Banner Year for the SoCon?
I'd planned to blog this yesterday, just after UNCG had knocked off ECU on the road.
The point then was that the Spartans (now 5-3) could be a real threat to go the NCAA tournament this season. They have the two key ingredients you need to win in the SoCon: a big man who plays bigger than his size (6-6 Kyle Hines) and a guard who can can fill it up when he's hot (i.e. Ricky Hickman. In addition, there is a third scoring option in shooter Kevin Oleksiak My biggest question is whether the Spartans can handle the ball well enough in critical games. UNCG is averaging almost 20 turnovers per game right now.
So that was my original point. But a few other results have forced me to append my comments.
First, I saw that Davidson whipped Missouri for the second straight season, 82-73. While that may say as much about how precarious Quinn Snyder's job security is out in Columbia, it also reveals that once again the Wildcats are a major force to be reckoned with (watch out UNC, they'll be in Chapel Hill on Jan. 3). No real suprise there, this team went undefeated in the SoCon regular season last year before getting knocked by the G in the SoCon tourney.
But then I saw that Chattanooga knocked off mid-major power Creighton. Granted the Blue Jays were playing without their leading scorer, Nate Funk, but still, an impressive win.
And then I saw that Wofford missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have knocked off unbeaten Clemson, a team that looks like it could be dangerous in the ACC this year. And Appalachian State hung with Tennessee right to the end. Yes, the same App State team that had earlier been destroyed by Davidson, 102-69.
So what's my conclusion? Well, Davidson's still the class of the conference. But I think the line of contenders for the crown is getting longer, with G likely at the head of it.
http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051207/NEWSREC0105/512070330/1021/NEWSREC0205
Comments (5)
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First off, I believe that's Quin and the Bluejays. Secondly, I'll reserve judgment on the G until they play A-Sun favorite Gardner-Webb on Sunday. As for Davidson, a win in Chapel Hill this year wouldn't be nearly as shocking as its win over Doherty's Tar Heels a few years ago. Then again, the way that season turned out, maybe it wasn't a suprise at all.
Posted on December 9, 2005 12:56 PM
Nice to see something positive on the SoCon - thanks. In addition to the absolute domination of Missouri (it was 21-4 at the ten minute mark of the first half), Davidson has also taken care of UMass and St. Joe's. Not to mention the 102-69 blow out at App St. for the first conference win. It really could be a special year for the Cats - hope the N&R continues to pay attention!
Posted on December 10, 2005 2:16 PM
Hey Jeff,
What do you think now? The Spartans controlled Gardner-Webb. It was an outstanding win by 8, but the Spartans were up 14 down the stretch.
Jim noted Hines, Oleksiak and Hickman...all very important pieces (two of which are sophomores). But 6'11" Bart Tooms is also playing very solid of late.
This team is only going to get better as young as they are. 6-3, now with winnable games against Greensboro College and Delaware on the road. Also a date at William & Mary before Duke.
If the Spartans are 8-4 at that point, all of the G fans will be extremely happy. None of us expected this.
Posted on December 12, 2005 3:03 PM
Yep, Steve, I think the G made a pretty good case for itself yesterday. Wow. That was a very good Gardner-Webb team that the Spartans handled.
I'm curious though, why all the shock at the G's strong start? With Hines and Hickman back and guys like Oleksiak and Johnson better after their freshman seaons, I had the Spartans picked to finish second in the SoCon North. Were you concerned about how the team would handle the coaching turnover?
Speaking of which, Mike Dement is really picking up where he left off isn't he? Coaching talent that you didn't recruit can be a tricky art. Clearly, he's got the hang of it.
Finally, Bill, I'll try to blog on the SoCon (the good and the bad) whenever I can. In fact, I'll have a "what might have been" UNCG blog item up later today. I grew up in Greenville, S.C. (Furman territory), the son of a Davidson alum. My cousin went to Wofford and I spent two seasons covering UNCG. So I've got plenty of SoCon in my blood.
Posted on December 12, 2005 3:26 PM
As a 2000 UNCG graduate, I hope the Spartans can back into it, too.
With the little bit I've kept up with the team, it seems it can get to the NCAA first round, but then nothing more.
Hopefully the G can go beyond what Wilmington did recently -- giving a couple of national powers fits.
I do think the G is past the days (and if not, hopefully getting there) of going to Duke, getting beat handily on ESPN and heading back home with a check.
Posted on December 19, 2005 1:27 PM