coachacola

Two more opponents just ahead of Lamar: #232 Rice - The Owls bring back their top 4 scorers and stud incoming center O. Oraby should be fun to watch. Still got a long way to go. #229 UT-San Antonio - With only 1 starter returning and 11 newcomers the Roadrunners will be a very inexperienced team behind sr D Gibson. There's hardly ever any dominate team in the SLC so it just takes the right team to get hot at the end of the season and they can make the big dance.

#242 UC Riverside - All of the Highlanders hopes lie on the shoulders of Jr K. Austin (18/7), who should be 1st team All Big West again. Nov 19th opponent in Dallas.

[quote name="JJWooten" post="890272" timestamp="1288371626"] I would almost put money on it that they say something about a Top 10 recruiting class. [/quote] You win the prize! #243 Lamar - Backcourt trio A Miles, K Harris and C Harper and top-10 recruiting class should make the Cardinals dangerous this season.

Another eastern division team makes the list: #246 Nicholls St - A Bose (21/6/2) and F Hunter (14/5) return to a team that almost beat Sam Houston St to go to Big Dance.

If Lamar's offense lays another goose egg then it won't matter who UND starts at QB.  With J.J. Hayes back in the lineup then I expect Lamar to score some points.  Hussey should play too.  Are there any other players coming back from injuries for Lamar?

#265 Tulane - The Green Wave may be looking at the bottom spot in CUSA after losing 2 starters and not getting much help from newcomers. Last year Lamar was 245.  I'm guessing Lamar will be 215 this year.

#270 UT-Arlington - The Mavericks will be rebuilding after losing conference POY M. Haynes. Deep recruiting class will help a little.

It's time for rushthecourt.net's annual countdown of all 345 D1 basketball teams, from worst to best.  Alcorn State has the distinction of being # 345.  And of course the SLC already has some teams on the list along with a few of Lamar's opponents this year. #318 UT Pan Am - UTPA brings back most everyone from a 6-win team, but the Broncs showed promise w/ a defense better than most in GWC.  (Lamar plays UTPA Nov 23rd) #302 C. Arkansas - New coach Corliss Williamson has his hands full getting the Bears competitive again, but he returns seven lettermen. #299 Northwestern St - Losing two starters will make much improvement tough; Seniors D Baker, D Knight and W Pratt will need to step up. #286 McNeese St - With top 3 players returning, coach D Simmons hopes JuCo transfer M Konate adds the spark Cowboys need to compete. Shouldn't that be 7 wins for Lamar right there? Follow along here (it's updated every hour): [Hidden Content]

North Dakota's starting quarterback is out for the season.  Their top running back has a hamstring injury and is listed as day to day.  None of that will help if Lamar can't score any points. [Hidden Content]

Lamar averaged almost 26 points per game their first 3 games, since then they have scored a total of 27 points.  And against D1 opponents Lamar gives up over 35 points a game.  Lamar can't be favored to win any games with those numbers.  Nevertheless, the defense is improving and if Bevil can find a way to play halfway decent without turning the ball over all the time Lamar has a chance to win.

I'm curious to know how much playing time Donley Minor will get this year.  I remember last year Roc was saying he was the best defensive guard on the team.  You just never know how well these JUCO players will adjust to D1 level basketball so just like last year we'll probably be disappointed in some of these guys. On a side note, both SHSU and UTA each signed a highly rated inside player for next year.  Roc knows how to bring in the talented JUCO players but he really hasn't signed any highly touted HS players yet.  Until he does then I think we'll keep seeing these up and down years.

I think Green Menace is saying the HS coaches don't have success when they go straight to being the head coach at the college level.  Didn't Notre Dame try this recently with a highly touted HS coach and that didn't work?  In hindsight, Dodge probably should have been hired as a OC first at the college level before being the head coach. 

Next year's team should have Anthony Beard, Derrick Hall and Jeremy Johnson, all Rivals 3-star athletes.  Hopefully Woodard can sign more quality players with the few scholarships left.  I'm already looking forward to next year, but I'm planning to make it down for the last game of the season and watch LU finish the year with a win.

Southlake Carroll was good before Dodge arrived and has been good since he left.  You don't have to recruit talent in high school, for the most part it's there or it's not.  I think North Texas misjudged how well Dodge would do as a college coach based on that.

South Alabama beat another FCS team today.  They traveled to California and beat UC-Davis 24-21.  UC-Davis isn't a bad team either, they beat San Jose State of the WAC earlier this year.

Here's a couple of old recruiting sites listing Derrick Hall running both 4.3 and 4.4: [Hidden Content] [Hidden Content] This was back when he was still in high school.  No matter what he runs now he will be a big boost to Lamar's offense the next two years.

[quote]Former Central football star Derrick Hall said he is ready to give a verbal commitment to play for Lamar University when he meets Saturday with LU coach Ray Woodard.[/quote] [Hidden Content] Hopefully Jeremy Johnson is next.

My guess is Roc is going with a 3 guard lineup of James, Miles and Lamb with Nelson and Custer on the inside.  Miles should be a better player if he's not running the offense.  I bet Roc is counting on Kendirck Harris, Adams and Davis getting some quality minutes so that no matter who's in the game the offense can score points.  I doubt the big guys will be counted on to score much but hopefully at least one can step up and be a force inside.  Harper will probably backup Nelson at the 4 spot and Brazier will backup Custer (or vice versa).  That leaves Lynch, Darius Harris and Stan Brown fighting for minutes.

[quote]Making the SLC is a big step for this program.[/quote] That shows how far the basketball program has sunk! 

[quote name="HoopInsider_Cooper" post="883215" timestamp="1287724590"] [font=Courier]Guard Mike James is the real deal. If, IF, they can come together they have a chance at SLC tourney. Deepest and most talented team Roc has had by far. [/font] [/quote] I hope you mean they have a chance at winning the SLC tourney, not just making it.

[quote name="sleepy" post="882554" timestamp="1287672317"] If we are lucky enough to land JJ that will all change next year.  It will suddenly make our offense look a ton better! [/quote] Also add Derrick Hall and that should raise expectations for next year.

Football attendance averages so far: Lamar ... 16,811 McNeese ... 14,826 Texas State ... 13,175 SFA ...10,234 UCA ... 9977 NW State ... 8000 SHSU ... 7744 Nicholls State ... 4788 SLU ... 4729

They will be much improved from last year.

The Massey Ratings gives Lamar just a 16% chance of winning and predicts a 30-17 loss. [Hidden Content]

From the In The Cards blog: [quote]Lamar University football coach Ray Woodard hopes receiver J.J. Hayes and running back Cody Hussey will return for the team’s next game, Oct. 30 at North Dakota. Hussey did not play Saturday because of a strained knee suffered Oct. 9 against Langston University. Hayes has not played since he suffered severe neck and throat injuries Oct. 2.[/quote] Mario Foster is out for the season.  I didn't realize we had so many guys out against S. Alabama. [Hidden Content]