Peeking at non-p5 baseball-Carolina style

 ECU(AAC) is 30-6: Josh Moylan, a first baseman, leads the team in RBIs with 39

CCU(SunBelt) is 23-11 and its team batting average is .318

Campbell (Big South) is 30-8:  Bryce Arnold, a SS, leads the teams win Home Runs with 14.

Elon (Colonial) is 24-14.  took down # 2 Wake Forest(ACC). 

April 26, 2023

Rough night for most of the teams I listed. Wake Forest rolled CCU 11-1. Duke edged Campbell 4-2. ECU lost to NC St 5-4. Wake Forest has a killer lineup. I watched some of the game on the ACCN.

April 28, 2023

Not much D1 baseball action last night so I took a peek at the WCC.

BYU (18-21) defeated Portland (22-18) by a score of 9-8.  It's going to be rough for BYU in Big 12 baseball next season.

Tulane 's was leading ECU 9-6 when the game was suspended because of lightning. It will be finished today in AAC action. BTW UTSA(CUSA), who is AAC bound next season, has made it to the top 25.

May 2, 2023

Simon Miller earned his ninth save on Sunday for UTSA, keeping UAB scoreless in the final three innings.

May 4, 2023

Campbell beat Elon 5-2 in a matchup of Carolina teams. Jake Murray is now 3-0.

May 9,2023

Yesterday: Campbell rolled UNC-Asheville 10-3.

CCU 6 App St 5

ECU 11 Cincy 5: Justin Wilcoxen knocked in 5 runs for the Pirates.

May 13,2023

I forgot DBU left the MVC for the CUSA this season. Dallas Baptist got the better of host UTSA in both games yesterday, 11-7 and 11-9

May 15, 2023

A couple of pigskin-like scores in D1baseball yesterday. CCU 15 South Bama 10 in Sunbelt action.

I rarely look at Horizon baseball, but Youngstown St beat N Kentucky 17-13. Andre Good went 4-5 with 3 HR and 4 RBI for the YSU Penguins.

May 18, 2023

Off the beaten path: I wonder how often these teams have played: Miami O 14 McNeese St 8 in a MAC /Southland game.

May 19, 2023

Army may make the NCAA TOURNAMENT. they won the Patriot League regular season and face Bucknell in the conferenceT finals

Kind of surprised to UNC-Wilmington is on the bubble for D1 baseball tournament. Elon has slipped. CAAT starts May 24 with winner getting the one ticket.

May 21, 2023

Brutal day for the Herd: CCU 19 Marshall 1 then CCU 10 MU 9. ECU beat USF 7-1, Campbell beat USC-Upstate 12-9. Why is Oregon St(Pac12) playing Western Carolina(21-32 , 8-12 Southern Conference) a few days before conference tournaments? Oregon St 8 WCU 4.

May 23, 2023

Army and Penn are in the 64. Kinda funny that Rice(21-34), a one -time powerhouse, gets to host the CUSAT this season. CUSA shifted away from Biloxi as the host during Covid. I'll start a new blog as the conference tourneys kick into gear.

Mocked out- O5 possibles in NFL rd1 2023

 It's looking thin for the O5(non P5) teams in RD1 

AAC : Tyjae Spears, an RB from Tulane, and Reese, a WR from SMU, are getting some chatter.

Independents: Blake Freeland, an OT from BYU

Division II: Cody Mauch, an OT from North Dakota.

April 10, 2023

I saw some notes about DeWayne McBride, an RB from UAB, to Cincy in rd3. I suspect he may go to some team late in rd2.

I forgot about Keaton Mitchell(ECU) explosive RB but only 5"9 184. He had some huge games last season and a few busts. Not sure if anyone is taking him as early as rd2.

 Josh Whyle (Cincy TE)  dropped down to a rd5 pick in mocks.

April 15, 2023

Jalen Moreno-Cropper- Fresno State is a solid wide receiver with decent speed. BTW, Davante Adams played at Fresno.

Brodric Martin a, DL from Western Kentucky, is moving up to possibly rd2 in some mocks. Big boy, a space-eater.

Saints are looking at Karl Brooks(EDGE) from Bowling Green(MAC)  I find it odd that a 300lb dude is listed at Edge, but he's impressing scouts.

I still think Laborn(Marshall U) is worth drafting but he'll probably not go until the rd6 or 7 if that.

April 29, 2023

Pick 55 Rashee Rice(SMU) goes to the Chiefs and is the only O5 player drafted in the first two rounds.

RD5: Haener QB from Fresno, Saldiveri G from ODU to the Saints.

Pick 48 Division II: Cody Mauch, an OT from North Dakota, went to TBay.

April 30, 2023

TE: Whyle(Cincy)  lasted to rd 5 and went to Tenn. Kuntz(ODU) lasted rd7 and went to Jets

QB: Tune(HOU) rd5 to the Cards

RB: I missed this one Spears(Tulane) to Tenn in rd 3. McBride (UAB )rd7 to Vikes, and Lew Nichols III (C.Michigan) rd7 to the Packers. 

BTW, Karl Brooks , DE from Bowling Green , went in rd6 to the Packers. He's one to watch.

Surprised Laborn from Marshall didn't get drafted , but he was signed by the 9ers as a UDFA.

May 3, 2023

Circling back to my earlier thoughts. Blake Freeland (BYU-OT) last until rd 4 when the Colts took him. BTW, the Colts camp might be one of the most entertaining and not necessarily from a positive angle.

May 11, 2023

Quick look at UDFA.  Seahawks signed Ahlers, a decent, tough QB from ECU(AAC). Solid backup material.

Vikes sign Beauplan, ILB from Marshall(SunBelt)

Chiefs sign Deneric Prince, an RB from Tulsa(AAC)

Bengals signed UDFA from Miami (OH) WR Mac Hippenhammer . What a last name!

Aug 11, 2023

Keaton Mitchell, a UDFA RB from ECU, has a great chance of making the Ravens roster.

Spears , a rd3 pick by the Titans, is playing well this pre-season and flashing the same skills he did at Tulane.

Aug 20, 2023

9ers cut Laborn. Hope my Saints ink him.

McBride, rd7 pick from UAB, may get cut. Shaky camp with Vikings.

Aug 25, 2023

So a female co-worker comes in to work a

nd says a guy from my little school in West Virginia made the Bears as a backup QB. 

Nic Jones, a DB and rd7 pick from Ball St, will make Chiefs squad. Prince, an RB from Tulsa may make Chiefs practice squad.

Sept 30, 2023

Beauplan(Marhall) exits Vikings with an injury settlement.

Keaton Mitchell(ECU) on Ravens IR

Blake Freeland(BYU) may start for the Colts against the Rams.

Previous blog: https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2022/04/mocked-out-o5-possibles-in-nfl-rd1-2022.html

NIT-2023

 You knew it was coming UAB/ USM. He!! they played each other twice a year in the CUSA until USM jumped to the SunBelt this season, And, don't go claiming you're keeping it regional when you have Colorado playing Seton Hall.  I'm intrigued by YSU(Horizon)/OK St.(B12), Sam Houston(WAC)/Santa Clara(WCC), and Cincy (AAC)/VTech(ACC). All those B10 teams here saved us from seeing them at the Dance.

AAC: I get Cincy in the NIT but how did UCF get the nod over Tulane or Temple. BTW, Temple moved McKie from HC to adviser.

I hope the announcers don't ramble on about religion during the Liberty(ASUN) /Villanova(Big East) game.

March 15, 2023

K. Buffen(26PTS 12REB) led UAB to an 88-60 blowout of USM. Blazers have been a hot team except for the loss to FAU in the CUSAT.

Liberty beat Nova and Toledo lost to Michigan.

Ga. Southern: Brian Burg is out and Charlie Henry, a Bama asst , replaces him. I'm sure they'll let CH coach at the Dance

No. 1 Rutgers vs. Hofstra 

No. 3 Michigan vs. Toledo

No. 4 UAB vs. Southern Miss 

No. 3 Liberty vs. Villanova |

No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. Yale 

No. 2 Wisconsin vs. Bradley 

No. 4 Washington State vs. Eastern Washington

No. 3 Colorado vs. Seton Hall 

March 15

No. 1 Oklahoma State at Youngstown State

No. 4 Florida vs. UCF | 7 p.m. 

No. 1 Clemson vs. Morehead State 

No. 2 North Texas vs. Alcorn 

No. 3 Sam Houston at Santa Clara 

No. 4 Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech 

No. 2 New Mexico vs. Utah Valley

No. 1 Oregon vs. UC Irvine 

March 16, 2023

Clemson loses to Morehead St (OVC). What a rapid descent for the Tigers who were looking like a dance team a month ago. VTech, another ACC team, loses to Cincy (AAC).  WAC winners: Sam Houston edged Santa Clara(WCC), and Utah Valley beat New Mexico (MWC). Pitino Jr's Lobos have looked bad in the past six weeks.

March 19, 2023

I tip my hat to the CUSA in post-season. FAU is still Dancing, and UAB and NTX have rd2 NIT games today. North Texas hosts Sam Houston(WAC) at The Super Pit, Denton, TX.

UAB hosts Morehead St(OVC) at Bartow Arena, Birmingham, AL

WKU: Out: Rick Stansbury | In: Steve Lutz

Stansbury's had .610 winning percentage (139-89) over seven seasons but didn't get WKU to the Dance. I'll be surprised if he's unemployed for long. Lutz took TAMU-CC to the Dance this season.

March 20, 2023

Another good day for the CUSA: UAB 77 Morehead 59. NTX 75 Sam Houston 55.

Refs let Wisky charge over Liberty in the final seven minutes yesterday.  Contact initiated by Badgers O was called D foul on Liberty. 

North Texas/Oklahoma State

Wisconsin /Oregon

 Cincinnati /Utah Valley

UAB /Vanderbilt

March 22, 2023

I couldn't keep my eyes open for OT, but NTX outscored OK St 10-6 for a 65-59. Sissoko had 12 points/15 reb for the winners.  Badgers beat the Ducks in the other matchup.

March 23, 2023

Coach Kennedy made some adjustments on D, and UAB outscored Vandy 43-32 in the second of a 67-59 win. Blazers face Utah Valley(WAC) who beat Cincy(AAC) 74-68. Nice stat line A. Bandaogo-UVU:15PTS 12REB 4BLK.

I didn't pay much attention to the CBI tournament. EKU(ASUN) rally, last shot, fell short in its CBI final loss to Charlotte(CUSA) 71-68 . It's possible the CUSA could sweep three post-season tournaments

March 29, 2023

All CUSA NIT final. NTX 56- Wisky 54.  UAB 88 UVU 86.  Wisky was horrible in the 2nd half and were outscored 27-13.

March 31, 2023

NTX   takes the NIT with a 68-61 win over UAB.  CUSA is 18-2 this postseason. 

and Boom: Texas Tech hires Grant McCasland away from NTX to be its men's basketball HC.

June 4, 2023

So this is how FAU kept Dusty May: a 10-year contract worth well north of $1 million annually. I guess he likes it in Boca Raton. 

June 19, 2023

I wonder if WV raids Youngstown St to replace Huggy. Jerrod Calhoun, Youngstown State worked at WV previously and had an incredible year for YSU. I've seen Andy Kennedy's(UAB) name mentioned, but, I'm not sure they want to re-run all the Cincy era stories.

June  25, 2023

Josh Eilert, who been at WV since 2007, will take the WV head coaching job on an interim basis. AD Wren Baker didn't have much luck moving a good coach from a non P5 this close to basketball season's tip-off.

However, this didn't stop Charlotte basketball head coach Ron Sanchez from resigning this month after leading the 49ers to their first 20+ win season in a decade and joining Bennett's staff at UVA less than an hour later. Aaron Fearne was named interim head coach.

July 16, 2023

What a name! Sundance Wicks, the new HC at Green Bay(Horizon) will need to live up to his rep "Bring the Juice". His last gig was an asst at Wyoming.  

He helped launch the Arizona Power Basketball Academy in 2011. 

Oct 29, 2023

All CUSA NIT final. NTX 56- Wisky 54.  UAB 88 UVU 86. This must've really bugged the NIT.

NIT changed format: No automatic bids for regular-season champions, and power6 conferences to get first 12 spots.

And San Diego St made the final at the Dance.

Success breeds Revenge.

Early Non-power conference tourneys March 2023

I'm not seeing a lot of hope for these regular season conference champs to make the Dance if they lose in their conference tourneys. 

SunBelt:  USM deserves to be Dancing regardless of how it does in its tourney, but the Lunardi's don't  have them on their radar. Marshall and ULL had great seasons, and South Bama has been hot and tips off against Appy at 12:30PM.

WCC- Santa Clara may need to win the tourney to Dance. Zags and St Marys are in. I can't get over Gonzaga playing Chicago St last night when the WCCT tips off today.

Horizon: Youngstown St, the regular season champ, has tough matchup today facing Detroit Mercy led by Antoine Davis, who is trying to break Pete Maravich's scoring record.

MVC: Bradley (16-4) and Drake(15-5) had decent seasons, but only the MVCT winner is going to the Dance.

March 3, 2023

 SunBelt:South Bama, Troy, Georgia Southern, and Tx St won yesterday. TX65 ODU 36 is a crazy score.

 Horizon: Davis missed a hurried pull-up 3-pointer in the final seconds of Detroit-Mercy's 71-66 season-ending loss to Youngstown State, leaving him three points shy of tying Pete Maravich’s NCAA career scoring record.

March 4, 2023

WCC: BYU beat Portland to move to rd2 against LMU and needs to build something as the Big 12 move nears. San Fran beat Pacific and faces Santa Clara.

MVC: Bradley got a scare from UNI led by Bowen Born's 34 points but hung on for a 72-66 and faces Indiana St today. Drake gets SIU.

Sunbelt gets back into action today: USM/USA. Marshall TX/ST. Troy/JMU. ULL/Georgia Southern

March 5, 2023

Sunbelt : USM and Marshall fall.  Big game for O. White, guard for South Bama 23PTS 6REB.  South Bama/JMU . TXST/ULL in Pensacola today.

MVC: Top teams, Bradley and Drake are in the MVCT final today.

WCC: Santa Clara's Dance chances look bleak after they lost to San Fran who faces Gonzaga next. R. Williams scored 23 PTS for BYU to defeat  LMU and  move on to face St Mary's.

Horizon: Monday slate: N.Kentucky/Youngstown St.  Milwaukee/Clev St

ASUN Championship - Final: Liberty(26-7 15-3)/Kennesaw State(25-8 15-3). Keep your eyes on D. McGhee for LU.

March 6, 2023

SunBelt: South Bama continues its march from the middle of the pack with a 77-66 win over JMU. They'll face ULL, a winner over TX St. , in the title game.

MVC:  Two-seed Drake blew out top seed Bradley 77-51 for the automatic Dance ticket.

ASUN: Kennesaw St edged Liberty 67-66 to punch its Dance ticket. You can't get any closer than the two teams who tied for the ASUN regular season title being separated by a point. I doubt if the Liberty gets an at large. LU goes to the CUSA next season.

March 7, 2023

I was switching back and forth between the SunBelt and the Horizon games. ULL was the better team last night. Jags were too dependent on Moore to create a shot.

 In the HorizonT N.Kentucky knocked off top seed Youngstown St and Clev St beat Milwaukee. 

In the WCCT St Mary's beat BYU and the Zags beat San Fran. which likely means they'll be the only two WCC teams getting Dance tickets.

March 8, 2023

NKY edged Clev St. Vinson is a sharp kid on the floor. Norse HC Darrin Horn has revived his career. He left WKU for S.Carolina and had a bumpy ride. 

Zags pummeled St Marys.

Quick look at the WAC: Cal Baptist beat Abilene Christian, and Tarleton, coached by Billy Gillepsie, beat UTRGV.

Shout out to Oral Roberts(30-4 18-0 Summit) who beat N Dak St to go dancing.

March 9, 2023

Colgate (Patriot) and Montana state (Big Sky) capped off decent seasons and punched their Dance tickets.

CUSA, MWC, AAC, A10 and MAC are in tourney mode.

AAC: Houston and Memphis are in, but Tulane needs a great AACT run to get an at-large invite.

MWC: San Diego St is in. Boise St and Utah St are on the bubble.

CUSA- FAU should be in regardless of the CUSAT results. Same goes for VCU in the A10.

MAC and WAC- Only one dance ticket reserved for each!

March 10, 2023

Quick takes due to so much action.

MAC: I'm not surprised that Toledo, Kent St, and Akron advanced, but I didn't think Ohio would beat Ball St by 20 points.

MWC:  I checked in and saw San Jose St hang on against Nevada despite the refs taking forever to  keep the game moving in the final minute. I think Nevada is NIT bound despite what Coach Steve Alford thinks.

CUSA: FAU, NTX, UAB advance. MTSU got a trey from Camryn Weston with 19 seconds remaining to nip Charlotte 66-65.

March 11, 2023

AAC: K. Cross(24PTS 13REB) led Tulane to win over Wichita St, and they'll face Memphis who beat UCF. Cincy, a winner over Temple, faces Houston who beat ECU, and the Bearcats have to keep winning to Dance.

CUSA: UAB needed that 22-2 first half start to beat NTX 76-69 and will face FAU in the title game.

MWC: Utah St 's win over Boise St should be enough to get them dance shoes, and they face SDST in the title game today.

MAC: KentSt /Toledo is the final and it's a damn shame one of these teams won't make the dance.

March 12, 2023

 Lopsided games could hurt some teams' Dance chances.

AAC Memphis beat Tulane 96-57 and will face Houston, who beat Cincy 69-48, today.

CUSA: FAU made sure they got a ticket by beating UAB 78-56.

MAC: M. Jacobs (18PTS 13REB 6AST) led Kent St to a 93-78 win over Toledo.

MWC: SDST 62 Utah St 57. Ags will be nervous during selection time tonight.

A10: VCU faces Dayton is the final today and should be Dancing regardless. Dayton, too but Fordham and St Louis are on the bubble

MAAC- Iona -Pittino Sr., Big West- UCSB , WAC : Grand Canyon punched tickets.

March 14, 2023

MWC got four tickets. Just remember Ryan Odom, the Utah St HC, was the UMBC HC in 2018 that knocked off # 1 UVA at the Dance. I'm amazed Nevada got in.

Also, surprised A10 only got one ticket, and AAC only got two tickets.

March 17, 2023

ULL gave Tenn a scare but lost. NKY hung around Houston but lost.

Tough day for MWC- Utah St lost to Missouri, Boise lost to NW, and the Aztecs needed clutch free -throw shooting to survive against Charleston.

(14) Kennesaw State 43 (3) Xavier 36 at the half

March 18, 2023

Xavier roared back to beat Kennesaw 72-67.  Tough loss, good job of representing the ASUN.

FAU upset Memphis 66-65: Rosado FAU 15 PTS , 3 REB , 1 AST

Fairleigh Dickinson upsets Purdue 63-58. Moore FDU (19 PTS , 5 REB). Northeast Conference is definitely one of the weaker conferences.  Big 10 gets too much respect annually.

March 20, 2023

 FAU has allowed Dusty May to build a decent program since 2018. Can they keep him or does a power conference team swoop in? FAU beat FDU to make the Sweet 16.

Ok, I've been remiss in talking about the two best O5 squads. Houston (AAC) faces a MIami (AAC) team that knows how to make deep runs at the Dance. Coach Larranaga has been doing it for a long time and took George Mason , a small school in Fairfax ,VA, to the the F4 in 1999.

Coach Dutcher, who came over from Michigan with will Steve Fisher in 1999 , will have San Diego St(MWC) ready for Bama(SEC). Let's see if a Bama /Houston final occurs or if more brackets get busted.

March 21, 2023

Iona(MAAC) hired Tobin Anderson from FDU to replace Pitino. TA left St. Thomas Aquinas, a Division II school, last offseason for FDU, and in one season he took FDU to the Dance, despite losing to Merrimack by one-point in the Northeast conference championship game. Merrimack was ineligible to compete in the postseason as a transitioning school from Division II. 

BTW, he's paid his dues as a D2 and D3 coach for over 20 years. Quite a story!

 Wichita State(AAC) plucked Paul Mills from Oral Roberts(Summit).

2003–2017 Baylor (assistant)

2017–2023 Oral Roberts

2023–? Wichita State

March 24, 2023

FAU watchout, the Big boys are coming for your head coach Dusty May. FAU 62 Tenn 55. He!! of a post season for the CUSA. 

 Zags pull out a huge win over UCLA. Timme 36 points, 13 rebounds for the victors.

March 25, 2023

In a very physical game, the Aztecs beat Bama(SEC).

 Houston lost to Miami(ACC). You could sense Houston was in trouble early when the Canes rebounders were tossing football passes to their guards for easy layups.

March 26, 2023

Zags got spanked hard in the second half of an 82-54 loss to UConn. 

Hope Dusty May likes Boca Raton or else someone is going to get him with big $$$. V. Goldin(14PTS 13REB) for FAU in a 79-76 win over KST.

March 27, 2023

 So 1 of the 2 non power schools will be in the final with SDST facing FAU on Saturday. Pac12 may need SDST to get through these TV talks.

Miami faces UConn. MWC/CUSA , Big East/ ACC. I'm kind of laughing now at all the Pundits.

March 29, 2023

Amir Abdur-Rahim leaves  Kennesaw St St(ASUN), after getting them to the Dance, for the Head Coaching Position at South Florida(AAC). That's a brutal gig.

April 2, 2023

Aztecs win at the buzzer 72-71 over FAU and faces UConn on Monday night. Tip my hat to FAU for a hell of a season.

A. Martin- FAU 26PTS 7REB

M. Bradley SDSU 21PTS 6REB

April 4, 2023

UConn 76 SDST 59.  Tough to lose but a great season for the Aztecs. Maybe they're headed for the Pac 12, but California may need to fix it's travel issue. Its prohibition which forces sports teams at public colleges and universities to find other ways to pay for road games to states with what California labels anti-LGBTQ legislation.

June 18, 2023

San Diego State is talking exit from the MWC. Main reason:  It needs to give a year of notice to withdraw next June. If it waits past June 30, the exit fee it would owe jumps from nearly $16.5 million to nearly $34 million.

June 24, 2023

 Non power conference draft picks: AAC and WCC each had three kids drafted.

AAC: Houston U: Jarace Walker (No. 8 to Pacers) Marcus Sasser (No. 25 to Pistons)

Central Florida: Taylor Hendricks (No. 9 to Jazz)

WCC: Santa Clara: Brandin Podziemski (No. 19 to Warriors)

Pepperdine: Maxwell Lewis (No. 40 to Lakers)

Gonzaga: Julian Strawther (No. 29 to Nuggets)

MVC: Belmont: Ben Sheppard (No. 26 to Pacers)

A10: Dayton: Toumani Camara (No. 52 to Suns)

MAC: Eastern Michigan: Emoni Bates (No. 49 to Cavaliers) Ann Arbor kid who went to MemphisU than EMU.

Southern: Furman: Jalen Slawson (No. 54 to Kings)

Non P5 hoops, Dance is next month

 This is a slow way to get into to swing for The Dance. San Diego State Aztecs (21-5, 12-2 MWC) 45 Fresno State Bulldogs (9-16, 5-9 MWC) 43. 

Boise State (20-6 10-3 MWC) escaped Colorado State 80-78 in a much- needed win for its Dance chances.

Bad loss for Cincy (17-10 8-6AAC) to East Carolina (13-12 4-8AAC). Ben Jonson scored 16 points for ECU in a 75-71 win.

I'm curious about the SunBelt slate tonight and also the Youngstown St/Milwaukee showdown of the top dogs in the Horizon.

Feb 17, 2023

USM, the Sunbelt leader, got walloped by South Bama 85-54 which allowed ULL and Marshall to move within a game of them. Andrew Taylor hit a shot late in Marshall's comeback 84-83 win over GA Southern, and ULL beat ULM  84-67.

CUSA: MTSU made the free throws down the stretch to hang on and upset FAU 74-70

WCC: St Marys beat San Diego to remain a game ahead of Gonzaga who crushed LMU.

Youngstown St crushed Milwaukee 87-58 to take sole possession of first in the Horizon.

Feb 19, 2023

Sunbelt: USM and Marshall won to stay in the same positions, but JMU's win over ULL leaves those two teams tied for third. FYI: USA has moved to 8-8 in conference play after back to back blowout wins over USM and ULM.

CUSA: North Texas(14-3) beats UTEP 80-72 in OT for eighth straight win and moved a half game of idle FAU(14-2)

AAC: J. Cook(30PTS 7AST 4STL) had a solid night for Tulane(10-3) in a win over USF which moved them into a tie with Memphis for second place.

WCC: St Marys and Gonzaga keep winning while Santa Clara handled Portland and remains a distant third.

Big Sky: Eastern Montana is 15-0 in conference play.

Horizon: Youngstown St crushed Green Bay and Milwaukee lost to Robert Morris. Cleveland St and Northern Kentucky are tied for second behind YSU.

Feb 20, 2023

Most of the AAC  games were televised yesterday but I couldn't find the big dogs. Houston beat Memphis which fell to 3rd place.

Clev St edged NKU 63-62 to gain sole possession of second place in the Horizon. D. Johnson CLEV ST(16PTS 10REB)

MWC: Boise St beat UNLV 73-69 and is 1GB of SDST.

MVC: Bradley edged SIU and Drake beat Belmont which keeps the winners tied for first.

Feb 21, 2023

Houston is ranked first overall, but it doesn't seem appear to be getting the rest of the AAC much respect in Dance talk.

I've been ignoring the Big West. Hawaii(11-5) beat Cal Bakersfield to move into a tie for third with UC-Santa Barbara who lost to Cal St Fullerton(11-5). They trail UC-Riverside(12-5) and Cal Irvine(13-3).

Feb 22, 2023

San Diego St keeps rolling with a win over Colorado St. I doubt if the Aztecs will have trouble adjusting to the Pac 12 in hoops. I'm not sure if Apple TV is the answer for the Pac 12.

Feb 23, 2022

AAC- Houston 89 TUL 59. Big wake up call for second place Tulane. J. Roberts had a solid night for the Cougars (26PTS 7REB)

MWC: Boise St(12-3) handled New Mexico(7-8). Pitino Jr's Lobos have fallen fast after a nice early season start.

SunBelt: Marshall(13-4) moved into a tie for first with USM. Kinsey scored 31 for MU in a win over JMU while USM (13-4) lost to ODU(10-7). I'm keeping my eye on those hot Jags(9-8) who've won 7 of  their last 8 conference games. Isaiah Moore's scored 22 points for South Alabama in a 76-67 win over TXST(6-11).

WCC: St Mary's and Gonzaga remain 1-2 and will play each other on Feb 25. Santa Clara is hanging tough to get a Dance ticket.

CUSA: FAU(15-2) crushed UTSA, and Charlotte upset NTX(14-4)

Feb 25, 2023

Some shake-up before the Sunbelt T begins at Pensacola Bay Center on February 28. USM won the regular season with a win over TX State. Marshall and ULL tied for second after MU lost ODU and ULL beat USA last night.

Feb 26, 2023

AAC- Houston handled ECU. SMU fell to USF and continues to sputter on its way to the Pac12.

CUSA: Florida Atlantic(26-3 16-2C-USA) 75 UTEP(13-16 6-12C-USA) 49

WCC: Zags deliver a dose of reality to St Marys and the teams are tied for first. GONZ 77 SM 68. Santa Clara (23-8 11-5WCC) has to be a bubble team.  SC 81 San Diego 63

Feb 27, 2023

Stephen F. Austin (19-10 11-5 WAC) 80 California Baptist (15-14 7-9 WAC)  58. WAC was televised on ESPN U yesterday.

Memphis beat Cincy and remains in second a game ahead of Tulane in the AAC.

Feb 28, 2023

 Zags host Chicago St tomorrow, and St Mary's regular season is over, and they get the top seed. The tiebreaker was determined by the NCAA Evaluation Tool. The Gaels (25-6, 14-2 WCC) are No. 7 in the NET, while the Zags (25-5, 14-2 WCC) are No. 9. However, the Zags are ranked higher in the polls. It keeps getting goofier. Just toss a coin! 

Queens won its rd1 game against FGSU in the ASUNT, but if they win the tourney, they won't dance for the same reason, the transition to 1A process, Jax St didn't Dance last season.

March 1, 2023

MWC: Aztecs(14-3) were outscored 14-0 over the final 14:47 in a 66-60 loss to Boise St(13-4). Nevada(12-5) lost  to Wyoming(4-13) on Monday and needs to beat UNLV(6-10) to keep their Dance chances alive. SDST finishes against Wyoming, and Boise St ends with UtahSt(11-5)

MAC:  Toledo(15-2) blew out CMU and will win the conference regular season with a win over Ball St or a Kent St(14-3) loss to Akron.

I'll try to do a blog on the early conference tournaments tomorrow.

 

 

Quick peek at Non P5 hoops standings

SunBelt : I was all set to give the #herd  a toast, but ULM behind Blackmon's 35 points beat them Thursday night in double OT. USM and ULL are 7-2. Marshall and ULM are 6-3 in conference play.

Sienna handled Iona(Pittino Sr) last night and sits alone atop the MAAC. Same can be said for San Diego St(MWC), Liberty(Atlantic Sun), and then there are a bunch of undefeated teams in conference play including these three, Charleston (Big South), FAU(CUSA), and Eastern Washington(Big Sky).

However, it's Saint Mary's(18-4, 7-0, WCC) with a one game lead over Gonzaga that has tongues wagging. Aidan Mahaney leads the team in scoring with 15.0 ppg. Their four OOC losses are all by single digits to UW, Houston, Colorado St, and New Mexico. The loss to CSU is the worst of that bunch. 

Jan 29, 2023

I thought Cincy was going to beat Houston after seeing part of the first half, but the Cougars roared back for the win. HOU 75 CIN 69. These two games caught my eye.

I'm keeping an eye on Memphis who beat Tulsa yesterday for its fifth straight W to stay in the AAC race with Temple and Houston.

Feb 2, 2023

AAC: Cincy(6-4) rebounded from the tough loss to Houston with an 81-55 blowout of Tulsa. Tulane(7-3) rode the Mustangs and cruised to a 74-52 win over SMU.

WAC- Wow, NM St has been ragged since Coach Heiar replaced Coach Jans who went to Miss St, but they beat Stephen F Austin 73-65 last night for their first conference win

The other new kids in town had nice nights. Abilene Christian beat Seattle. Southern Utah beat Cal Baptist. Sam Houston beat UTRGV.

 

Big 12 to discuss adding Gonzaga(WCC) to the conference tomorrow, per 

dennisdoddcbs

Feb 3, 2023

#herd got a solid game from Taylor in a win over Appy to remain a game behind USM and ULL who each won.

FAU didn't look like a team who had won 20 straight and lost to UAB in CUSA action.

St Marys(9-0) and Gonzaga(8-1) won in WCC action.

Feb 4, 2023

Ball St(7-3) eked out a 91-90 win over EMU. It was he!! of a battle. Akron(9-1) beat Kent St(8-2) to stay atop the MAC. 

 SDST(18-5, 9-2 MWC) is ready for Pac 12 hoops. Nathan Mensah scored 17 points for No. 22 San Diego State in a 72-52 win over Boise State. 

Feb 5, 2023

WCC: St Mary's beat the Zags and are in a solid spot for the WCCT one seed. BYU is showing a pulse with a win over Pacific and trails the Zags by a game.

CUSA: FAU bounced back from the loss to UAB with a win over Charlotte while UAB beat FIU and may be a threat in the CUSAT.

SunBelt: Two 10-2 teams won yesterday. ULL beat Marshall and USM beat GA St.

AAC: Speaking of GASt, man do they miss Coach Ron Hunter, whose Tulane squad gutted out an 82-81 win over Memphis yesterday and are 1.5 GB of Houston.

ASUN: Queens(6-6) edged Austin Peay. Liberty and Kennesaw sit at the top with 10-2 records. E.Kentucky trails them by a game.

Feb 6 2023

Houston beat Temple. Tulane moved into a tie for second in the AAC.

Feb 7, 2023

Freddy Hicks scored 22 for Tarleton(13-11, 6-5) in a WAC win over UTA(8-16, 3-8). Billy Gillepsie seems to be doing ok and staying out of trouble at Tarleton. UTA is struggling in its first WAC season since the Sunbelt kicked them and Ark-LR to the curb for not having football programs.

Feb 8, 2023

J. Cook(27PTS 14AST) led Tulane to a 101-94 win over Cincy in AAC action.

Houston 80 Tulsa 42- Sasser 25 points. Memphis beat USF and SMU knocked off Temple , who will probably slide more. It's looking more and more like it's HU, Memphis, and Tulane are heading to the Dance. 

WAC: Tough night for Cal Baptist who lost to UVU 71-55. Nice win for Seattle over Utah (Dixie) Tech to stay in the conference title race. 

MWC: M. Bradley - SDSU(18PTS 6REB 3STL) in the Aztecs W over Utah St.

Feb 10, 2023

WCC: Zags handled San Fran while St Mary's got tripped up by ULM. C. Shelton(G - LMU) scored 31 points in the 78-74 win.

SunBelt: USM beat ULL to take sole control of first place.  Andrew Taylor scored 33 points to help Marshall defeat Coastal Carolina 92-74 and move within a game of second-place ULL.

Feb 11, 2023

New Mexico State men's basketball canceled tonight's game at Cal Baptist and suspended its season indefinitely following "new allegations" within the program. Alleged hazing issues are the latest in the mess.

East Carolina won't play its men's basketball game at Tulane tonight after the death of Pirates radio announcer Jeff Charles(70) while with the team Friday in New Orleans.

 Dwayne Cohill scored 33 points for Youngstown State(12-3) who beat Purdue Fort Wayne 81-72 last night and moved into first place in the Horizon Conference

Kent St(10-2) moved into first in the MAC with a win over Buffalo and Akron's(9-3) loss to Ohio. 

Feb 12, 2023

WCC: St Marys took of care of Portland and the Zags beat BYU, who will need a serious boost to survive in the Big 12 next season. LMU was edged 71-69 by Santa Clara.

SunBelt: Taevion Kinsey scored 37 points for Marshall(10-4)  in 88-77 win over Georgia State. ULL(10-4) lost to Troy. JMU(9-5) beat CCU. USM(12-2) remains the top team with a win over ULM.

CUSA: Florida Atlantic(24-2, 14-1C-USA) keeps rolling with a win over La Tech, while NTX(21-5, 12-3C-USA) stays in the hunt with a win over Charlotte.

Feb 13, 2023

Just wondering if some of the culture at N Mex St predates Heiar, was hired from Northwest Florida State, a JC power. He previously worked as an assistant at ETSU, LSU, Wichita State, and S Miss.

 Chris Jans, the previous HC, is the Miss St HC.

Feb 15, 2023

Three of the four teams atop the MAC are from Ohio. Kent State 11-2, Toledo 11-2, Ball State 10-3 ,Akron 10-3.

Muncie, Indiana: Payton Sparks scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead Ball State to an 87-77 home victory over NIU.

Feb 16, 2023

I'll end this blog with this: NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu backed AD Moccia's firing of head coach Greg Heiar over the locker room hazing of a male basketball player and claimed that was not reflective of the athletic department or the school overall. You can bet the CUSA will want better answers than we're hearing, and I'm not surprised that Heiar was sacrificed.  However, I doubt this culture started as soon as Heiar arrived on campus.

Vegas to Diamondhead- those players' first names part2

 Just my way of keeping track of odd player names. The prior blog ran for four years.  Sion James scored 30 points for #Tulane in an AAC win over Memphis 96-89 last night.  Don't confuse it with Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans (NBA).

A buddy sent me this one Earthland Moreland, a former PAT among many of his NFL teams played his college ball at Georgia Southern while it was still in DII. His HC was Paul Johnson who later went on to coach at NAVY and Ga Tech.

Jan 19, 2023

Umoja Gibson, a kid from Waco, TX, scored 22 in Depaul's upset of Xavier in Big East action. His teammate, Yor Anei from Overland Park, Kansas, scored two points. Hearing the word your often in daily conversation must be interesting for this kid.

Feb 6 2023

I'm unsure how I missed this one. Probably cuz he was a UFA from Auburn and landed on the Saints IR in August. Quindarious "Smoke" Monday.

March 4, 2023

Tywone Malone scored a run for Ole Miss in the second inning, but La Tech roared back for a 6-5 win. First La Tech win over Ole Miss in baseball since 1989. I got no idea what Tywone parents were thinking when spelling his name on his birth certificate.

March 11, 2023

Just having some fun: Ark St left-fielder, CROSS JUMPER, went 1-4 in in his team's 11-8 loss to E.Illinois in college baseball.

April 2, 2023

Ryan John "Rowdy" Tellez, Toronto Blue Jays (2018–2021). Milwaukee Brewers (2021–present). 

Got me thinking of Rowdy Yates, played by Clint Eastwood on the Rawhide TV series.

May 4, 2023

 Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro were known as 'Thunder and Lightning' for the Miss St 1985 baseball team. I watched some of a 2015 documentary with same title, and was surprised that they showed Will Clark on hunting trips, and Raffy discussing his transition from Cuban emigre in Miami' FLA to Miss St w/o bashing Starkville' Mississippi.

These players were drafted by the MLB. Will Clark  - Rafael Palmeiro - Bobby Thigpen - Jeff Brantley - Gator Thiesen - Dan Van Cleve - Gene Morgan. By now Gator is probably a common southern first name.

June 17, 2023

Curious first names: Blaze Brothers, second baseman for Oral Robert U.

August 3, 2023

Those first names: Bake McBride, a decent OF with the Phillies, Cards, etc.

Sept 23, 2023

Pig Cage, an LB for UTSA. Quite a name! His team plays the Vols today.

Nov 18, 2023

Bullets Walson, born in Austria-Hungary, played QB for the Washington Senators of AFPA, which later became NFL. Record -keeping was shaky.

Dec 28, 2023

I'm reading a book about the St Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles history and came across  the name Baby Doll Jacobson, a solid outfielder for the Browns and other teams.

 On opening day of the Mobile Sea Gulls of the Southern Association 1912 season, the band began playing, "Oh, You Beautiful Doll", as Jacobson came to the plate. and he led off with a home run on the first pitch. A lady sitting behind the plate jumped up and shouted, 'You must be that beautiful doll they were talking about.' The nickname stuck.

Feb 6, 2024

Blaze Brothers from Oral Roberts to the Cleburne Railroaders(AA_IND). He batted around .230.

April 7, 2024

Indiana St baseball 23-7 (7-2 MVC). How about this first name, Josue Urdaneta, starting 2B.

those players names      earlier blog