In the boredom of looking into LeForce, I also looked at our basketball schedule. The next NINE GAMES are so winnable it's ridiculous. It's goes something like Stetson and Mercer on the road, then back home for Kennesaw, Stetson and Mercer again, JU and UNF on the road, then back for G-Dub and Campbell. Stetson and Mercer aren't very good, and we hold wins over JU, UNF, Campbell and G-Dub. Could it be possible that the Bucs could go on something like a ten game winning streak going into the final three with Find Another U, then the trip to the Boulevard?

I think that is very possible. KSU in the dome should (and I say should) be a win. So is every other game until FAU. That will be a tough one. I think if we keep improving (and we are) that we could run the table barring injury. After watching the last few games, the team chemistry is getting much better and everybody is involved. That makes a huge difference. It really adds to the team when the bench is doing this while the game is going on!

How's this for optimism, I think we can win out which would make us hit the 20 win mark before the ASun tourney. Will we do that, probably not. But it isn't out of the question. Every remaining ASun game is winable. If we get Ben back, keep the momentum and stay healthy ...who knows. I would be happy to eat crow by my post early in the season thinking we couldn't match last year's wins.

I also think this is a very achievable. The Bucs are showing consistent improvement every game, and I think this will only continue. I think Nuckles summed it up best in his post-game interview--he basically said that the team is more relaxed now, unafraid to make mistakes. You can see that on the court.

What's really impressed me that last 2 games is playing well without Ben. He's the "glue" on this team, and without him, we've played solid. Through him back into the mix, and we will be tough to beat.

I look at this way, notwithstanding the UT game, we have been in a position to win every single game...and that was when we were playing terrible!

If they make free throws at Radford, and we get a couple of breaks against Belmont and Lipscomb we're talking about a team with four losses right now, hanging out at the top of the conference. And still kudos to the women, how sweet would it be for both teams to win their conference tournaments.

About as sweet as a karate trophy won by Cosmo Kramer.

Absolutely Buccaneerlover. I have been very impressed by the ladybucs and wish they would get better fan support. I, for one, have made it a point to go their games. I have never been a big fan of women's hoops, but I have really started to grow more interested. What's also exciting is that Karen Kemp signed 4 outstanding recruits.

I don't know if we will win every game heading into the last 3 but we should be favored. (Maybe except KSU.) Lets be honest, the only 3 teams that are any good right now are FAU, Belmont, and Lipscomb. I exclude KSU because we dont have to worry about them in the tournament. We can't look ahead too far though, Stetson and Mercer are due.

Hopefully not due against us though. Both teams in the NCAA's would be some positive in athletics in what has otherwise been not very positive.

It would also be a couple of paper championships.

Ask CofC about their so-called paper championships from this league. If you do it right, this is the type of conference that if you just dominate, and win a couple out of conference that you'll get some respect.
BTW, we now have the second highest attended game this year, announced attendance last night in Nashville was over 5200 for Belmont and Lipscomb, and though it's not the best basketball in the world, it was actually a pretty exciting game. The fans in there were fired up about it.

That's disapointing on the attendance, if it is true.

I guess P.T. Barnum was referring to ETSU fans when he made his "sucker born every minute" comment.

But, then again, Tri-Cities sports fans will flock to that hideous Arby's Classic every year, too.

The amount of people in the area who will actively pay to see lesser sporting talent is simply amazing.

Lesser sporting talent at the Arby's Classic? You've lost me here dude. Awful lot of top tier college players have been in this thing, and a couple of pro players in football and basketball have played in Viking Hall. Attendance figures don't lie. People go because it is exciting.
And yes, the "Battle of the Boulevard" as it's been dubbed was a sellout. CSS made it a point to show plenty of crowd shots to establish a packed house, and used wide shots to show a full arena. That's a great crowd at the mid-major level, crammed together in a small setting. That's really what you want for basketball.

I'd rather watch college ball than high school ball any day of the week. Ive never understood why so many people love high school sports around here. You know, its not like this everywhere. Most places in the country could care less about high school ball.

Yeah and some parts of the country high school ball is even bigger, look at high school basketball in Indiana and Kentucky or High School football in Texas, Florida or several other states.

Some people like to watch their own kids or friends play rather than watch overhyped or overpaid strangers play. I don't find that odd at all.

I will watch a game played at any level if it interests me for some reason. Heck the NBA might be the least interesting game on a given night. Now Spurs vrs Detroit would be a great game to watch but I would rather watch Belmont play DL , or Science Hill play DB than watch the Atlanta Hawks play Golden State.

I would rather watch reruns of "My Mother, The Car" than the NBA, but that is neither here nor there.

I've been up and down the Arby's Classic forever. You may get one or two guys who will go on to bigger and better things- but you have a better chance of watching "future stars" at an Appalachian League game or at ETSU.

You also will likely see that future star play in the sport he will star in. Only thing more irrelevant than Terry Kirby played in the Arby's is when NFL teams go out and play those off-season charity basketball games.

People were all excited a few years back at Arby's because they got to see Brad Nuckles.

Why not just go watch him for four years at ETSU- playing better competition?

Could care less about high school ball? High school basketball in the bluegrass, Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, etc... is huge. You can argue that all you want, they used to put in extra security at my brother's basketball games over towards Charlotte because the attendance was over 5k, and it's even more during football season. I think everyone is agreement on the NBA, I could careless that Kobe scored 81 last night, he took 46 freaking shots.
Bigger and Better things. You guys sparked my interest, and based on names out of the Arby's Classic that I REMEMBER PLAYING D-1, or professionally, I came up with the list. Keep in mind this is just my list of players, on the All-Tournament teams, it seems to me the Bucs have had a LOT of success recruiting this tournament.

Dane Bradshaw (UT), Vince Redd, Lee Humphrey, George Lynch, Bryant Stith, Terry Kirby, Ron Mercer, Drew Maddux, Vontego Cummings, BJ McKie, Aaron Green, Rahim Lockhard, CJ Black, Rashad Wright, Brindley Wright, Udonis Haslem, DA Layne, Ron Slay, Earnest Shelton, Vernell Brown, Orien Greene, Halston Lane, Sundiata Gaines, Tyler Smith, JP Prince, Justin Hare (Yes the one at Belmont), PJ Ramos, Tyler Webb.
Now the guys that I happened to know that played in the tournament that ended up at ETSU.
Marty Story, JERALD FIELDS, Courtney Pigram, Travis Strong and Brad Nuckles. Keep in mind, these are just the names I can think of, or those that made all tournament team.
Jerald would have never been a buc had it not been for this tournament, and who's to say that are guys from Memphis would be up here.

Now, don't get me wrong, I would rather watch the college game any day of the week, but this tourney has been a great way for people to watch players that have gone on to pretty big things at their respective schools, and for a few, a career in the NBA. a couple of NFL guys, etc... (Kirby and Gerald Sensabaugh).

Oh. Yes. Be still my beating heart.

Udonis Haslem and Sundiata Gaines playing high school basketball!!!!

I can't imagine a better way to spend the time!

Oh yea, neither have ever played for DeChellis. Sorry dude, you're in the minority as far as basketball fans go. This tournament is well respected among high school and college coaches. It was respected enough for our own school to do it's fair share of recruiting at the tournament. Some of the better players we've had in recent years played in it.