It’s time for some news and notes here at D-II South Sports. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!
BLAZIN START! Both the Valdosta State University men’s and women’s basketball teams are off to combined 8-0 starts to open the 2004-05 season. That’s largely due to wins over mediocre teams.
The Lady Blazers opened the season with a 112-19 rout of the University of Puerto Rico de Cayey, (yes, that score is correct) on Nov. 15, followed by wins over Sunshine State Conference foes Barry and Nova Southeastern, and most recently a narrow 49-47 victory over SIAC foe Albany State. Meanwhile, the Blazers also have gotten off to a 4-0 start this season, with wins thus far coming over Puerto Rico de Cayey, Eckerd, Fort Valley State, and Southeastern College. Speaking of which, the VSU men routed Southeastern 110-47, with at least seven players scoring in double figures, led by a game-high 17 points by Travis Nelson.
Both teams face tremendous challenges in the coming weeks and months, with the VSU men facing a Barry team that won the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic, as well as hosting Shaw, Eckerd, North Florida in the Park Avenue Bank Classic at Valdosta, Ga. on Dec. 3-4.
SURPRISES/DISAPPOINTMENTS: Yes, it’s early in the basketball season, but it’s not too early to talk about some of the early surprises and disappointments of the 2004-05 campaign. Let’s start the women’s teams first.
Surprises:
Kennesaw State—The Lady Owls have gotten off to a 3-0 start despite losing a ton of talent from last season, and being picked to finish in the middle of the pack this season.
USC-Aiken—The Lady Pacers are off to a 5-2 start after going a disappointing 14-14 last season, including winning the consolation bracket of the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic. This squad could very well sneak up on a few unsuspecting teams in the Peach Belt Conference.
Valdosta State—See above.
Disappointments:
Lander—The defending Peach Belt Conference regular season champions have stumbled out of the gate thus far, going 0-3 after losing a heartbreaker to Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 23. It doesn’t get any easier for the Lady Bearcats, as they will host Newberry and Presbyterian in their own classic before spending their last three games before Christmas on the road, starting with a Nov. 30 visit to Division I College of Charleston.
Men
Surprises:
Lander—Hiring Bruce Evans as their new head coach seems to have paid off for the Bearcats thus far, as they’re 3-1 through four games. But it will be interesting to see if the Lander men can be competitive in the Peach Belt Conference.
North Alabama—The Lions at 4-0? Really. Two of the Lions wins came against last year’s national runners-up in Southern Indiana, as well as perennial power Kentucky Wesleyan. Can the UNA men be a serious contender in the tough GSC East? The coming weeks and months will surely tell.
West Alabama—A perennial cellar dweller in the GSC East of recent years, the Tigers have managed to split their first four games. It would be great if head coach Rick Reedy and Co. can go on a winning streak before the holiday break.
Disappointments:
The entire SIAC—Morehouse has gotten off to a 2-0 start so far, while Benedict has managed to split its first two contests. Aside from that, however, the rest of the league has struggled, with all of the other teams sitting below .500.
MUST SEE GAME: Valdosta State vs. Barry, Saturday Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m.
Valdosta State: http://www.valdosta.edu/athletics/
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