Appalachian State Basketball: Appalachian vs. Chattanooga 2/15/2012

2/13/2012

This is a long range guess, but I am expecting Appalachian to be favored here by 2.5 points. Should be a very close game and picking this spread will be extremely tough.y

2/15/2012

The line opened this morning with Appalachian being listed as a 4.5 point favorite. I am surprised as both of these teams are fairly equal, besides Chattanooga being 0-12 on the road this season. Not only is Chattanooga winless on the road, their offensive and defensive numbers also decline when they leave the Volunteer State. The Mocs only average 30 points in the first half in road games, while giving up close to 35 points. Their defense gets progressively worse as the game goes, giving up close to 45 points in the second half, for a total of 79.7 points per game on the road. Oddly enough, Appalachian plays better defense at home, and especially in the second half. Both teams are near the bottom of the conference in free throw shooting, and that was difference the first time these two teams played. Chattanooga was a six point favorite at home but was fortunate enough to capture a two point win.

I am taking the Mountaineers. I think they are due, and the team has played better in its last two games. Chattanooga, once again has yet to win this season on the road.

2/16/2012

Appalachian cruised to a nine point win over the Mocs after leading by as many as 22 points in the second half. I finally snapped my losing streak and improved to 9-12 on the season.

Appalachian State Basketball: Appalachian vs. Wofford 2/11/2012 Postgame and Appalachian vs. Chattanooga 2/15/2012 Pregame

Appalachian lost to Wofford 66-64 on a cold and snowy Saturday in Boone. With the loss, Appalachian has been eliminated from winning the SoCon North Division. However, all is not lost on the season. The second seed in the SoCon Tournament is still up for grabs, but the Mountaineers must win and get some help from Samford and Elon. Applachian hosts Chattanooga on Wednesday while Elon and Samford but have tough tests on the road. Chattanooga still has not won a road game this season. Appalachian lost a heartbreaker to Chattanooga in January with the Mocs hitting a late layup after costly possession by Appalachian where Omar Carter shot too early in the shot clock. The game clock and shot clock were almost synced while Carter shot a long three pointer with 9 seconds left on the shot clock. The rebound was long and Chattanooga picked up the ball and sprinted the distance for the go ahead layup. A very similar scenraio nearly played out this past Saturday as the Mountaineers had a baseline inbound with just over four seconds remaining in the game. Carter received the inbound and immediately took an off balalanced shot that fell short.

SoCon North Standings

UNCG          9-5

Elon          8-6

Samford         7-7

App St          6-9

UTC          4-10

WCU         4-10

Appalachian State Women’s Basketball: Appalachian State vs. Elon 2/13/2012

02/13/2012

Appalachin cruised to a nineteen point victory over the UNC-Greensboro on Saturday afternoon in front of 952 fans at the Holmes Convocation Center. The win gave Appalachian its third twenty win season in as many years. Nothing else really changed around the conference as teams who were expected to win did which is keeping the conference race very tight with two weeks remaining in the regular season. The top six teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, and Appalachian’s schedule down the stretch is as tough as it gets. Appalachian hosts sixth place Elon tonight, with road games at third place Chattanooga, second place Davidson and fourth place Samford on the horizon.Sandwiched between those games is a home game against fifth place Furman. So, yes you read that correctly. Appalachian will face teams second through sixth place in the SoCon in the next five games. A top three seed in the SoCon tournament seems to be a lock with 4.5 games separating Appalchian and Samford.

Appalachin went on the road and defeated Elon five weeks ago, 72-58. The Mountaineers had a twenty four point lead on three occasions in the game before Elon mounted a second half comeback. Elon pulled with five points early in the second half, but the Mountaineers put the Phoenix away with a late run. With a win tonight, Appalachian guarantees itself a top three seed in the SoCon tournament.

SoCon Standings

Appalachian         15-1

Davidson                13-2

UTC                           12-3

Samford                   9-5

Furman                    8-6

Elon                           8-7