Sun Belt Action (12/7/11)

[Censored by Laurie]

Middle Tennessee

@ UAB

Western Kentucky

@ Southern Illinois

Southern Miss

@ South Alabama

Iona

@ Denver

[Censored by Laurie]

UAB is just 1-6, but have lost to some pretty good teams and have one of the better mid-Major players in forward Cameron Moore.

Southern Illinois is usually pretty good...this year, however, they're 1-3 with a loss in their opener to Division II Ohio Dominican. Good chance for the Toppers to get back-to-back wins.

Southern Miss is 5-2 with losses to two teams in ESPN's mid-major top 15 (Denver, Murray State). This is a very good measuring stick game for USA

Game of the night is Iona at Denver. Iona was 6 and Denver 7 in ESPN's mid-major "poll." Iona is 6-1, their only loss a 1 point defeat to Purdue and they've wins over Maryland and St. Joe's. Gaels' forward Michael Glover is averaging 19.9ppg and 9.1rpg. This game will be a remarkable contrast in styles...Iona leads the nation in points per game at 91 while Denver prefers a patient, half-court offense and has put up a highest scoring night of 70 points against St. Mary's.

[Censored by Laurie]

Wow...just saw this stat...Iona point guard Scott Machado has handed out double-digit assists in 6 of the Gaels' 7 games...he's also scored in double-figures in 5 of their 7 games, including 33 against St. Joe's and 15 points, 15 assists against Maryland. He's averaging 15.4ppg and 11.4apg.

This is poor man's late 80s Loyola Marymount like numbers here.

[TheTastyGreek]

This is poor man's late 80s Loyola Marymount like numbers here.

Courtland and I have throwback jerseys now. Thanks, Centennial Classic giveaway promotion!

[CMJ]

The (nearly) daily look at the RPI's.

Conference RPI Rank: 15

Conference SOS Rank: 16

8 Denver

77 USA

137 FAU

155 MTSU

172 ASU

195 North Texas

226 WKU

251 FIU

262 Troy

267 ULM

270 ULL

307 UALR

Edited December 7, 2011 by CMJ

[GabeGMG]

I'm predicting a Sun Belt sweep tonight. That is all.

[dahbeed]

i was on the saluki board and one of their posters said our game would be 'bad on parade'

I'm stil laughing. as much as we detest what ken mcdummy has done to our program their fanbase is even more upset over what lowery has done to theirs.

as far down as siu is...and they are.....we have yet to see the depths that mcdummy can drag us to. i cannot look on our schedule and pencil in a win. especially not in carbondale.

all of that said my eyes will be glued to the tube at 7:00 cst.

ps....uab is awful. they have mike davis and he makes zeke look like a master tactician.

[NT03]

MTSU 56

UAB 66

[NT03]

Southern Miss 67

South Alabama 54

[NT03]

WKU 62

Southern Ill 55

Edited December 8, 2011 by NT03

[Censored by Laurie]

I'm listening to the Iona/Denver game on the Iona radio broadcast...one of the funniest sports broadcasts I've ever listened to...Iona has one old-timey, uber-uptight play-by-play guy paired with a nerdy 21 year old RTVF student...the play-by-play guy has not once acknowledged any of the color-commentary being chipped in awkwardly by the RTVF student.

[CMJ]

In Overtime

Iona 80

Denver 78

Edited December 8, 2011 by CMJ

[Censored by Laurie]

In Overtime

Iona 80

Denver 78

Denver pissed that game away late...4 turnovers in the last 2 or 3 minutes of regulation. Denver is scary...they've some serious shooters in Stafford, the Hallems and freshman Brett Olsen who had a bit of coming-out party in the first half last night...however they lack anybody resembling a point guard...at different points Stafford, Chase Hallem, Olsen, Royce O'Neil and Blake Foeman were bringing the ball up the floor, and while it's great to have five guys who can handle on the floor, the lack of that one primary ball-handler and more importantly decision-maker killed them last night.

Shame...Iona is good, but Denver controlled 35 minutes of that game...would've been a fine win for the Belt.

[GabeGMG]

I really thought Wku, Mtsu, and Denver were sure to win..looks like I was only right about Wku. South Alabama continues to disappoint.

[dahbeed]

you likker up some kentucky frat boys and a goat is likely to be disenfranchised.

you sign a home/away contract with siu and an uuuuuuugly game is likely to break out.

as horrible as ken mcdummy is lowery @ siu is WORSE.

derrick gordon had a great game. 14 & 13. he's the best rebounding guard i can remember. a friend of mine saw him at our camp one summer and told me he always seems to be 'around the ball'

he really does have a nose for it. if he would square up on his jumper it would be a lot better. he really is a stat stuffer. he's gonna be a good one.

he still turns it over like he's shaving points. but hopefully that's just freshmanitis.

on to ooey-pooey. i have half a mind of calling up courtney lee's (pbuh) dad and seeing if he'd put me up for the night in indy. there's a bowling green kid playing for them that i coached way back.

ps. i did drop names. i'm shallow that way.

[NT03]

I really thought Wku, Mtsu, and Denver were sure to win..looks like I was only right about Wku. South Alabama continues to disappoint.

South Alabama has been one of the better teams so far this year. Losing to Southern Miss is nothing to be ashamed of