Double Dribbles-1-9-12

1) Elon's losing streak keeps on growing. Elon now has lost five straight. Sure, there were road losses to North Carolina and San Diego State in there, and the road trip to Dartmouth wasn't good, but at least it was on the road. The home loss to Georgia Southern was explainable, and I supposed yesterday's home loss to Columbia is too. Still, when you add it all together, it is five straight losses. The Phoenix, once 7-2, and 2-0 in SoCon play, is now 7-7 and 2-1 in SoCon play. The good news? The North doesn't appear to be a killer division this year and they have a chance to stay in the race until the end. They are only one half game out of first right now. The bad news? They have two games with Chattanooga, Appalachian State, and Western Carolina left on the schedule, not to mention two with College of Charleston, one with Davidson, and one with Wofford, with both the Davidson and Wofford games on the road. In other words, the Phoenix, the clear cut favorite to win the North just two weeks ago, suddenly looks like a team that may have to fight and claw and scratch just to avoid finishing fourth. Want another silver lining for the Phoenix? They get The Citadel twice this year- beginning with this Thursday's game in Charleston. Win there, and maybe things get back on track. Lose, and the wheels could really start coming off.

2) Honestly, teams have played at most four conference games, and already it is becoming clear that we have two sets of four team races. Yes, Furman is an OK team with a very good defense that can keep them in games, but unless they find a way to score or someone who can score the ball, the Paladins are going to struggle to finish anywhere but fifth. The Citadel is probably locked into the sixth spot in the South. In the North, already both Samford and UNC-Greensboro are two wins behind the other four teams. The South race appears to be divided into battles for first (Davidson and Charleston) and third (Georgia Southern and Wofford), though that could change. But the North looks like a logjam. The Mocs are playing better all the time but still goes through long stretches where they can not put the ball in the basket, Elon (as discussed above) is playing worse, Western Carolina is flawed (little inside play), and Appalachian State seems to lack leadership without Donald Sims. I'm not putting it by a North team to get hot and run away with the division, but the race got real interesting this weekend with the Mocs win and the Western Carolina home win over Wofford. Should be a great week of games to help start sorting this whole thing out.