http://www2.mercer.edu/Athletics/News/060213bMBB.htm

It's been a disappointing weekend for Mercer basketball. First of all they lose a one point game to Stetson after battling back from a double digit deficit. This was a game that they had to win to better their tourney seeding at all, and TERRIBLE shot selection within the last 2 minutes doomed them. Hey, Ross Alacqua, you're not J.J. Reddick! AND.......Why was Jacob Skogen not in the game at the end?!?!?

Now, we find out the Skogen brothers are leaving the program. What's really going on here? It's been tough enough this season after losing Demetrius Coleman, but now we head into next year without Jacob Skogen?

The new arena sure looks nice, but it doesn't seem to really be paying dividends in recruiting (or keeping) players that it promised. At least Porter was a good home court advantage. The crowds in the UC are no better and sound much quieter. 500 people in Porter could rock the place and completely change the game.

we'll be OK

Shot selection has killed us all year, but i thought this stetson game at home was one of the first that it didn't kill us(alright maybe alacquas three wasn't great but he was open and he is a lights out shooter). and you must not have followed mercer basketball too close this season...there is a reason jacob skogen wasn't in at the end of the game...he has choked all year when he has been given the ball, he forces shots, misses free throws. how many times do you repeat the same mistake by giving that kid the ball at the end of games?? also the kid plays no defense. for as athletic as he is, he doesn't take a challenge. i agree with the second point that we will be ok. i think he lets up more points than he scores, so he basically nuetralized himself. the team could rally around them being gone(like stetson did kicking holloman off). i hope that happens. we have to remember as fans we are down to 8 scholarship players i think and our point guard is a stud athlete, but makes lots of freshman mistakes.

now to go off on a little bit of an attack which i don't normally like to do on here. i'm decent friends with a lot of the guys, been around mercer for a few years, and a huge basketball junkie. i listen to the games on the radio and attend all home games. i was here for the bears championship year in porter and it got me hooked. and never since i have been here have i had a harder time cheering for a mercer player. i hated his game. i thought he was a ball hog, who played below his potential his whole career. Us wannabe players pray every night for the god-given skills that kid has. he never seemed like he was hustling. he was just horrible too watch on a consistent basis. when he was hot there was no talent like him, when he wasn't...mercer basketball was ugly to watch. from knowing the guys, he didn't fit into the team. he always tried to act holier than though and seemed to divide the players. i say good riddance, hope we bring a great recruiting class in, one that plays hard at all times, b/c when teams do that...they are fun to watch.

and one more point. i'm a huge fan of Coach Slon. i think he is a players coach and if you can't play for him, then you aren't going to be able to play with anyone.

I graduated in 2000 and live in Atlanta, so I don't get to see as many games as I would like to. I also haven't really intereacted with any of the players since the championship season since I'm not in Macon anymore. But, I watch and listen to as many games as I can.

The word from Macon yesterday was that Jacob wants to be a preacher and wants to graduate from a Christian college, so that's why he's leaving. I personally wouldn't want a preacher who abandons his congregation in a time of need, but whatever. If he divides the team that much, I agree with you. However, Skogen and Brown's points are going to be tough to replace next year. They may have to look to a couple of JUCO players to step in right away.

From what I have seen, I've been impressed with Waters too as well as Dolan. They're looking good for next year. They just need some help. I agree with you totally about Coach Slon too. It's just unfortunate that a couple years after opening the UC, we're this thin on talent.

As far as shot selection on Friday, I disagree. It might have been better than some previous games, but it did kill us in the last 2:00. Ross shot a CONTESTED 3 pointer from about six feet behind the line with 10 seconds left. We were down by 1! He also shot two more contested threes (one of them from deep) late in the game when they had time to get a better shot.

I agree with you guys. I can't wait to see what kind of JUCO's and high schoolers we can recruit. Coach Slon has brought in some great talent so hopefully that continues..