Win and you're in...errr...get the bye. With no action on the hardwood this week for the black and gold, the Mountaineers have had 7 full days to let the loss to last place Citadel sink in. Despite blowing a perfect opportunity to get a head up on everyone in the race for the 4th seed in the SoCon and a first round bye, the Apps still have another shot to get that bye.
The Mountaineers play host to the team who currently holds the #4 spot, and #2 in the North division, the Samford Bulldogs tonight at the Holmes Center at 7:00 p.m. The Bulldogs have an odd record. Throwing conference records out and just looking at overall records, the Bulldogs are #9 in the SoCon, with an overall record of 11-18. Their non-conference slate included losses at Louisville, Memphis, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, so they played their share of tough games out of conference. In the conference, however, the Bulldogs are 9-7, with a 20 point loss to Davidson and an 11 point loss at Elon being their only losses of double digits. The Bulldogs have been in every game outside of the game at Davidson. Samford, picked to finish last in the North division back in October, is led by the best Freshman in the league, Tim Williams, who is averaging 14.3 points per game and 7 rebounds per game. Sophomore Point Guard Raijon Kelly is also averaging 14.8 points per game and is 2nd in the SoCon with 4.8 assists per game. The Bulldogs defeated the Mountaineers 72-68 in Birmingham on January 19. Just like Appalachian is still playing for that 4th spot and a bye, so are the Bulldogs. Tonight is a 4th-seed clinching game for Samford, and if they win tonight, they get the #4 seed next week no matter what happens over the weekend.
Senior Day is on Saturday for both the men and the women in a doubleheader, both vs. Chattanooga, with the men beginning the action at 2:00 p.m. in the Holmes Center. Seniors Nathan Healy and Jamaal Trice will be honored in what is being promoted as a "Black Out" for the action on Saturday. If you remember, which I think we all do, the Apps led the Moc in January by 19 points with around 7:00 to play before losing in overtime. Chattanooga sits at 5th in the North with a conference record of 7-9 but can still get to 2nd in the division and get the bye in Asheville only if Samford loses both games this weekend (@ App State, @ WCU) and Chattanooga wins both games (@ WCU, @ App State).
Senior G Jamaal Trice
Senior F Nathan Healy
Basketball schedule for the last weekend of the regular season...
Thursday, February 28
Samford @ Appalachian State, 7:00 Chattanooga @ Western Carolina, 7:00 Furman @ The Citadel, 7:05 Wofford @ College of Charleston, 7:30, ESPN3
Saturday, March 2
Chattanooga @ Appalachian State, 2:00 Georgia Southern @ Davidson, 2:00 College of Charleston @ Furman, 4:00 Samford @ Western Carolina, 4:30 UNC-Greensboro @ Elon, 7:00 The Citadel @ Wofford, 7:00
SoCoN Standings
NORTH
CONF
GB
OVR
Elon
12-5
--
19-10
Samford
9-7
2.5
11-18
Appalachian State
8-8
3.5
12-15
Western Carolina
8-8
3.5
12-17
Chattanooga
7-9
4.5
12-17
UNC Greensboro
6-11
6
8-20
SOUTH
CONF
GB
OVR
Davidson
16-1
--
22-7
Charleston
12-4
3.5
20-9
Georgia Southern
7-10
9
13-17
Wofford
6-10
9.5
12-17
Citadel
4-12
11.5
7-20
Furman
3-13
12.5
6-21
Now on to baseball...
The Apps have started hot and currently sit at 5-1 with a victory over all-American pitcher Carlos Rodon and #8 (at the time) NC State, a 13-6 win over Canisius, two wins over Butler (6-2, 8-5), and a 6-4 triumph over High Point. The Mountaineers have showed great resiliance, with the 8-5 victory over Butler and the 6-4 win over High Point being in come from behind fashion.
Sophomore 1B Alex Leach leads a potent offensive Mountaineer attack so far, hitting .417 with 2 HR's and 12 RBI's. Of Leach's 10 hits on the young campaign, 8 have been of the extra base variety (5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR's). Freshman CF Jaylin Davis has also had a hot stick early on, hitting .333 with 2 HR's as well and 8 RBI's. SS Will Callaway and 2B Hector Crespo have gotten off to slow starts at the plate, but solid hitting performances by Brandon Burris and William Head have helped the Apps overcome the slow start by the Seniors, who will come around as we push forward. Burris was the man of the game Sunday vs. Butler. Burris finished 3-4 with what proved to be the game-winning home run in the 7th. William Head has only gotten 2 starts and has 9 at-bats, but he is hitting .444 while playing solid defense.
[caption id="attachment_3861" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Sophomore 1B Alex Leach has gotten off to a hot start at the plate for the Mountaineers[/caption]Sophomore Jamie Nunn is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 2 starts vs. NC State and Butler so far. Sunday starter Sam Agnew-Wieland is 2-0 despite an inflated 5.40 ERA, with one of the victories coming in relief vs. Canisius. Sophomore Saturday starter Jeffrey Springs has been the recipient of some shoddy defense and started slow, with an 0-1 record and a 6.75 ERA. Springs has only lasted a total 6.2 innings in 2 starts, but 7 of the 12 runs given up in those 6.2 innings have been unearned.
In almost 20 innings of relief action, the App State bullpen has only given up 5 runs, and only 3 of them have been earned. Senior closer Rob Marcello has shown he will be tough to handle this year, getting 3 saves in as many appearances, while giving up zero hits and allowing zero baserunners so far. 9 up, 9 down.
[caption id="attachment_3862" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
"Closing time, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here..." Rob Marcello fires a pitch in App State's wonderful new uniforms[/caption]Defense has proven to be the Mountaineers downfall thus far, although it hasn't gotten them too bad and the Apps still have just one loss. Through 6 games, the Apps have committed 11 errors, a number which will definitely need to be improved upon as we head into March and Southern Conference action.
The Mountaineers begin conference play this weekend at Davidson, with games Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.), and Sunday (1 p.m.). The Mountaineers also play next Tuesday at East Tennessee State at 7 p.m.
Notes
-Next week's post will feature a run-down of the action coming up next weekend in Asheville
-After basketball is completely over, Conference Contemplation will continue with all the happenings of baseball on the mountain as well as throughout the SoCon
-As I posted in the "Baseball vs. High Point" thread, my phone broke and I am left with an older phone without internet capability, so in-game Twitter updates for this weekend's basketball will not be available. However, as soon as I get this fixed, they will be available for all the home baseball games
-Be safe if you're traveling to the High Country this weekend, as snow is expected from today through this weekend
-Don't forget the promoted "Black Out" for the game Saturday vs. Chattanooga
-Go Mountaineers