While I know some folks don't like the whole RPI conversation, there are some that point at how much better the SoCon is every year by using it.

As of today the ASUN is ranked the 14th best conference in the country, and the SoCon is 20th (RealTimeRPI). While I don't think the ASUN will remain this high, I'm not sure if the SoCon will be able to pass the ASUN this year. Big wins in the OoC have helped the ASUN this year.

I realize it's still very early.
Thoughts?

SoCon stay in same range it is.. 18-22.
A-Sun endeds up 24+

(12-13-2010 06:44 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote:  While I know some folks don't like the whole RPI conversation, there are some that point at how much better the SoCon is every year by using it.

As of today the ASUN is ranked the 14th best conference in the country, and the SoCon is 20th (RealTimeRPI). While I don't think the ASUN will remain this high, I'm not sure if the SoCon will be able to pass the ASUN this year. Big wins in the OoC have helped the ASUN this year.

I realize it's still very early.
Thoughts?

The most dramatic changes come during the OOC games. Once the conference begins, we beat up on one another which changes team RPIs within the conference. However, conference RPIs will stay relatively the same.

(12-13-2010 06:48 PM)RodShaw2 Wrote:  SoCon stay in same range it is.. 18-22.
A-Sun endeds up 24+

I think you're right about So-Con. Although I'd bet the A-Sun ends up in that range as well. I don't think they'll drop 10 spots. The conference actually has 6 or so legitimately solid teams (as of right now).

A Buc win at Ole Miss will jump this sorry ASun Conference. Frankly to me, all teams in the ASun can go undefeated in OOC play and I would still would rather be in the Southern....playing football and teams of closer proximity. I miss Chattanooga, Appalachian et al.

I don't get charged up to much going on the road and playing before less than a thousand people. Does the Southern have an arena that small? I doubt it.

The midget line could be applied to ASun Arenas!

Sagarin has the A-Sun rated at 15 and the Socon at 18. It will be interesting to see what happens once conference play happens.

I am a huge SoCon fan, but I think they are down this year. UNC-G is terrible and Chattanooga (will be good in the conference) was terrible OOC. I think Charleston and Wofford are both very good teams though.

The SoCon is down this year. The A-Sun is the better league THIS year.

In my mind, there's more to being a fan of being in the SoCon than just the fact that it's traditionally a better league. It may end up better than the ASuck this year, it may not - conference RPI or perceived strength overall is only part of the equation. It's also about being able to drive to away games, or play real rivals like App or Chattanooga, and in that respect, SoCon will always be a better league for ETSU.

CoC isn't getting a 17 this year if they win the SoCon though.

Georgia Southern and UNC-G are both dragging down the SoCon this year. What has happened to Kennesaw? I saw them beat Ga Tech by 20 then they lost in 2 OT last week to a then winless SIU Edwardsville squad.

(12-13-2010 10:43 PM)EastTennesseeState Wrote:  Georgia Southern and UNC-G are both dragging down the SoCon this year. What has happened to Kennesaw? I saw them beat Ga Tech by 20 then they lost in 2 OT last week to a then winless SIU Edwardsville squad.

I can see Ingle's head exploding.

I honestly think the SoCon in general has better athletes and players but the A-Sun has better coaches. Say what you want to about the league, but there are some very good coaches. Teams like Upstate and North Florida that do not have much talent always seem to compete because of their game plans.

(12-14-2010 09:40 AM)ETSUAlumni Wrote:  I honestly think the SoCon in general has better athletes and players but the A-Sun has better coaches. Say what you want to about the league, but there are some very good coaches. Teams like Upstate and North Florida that do not have much talent always seem to compete because of their game plans.

That is a fair assessment if you throw out Davidson and COC. It

(12-14-2010 10:10 AM)Goldfinger Wrote:  

(12-14-2010 09:40 AM)ETSUAlumni Wrote:  I honestly think the SoCon in general has better athletes and players but the A-Sun has better coaches. Say what you want to about the league, but there are some very good coaches. Teams like Upstate and North Florida that do not have much talent always seem to compete because of their game plans.

That is a fair assessment if you throw out Davidson and COC. It

Maybe a fair assessment if you throw out ETSU and Stetson.

No question McKillop and Cremins are great coaches. I was talking about top to bottom. Rod, you have to admit Waugh would be Coach of the Year if he played us every game. With the exception of Stetson and maybe Kennesaw (depends how they play) every team has improved in this league due to coaching (in my opinion). If you remember our first year Jacksonville and Campbell were two of the worst teams in the nation. In the SoCon, Greensboro and Georgia Southern used to be upper tier teams and are both looking up at the Citadel now. I think both of these schools recently switched coaches so hopefully they will get better.

Agree on McKillop but not so much with Cremins. He is a great recruiter, but is not much of a floor coach. His approach has always been recruit a bunch of scorers and athletes and just throw the ball on the floor and let them play. When he has overwhelming talent they do very well, but when that good coach and disciplined team comes along they tend to lose most of the time (Davidson etc.). Same thing happened at Georgia Tech and App St. long before that. He coaches with a very similar style to someone we know well. If COC was in the ASun, Belmont would beat CoC most of the time.

(12-14-2010 11:41 AM)BucinBama Wrote:  Agree on McKillop but not so much with Cremins. He is a great recruiter, but is not much of a floor coach. His approach has always been recruit a bunch of scorers and athletes and just throw the ball on the floor and let them play. When he has overwhelming talent they do very well, but when that good coach and disciplined team comes along they tend to lose most of the time (Davidson etc.). Same thing happened at Georgia Tech and App St. long before that. He coaches with a very similar style to someone we know well. If COC was in the ASun, Belmont would beat CoC most of the time.

I tend to agree on Cremins, he is a great recruiter but he doesn't seem to win the big games. How many times has he won the Socon? Zero. Infact C of C has only won the Socon once since joining, which was their first year. However, in my opinion they should have won the conference the last 2 seasons, they should win it this season as well, but they probably won't.

Pretty sure he won at app st

I agree he is not the best x's and o's, but he landed a top 35 recruit in the nation for next year that should impact the program. Herrion also tore the program down as well.

(12-14-2010 12:03 PM)Goldfinger Wrote:  Pretty sure he won at app st

I forgot about App State, although that was like 30 years ago.