(01-19-2024 07:31 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  "UTEP blows out Middle Tennessee in El Paso, Blue Raiders look awful. Can’t shoot, don’t take care of the ball, they’re stagnant and bored on offense. How was this team selected to win the conference? Solid looking crowd for the CBSSN viewers. "

Really? You think that? I was just telling my wife as we were watching the game that it looked like less than 1000 fans were there. Really pathetic showing but I don't blame the fans for not showing up. Enemas U. had a better crowd and they were rewarded for their faithfulness as the Ugglies came back from a 20 point deficit. Truly amazing that they won, I had given up on them.

When a team loses their best offensive player and they already struggled offensively that will happen. At the end of the day there’s no reason for us to be this bad, with or without Cam. It’s time for a change. Nick has wore out his welcome in the Boro.

Liberty, 9.5 point favorite today against SHSU… wow! Figured the Kats would be underdogs but nearly double digits is extreme! ESPN gives Flames over 90% chance to win. I think LU probably wins but doubt they cover.

Jacksonville State… home dogs against the Dawgs also a bit surprising to see but LaTech is only remaining Top 100 NET team and has arguably looked like the best team in conference thus far. That should be the game of the day.

UTEP favored over WKU by 1.5… Hilltoppers looking at being swept in the borderlands? Think I like Western in this game.

Would expect NMSU to take care of Middle easily.

(01-20-2024 01:01 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  Liberty, 9.5 point favorite today against SHSU… wow! Figured the Kats would be underdogs but nearly double digits is extreme! ESPN gives Flames over 90% chance to win. I think LU probably wins but doubt they cover.

Jacksonville State… home dogs against the Dawgs also a bit surprising to see but LaTech is only remaining Top 100 NET team and has arguably looked like the best team in conference thus far. That should be the game of the day.

UTEP favored over WKU by 1.5… Hilltoppers looking at being swept in the borderlands? Think I like Western in this game.

Would expect NMSU to take care of Middle easily.

No chance WKU wins at UTEP. WKU is in a rebuilding year and is still sloppy, unorganized, and just bad. They're fighters tho but they're just not a good team this year. They may eventually pull it together and be a decent team by tourney time. We've had a very weak schedule and had several losses to really bad teams.

It is very rare to see our men and women win on the same night. Go TECH

FINAL: LA Tech 74 - Jacksonville St 57

Bearkats weather an early Liberty flurry, only down 5 under 10 in 1H.

After watching several games live and on TV, just pure athleticism I think La Tech is the best team in CUSA.

Sam Houston is going to lose quite a few on the road and will probably finish somewhere in the middle of the pack

I think CUSA will be super competitive with La Tech, WKU and Liberty competing for 1st - 3rd

UTEP, NMSU, Sam Houston and us competing for 4th - 7th place

FIU and MTSU competing for the bottom spots

82-66 Liberty. Poor showing by SHSU in Lynchburg. But little you can do about the Flames’ shooting tonight. 56% from the field (74% in the 2H) and 47% from three. Unbelievable. This is what you’re afraid about with Liberty, their size deficiencies won’t matter too much if they’re shooting to their capabilities. Still, Bearkats were lazy on defense, weren’t fighting through screens, weren’t switching enough.

We’ll take 1-1 on first our CUSA road swing but Sam not nearly as impressive as in the first week of play. Shooting has come back to earth besides Wilkerson. Cam Huefner, supposedly one of the best players in the conference, is still a no-show. Jaden Ray, our lead ball handler, didn’t score tonight. Lots to iron out in Huntsville as we return home for NMSU.

SHSU is talented/well coached enough to steal a few away games and finish towards the top of the conference. But performances like tonight shows we might have a ceiling on the road, even though opponents won’t be shooting over 60% for much of the game on most nights.

Congrats to Liberty they were by far the better team tonight. Anticipate the rematch in Texas, we’ll be better prepared. Tough road swing for the Flames coming up. To Jax State, then to the southwest for UTEP and NMSU to complete their three game road trip. Really tough schedule overall for them to start.

(01-20-2024 08:20 PM)JackedUp Wrote:  After watching several games live and on TV, just pure athleticism I think La Tech is the best team in CUSA.

Sam Houston is going to lose quite a few on the road and will probably finish somewhere in the middle of the pack

I think CUSA will be super competitive with La Tech, WKU and Liberty competing for 1st - 3rd

UTEP, NMSU, Sam Houston and us competing for 4th - 7th place

FIU and MTSU competing for the bottom spots

Yes but as in Tech teams in the past where we were clearly the best team. All it will come down to is three wins in a couple of months. A string of wins when it counts is something Tech has not been able to do.

Liberty lost their confidence for whatever reason but they are starting to snap out of it a bit. With their lack of size, shooting percentage is always going to play a key role and tonight they were on.

Quick 5-0 run to finish the half for WKU to get it tied before Corey Camper hits a ridiculous buzzer-beating fadeaway to give the Miners the two point lead at half.

UTEP up 42-40

Middle Tennessee hanging around with NMSU, Aggies lead 34-26 at half.

So what’d’ya think? 12-6 or 13-5 win the conference?

Road wins are going to determine the final standings.

They're going to be hard to come by.

Is 30 points enough to get us a second player of the week in a row?

Aggies and Miners both sweep this week. Home sure helps.

I believe the Aggies are tied for 1st place now.

(01-20-2024 11:36 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  Aggies and Miners both sweep this week. Home sure helps.

I believe the Aggies are tied for 1st place now.

Those Ugglies are doing it again but this time in basketball.

(01-20-2024 11:36 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  Aggies and Miners both sweep this week. Home sure helps.

I believe the Aggies are tied for 1st place now.

Currently in a three way tie with LaTech and SHSU.

They face the Bearkats this coming Thursday in Huntsville then head to Ruston for Tech on Saturday.

(01-20-2024 11:12 PM)army56mike Wrote:  So what’d’ya think? 12-6 or 13-5 win the conference?

Whoever is closest to .500 on the road will win the conference. Maybe that makes LaTech (2-1 in CUSA away games) the early favorite.

IMO 11-5 wins the conference, 9-7 gets you a top-half finish.

WKU might have to stay undefeated at home all season if they want a chance at a regular season title.

Road wins are hard to come by. Louisiana Tech appears to be in the best sharp in the standings with two road wins. Jacksonville State gave up their road win advantage with a home loss to Louisiana Tech. And Sam Houston is in solid shape behind Louisiana Tech. Western Kentucky needs some road wins in order to rise above the fray. And NMSU has proven hard to beat in the PAC, but they still haven't proven they can win on the road.

Current 2023-24 Men's Basketball Standings

Louisiana Tech.......... 13-6... 3-1... 1-0 (home)... 2-1 (away)... Wins at Middle Tennessee & Jacksonville State
Sam Houston............ 10-9... 3-1... 2-0 (home)... 1-1 (away)... Win at Middle Tennessee
New Mexico State...... 9-10... 3-1... 3-0 (home)... 0-1 (away)
UTEP........................ 11-8... 2-2... 2-0 (home)... 0-2 (away)
Jacksonville State...... 10-9... 2-2... 1-1 (home)... 1-1 (away)... Win at Liberty
Florida International... 7-12... 2-2... 2-0 (home)... 0-2 (away)
Western Kentucky....... 13-6... 2-3... 2-0 (home)... 0-3 (away)
Liberty...................... 13-7... 2-3... 2-1 (home)... 0-2 (away)
Middle Tennessee........ 6-13... 0-4... 0-2 (home)... 0-2 (away)

(01-20-2024 11:16 PM)inutech Wrote:  Is 30 points enough to get us a second player of the week in a row?

It was not.

Rare fact from WKU vs. UTEP, first time in 25 years of Kenpom that WKU shot 62%, or better, from the field and lost a game.