Appalachian State Basketball: Bracket Busters 2012

According to ESPNU’s Bracketbusters website, the pairings will be released tomorrow for the 10th annual three day event. This season BracketBusters has increased its number of teams from 114 to 142. This makes it incredibly difficult to guess who Appalachian might be matched up against. There are only 13 games that will be televised either by ESPN, ESPN2 or online by ESPN3. I have no doubts in my mind that Appalachian will not be in one of those televised games. In the past, those teams that are not selected for a televised game will normally be paired according to overall record and geographic proximity to each other. Below I have compiled a list of 12 teams that I think Appalachian could be matched up with in random order.

Boston University (11-12)

Liberty (8-15)

Presbyterian (8-13)

UNC-Asheville (16-7)

James Madison (10-12)

UNC-Wilmington (8-13)

Wright State (11-12)

Fairfield (10-10)

Siena (10-10)

Tennessee State (13-10)

Morehead State (12-11)

Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne (10-11)

Remember, the team that Appalachian hosts this year, they will play on the road later in 2012 as part of the 2012-2013 season. In the past, geography has played a major key in this game when Appalachian’s record was right around .500, like it is this season. Appalachian’s most heralded appearance in this event was a victory in 2007 over Wichita State. Since, Appalachian has played Niagra (2008), Winthrop (2009), Tennessee Tech (2010) and High Point (2011). I have seen two websites  projecting UC-Davis and Central Arkansas as possible opponents. If I had to narrow my list to three teams from the above list, I would choose James Madison, Liberty & UNC-Wilmington.

2/2/2012

After all the prognosticating, I was dead wrong and not even close to predicting Appalachian’s Bracketbuster opponent. I discounted all teams that Appalachian had ever played in the event, which in the end, was the absolute wrong approach. It has become obvious over the years, when out of conference teams are matched up for FCS football playoffs or Bracketbusters, the powers that be love to matchup the Southern Conference and the Big South. Appalachian drew the Winthrop Bulldogs for a 2pm tipoff on February 18th in Boone. Appalachian lost the actual BracketBuster game in Rock Hill in 2009, but returned the favor the following season in Boone with a nineteen point victory.

Appalachian State Basketball: Appalachian vs. Elon 1/28/2012 & SoCon North Roundup

As the SoCon North standings now show, the loss to UNCG on Thursday was huge for both teams. UNCG now sits alone in first place, a half game in front of Elon and a full game in front of Appalachian. It appears that the race for the two tops seeds in the SoCon tournament will come down to these three teams. Fourth place Samford might have something to say about this as they host a struggling College of Charleston team on Monday night before making the trip to Boone on Thursday. Samford could vault themselves into a tie for third place before tipping off against the Mountaineers. It is a big two games for Samford this week. If they can win both, they will split the season series with Appalachian and jump into third place all alone, while, if they lose both, they will have lost both games to Appalachian, and most likely end their hopes of getting a bye in the SoCon tournament.

Appalachian got a huge home win against Elon in a game where they shot the lights out and dropped Elon out of first place in the SoCon. Of Appalachian’s five conference losses, three have been to the top 3 teams in the South, Davidson, Wofford, and Georgia Southern, and the other two were on the road, one of them in overtime. In the two games they lost on the road to Chattanooga and UNCG, Appalachian held leads late in the ballgame and gave them up.

SoCon North

UNCG         6-4

Elon            5-4

App St        5-5

Samford     4-5

WCU            3-6

UTC             3-7

Appalachian State Basketball: Appalachian @ Furman 1/28/12 & Appalachian vs. Western Carolina 1/30/2012 Pregame

Any thoughts that Appalachian might lose a game they shouldn’t after Anna Freeman’s injury were quelled on Saturday. Freeman suffered a nasty ankle injury against Samford on Monday, but she responded with a game high 22 points and chipped in eight rebounds as the Mountaineers dominated Furman 78-63. The 78 points was Appalachian’s highest total since scoring 81 against UNCG on January 9th. Appalachian maintains its half game lead in the SoCon women’s race over second place Chattanooga who also won on Saturday. Appalachian is now 9-1 in league play with ten conference games remaining. Davidson is one game back from Appalachian in third place, while Samford and Furman are tied for fourth at 7-4 in league play.

Next up is Western Carolina who is 2-9 in league play, sitting in a three way tie for ninth place, or last depending on how you look at it. Appalachian beat Western by 36 points back in December. Appalachian was led by three double digit scores in the win in Cullowhee as Courtney Freeman scored 18 points while Anna Freeman chipped in 12 points and freshman Katie Mallow scored 14.

Appalachian State Basketball: Appalachian vs. Samford 2/2/2012

Of course, on Saturday, Samford upsets SoCon South division leader Davidson who had yet to lose in league play. Samford was deadly from the floor shooting over 50% for only the third time this season, and also shot 71% from three point range. The Bulldogs have now won four of five conference games after a snapping a six game losing streak. Earlier this season, Samford lost at home to by 5 to Appalachian in a PK game. I am expecting Appalachian to be favored by 8 points.

2/2/2012

I am really starting to nail the guessing of some of these larger spreads. The line tonight is Appalachian -7.5. After beating Davidson, Samford returned to earth, losing by 16 points to a very athletic College of Charleston squad. The Bulldogs only shot 23% from three point range against the Cougars, which led to their demise. Samford is only 2-7 straight up on the road this year, but are also 5-1 ATS in those games. Samford only shoots 61.2% from the free throw line on the road as well. Appalachian is 5-0 at home this year against the spread, and 7-2 overall. Appalachian has won 5 straight games against Samford and has shot 49% or better from the field in each of those games. I will take Appalachian to cover the 7.5 points

For the first time all season long, the line moved down to 7 for Appalachian and that should have told me something but it didnt. The Mountaineers suffered from a terrible shooting night from the floor and many chances to win the game, but fell short by one point 53-52. The 52 points were the third fewest points the Apps have scored all season long. My record fell back to .500 at 8-8. Appalachian lost their first game of the season at home ATS.

Appalachian State Basketball: Appalachian vs. Elon 1/28/2012

After a devastating loss on the road to UNCG, Appalachian returned home to face North Division leader Elon. I have not been impressed with Elon’s wins in conference play this season. Anyone one in the North can beat or be beaten on any given night. Projecting this game was going to be tough. I thought Elon might be favored by a couple points, but also would not be surprised if Appalachian was favored by as many as 6 points.

The spread came out early on Saturday morning, and I had to make a decision that honestly did not come to me until about 5 minutes before tipoff. Appalachian was favored by 5.5. I was thinking Appalachian would win at home, but the question was the number of points. Elon was 3-1 on the road in conference play. I decided on Elon and eventually paid for it. Appalachian shot 54% for the game and cruised to any easy 15 point win. I have said in the past that Appalachian will be a tough win for any team if the Mountaineers shoot well. Appalachian was 19-25 in the second half and never really let Elon back in the game. My record fell again to 8-7 on the season. I have missed three of four games after starting the season 7-4.

Note: Elon fouled late in the game even with the game out of hand and put Appalachian on the free throw line where they struggled mightily. A flagrant foul was callled on an Elon player with 7 seconds remaining after a steal by Nathan Healy, who had a clear path to the rim for a dunk. The Elon player grabbed Healy from behind on both shoulders and threw Healy to the floor This could provide a interesting matchup when the two schools play again on February 6th…After starting the season 5-1 ATS, Elon is 2-9 since….Appalachian is 5-0 this season in lined home games…Appalachian is 10-5 this season ATS, the best record of any SoCon team by wins and percentage.