McCollum's Column: Basketball is the source of this batch of ‘Appetizers’
Cleaning up some basketball developments in this offering of “David’s Appetizers,” assorted musings and observations on the sports scene:
MCCRACKEN AND THE WARRIORS
Hendrix women’s coach Thad McCracken has had a whirlwind year:
He was promoted from men’s assistant to head women’s coach in March. He and his wife, Jennifer, had their first child in December. His Warriors have won the school’s first basketball division title and a top seed into the conference tournament. He and the family are in the process of moving into a new home.
He missed a road trip (which resulted in two of his team’s four losses) because of the birth of his son.
“The girls understood why I had to stay,” McCracken said. “And they love the new baby. They fight to get to hold him.”
RIVALS THEN TEAMMATES
Hendrix’s Christina Byler (Pulaski Academy) and Amanda Morris (Central Arkansas Christian) were once stars at high schools that were bitter rivals.
Now, they have played together four years at Hendrix and are celebrating together a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference West Division title. Actually, they have played together two years because Byler sat out her freshman season and Morris her sophomore season with knee injuries.
Morris is a point guard, who has gotten many of an assist in feeding Byler for a basket.
“We were roommates our freshmen year, which was kind of funny since we were rivals in high school and grew up really wanting to beat each other,” Byler said. “After high school, we looked forward to the chance to play together. This year, we’ve both been really healthy and it’s been a great year. I really like Amanda and she has a great family.”
“When we first started here, I had to get those old high school rivalry things out of the way,” Morris says with a laugh. “I think we play really well together. It’s easy to work with Christina and set her up for what she can do. I think I understand her game as well as anyone. I had know all the things she did because in high school I had to help tell my teammates what she could do when we played against her.”
RPI UPDATE
The University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears won their 20th game Wednesday night, which is certainly a benchmark and sign of progress as an NCAA Division I program. But it may become an asterisk to a companion benchmark in the future.
For rating purposes, the NCAA officially recognizes UCA with 16 victories because it throws out games against non-Division I teams. A 20-win season against exclusive Division I competition may be out of reach for UCA this season but a possibility in the future.
This UCA schedule, one of the softest in Division I in one of the weakest conferences, was carefully crafted by coach Matt Daniel to build confidence and achieve a measure of success for the youngest and most inexperience team in NCAA Division I. That strategy has worked better than expected.
The Sugar Bears’ RPI (one guideline for postseason play in the future) is currently 188 among 346 Division I teams. But their strength of schedule is 344 out of 346 teams. The Southland Conference is ranked 27th out of 31 Division I conferences.
Some RPI and strength-of-schedule, as of Thursday, among teams of note: Lamar (100 RPI, 281 SOS), UTSA (152 RPI, 186 SOS), Stephen F. Austin (202 RPI, 321 SOS).
Arkansas-Little Rock, the women’s team in Arkansas on the biggest roll) has a 52 RPI and a 166 SOS. The Sun Belt, of which UALR is a member, is ranked 16th among the 31 Division I conferences.
The UCA men, who are on the verge of a 20-loss season, are ranked 329 among 345 Division I teams with a strength-of-schedule rating of 298. The University of Arkansas is 138 with a 59 SOS.
The Sun Belt is ranked 21st and the Southland 26th among the 31 Division I conferences.
The Big 12 has the highest RPI for both men’s and women’s conferences.
THE DINNER
Because of the Sugar Bears’ turnaround, tied for the greatest in SLC history, a group of UCA fans are organizing an appreciation dinner for the team on April 8 at Centennial Valley’s Events Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students with UCA ID, as well as children under 18. Tickets can be purchased at the Sugar Bears’ season finale on March 6. All proceeds go to the Sugar Bear program.
THE HOGS
Barring an unforeseen romp through the Southeastern Conference tournament, the NCAA tourney is completely down the tubes for the Razorbacks and a possible NIT bid is hanging by the narrowest of threads. The Hogs have three regular-season games remaining: Vanderbilt at home, Tennessee on the road and Ole Miss at home.
It’s not certain where the next UA victory will come from and it could very well be next season.
(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)
