http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/blog/dan_vance en-US http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/blog_entry/ipfw_showcases_strength_in_comeback_immaturity_in_loss9909 IPFW's season has really been like a rollercoaster, just without so many ups and with downs that would plummet a ride at Six Flags into the core of the earth. They had a chance to change that Sunday night (November 19) when they hosted Indiana State, themselves just coming off a stiff loss at the hands of IU. But instead, they couldn't keep up the momentum of a monumental comeback and let their weaknesses leak out in a 67-61 loss. IPFW had a hold of things early, going up 13-8 with a lot of momentum on a Tyler Best to Quintin Carothers back door play that led to a bigtime dunk. They pulled ahead again (and for the last time) on a DeWitt Scott three-pointer midway through the first half. And then they saw setback after setback kill most of their hopes before the halftime buzzer even sounded. But after that buzzer is when the Mastodons showed that afformentioned strength by slashing away at an Indiana State lead that had grown to 15 in the second half. After slashing away at that lead, IPFW pulled within nine points on one of two late Pat Lepper three-pointers. They kept chipping away until about the three and a half minute mark when they let their adrenaline die during a media time out, a critical and infant mistake for a team searching for stability. Senior Tyler Best, who scored eight of his 10 points in the second half, highlighted that lack of energy by missing a wide open layup just after the timeout. A minute later, Trent Wurtz put down a dunk for Indiana State that completely took IPFW out of the game emotionally. And instead of trying to change that, they let backfiring situations get to them moments later when Wurtz and Carouthers were both forced to come out of the game (Wurtz for bleeding, Caruothers for having blood on his jersey). Coach Dane Fife spent half the time yelling at the trainer and the other half complaining to the referees, which is only going to (if anything) take you furhur out of control of the game. When Carouthers did come back in the game a minute and a half (or so) later wearing #52, it was almost as if he had lost his mojo along with his usual jersey. His only offensive play of note was a sloppy turnover that was only part of what cost IPFW down the stretch. Carouthers led IPFW with 14 points, but had 12 of them in the first half. ISU even shot free throws in a fashion that can nearly be descirbed at horrific down the stretch. The Sycamores missed 7 of their last 10 free throws in the game, including a stretch missing 5-of-6 in the final minute all while leading 64-58. And IPFW did nothing. Instead, they tried too hard to play in the post, an obvious Mastodon weakness. Despite solid second half play from Best and Jaraun Burrows, who totalled 14 rebound and 20 points as a pair, the bigs just did not seem as focused and controlled. The Mastodons also shot too many three-pointers (7-for-25 in the game), while ISU shot only two long range shots in the second half. Strike three? The Mastodons did not push the ball on transition and played half court offense way too much. And oh yeah, senior captain Justin Hawkins played just 12 minutes in the entire game including sitting the whole second half. If anything, IPFW displayed immaturity by going away from their strengths. And that, above all else, is likely what cost them an important game. http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/blog_entry/ipfw_showcases_strength_in_comeback_immaturity_in_loss9909#comments Game Recaps Independent Indiana State IPFW MVC Sun, 19 Nov 2006 18:35:36 -0800 Dan Vance 9909 at http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/blog_entry/southland_gets_the_best_of_the_deal It has taken a couple of years for the fallout affects of Virginia Tech and Miami’s move from the ACC to reach the small time. But now that it finally has trickled down, conferences are starting to snatch up Independent teams like a starving kid at a donut shop. UC-Davis is all set to officially move to the Big West, the Mid-Con has snatched up IPFW, North Dakota State and South Dakota State for the 2007-2008 season and Florida Gulf Coast is already getting looks before they are ever cleared to become a Division I institution. But the biggest winner of all? The Southland Conference. Full of mediocre teams, coaches and players, this conference reeled in a big fish when it landed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, perhaps the best DI Independent ever. The Islanders will officially begin conference play this season and the Southland shouldn’t be happier. In fact, the Islanders have a legit chance to win the conference this year. And no, I am not joking. If for no other reason, look at Islander coach Ronnie Arrow, who already gets some play by being named the Southland Conference’s representative in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, where he is one of only 31 total coaches. And Arrow has earned that spot. As the only coach in TAMCC’s seven-year DI stint, he has led the Islanders to back-to-back 20-win seasons the past two years and over his tenure with the Islanders, has led the team to wins over teams like South Florida, Florida State, TCU and Baylor, all schools from far more power conferences than the Southland. Not to mention that in those two 20- win seasons, TAMCC should have easily been tapped to appear in the NIT Tournament at the least. We all know that an Independent would basically have to go undefeated to make the NCAA Tournament and even then would likely be shutout. But lets face facts, who really expects an Independent to win that many games? Probably as few people as Ronnie Arrow had friends with the NIT after getting shunned back-to-back years. If only he could dress as well as he can coach. I don’t care why the Southland people decided to bring in the Islanders. Be it because it added a seventh team in the state of Texas or because they were a 20-win school. The fact is that they almost should have invited the team by handing them the conference title trophy. TAMCC dominated some Independent programs that were just as good, if not better than teams like Lamar and McNeese State. The team returns 14 (yeah, like pretty much the whole team) letterwinners, including four starters. Big man Chris Daniels was named to the Preseason All-Southland Second Team without ever stepping on a court in the conference. Hey, maybe someone is finally giving these guys some respect. Come January 6, when TAMCC opens conference play against McNeese State, I fear for the other teams in this conference. This is perhaps the greatest move made conference wise in years in Division I ball. Now, someone better just give Arrow and his Islanders some respect. http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/blog_entry/southland_gets_the_best_of_the_deal#comments Southland Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Sun, 15 Oct 2006 20:27:28 -0700 Dan Vance 1487 at http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new