. Nobody gets a ton of minutes in Coach Ralph Perry’s system predicated on waves of players, interchangeable parts, and constant pressure, but Hall is expected to be the team’s primary scorer immediately and have a huge impact on both ends of the floor. Sophomore Donald Young hasn’t played well in the preseason, but he still gets the nod at power forward thanks to his performance last year: 9.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 50.3% fg. Senior walkon David Watkins will be at center, but there are plenty of bodies to shuffle in there, though not much is expected of them. Of the other freshmen, guard Frank Watson has the appearance of a major bust, and will see limited time despite the lack of depth in the backcourt. Forward Greg Kitchings doesn’t figure in this year’s plans and will redshirt, but Perry’s staff thinks he has the potential to be a star. The biggest factor this year will be the maturation of Joe Hall – how good he is and how soon will determine whether the Roadrunners do anything worthy of notice beyond the proverbial armpit of college basketball that is the independents. Another young swingman has been impressed by Perry on the recruiting trail, and forms the lone early commitment: SF Linton Shipley(6-7, 196, CA, 2.9 GPA). Linton is ranked #143 in the nation, mostly on the strength of his scoring ability. He’s a below-average player otherwhise, but really excels in breaking down defenses one-on-one. Not in Hall’s talent range by any means, but still a darn fine prospect for this program. Another truly elite local forward, Virgil Holst, considered CSU Bakersfield but ultimately chose the far more prestigious atmosphere at the University of Arizona instead. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) Final Record: 11-18(7-9), 269 RPI TEAM LEADERS Points: Mike Smiley(19.6), Ricardo Smith(7.1), Robert Collins(5.1) Rebounds: Mike Smiley(5.1), Ricardo Smith(4.5), Ryan Coon(4.3) Assists: Robert Collins(4.0), Adam Dissinger(1.7), Kevin Chambless(1.5) Steals: Mike Smiley(1.0), Ricardo Smith(0.7), Kevin Chambless(0.7) Blocks: Kevin Chambless(0.6), Mike Smiley(0.4), Ryan Coon(0.4) Mike Smiley was the 1965 Aggies team, smashing the single-season school scoring mark by scoring 568 points – the previous high was 480, set by Damon Smith in 1947. Not surprisingly, he was named the Big West’s Player of the Year. It was also the eighth-best scoring season in Big West Conference history. Along with Smiley, Kevin Chambless and Adam Dissinger are also graduating, though four starters and most of the bench will return. The biggest challenge will be finding ways to score without him. Cal-Davis was 8th in the Big West in scoring 63.1 ppg, and 4th in allowing 67.1. The biggest thing they need to improve on to drop that second number is rebounding, a battle they lost by 3.3 boards a game in 1965. The Aggies didn’t come close to meeting the board’s singular goal of winning the Big West Tournament, but they did affirm that they still have confidence in Coach Grant. Reputation: 12(+1) Contract: 3 years, $68,000 Job Security: 10(no change) Goals: Finish in Big West Top 3 Team Prestige: 4(-2) Conference Prestige: 15(no change) Facilities: D- Recruiting Budget: $101,550 FINAL RECRUITING CLASS C Jamie Belton(6-9, 272, CA, #495) SF Tyler McColpin(6-8, 197, ID, #958) PG Jordan Williams(6-1, 181, UT, #1559) Jamie Belton was quite a find, a good defensive big man, and Coach Grant outdueled Ralph Perry for his services. Cal-Davis has been predicted to finish 8th in the Big West, and it’s not hard to see why. With the season approaching, no-one including coach Denny Grant has any idea how they are going to score. There are three returning starters: senior guard Robert Collins(5.1 ppg, 4.0 apg, 37.6% fg), junior forward Ryan Coon(3.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 61.4% fg) and senior center Ricardo Smith(7.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 44.9% fg). Collins has improved, the other two have not, and none of them showed the ability to score consistently before. The graduation of Mike Smiley, the greatest scorer in Aggies history, has left a huge void. There is more depth on the team, and there will certainly be more balance than last year. Rebounding should be improved. Collins and Coon were the best defenders on the team, and having them back will help in that department. But there’s nobody on this team that scares anyone with their playmaking. The future could perhaps be brighter at least. All three new recruits appear to have the talent to contribute, but none are expected to do so this year. Jordan Williams and Jamie Belton will redshirt. Belton has the talent to be a star here, but there is enough marginally talented depth in the middle and he’s raw enough that another year of developing his skills will do him good. Forward Tyler McColpin will likely see very limited time off the bench, playing behind competent seniors David Scott and Frank Gostin. Two commitments have come in on the recruiting trail, ensuring that the experienced big men on the team will have ample replacements. C Tim Alexander(6-10, 271, 3.1 GPA, #606). Alexander is an excellent scorer in the paint, and should provide the first real post prescence on the offensive end. He’s only adequate at best defensively however. F Michael Dare(6-7, 236, 3.3 GPA, #341). Dare is for the most part a dream come true for Coach Grant. He’s a good scorer inside, passes well, and is an excellent defensive player. Michael is not particularly athletic and is a turnover factory, but he, Jamie Belton, and Tim Alexander as a rotating trio on the front line is a fond prospect to look forward to.

02-05-2008, 12:10 PM	#20
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Mercer(Steve Stahl) Final Record: 14-15(8-8), RPI 261 TEAM LEADERS Points: Jamal Brown(13.0), Adam Kelly(10.6), Adam Wall(8.3) Rebounds: Adam Kelly(6.6), Bill Daniels(4.6), Jamal Brown(4.2) Assists: Aubrey Bullock(3.0), Adam Wall(1.8), Bob King(1.7) Steals: Adam Kelly(1.0), Jamal Brown(0.9), Adam Wall(0.8) Blocks: Jamal Brown(0.8), Adam Wall(0.5), Bill Daniels(0.3) The theme this year was losing winnable or nearly won games for the Mercer Bears. If they’d won even half of those close contests, they would have had 17 or 18 wins and we’d be talking here about what a great job Steve Stahl did in his first season here. As it is, it was still better than most seasons(the last time the Bears finished above .500 in the conference was 1959) and still enough to pass both of the season’s goals: staying out of last place and winning at least 10 games. The school board was quite pleased with this. Jamal Brown’s season was good enough to earn him 2nd Team All-Atlantic Sun honors. With the entire starting frontcourt(Adam Kelly, Adam Wall, and Bill Daniels) graduating, it will be difficult to build on this success next year. Coach Stahl was pleased to see the team hold a +1.6 rebounding edge over their opponents this year, but as expected point guard was the weakest position, displaying itself with a -3.1 turnover margin. Particularly with rebounding expected to suffer next year, that will need to improve. FINAL RECRUITING CLASS PF Phillip Frederick(JC, 6-7, 228, GA, #119) SG Mate Ramage(6-4, 192, GA, #813) PF Lionel Louis(6-6, 224, GA, #1403) SF Brent Calvert(6-8, 224, GA, #1404) SF Justin McCasland(6-7, 241, KY, #1769) Reputation: 12(+1) Contract: 2 years, $61,000 Job Security: 12(+2) Goals: Don’t finish last, Win 10+ games Team Prestige: 14(no change) Conference Prestige: 16(no change) Facilities: C- Recruiting Budget: $187,700 The word on the Mercer Bears is that they will finish 8th in the Atlantic Sun, and the reason for this is the team is basically senior guard Jamal Brown(13.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 53.6% fg). Brown almost never takes a bad shot, and is fine player to build a team around. But there’s really just him and role players, nobody else ready to take the load. There’s nobody who can do what the now-graduated senior frontcourt did last year. Senior Scott Conrad(4.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg in 22.4 min) is the only returning big man of any consequence. Given that situation, it will be a pair of freshman starting at forward: Brent Calvert and Justin McCasland. They aren’t incapable, but will definitely be overmatched against most opposing starters. There are a lot of forwards on this team who fit that bill, and almost none of them have significant playing time on the collegiate level. Roster shuffling is a significant likelihood here. JC transfer Phillip Frederick will see significant time off the bench to begin the year. Because of the logjam at forward, freshman Lionel Louis will redshirt. He’s about as good as any of the others, but there aren’t enough minutes for everyone. Joining him will be the extremely raw freshman guard Mate Ramage. All of the new players have the potential to be solid contributors, which makes Steve Stahl very optimistic about the future – and very busy helping each develop their skills. As for the present, that 8th-place finish might actually be optimistic. There’s only two scholarships to fill, and the first has gone to guard Tyler Criddle(6-3, 213, GA, 3.3 GPA, #1027). Mercer thinks he’s better than that, and his ranking has dipped each month. Criddle can score from the outside, defend, and handle the ball well, with few real weaknesses. Not a projected star, but definitely a very solid player. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) Final Record: 14-15(8-10), 193 RPI TEAM LEADERS Points: Kevin Hallbauer(14.3), Tre Roe(10.3), Brendon Tucker(7.9) Rebounds: Brendon Tucker(5.8), Tre Roe(5.0), Kevin Hallbauer(3.9) Assists: Rashif Merton(3.8), Jason Gresham(2.8), Kevin Hallbauer(2.0) Steals: Kevin Hallbauer(1.1), Jason Barlow(0.7), Ricky Brown(0.7) Blocks: Kevin Hallbauer(0.3), Jason Gresham(0.3), Ricky Brown(0.2) Thanks to unexpected production from the young frontcourt, MVS beat almost everyone’s expectations this year. Except for the board, which wanted a Top 3 SWAC finish from a team most expected to finish dead last. They weren’t upset with the results, but are expecting more next year from a team that loses only Rashif Merton, who missed the conference season entirely, and team MVP and 2nd team All-SWAC performer Kevin Hallbauer. The frontcourt remains intact, and four starters will return as well as the entire bench. Reputation: 12(+1) Contract: 3 years, $84,000 Job Security: 10(no change) Goals: Finish in SWAC Top 3 Team Prestige: 5(-2) Conference Prestige: 25(-1) Facilities: C+ Recruiting Budget: $100,328 FINAL RECRUITING CLASS SF Matt Guy(6-7, 227, MS, #240) PF Jeremy Young(6-6, 229, MS, #966) SG Lydell Jones(6-0, 178, MS, #1486) PG Criag Sarpy(6-1, 183, MS, #1749) One open scholarship was not filled. Once again, Mississippi Valley State has been picked dead last. Once again it appears a good choice. The frontcourt is back, and we’ll find out if they overachieved last year. Sophomore forwards Jason Barlow and Tre Roe along with junior center Brendon Tucker, and senior Jason Gresham returns at point guard. The big question is at off guard, where freshman Lydell Jones steps in, due partly to a plethora of extremely limited backcourt players and partly due to the fact that he’s shown far more promise than anyone expected. Perhaps the Delta Devils have found a new star. Another newcomer, forward Matt Guy, could challenge for a starting role after a while – he also has very good potential. The other three freshmen however appear to be duds: guard Criag Sarpy and forwards Lee Searcy and Jeremy Young have shown nothing to indicate that they are or even can become serious contributors. Three new recruits have already announced their verbals: C Josh Cravens(6-11, 282, MS, 2.9 GPA, #93). Cravens has many weaknesses, but does one thing very well: score in the paint. He’s a fine catch for coach Foster, and is expected to provide a serious offensive threat in the post. SG Nate Spann(6-1, 208, MS, 2.4 GPA, #611). Spann is an athletic player who can defend, pass, and score: MVS thinks he’s significantly better than his ranking would indicate. If they’re right, he’ll have an immediate impact. SF Jason Singletary(6-7, 202, MS, 2.8 GPA, #1002). Singletary is another athletic player should provide a good amount of scoring punch, though his shot selection is very questionable, and he’s clearly not in the class of the other two recruits. A solid player, but not overly impressive.

02-05-2008, 12:11 PM	#21
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) Final Record: 11-18(4-12), 241 RPI TEAM LEADERS Points: Shahar Brown(15.3), Hilton Hogue(8.0), Kevin Young(7.7) Rebounds: Hilton Hogue(6.3), Shahar Brown(5.7), Jamaal Winston(5.1) Assists: Kevin Young(3.2), Todd Henson(2.6), Antonio Banks(2.2) Steals: Shahar Brown(0.9), Jamaal Winston(0.9), Hilton Hogue(0.8) Blocks: Todd Henson(0.6), Hilton Hogue(0.5), Jamaal Winston(0.4) Hogue is the only graduating senior, which bodes well for next year if the young players improve. A big question is Shahar Brown’s confidence, as he had a number of horrific games in the conference season. Brown was named to the All-Southland first team. A large part of that was only partially his fault however – the Roadrunners were a miserable passing team, committing 4.8 more turnovers than they forced. That was a big reason why they were dead last in scoring(61.0 ppg) in the Southland, and will have to change for them to be competitive. The board wanted a conference title, something the school has never achieved, and the Roadrunners didn’t come close in 1965. They expect improvement next year, but seem to be understanding of the obstacles Coach Cattley faced and don’t hold this year’s failure against him too much. Reputation: 12(no change) Contract: 3 years, $63,000 Job Security: 10(no change) Goals: Don’t finish last Team Prestige: 10(-2) Conference Prestige: 31(no change) Facilities: D- Recruiting Budget: $53,650 FINAL RECRUITING CLASS PF John Merfeld(JC, 6-8, 212, TX, #226) PG Mike Boozer(6-0, 195, TX, #1109) PG Brian Simmons(6-5, 186, TX, #1144) PF Jerome Layne(JC, 6-6, 192, KS, #1782) One scholarship wasn’t filled. Texas-San Antonio has been projected 5th in the Southland, just above average. The key will be improved guard play, which they should get with everybody returning. Senior Todd Henson(6.4 ppg, 2.6 apg, 3.3 rpg) and junior Kevin Young(7.7 ppg, 3.2 apg, 4.1 rpg) will be pushed by sophomore Antonio Banks(4.4 ppg, 34.4% fg) if his shot proves to be more reliable than it was last year. Two of the freshman guards, Brian Simmons and Mike Boozer, show promise and will redshirt, though Boozer has been incredibly lazy in his practice habits and is unlikely to benefit much. Shahar Brown returns as the team’s star after a fine sophomore season, but has not shown signs of improvement after averaging 15.2 ppg but shooting only 40% on the year. A lot depends on which guy shows up: the guy who was great pre-conference and in the Southland tournament, or the guy who shot less than 30% for most of the conference season. JC transfer Jerome Layne will start immediately at forward alongside last year’s sixth man, junior Scott Johnson(4.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 57.5% fg). Despite having a ton of them already, a point guard was the top recruiting target: local diminutive athletic Tony Ramage. They'll be seeing him for the next four years, but only twice a year as he spurned Texas-San Antonio to play for Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin. There have been some quality signings however for the Roadrunners: PF Julius Garnett(6-8, 214, TX, 2.3 GPA, #199) – Garnett has bounced around from 200 to 1000 in the rankings, and probably should be somewhere in the middle of that range. An athletic player, his strengths are a mid-range game on offense and good defensive skills. He’s not much of an inside prescence, and free-throw shooting and turnovers are weaknesses. SF Steve Warren(6-6, 242, TX, 2.6 GPA, #424) – Another athletic forward who scores well primarily from the perimeter, Warren is also a good rebounder, though not as good as Garnett defensively. C Tyrone Lane(6-11, 253, TX, 2.2 GPA, #563, JC) – Lane gives an inside prescence on both ends, capable of scoring in the paint and providing rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. He has very little athletic ability though, and turnovers are a concern here as well.

02-07-2008, 01:55 PM	#22
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 11.15 Georgia State(0-0) @ CSU Bakersfield(0-0) – W 84-73 11.18 CSU Bakersfield(1-0) @ UMKC(0-1) – W 80-67 11.22 CSU Bakersfield(2-0) @ Wyoming(0-1) – L 83-79 11.25 CSU Bakersfield(2-1) @ #25 Louisiana-Lafayette(2-2) – L 83-69 A great opening game for the Roadrunners. A comeback win at home, and if the Bo Green(23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks) and Joe Hall(15 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds) scoring tandem plays this well together often, there will be many more victories to come for CSU Bakersfield. After the opener, Joe Hall has quickly made this his team, attempting at least 16 shots a game since then and averaging 17.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, and 2.5 apg, shooting 40.3% from the field. Bo Green has become the second option(12.3 ppg), and junior center Jason Jenkins has earned the starting spot away from David Watkins with his consistently good shot selection and rebounding. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 11.14 Cal-Davis(0-0) @ Winthrop(1-0) – L 81-51 11.17 Georgia State(0-1) @ Cal-Davis(0-1) – W 75-71 11.21 Arkansas-Little Rock(0-0) @ Cal-Davis(1-1) – W 77-49 11.24 Eastern Kentucky(2-1) @ Cal-Davis(2-1) – L 72-69 The first half against Georgia State was the best game of Ricardo Smith’s career(20 points, 8 rebounds), and the Aggies bounced back strong after a crushing loss to open the season, barely surviving after allowing 48 second-half points. As for the who scores question, Smith is the early answer. He’s been on a tear so far, averaging 17.3 points and 5.5 rebounds a game. Robert Collins(11.3 ppg) and senior forward David Scott(9.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.0 apg) are giving the Aggies much better balance than they had last season. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Correy Collison has been playing better than expected, and may be starting soon if it continues. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 11.16 Arkansas-Pine Bluff(0-0) @ Mercer(0-0) – L 75-70 11.19 VA Commonwealth(1-0) @ Mercer(0-1) – W 80-61 11.23 Mercer(1-1) @ Centenary(1-1) – L 64-56 11.26 Mercer(1-2) @ Prairie View A&M(0-2) – W 78-70 A major strategic change for the Bears this year, as they will have a much more freestyle look on offense. With two starting freshmen, coach Steve Stahl felt it was a necessity to give them a chance to succeed on that end of the floor, as opposed to a more regimented approach with last year’s senior frontcourt. They had bigger problems to begin with in the season opener, as the visiting Golden Lions hit on 15 of their first 16 shots to take a commanding lead early, one which they never lost despite a furious Mercer comeback. As for the freshmen, well … they can play it looks like. While Jamal Brown was suffering through a 3/11 performance(6 points), Brent Calvert led the team with 17 points, and Justin McCasland scored 12 with three assists and three boards, shooting a perfect 5 of 5 from the floor. If there had been any semblance of defense(ARPB shot 61% on the night), this would probably have been one in the win column. The win against Prairie View was a masterpiece of team balance: Scott Conrad had a double-double with 11 points and 13 boards, and all five starters plus Art White scored in double figures. Perhaps more importantly, it was a tie game with two minutes left, and this time the Bears executed exceptionally down the stretch to get the win, a sharp contrast to their typical performance in such situations last year. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 11.14 Mississippi Valley State(0-0) @ Stephen F. Austin(0-1) – L 85-68 11.17 Mississippi Valley State(0-1) @ La Salle(1-0) – W 85-74 11.21 Mississippi Valley State(1-1) @ Montana(2-0) – L 73-64 11.24 Buffalo(2-1) @ Missisippi Valley State(2-1) – L 72-61 Anyone wondering whether freshman Lydell Jones could really be as important to MVS as we’ve heard got their answer right away. In his first game, Jones led the team with 16 points, but shot just 2 of 12 from 3-point range. Unfortunately the hosts played a near-perfect game with just five turnovers and were +20 in free-throw attempts, but there’s no question Lydell will be a big factor – and that he needs to harness his game if he really wants to excel. He’ll have plenty of time to think about it after breaking his shooting wrist early in the second half of the team’s first win against La Salle. Sophomore Brett White, who came on to score 19 points in 24 minutes, leading the Delta Devils to the victory, will replace him in the starting lineup. Lydell Jones is expected to be out until late December, and had already scored 16 in the game in as many minutes(5-15 fg). While Jones is out, White(10.8 ppg) and Tre Roe(10.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) will share the scoring load, but they’ve struggled to score the last couple games and there’s no real encouraging signs that will change until he returns. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 11.16 Texas-San Antonio(0-0) @ Northeastern(0-0) – L 67-58 11.19 Vermont(0-1) @ Texas-San Antonio(0-1) – W 80-71 11.23 Texas-San Antonio(1-1) @ Fresno State(0-1) – L 74-66 11.26 Pacific(2-1) @ Texas-San Antonio(1-2) – W 82-76(OT) The season opener showed two things primarily: JC transfer Jerome Layne can play, and the Roadrunners have not lost any perfection of the art of the turnover(5 in the first six minutes). As for Layne, he had a very solid first game: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists. Well done. Unfortunately for Northeastern, that was just the FIRST HALF! Fortunately for the hosts, however, TXSA fell apart after the break, turning a tie game into a clear loss. Layne didn’t score in the second half, but did finish with a game-high 12 rebounds, while Shahar Brown got his year off to a great start with 22 points and five rebounds. Kevin Young’s streaky nature was also on display again, as he shot 2-11 in the opener only to hit four of his first five next time out against Vermont, scoring nine in the first few minutes to pace the team to an early lead. He finished with 23 and sealed the game in the final minute. The Pacific game was a barnburner. After a barrage by Shahar Brown(31 points, 7 rebounds, 13-19 fg) gave the Roadrunners a solid second-half lead, the Tigers came back to even the game in the final two minutes. Both teams made big shots late, then each coughed it up on their final possessions before overtime. The extra session was all Texas-San Antonio though. 25 turnovers almost gave it away, but shooting 61% from the floor was just enough to overcome that. Texas-San Antonio has gotten a great start from the frontcourt, which looks to be definitely improved over last year. Shahar Brown leads the way of course(20.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.8 spg), but Scott Johnson(13.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Jerome Layne(10.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.0 apg) have also played well. Senior guard Kevin Young makes it four starters in double figures at 10.3 ppg along with 6.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He’s playing so well, in fact, that he’s moving over to the point despite his scorer’s mentality, as they’ve gotten nothing there to speak of from Todd Henson or Antonio Banks. Turnovers and rebounding are the team’s twin weaknesses, and are holding them back despite the impressive balance and Brown’s fast start.

02-09-2008, 12:13 PM	#23
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 11.29 McNeese State(1-2) @ CSU Bakersfield(2-2) – W 75-59 12.2 CSU Bakersfield(3-2) @ Buffalo(4-1) – L 78-73 12.6 Jackson State(1-4) @ CSU Bakersfield(3-3) – L 75-47 Back home the two-game skid was ended emphatically, with Hall once again showing the way with his best game so far: 23 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. CSU Bakersfield is making a habit of pounding the offensive glass, making up for the fact that their offense is not as efficient as last year. In his first start, Jason Jenkins had nine rebounds, six of them offensive, and 22 offensive boards for the team. The next game was even more stunning. It looked ugly with a capital U early on, as the Bulls took a 16-2 lead with Hall missing his first five shots. He didn’t miss often after that, including a three-pointer that cut the Buffalo lead to one for the third time with 1:19 left in the game, but it wasn’t quite enough to get the win: the slow start proved just too much to overtime. Hall’s line for the game: 36 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 5 turnovers. Three of the turnovers were in the brutal early start, but for the balance of the game he had two and hit 15 of his last 21 shots(15-26 overall). Jenkins added 14 rebounds. Only Brad Greene in Roadrunners history has scored more in a game(43 against Indiana in 1941 and several games in the high 30s). Pretty good company for a guy playing his sixth collegiate outing. It came crashing down with another loss against Jackson State though, by far the team’s worst offensive output under Ralph Perry. Hall was no hero himself, scoring only 10 points on 5-20 shooting, and the rest of the team fared little better at less than 33% on the day, including 0 for 9 from 3-point range. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 11.28 Cal-Davis(2-2) @ Long Island(2-1) – L 79-62 11.31 Cal-Davis(2-3) @ Wyoming(3-1) – W 66-63 12.5 Cal-Davis(3-3) @ FIU(1-5) – W 83-74 12.8 Gardner-Webb(3-4) @ Cal-Davis(4-3) – L 64-59 After getting blown out in their first two road contests, Cal-Davis got a huge win against a Wyoming team off to a fast start, overcoming 20 turnovers by holding them to 35% shooting from the field. The defensive focus is starting to catch hold here. Any home loss hurts, but the one to the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs was costly in more ways than one. Early in the first half, Robert Collins was lost with a toe injury for about two weeks, and without him the offense really bogged down. Ricardo Smith also fouled out, in just 12 scoreless minutes, and so the Aggies effectively played without their two best players, and for most of the game they looked like it. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 11.30 Cal St. Fullerton(2-2) @ Mercer(2-2) – W 69-58 12.3 George Washington(2-3) @ Mercer(3-2) – W 69-60 12.7 Mercer(4-2) @ Charlotte(4-2) – L 70-66 12.10 Mercer(4-3) @ Fairleigh-Dickinson(5-0) – W 72-66 Junior point guard Aubrey Bullock has continued to improve and has been a pleasant surprise so far. Against GW, he had a fine all-around game, scoring 16 points with 8 rebounds and 6 assists, performing the impressive feat of leading the team in all three categories. Then the turnover bug struck again(18-7, -11) against the 49ers, and the Bears couldn’t quite get over the hump in what would have been a big road win, but made up for it next the game. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 11.28 Michigan State(1-3) @ Mississippi Valley State(1-3) – W 86-68 11.31 San Diego State(1-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(2-3) – W 80-58 12.5 Lipscomb(0-6) @ Mississippi Valley State(3-3) – W 87-77 Freshman guard Criag Sarpy made his first waves in a runaway win over the Aztecs, scoring 15 points off the bench and showing solid decision-making as well. The Delta Devils had 22 assists, and are quickly showing they can score just fine without Lydell Jones, thank you. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 11.30 Texas-San Antonio(2-2) @ Loyola-Chicago(3-1) – W 71-59 12.3 Northern Arizona(2-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(3-2) – W 69-67 12.7 Texas-San Antonio(4-2) @ UMBC(0-6) – L 62-58 12.10 Sacred Heart(1-5) @ Texas-San Antonio(4-3) – W 77-62 Jerome Layne got to play hero against Northern Arizona, hitting a game-winning jumper from the right wing with nine seconds left as Texas-San Antonio barely avoided disaster after blowing a double-digit lead in the second half. Layne had only two points on 1-4 fg prior to that last possession. Next against UMBC, the Roadrunners laid a total egg, falling behind by 15 points in the first half to the winless Retrievers, only to take a double-digit second-half lead after a huge comeback … and then completely fall apart down the stretch, ending the game as victims of a 12-0 run over the last four minutes to blow a game they should have won easily. Last edited by Brian Swartz : 02-09-2008 at 12:15 PM.

02-11-2008, 09:48 PM	#24
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 12.13 CSU Bakersfield(3-4) @ Missouri(5-3) – L 80-68 12.20 CSU Bakersfield(3-5) @ Delaware State(4-5) – W 85-57 INDEPENDENTS STANDINGS Utah Valley State(6-3, 101) CSU Bakersfield(4-5, 125) Presbyterian(5-4, 162) TX Pan American(5-4, 210) Savannah State(4-5, 229) Chicago State(4-5, 265) Winston Salem State(4-5, 278) NJIT(2-7, 315) Longwood(1-8, 332) North Carolina Central(3-6, 336) TEAM LEADERS Points: Joe Hall(20.4), Donald Young(10.0), Bo Green(8.8) Rebounds: Joe Hall(4.2), Jason Jenkins(4.2), Donald Young(3.1) Assists: Ryan Nunn(4.0), Joe Hall(2.3), Scott Wilson(1.6) Steals: Bo Green(0.8), Joe Hall(0.6), Ryan Nunn(0.6) Blocks: Bo Green(1.3), Joe Hall(1.1), David Watkins(0.7) Joe Hall has really found his shooting stroke of late, and is up to 45.6% on the year. His current scoring pace would give him 552 points for the season if he can sustain it, which would place it as the 5th-best in school history, behind only Brad Greene’s 1941-1944 seasons. However, Bo Green(39.7%) and Ryan Nunn(31.3%, 3.6 topg) have been offensively speaking disappointments so far, and the Roadrunners as a whole are well off the pace of their shooting last season at this point with the same record. They have played a tougher schedule, and had a chance to win three of the losses in the final minutes, but still at times they seem far too content to simply watch Hall try to lead them to victory instead of last year’s more team-oriented effort. Utah Valley State is two games ahead of CSU Bakersfield, and poised to repeat as the top team in the independents. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 12.12 Sacred Heart(1-6) @ Cal-Davis(4-4) – W 62-54 12.15 Cal-Davis(5-4) @ Evansville(4-3) – L 82-56 12.19 Cal-Davis(5-5) @ New Mexico(3-8) – L 58-55 The first two were played without Robert Collins, and the Aggies shot 31% in the game they won. The game against the Aces was – well, let’s just say they didn’t win any meaningful stat category. There’s no need to discuss that debacle again. Ever. For any reason. Period. The next one against New Mexico hurt even worse. Leading at the end of the game after a tough battle, having played well most of the way, the Aggies committed three turnovers in the final minute and a half, leading to six points and effectively handing the game over, including one on the final possession when they trailed only 56-55 with 11 seconds left. BIG WEST STANDINGS Cal-Santa Barbara(8-3, 20) Cal St. Fullerton(8-3, 46) Cal-Irvine(6-5, 107) Cal Poly(6-5, 143) Pacific(6-5, 145) Long Beach State(6-5, 209) Cal St. Northridge(5-6, 294) Cal-Davis(5-6, 304) Cal-Riverside(4-7, 313) TEAM LEADERS Points: Ricardo Smith(14.6), Robert Collins(8.5), David Scott(7.3) Rebounds: Ricardo Smith(3.4), Ryan Coon(3.3), David Scott(3.0) Assists: Correy Collison(2.7), John Waldon(2.5), Robert Collins(1.9) Steals: Robert Collins(1.1), David Scott(0.8), Derek Davis(0.7) Blocks: Robert Collins(0.9), Isaac Hale(0.5), Ryan Coon(0.5) Collins is healthy again for the start of the Big West season, but the Aggies rebounding troubles are obvious and aren’t going to fixed much by his return. They are -0.8 rebounds a game, and -3.1 turnovers a game so far, committing 16, the most in the conference. That will need to change, and after weighing things for a while Coach Grant is pulling freshman John Waldon from the starting lineup. Sophomore Correy Collison will replace him, and there’s hope that this will improve the team, though marginally, on both ends of the court: Collison isn’t a great defender or floor general, but he turns it over a bit less than Waldon, who has been the team’s weakest defensive performer so far. This could be a multi-year change, as unless a talented young point guard is brought in, the winner of this battle will probably run the team for a couple years into the future. Ricardo Smith has more than doubled last year’s scoring average so far(7.1 to 14.6). With the top three scorers all graduating at the end of the year, this conference season is critical for Denny Grant. They’ve got to perform at least respectably, or he may not be given enough time to develop the young players that are coming in. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 12.14 Mercer(5-3) @ Arizona State(3-4) – L 55-40 12.17 Mercer(5-4) @ North Carolina State(3-5) – L 75-67 12.21 Southern Utah(5-3) @ Mercer(5-5) – W 76-65 The ASU game was the first time Mercer has been clearly outclassed this season: they’ve had a shot to win all of the others fairly late in the contest. It was Jamal Brown’s worst game of his career, as he played only 15 minutes and was scoreless, missing all four attempts from the field. Only Scott Conrad(12 points, 6 rebounds) was effective. ATLANTIC SUN STANDINGS Belmont(6-5, 58) Mercer(6-5, 96) East Tennessee State(5-6, 129) Campbell(6-5, 155) SC Upstate(6-5, 181) Kennesaw State(5-6, 185) North Florida(5-6, 195) Gardner-Webb(4-7, 196) Jacksonville(4-7, 205) Florida Gulf Coast(3-8, 319) Stetson(1-10, 329) Lipscomb(1-10, 331) TEAM LEADERS Points: Jamal Brown(14.4), Scott Conrad(11.6), Aubrey Bullock(8.8) Rebounds: Scott Conrad(6.4), Brent Calvert(4.9), Jamal Brown(4.5) Assists: Aubrey Bullock(4.1), Art White(2.1), Scott Conrad(1.6) Steals: Brent Calvert(1.1), Bob King(0.7), Jamal Brown(0.7) Blocks: Brent Calvert(1.2), Jamal Brown(1.0), Dean Jeffries(0.2) Mercer appears poised to do better than the 8th-place finish predicted: I’d be surprised if they don’t stay in the top half of the conference. They did get one bit of bad news, as junior backup point guard Art White being named academically ineligible, but there are other players who can fill that void, and White wasn’t a major contributor. Jamal Brown is doing his usual thing, though shooting a bit worse at 46%, he’s come on lately. The big men are the surprises. Senior Scott Conrad has been better than expected, and among the freshmen forward Brent Calvert has clearly been the best, probably the third-best player on the team behind Brown and Conrad. Calvert would be the odds-on favorite as next year’s MVP if you asked me today. He does a little bit of everything(7.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.2 bpg), and doesn’t take too many bad shots, shooting 50.8% on the year and a respectable 73% from the free-throw line. At the other forward, freshman Justin McCasland has been decent but inconsistent, and his audition is over. He’s being replaced by junior Andy Rushing, who averaged 10 minutes a game last year and has dramatically improved his rebounding and defense in very limited time this season. McCasland will still see time as the team’s sixth man, and he’ll have a chance to earn back the starting job next year, but Rushing’s experience and consistency could be key to the Bears breaking through for a strong conference run. The bench overall has been an improvement for Mercer, as there are several players, most of them young, who can contribute a little bit of this or that from time to time. Unlike last year, the team is winning the turnover battle as often as they are losing it. Aside from a rough schedule, their biggest problem has been abysmal shot-selection: the Bears are shooting a conference-worst 26.1% from 3-point range. There isn’t a good 3-point shooter on the team, and some of the young players particularly off the bench like to jack them up much more than they should.

02-11-2008, 09:50 PM	#25
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 12.12 Mississippi Valley State(4-3) @ Georgetown(3-4) – L 72-55 12.19 Columbia(7-3) @ Mississippi Valley State(4-4) – L 73-58 SWAC STANDINGS Alabama A&M(6-3, 43) Jackson State(4-5, 50) Alcorn State(6-3, 67) Grambling(4-5, 161) Texas Southern(5-4, 173) Arkansas-Pine Bluff(4-5, 191) Alabama State(3-6, 216) Mississippi Valley State(4-5, 244) Prairie View A&M(4-5, 325) Southern(2-7, 333) TEAM LEADERS Points: Lydell Jones(16.0), Tre Roe(10.6), Brett White(9.6) Rebounds: Tre Roe(5.4), Brendon Tucker(4.4), Jason Barlow(3.8) Assists: Jason Gresham(3.8), Andre Chenowith(3.1), Jason Barlow(1.3) Steals: Brett White(1.2), Brendon Tucker(1.1), Jason Barlow(0.7) Blocks: Anwar Kliewer(1.0), Brett White(0.7), Jason Gresham(0.6) It’s an interesting situation for Lydell Jones, to say the least. He’s played a total of 40 minutes of collegiate basketball, and now fully recovered from his broken wrist, he’s expected to step back in and lead MVS through the SWAC season. They’ll be up against it more often than not, having performed only adequately against a pretty easy non-conference slate other than the last couple of games. While the frontcourt continues to play well as a whole, one interesting player to watch is freshman guard Criag Sarpy. He wasn’t highly regarded at all coming in(#1749), but has shot extremely well off the bench(52.4%, 6.9 ppg in 11.6 mpg) and played excellent defense, though he also has a turnover problem. Sarpy creates a dilemma for coach Avery Foster, as with Jones coming back into the lineup, he’s got to bench a guard who has been playing well. Sophomore Brett White has played well as a starter, as the team’s second option offensively just behind Tre Roe, shooting a respectable percentage, and a solid defender though not as good as Sarpy. Meanwhile, senior Andre Chenowith has been the team’s best rebounding guard despite standing only 5-10, a very productive distributor, and a decent defender in his own right. In the end, Brett White tumbles all the way from the starting lineup to basically little more than a garbage-time guard, and not through any fault of his own – the other two are just too good a combo off the bench, Chenowith setting the table and Sarpy the sharpshooter and defender. It’s a great problem for any coach to have. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 12.14 Santa Clara(2-6) @ Texas-San Antonio(5-3) – L 82-75(OT) 12.17 Rhode Island(4-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(5-4) – L 77-70(OT) 12.21 Texas-San Antonio(5-5) @ Dayton(1-8) – W 75-73 After a rash of late-game turnovers surrendered the lead, Kevin Young hit a three to tie it in the final minute, then blocked the final attempt by Rhode Island to send the Roadrunners to a second straight overtime, the team’s third of the season already in only ten games. For the second game in a row though, they came up short in the extra period. Three losses that all probably should have been won and all certainly could have been in the last four games, and there are rumblings of last year’s mid-season frustrations setting in. The Dayton Flyers almost provided an incredible third straight overtime, and led the entire game except the final 18 seconds, when Shahar Brown’s turnaround in the lane put the Roadrunners on top for the first time. Dayton guard Walter Dove missed a three at the end, and their miserable season continues. SOUTHLAND STANDINGS TX Corpus Christi(9-2, 16) Stephen F. Austin(7-4, 42) Texas State(6-5, 87) Nicholls State(8-3, 95) Northwestern State(6-5, 186) Lamar(2-9, 192) SE Louisiana(6-5, 216) Texas-Arlington(6-5, 260) McNeese State(3-8, 273) Texas-San Antonio(6-5, 274) Sam Houston State(4-7, 323) Central Arkansas(4-7, 326) TEAM LEADERS Points: Shahar Brown(18.5), Kevin Young(11.7), Scott Johnson(11.1) Rebounds: Jerome Layne(7.7), Shahar Brown(7.3), Scott Johnson(5.6) Assists: Kevin Young(5.0), Todd Henson(3.2), Jerome Layne(2.1) Steals: Shahar Brown(1.3), Todd Henson(0.9), Kevin Young(0.9) Blocks: Kevin Young(0.8), Jerome Layne(0.6), Todd Henson(0.5) Compared to last season, TXSA has increased balance, both in scoring and rebounding, but significant weaknesses remain. They could easily be 8-3 or even 9-2 at this point, but the schedule has been quite weak. That will not be the case now with four Southland opponents in the Top 100 RPI, including the TX Corpus Christi Islanders who by far the highest-ranking team in the RPI without a national rank, and are undefeated at home. The Roadrunners have allowed 70 points a game so far on 44.2% shooting, while committing a conference-high 16.4 turnovers, a -2.0 margin. The turnovers have been dropping somewhat since Kevin Young took over at the point, but the defense will need to continue improving. Perhaps most importantly, have the ghosts of Shahar Brown’s horrific conference season been exorcised? Last year at this time, he was putting up 17.1 ppg on 45.3% shooting: this year, 18.5 ppg on 44.7% shooting. His rebounds, assists, and steals are up, with turnovers down. If he can keep it going consistently this year, a winning record in the Southland is achievable with a huge gap between the top four teams and the rest of the league.

02-13-2008, 12:14 PM	#26
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 12.27 Chicago State(4-5) @ CSU Bakersfield(4-5) – W 88-72 12.30 CSU Bakersfield(5-5) @ NJIT(3-7) – W 77-57 1.3 Savannah State(5-6) @ CSU Bakersfield(6-5) – W 77-62 1.6 CSU Bakersfield(7-5) @ Longwood(3-9) – W 75-58 The Roadrunners have gotten off to a curious pattern. Ryan Nunn and Donald Young miss shots early, then Joe Hall takes over for a few possessions, missing most of his. CSU Bakersfield falls behind, Hall goes to the bench. The reserves play the opposing team even. Hall comes back in, goes on a tear, and they take the lead, usually for good. A nervewracking situation for coach Perry to be sure, but a far worse condition for their opponents is this: they haven’t been seriously threatened for an entire game yet in their first batch of games against fellow independents, and Bo Green appears to have rediscovered his jumper. The bad news for CSU Bakersfield is that senior starting point guard Ryan Nunn will be out the next two weeks with a sprained finger. The timing is awful, with the tougher part of the schedule coming up. Sophomore Scott Wilson will replace him in the lineup. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 12.26 Cal-Irvine(6-5, 0-0) @ Cal-Davis(5-6, 0-0) – W 70-57 12.29 Cal-Davis(6-6, 1-0) @ Cal St. Fullerton(8-4, 0-1) – L 67-47 1.2 Cal-Santa Barbara(8-5, 0-2) @ Cal-Davis(6-7, 1-1) – L 72-69 1.5 Cal-Davis(6-8, 1-2) @ Cal-Poly(7-6, 1-1) – L 74-62 After splitting the first two, the third game was one that had all the appearance of a game of destiny. The Cal-Santa Barbara Gauchos were among the Big West favorites, yet had inexplicably dropped their first two games. Cal-Davis played well most of the game, and had a small lead with about six minutes left when the bottom fell out. They allowed eight of 12 offensive rebounds in those final minutes, began an inexplicable rash of turnovers, and yet still had chances in the final two minutes. Down one in the final minute, they allowed yet another offensive board after the Gauchos missed, and the deficit stretched to to 68-65 after the putback. Ricardo Smith had a chance for a three-point play with 27 seconds left … but he missed the free throw, and the Aggies had to foul. Correy Collison missed a final chance to tie at the buzzer, and a home loss that they just flat-out blew ensued, 72-69. It showed just how far this team has to go, despite being clearly improved over last year’s squad. Even though Smith(23 points) and Collins(17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) played well, they just couldn’t get it done. The next game out against the Mustangs, the Aggies shot almost 60% on the road … and weren’t even close thanks to rebounding and 23 turnovers. It’s going south in a hurry here. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 12.31 North Florida(5-6, 0-0) @ Mercer(6-5, 0-0) – L 76-70 1.4 Mercer(6-6, 0-1) @ Belmont(7-5, 1-0) – L 73-60 1.7 Stetson(1-12, 0-2) @ Mercer(6-7, 0-2) – W 79-77 After a disappointing loss to start the A-Sun season off, the Bears got off to a fast start against the heavily favored Bruins, leading 17-6 early. And then they crumbled, to the tune of 22 turnovers, never leading after halftime. Leading by as many as 25 early in the second half against the lowly Stetson Hatters, Mercer just plain stopped playing, and Stetson came all the way back to tie it, requiring a nice runner in the lane by Andy Rushing with four seconds left to get their first conference victory. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 12.26 Mississippi Valley State(4-5, 0-0) @ Alabama A&M(6-3, 0-0) – L 75-63 12.29 Arkansas-Pine Bluff(5-5, 1-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(4-6, 0-1) – W 75-66 1.2 Mississippi Valley State(5-6, 1-1) @ Alabama State(5-6, 2-0) – L 84-73 1.5 Grambling(7-5, 3-0) @ Mississippi Valley State(5-7, 1-2) – W 73-63 Winning at home, losing on the road, but there is reason for optimism after the last game against Grambling. It was tight until the very end, and Lydell Jones rose to the occasion with his best game to date(29 points on 11-24 fg, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals). With no-one else scoring in double figures, he carried the Delta Devils to the win to get back to .500 in the SWAC, and there will be more wins if he shoots as well in the future. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 12.31 Texas-Arlington(6-5, 0-0) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-5, 0-0) – L 83-65 1.4 Texas-San Antonio(6-6, 0-1) @ TX Corpus Christi(9-3, 0-1) – L 83-61 1.7 Texas-San Antonio(6-7, 0-2) @ Stephen F. Austin(8-5, 1-1) – L 68-45 Just a flat-out ugly start to the Southland season. Texas-San Antonio is struggling to score at times, but mostly they just can’t defend anybody. Another big problem is the total disappearance of Scott Johnson, who has scored just 14 points combined in the three games, including his first bagel of the season against SFA. He’s also only getting half the rebounds he was in the non-conference part of the schedule. Last edited by Brian Swartz : 02-13-2008 at 12:15 PM.

02-15-2008, 10:46 AM	#27
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 1.10 TX Pan American(7-6) @ CSU Bakersfield(8-5) – W 81-63 1.13 CSU Bakersfield(9-5) @ Winston Salem State(6-8) – W 91-73 1.17 Utah Valley State(11-4) @ CSU Bakersfield(10-5) – L 82-76 1.20 CSU Bakersfield(10-6) @ Presbyterian(8-8) – W 76-67 It didn’t matter much that Nunn was out, at least for the first game he missed. Joe Hall and Donald Young combined for 21 points in the first eight minutes against TXPA, more than twice their TEAM’s total of ten points. Freshman Frank Watson came off the bench with three quick buckets to take advantadge of his more prominent role, and this one was over very quickly. Hall exceeded his season scoring average by the end of the first half. and was limited to 29 points and 9 boards only because the starters were pulled early. The game against Utah Valley State was absolutely critical, and it was the last one Nunn would miss before returning from his injury. The rest of the independents were already in the rear-view mirror, and a win here would draw the two teams even in the standings. After leading comfortably most of the way, CSU Bakersfield surrendered the lead late in a stunning collapse they won’t soon forget. Joe Hall scored 22 with 6 rebounds but misfired on his last several attempts, while UVS freshman guard Michael Jackson went wild for 30 on 12-20 fg to bring them the win. The two teams will meet again near the end of the season, and the pressure is now on the Roadrunners to run the table until that meeting, which the Wolverines will host. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 1.9 Long Beach State(9-5, 3-0) @ Cal-Davis(6-9, 1-3) -- W 67-59 1.16 Cal-Davis(7-9, 2-3) @ Cal St. Northridge(6-11, 1-5) – L 76-65 1.19 Pacific(9-8, 3-3) @ Cal-Davis(7-10, 2-4) – W 78-64 A great win against the 49ers to snap a three-game losing streak, and the Aggies did most of the little things right, holding Long Beach State to 37% shooting and only committing 10 turnovers. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 1.11 SC Upstate(9-5, 3-0) @ Mercer(7-7, 1-2) – L 80-67 1.14 Mercer(7-8, 1-3) @ Lipscomb(4-11, 3-1) – L 83-72 1.18 Kennesaw State(6-10, 1-4) @ Mercer(7-9, 1-4) – W 75-65 1.21 Campbell(10-7, 4-2) @ Mercer(8-9, 2-4) – L 74-73 The defending Atlantic Sun champions remained unbeaten in the conference this year despite a herculean career-best effort from Jamal Brown, who scored 28 with 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and two blocked shots. Losing two of their first three home games in the conference has given the Bears a huge mountain to climb. After stopping the bleeding, they lost a heartbreaker against Campbell when Joseph Telly’s foul-line jumper at the buzzer sent them to defeat with a tough stretch of road games upcoming. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 1.9 Mississippi Valley State(6-7, 2-2) @ Texas Southern(6-7, 1-3) – W 90-64 1.12 Southern(4-10, 2-3) @ Mississippi Valley State(7-7, 3-2) – W 80-62 1.16 Mississippi Valley State(8-7, 4-2) @ Prairie View A&M(6-9, 2-4) – W 69-65 1.19 Mississippi Valley State(9-7, 5-2) @ Jackson State(10-6, 6-1) – L 73-56 A crushing first half against Texas Southern – Mississippi Valley State didn’t make a single turnover, and their hosts shot just 25% from the field. Jones went on a tear to start the second half(26 points on 10-18 fg for the game), and the lead soon reached 30 points. Extensive garbage time in this one, and with two straight impressive wins the Delta Devils looked on top of their game. The winning streak reached five before they visited Jackson State Tigers, a game that showed early that while a 5-3 start to the conference season is nothing to be ashamed of, MVS is not in the same class as the SWAC’s best yet. JS jumped out quickly 18-4, as Lydell Jones missed his first six shots from the field. While the Devils cut the lead to 45-43 early in the second half, they soon ran out of gas, unable to sustain for an entire game the level of play required to compete with the Tigers. They turned it over 19 times, and only Jones(16 points) managed double-figure scoring. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 1.11 Sam Houston State(4-10, 0-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(6-8, 0-3) – L 82-67 1.14 Texas-San Antonio(6-9, 0-4) @ Texas State(9-6, 3-1) – L 66-58 1.18 Texas-San Antonio(6-10, 0-5) @ SE Louisiana(8-8, 2-3) – W 65-57 1.21 McNeese State(6-11, 3-3) @ Texas-San Antonio(7-10, 1-5) – W 73-51 If there’s a worse team defensively in the country than the Roadrunners, I’d like to know who it is. Shahar Brown scored 18 of his 25 in the first half of a battle of the remaining winless Southland teams, and all it did was keep it from being a blowout as they still trailed by 13. Sam Houston State shot 54% in the half, including 8-11 from 3-point range. The second half didn’t improve matters, and if things don’t change dramatically I don’t see how Texas-San Antonio will even win a single game in the conference. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The biggest problem the team has is their horrific 3-point defense: some of that goes with territory when you run the 2-3 zone of course, but a lot of Southland teams play zone, and only Lamar is worse in 3-point defense – Texas-San Antonio allows 38.1%. In the conference games it’s been much worse: 45-88, or 51.1%. More than 11 triples a game. There are no words for that level of turnstile-quality defense. Despite the team’s glut of guards, almost all of them are poor defenders, and it’s definitely shown. Kevin Young is doing ok, but both Antonio Banks and Todd Henson have been absolute disasters. And there is no more time for patience. 6-4 sophomore Blake Land, who has a grand total of 54 minutes of collegiate playing time to his credit, has been promoted to the starting lineup. He’s the only player other than Young who has shown any ability whatsoever to defend on the perimeter, so Henson goes to the bench, and Banks will have his minutes cut as the fourth guard. He’s been a truly massive disappointment in his first year and a half. It took only one half for Wattley to be sure it was the right move. Despite 13 turnovers, the team was tied, on the road, against a solid Texas State team shooting only 3-14 from 3-point range. The ball pressure was much better, and at least they now had a fighting chance. The Roadrunners still lost, but they made a game of it, and the loss was more due to the final element of Kevin Young’s perverse triple-double(13 points, 12 rebounds, 10 turnovers) than anything else. -17 in turnovers and they still had a shot at it. Blake Land had 10 points in his debut, and will remain in the starting lineup permanently. It’s been nothing short of a breathtaking turnaround – the new lineup has had more impact than Coach Wattley could have possibly hoped for. Back-to-back wins now, and the team that flattened McNeese State bears no resemblance to the one on the floor for the first five conference games.

02-17-2008, 11:48 PM	#28
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 1.24 North Carolina Central(4-13) @ CSU Bakersfield(11-6) – W 82-53 1.27 CSU Bakersfield(12-6) @ Chicago State(9-9) -- L 97-94(OT) 1.31 NJIT(8-11) @ CSU Bakersfield(12-7) – W 97-65 2.3 CSU Bakersfield(13-7) @ Savannah State(8-12) – W 85-66 After drubbing Chicago State by 16 earlier in the year, the second meeting was much more competitive. The Cougars had pushed Utah Valley State to overtime before losing by three earlier in the year, and after an explosive first half and a defensive last few minutes with lots of big runs on both sides, they were headed for another extra period at home trying to play spoiler. At 5-2 against the other independent teams, they were a stiff challenge, and this time they had better luck thanks to some late turnovers by the Roadrunners. Zack Molinari’s 40 points didn’t hurt either, or the fact that Joe Hall had an off night(8-26 fg, 24 points). Worse yet, Ryan Nunn was knocked out for another two weeks during the loss, this time with a toe injury. This time junior Brandon Manning, ineligible until recently for a year and a half but playing well, has been given the starting assignment. In fact, he’s played so well that depending on how things go the next two weeks, he may not be returning to the bench at all. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 1.23 Cal-Davis(8-10, 3-4) @ Cal-Riverside(6-12, 2-5) – L 78-63 1.26 Cal-Davis(8-11, 3-5) @ Cal-Irvine(8-11, 2-6) – L 72-68 1.30 Cal St. Fullerton(13-7, 5-4) @ Cal-Davis(8-12, 3-6) – L 88-55 2.2 Cal-Davis(8-13, 3-7) @ Cal-Santa Barbara(15-6, 7-3) – L 60-49 The loss to the Cal-Irvine Anteaters was a great example of how dysfunctional Cal-Davis can be. They shot 56% from the field and did a decent job defensively and on the boards … but they still couldn’t win thanks to 24 turnovers. A career-best 19 points from Correy Collison was wasted. They’ve now lost four straight, despite some decent performances, and appear headed for another disappointing season. Best of all, Ricardo Smith will miss the next week and a half with a sprained toe. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 1.25 Mercer(8-10, 2-5) @ East Tennessee State(8-10, 3-4) – L 76-66 1.28 Mercer(8-11, 2-6) @ Florida Gulf Coast(6-13, 3-5) – L 59-43 2.1 Gardner-Webb(9-11, 5-4) @ Mercer(8-12, 2-7) – W 94-74 2.4 Mercer(9-12, 3-7) @ Jacksonville(10-11, 6-4) – L 74-72 A career night for both Jamal Brown(34 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) and Andy Rushing(15 points) paced the Bears to an easy romp over Gardner-Webb, but these kinds of games have been too few and far between. Case in point, the Bears scored eight more points in the first half(51) than they had in the entire miserable game against Florida Gulf Coast. One game doesn’t mean much to a team that’s struggled like Mercer has recently, but they followed it up with a great effort on the road against Jacksonville. Trailing by a moderate margin most of the game, they never gave up and fought back to finally tie it on a drive by Rushing with 15 seconds to go. And then their demons appeared. A foolish touch foul on the perimeter by Conrad gave the Dolphins a pair of free-throws to go ahead, and Aubrey Bullock’s pass to Brown for a potentially game-winning shot was stolen at the end. Other than Bullock, all four starters were in double figures, and it was Brent Calvert’s best game in weeks – the freshman scored 14, all in the first half – but it was all for nothing on this night. Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 1.23 Alcorn State(10-7, 4-4) @ Mississippi Valley State(9-8, 5-3) – L 81-55 1.26 Alabama A&M(10-8, 4-5) @ Mississippi Valley State(9-9, 5-4) – L 73-57 1.30 Mississippi Valley State(9-10, 5-5) @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff(7-12, 3-7) – W 75-67 2.2 Alabama State(12-8, 9-2) @ Mississippi Valley State(10-10, 6-5) – L 84-62 I just can’t figure this team out. The offense sputters through two horrific home losses, then comes to life on the road. Overall though, it’s been an ugly picture with four losses in their last five games, and none of them particularly close. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 1.25 Northwestern State(11-7, 5-2) @ Texas-San Antonio(8-10, 2-5) – W 80-78 1.28 Texas-San Antonio(9-10, 3-5) @ Lamar(3-16, 1-7) – L 67-53 2.1 Nicholls State(12-8, 4-5) @ Texas-San Antonio(9-11, 3-6) – W 65-50 2.4 Texas-San Antonio(10-11, 4-6) @ Central Arkansas(7-14) – L 62-54 Shahar Brown got off to an incredible start against Northwestern State, outscoring them personally with 19 points in the first ten minutes, including hitting his first seven attempts from the field. Texas-San Antonio had a double-digit lead most of the game, but the Demons came back to tie the score with 6:18 left, just as Kevin Young was fouling out. Blake Land proved his mettle by driving for the go-ahead score with 54 seconds left, then scored again for insurance on the next possession. Land finished with ten points, while Brown had a career-high 37 to go with six rebounds. This wasn’t just any win either – Northwestern State was tied for the lead in the East Division, and scored 47 second-half points in a furious comeback, but Texas-San Antonio played impressively smart and physical, dominating the boards to beat a more highly-skilled opponent. Three straight wins for the Roadrunners, and Brown’s total was the third-highest in school history, topping his best of 34 against IUPUI last season. Then Texas-San Antonio decided to take the first half off defensively against Lamar(48 points, 8-14 3-point fg), and a 20-point deficit was too much as the winning streak was broken against the Southland’s most inept team. There were more problems after the game. There have been periodic spats between redshirting freshman Brian Simmons and Scott Johnson all season long, but they really exploded tonight. The end result was a one-week suspension for both, and Simmons has shown no signs of being willing to change his tune. He could be a problem for a while. Senior Jamaal Winston took Johnson’s place in the starting lineup.

02-20-2008, 04:50 PM	#29
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CSU Bakersfield(Ralph Perry) 2.7 Longwood(8-13) @ CSU Bakersfield(14-7) – W 90-68 2.10 CSU Bakersfield(15-7) @ TX Pan American(12-10) – W 81-77 2.14 Winston-Salem State(10-13) @ CSU Bakersfield(16-7) – W 98-76 2.17 CSU Bakersfield(17-7) @ Utah Valley State(18-6) – L 97-75 A third straight decisive win came against Longwood, showing that the Roadrunners are back on track. Ryan Nunn was healthy for the next game, but remained on the bench thanks largely to Brandon Manning’s performance against the Lancers. The junior had 23 points, 7 assists, and three steals, leading the team in all three categories, and showing that he can help make the attack much more balanced. Hall was muted with only nine points, but only because he really wasn’t needed much. With Manning in the lineup, there are four of five starters capable of going for 20 on any given night, making this a very hard team to defend. TX Pan American provided a tough test, but with Hall fouled out at the end Bo Green(24 points) and Donald Young made the big plays down the stretch to get the victory. The rematch with Utah Valley State was as big a game as there can be for a couple of independent teams. If CSU Bakersfield could return the favor and beat the Wolverines on their home floor, the two would be tied and the Roadrunners would control their own destiny for at least a share of the best record. If they lost again, they’d be two games down with two to go and having been swept head-to-head. Joe Hall missed seven of eight early, and UVS took a 13-7 lead out of the gate. It wasn’t just him though – nobody could hit a thing for the Roadrunners, and by halftime it was already horribly ugly, down 42-23 with no end in sight, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range. They picked up the shooting pace after that, but they couldn’t stop the Wolverines from scoring, and could never get close. The lopsided final left no doubt who the best team was. Hall finished with 21 points, while nobody else managed more than eight. Cal-Davis(Denny Grant) 2.6 Cal Poly(12-9, 6-4) @ Cal-Davis(8-14, 3-8) – L 74-57 2.9 Cal-Davis(8-15, 3-9) @ Long Beach State(14-8, 8-3) – L 69-52 2.16 Cal St. Northridge(9-16, 4-10) @ Cal-Davis(8-16, 3-10) – W 82-77 Barely squeaking by the fellow cellar-dweller Matadors in Smith’s first game back was hardly a major success, but at least it breaks a six-game skid and gives the Aggies a leg up on CSN in the race to avoid last place in the Big West. Mercer(Steve Stahl) 2.8 Mercer(9-13, 3-8) @ North Florida(10-12, 5-6) – L 67-65 2.11 Belmont(13-10, 7-5) @ Mercer(9-14, 3-9) – W 60-42 2.15 Mercer(10-14, 4-9) @ Stetson(6-18, 5-8) – L 73-64 2.18 Mercer(10-15, 4-10) @ SC Upstate(18-7, 12-2) – L 70-53 Is the season over yet? Mississippi Valley State(Avery Foster) 2.6 Mississippi Valley State(10-11, 6-6) @ Grambling(12-9, 8-4) – L 76-59 2.9 Texas Southern(8-14, 3-10) @ Mississippi Valley State(10-12, 6-7) – W 86-65 2.13 Mississippi Valley State(11-12, 7-7) @ Southern(7-16, 5-9) – W 72-59 2.16 Prairie View A&M(10-14, 6-9) @ Mississippi Valley State(12-12, 8-7) – W 80-73 A tough game against the Panthers gives MVS three wins in a row, and guarantees a .500 season in the conference or better. It took everything they had, including a season-high 31 from Lydell Jones and a strong collective rebounding effort that produced 12 offensive boards. Prairie View A&M shot almost 54% from the field, but went scoreless for a three-minute stretch early in the second half that allowed the Delta Devils to take control of the game. Texas-San Antonio(Weston Cattley) 2.8 Texas-San Antonio(10-12, 4-7) @ Texas-Arlington(11-11, 5-6) – L 63-59 2.11 TX Corpus Christi(17-6, 8-4) @ Texas-San Antonio(10-13, 4-8) – L 72-66 2.15 Stephen F. Austin(18-6, 11-2) @ Texas-San Antonio(10-14, 4-9) – L 75-57 2.18 Texas-San Antonio(10-15, 4-10) @ Sam Houston State(10-15, 6-8) – W 63-58 Top scorers Kevin Young(10 points, 10 rebounds) and Shahar Brown(12 points, 10 rebounds) both had double-doubles in a tough, comeback win on the road against Sam Houston State. The Roadrunners were outplayed most of the game, but played smart and gave themselves a chance at the end by being tough on the boards. As a result, they still have a chance to stay out of the Southland cellar, and the four-game losing streak is over.

02-24-2008, 07:33 PM	#32
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS, 1966 BIG WEST TOURNAMENT 3.1 First Round: Cal-Irvine(11-16) vs. Cal-Davis(10-17) The Aggies beat the Anteaters 70-57 at home, then lost 72-68 at Cal-Irvine in a game they should have won. This is the sacrificial lamb game, as the winner gets a likely blasting in the quarters. But everyone’s still in it until they are officially beaten. Robert Collins, usually mostly invisible on offense, got off to a fast start with a couple quick threes, and Cal-Davis jumped out to a 15-7 lead. The defense really shut Irvine down most of the half, and with five minutes until the break they had exploded to a 36-15 advantadge. The Anteaters began chipping away at the lead late in the first half, and with five minutes to go in the second it was down to 66-62, and Cal-Davis was the team playing ragged on the offensive end. Twice they pulled to within a single point, and then a triple by forward Steve Willard pulled them even at 74 all with 25 seconds to play. The 21-point lead was gone, and the Aggies had the ball needing someone to step up and make a play. Ricardo Smith was the logical choice. He was fouled, and stepped up to swish both attempts. Willard tried to play the hero again … but he traveled and the Aggies advanced in a tight one, 76-74. Smith scored 26 with 8 rebounds, one of his finest games – and they needed every point. David Scott chipped in one of his better games as well, adding 17. 3.2 Quarterfinals: Cal-Davis(11-17) vs. Cal Poly(17-10) Davis vs. Goliath. Poly beat Cal-Davis both meetings, and neither was close, averaging a margin of 14.5 points. They’ll need to play a flawless game to have a chance here. If you defend you have a chance – that’s coach Denny Grant’s mantra. The Aggies defended in the first half, and trailed only by a single point when it was finished. As the second half started, they kept up the pressure, and at the midway point David Scott sank a three to put them in front 49-47. As the minutes ticked slowly away, it became clear that this was no mirage – Cal-Davis wasn’t going to go away easily. With five to go, they still owned a small lead at 62-58. Smith was absolutely going nuts, with a career-best 30 points already, and they were giving the Mustangs nothing easy. It was clear the seniors weren’t ready to end their season just yet. Finally, with less than two minutes to go, guard Deaundra Berry ended a shooting slump for both teams and hit from long range to put Poly back in front, 66-64. As well as they’d played, the Aggies needed one final push. Berry stole the ball from Robert Collins on three straight possessions however, ending one with another three, and that pretty much was the nail in the coffin. The final was 72-66, and Collins won’t sleep well for quite some time after the way he just ended his career. Smith finished with 30 and 6 rebounds, with no other player scoring more than eight. It was a great individual effort, but it just wasn’t quite enough. ATLANTIC SUN TOURNAMENT 3.1 First Round: Mercer(11-16) vs. Gardner-Webb(12-15) The only meeting this year was an explosive success at home for the Bears, who scored a season-high 94 points to win by 20. It was the best game of Jamal Brown’s career(34 points, 7 rebounds) – hopefully he won’t need a repeat performance of that this time. The Bears missed an early chance to get a lead, converting only two of six early free-throws, and it was a tight, ugly affair during the opening minutes. At intermission Mercer clung to a one-point lead, thanks to an efficient half by Brown(10 points on 5-6 fg) and poor shooting by the Bulldogs. Jamal Brown found the going tougher in the second half, but freshman Brent Calvert picked up the slack and the game remained even. Mercer got a small lead in the last several minutes, but couldn’t shake GW, and this one went down to the wire. Leading by only one with five seconds left, Aubrey Bullock missed a pair at the line … but Scott Conrad grabbed the board and put it in to seal the victory, 69-66. Brown had 21 and seven boards to lead the scoring, with Calvert and Andy Rushing adding 11 each. Conrad had eight points, and also snagged 13 rebounds. 21 turnovers gave the Bears a -8 in that category, typical of them both this season and last, and fatal against any quality opponent. 3.2 Quarterfinals: Mercer(12-16) vs. Campbell(16-11) Only one meeting this year, which Mercer hosted and Campbell won on a buzzer-beater, 74-73. A chance for revenge here, and while they are underdogs it’s a winnable matchup. Another quick start for Brown, and the Bears jumped out in from 10-2. The lead lasted a while, but Mercer hit a cold shooting spell the last few minutes of the half and went into the locker room up only by two, and their star missing seven of his last nine. After managing to hold them off for several minutes, Mercer surrendered the lead 49-47 with 11:06 left. Less than four minutes later, they found themselves down by nine, fighting just to stay in the game. They just couldn’t get their rhythm back, and the seasons end here, 74-63. Jamal Brown hit on just 3 of 19 after the opening minutes, finishing with 14 points in his final game. Junior forward Phillip Frederick had a season-high 13 off the bench, but it was slim pickings beyond that offensively. Campbell lived at the free-throw line, getting 33 attempts to only 14 for Mercer. SWAC TOURNAMENT 3.4 Quarterfinals: Alcorn State(15-12) vs. Mississippi Valley State(14-13) A tough matchup here, as Alcorn State beat MVS soundly both times this season. They’ve done a great job keeping the Delta Devils’ frontcourt off the boards, and that unfortunately didn’t change early with Alcorn surging to a ten-point lead late in the first half. Lydell Jones was on target early in the second half, and MVS came back to grab the lead fairly quickly. During one stretch, he personally scored on five straight possessions(12 points total). Jones got plenty of help from Tre Roe(13 points, 5 rebounds) and Jason Barlow(12 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds), but he was the main weapon. A season-high 39 for the freshman on 13-21 fg, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Mississippi Valley State. They gradually pulled away for a 82-69 victory, including a season-best 55 in the second half, and they’ll advance. 3.5 Semifinals: Mississippi Valley State(15-13) vs. Southern(10-19) This, ladies and gentlemen, is an absolute GIFT. Southern shocked top-seeded Jackson State 56-49 in the previous round, presenting MVS with a positively golden opportunity. The only thing standing between them and the SWAC championship game is a team that they beat twice, by 18 and 13 points. The Jaguars weren’t in a particularly cooperative mood for the third meeting, matching the Devils shot for shot and leading by five at the half. Unfortunately for them, Jones didn’t leave all his jumpers on the floor in the quarters, and MVS grabbed their largest lead of the game at 52-45 with 13 minutes to go behind his shooting. Southern cut the lead to as little as three and fought the whole way, but they didn’t have enough firepower to get all the way back. Mississippi Valley State won it 74-69, and they’re into the championship game! It was Lydell Jones leading the scoring again, this time with ‘only’ 29. Tre Roe had 17 and six rebounds, with Barlow adding another 12. 3.6 Final: Mississippi Valley State(16-13) vs. Alabama State(18-11) 40 minutes away from the NCAA Tournament. Not bad for the scrappy team that simply refuses to be as bad as the experts say they are. This time, however, the odds are pretty stacked against them. Alabama State blasted them twice this year, the most recent being an 84-62 rout, at home – probably Mississippi Valley State’s worst loss of the year. All eyes are on the freshman, Lydell Jones. The question is, does he have another salvo up his sleeve against an opponent that has held him to 12-32 from the floor in those previous matchups? The Hornets quickly grabbed a double-digit lead as Jones missed five of his first six. They clearly didn’t want the Delta Devils hanging around for his typical second-half barrage. He recovered to hit his next four though, and MVS quickly drew even again. Even so, Alabama State led by seven at the break, scoring almost at will most of the time. The Hornets continued to pound away in the second half, and the Delta Devils just couldn’t stop them. Mississippi Valley State could never find a solution, and they end up one win shy of the title, losing 86-68. Jones certainly didn’t embarrass himself, scoring 25 on 11-25 fg, and Tre Roe did his part(14 points, 7 rebounds), but Barlow and the rest of the team were pretty well shut down. Meanwhile, Alabama State’s inside-outside combo of Rob Thomas and Deron Keith had 22 apiece and a lot more help. A fine run, it just wasn’t enough to get to the dance. SOUTHLAND TOURNAMENT 3.3 First Round: Texas-San Antonio(12-15) vs. Central Arkansas(11-15) The Grizzlies hold the mental edge, as the Roadrunners have lost winnable games to them this year and last. On paper though, it’s a very even matchup. 0-8 fg and down 12-0 after five minutes didn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence that Texas-San Antonio was ready to exorcise their demons against this particular foe. The lead reached 17 before they showed the most remote semblance of life, and Shahar Brown missed his first five from the field. At the break, it was still a huge deficit at 36-18, and absolutely nothing was working on the offense end of the court. The first eight points of the second half belonged to the Roadrunners, nearly cutting the deficit in half and making this a game at least. Central Arkansas nearly blew it open again, but Texas-San Antonio was determined to make a serious push. With nine minutes left it was 48-40, and they were playing much better, but another run was needed to really put the pressure on. A couple minutes later, Brown came through with a three-point play to cut the gap to just three points, and this was no longer a one-sided rout. It was as close as they would get. Central Arkansas put it away with one final barrage, and the Roadrunners were unceremoniously dismissed 69-57. Shahar Brown came back with a strong second half to finish with 19 points and 9 rebounds, and Kevin Young’s was solid as well: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists. As usual, 3-point shooting was the death of them: the Grizzlies shot 10 of 18, while Texas-San Antonio hit only 2 of 10 on their side.

03-08-2008, 10:21 AM	#33
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	1966 NCAA TOURNAMENT This season the favorite was top-ranked Ohio State, who went undefeated in the Big Ten, 29-3 overall – but lost to Illinois in the conference tournament. Another team to watch is #3 Murray State, who lost a spot in the polls and fell to a #2 seed despite a 31-1 overall record and winning the conference tournament. Notre Dame(#6) and St. John’s(#8) are back on top of the Big East, with the Irish getting the conference crown this year. And as for UCLA, last year’s champs? They won the Pac-10, but aren’t even ranked thanks to a spat of early-season losses. They have a 8-seed, and could face OSU in the second round! OPENING ROUNDS The Bruins and Buckeyes did indeed hook up in the second round … and UCLA shocked the nation’s #1 team, 65-61!! Point guard Awvee Howard was a one-man wrecking crew, scoring 33 points and dishing out six assists. Meanwhile, Ohio State shot just 36% from the field, and their dreams are over. The other favorites all advanced easily in what is now a wide-open field. SWEET 16 UCLA knocked out another ranked opponent, beating #23 Princeton by seven. Notre Dame was stomped by Fordham 74-53, and the Rams then ended the Bruins repeat bid 58-53 to reach the Final Four. St. John’s squeaked by Delaware 72-70, only to have their season ended by Oklahoma. Meanwhile the Murray State Racers should have earned the respect now they didn’t get from the selection committee. They’ve rolled through the first two weekends with only one game decided by less than a dozen points. FINAL FOUR Oklahoma and Fordham squared off in the first semifinal, in a weekend that is a celebration of new blood. None of the semifinalists have won a national title before – which team would be able to claim their first? Fordham stopped the Sooners pretty easily, 76-64. The marquee matchup was #2 BYU against #3 Murray State in the second game. The Racers finally met their match, unable to get their offense going in a 57-47 loss to the Cougars that was a big disappointment from an entertainment point of view. The title game was a tight one if low-scoring, and the Fordham Rams who snuck under the radar a bit after their great regular-season last year, edged the BYU Cougars 50-47. Their defense was positively stifling, allowing only 30% shooting in an ugly game that featured a combined 43 turnovers. Center Cliff Gibson(16 points, 8 rebounds) was named player of the game in Fordham’s first title.

03-08-2008, 10:23 AM	#34
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	1967 OFFSEASON AWARDS Mercer – Brent Calvert was named the Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year(6.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg) in a down year for newcomers in the conference. Jamal Brown and Scott Conrad both went out with a bang after being named to the All-Atlantic Sun First Team. Cal-Davis – Ricardo Smith’s season was enough for him to make First Team All-Big West, the only Aggie to earn any honors this year(and deservedly so). Texas-San Antonio – Shahar Brown was named First Team All-Southland. Mississippi Valley State – Lydell Jones was no surprise whatsoever as the SWAC Freshman of the Year, and frankly deserved Player of the Year honors as well but Southern’s Marlin Braun won that award. The duo highlighted the All-SWAC First Team, while Tre Roe earned a Second Team mention. JOB OFFERS Most coaches would be thrilled at winning 63% of their games the first two seasons of their career, having a stud like Joe Hall and other young talent surrounding him, and a secure coaching position. Ralph Perry is not most coaches however. Disgusted at the lack of exposure and no shot at a post-season appearance that is a fact of life for independent schools, he aggressively pursued other options. Surely there would be some school out there interested in a young, energetic coach who’d proven that at least at the armpit level of college basketball, he could put together a winner. Enter the Texas Southern Tigers. After a miserable 9-19 year, they are desperate for a new coach and willing to pay more than most small schools are to get one -- $95,000 a year, but only for two seasons. For someone as unconcerned with long-term consequences as Ralph, it’s a no-brainer. And so Coach Perry heads off recklessly to the SWAC, ditching CSU Bakersfield after just two seasons and a 34-20 record. The squad he inherits has … ahem … considerably less talent than the one he leaves, to put it mildly. TEXAS SOUTHERN SCHOOL HISTORY Bruce Hill(38-42) – 43-103(.295), 27-63(.300). Hill left as a disgrace, with a hideous 1-27 mark in 1942 and only 5 wins the year before, after making the first NCAA field with a 16-16 mark in ’38. Jay McDyess(43-62) – 271-303(.472), 172-188(.477). McDyess is by far the winningest coach in Tigers’ history, giving the program its finest season at 21-11 in 1948. It remains the only time Texas Southern has won 20 games in a season, and earned them their second and last NCAA appearance. Bryan Gipson(63-65) – 40-45(.471), 27-27(.500). Gipson was only here three years, long enough to take a solid team and make them a loser, declining each year to only 11 wins in ’65. Corey Cunningham(66) – 9-19(.321), 4-14(.222). Total: 363-470(.436), 230-292(.441). Two NCAA appearances, nearly two decades since the last one, and both times Texas Southern was bounced in the first round. Not a pretty picture.