Mountaineers still have a chance at a bye for SoCon tournament
For all of its recent struggles, Appalachian State still has an opportunity to secure the fourth and final first-round bye for the fast-approaching Southern Conference men?s tournament.
In fact, the Mountaineers are in good position to snag the spot. But they must win their final two regular-season games, starting with tonight?s against Samford at 7 o?clock at Holmes Center in Boone.
And, no doubt, they?ll have to play better than they did in their last game, an 80-77 overtime loss to The Citadel in Boone.
?We realize how much harder we need to come out and play,? forward Jay Canty said. ?We know what we have to do, and we have two games to get it done.?
A loss to either Samford or to Chattanooga on Saturday will end ASU?s lingering chances at the bye, a vital element for any team with championship aspirations. No team has won the SoCon title by winning four games in four days since the format started in 1993.
?Here we are again, with an opportunity,? Coach Jason Capel of ASU said. ?We?re still confident. We just have to go out and do it.?
Davidson, Elon and College of Charleston have secured first-round byes for the tournament, which will start March 8 in Asheville.
Samford (9-7), Appalachian (8-8), Western Carolina (8-8) and Chattanooga (7-9) remain in contention for the final bye. ASU holds a tiebreaker edge, but has to beat Samford and Chattanooga to get the first-round pass.
?I think the way this season is ending up is a testament to a lot of young teams who are learning how to finish and win games,? Capel said. ?It?s been frustrating, but the encouraging part is that we still control our own destiny. Even though we?ve let a few games slip away, and we could have had this wrapped up, we still have the opportunity.?
Samford, under first-year coach Bennie Seltzer and led by point guard Raijon Kelly, defeated ASU 72-68 on Jan. 19 in Birmingham, Ala.
The Bulldogs, 11-18 overall and with no seniors on their roster, have won three of their last four games and can lock up the final bye with a victory tonight.
?For me, the biggest thing is for us to have as few mental errors as possible in a 40-minute period,? Capel said. ?I don?t think we?ve lost a game because of effort, it?s been because of mental errors. We haven?t been consistent at hitting that key shot or getting that big rebound. That?s what I want to see.?
The Mountaineers will be playing for the first time in eight days, and Capel thinks the benefit of extra rest will override any rustiness.
?I think it?s been good for us,? Capel said. ?And I think this team has shown in practice the ability to zero in, and I?m hopeful we?ll respond, be tough enough to stay the course and do the things that haven gotten us leads this year and now be able to finish and win games.?
For all of its recent struggles, Appalachian State still has an opportunity to secure the fourth and final first-round bye for the fast-approaching Southern Conference men?s tournament.
In fact, the Mountaineers are in good position to snag the spot. But they must win their final two regular-season games, starting with tonight?s against Samford at 7 o?clock at Holmes Center in Boone.
And, no doubt, they?ll have to play better than they did in their last game, an 80-77 overtime loss to The Citadel in Boone.
?We realize how much harder we need to come out and play,? forward Jay Canty said. ?We know what we have to do, and we have two games to get it done.?
A loss to either Samford or to Chattanooga on Saturday will end ASU?s lingering chances at the bye, a vital element for any team with championship aspirations. No team has won the SoCon title by winning four games in four days since the format started in 1993.
?Here we are again, with an opportunity,? Coach Jason Capel of ASU said. ?We?re still confident. We just have to go out and do it.?
Davidson, Elon and College of Charleston have secured first-round byes for the tournament, which will start March 8 in Asheville.
Samford (9-7), Appalachian (8-8), Western Carolina (8-8) and Chattanooga (7-9) remain in contention for the final bye. ASU holds a tiebreaker edge, but has to beat Samford and Chattanooga to get the first-round pass.
?I think the way this season is ending up is a testament to a lot of young teams who are learning how to finish and win games,? Capel said. ?It?s been frustrating, but the encouraging part is that we still control our own destiny. Even though we?ve let a few games slip away, and we could have had this wrapped up, we still have the opportunity.?
Samford, under first-year coach Bennie Seltzer and led by point guard Raijon Kelly, defeated ASU 72-68 on Jan. 19 in Birmingham, Ala.
The Bulldogs, 11-18 overall and with no seniors on their roster, have won three of their last four games and can lock up the final bye with a victory tonight.
?For me, the biggest thing is for us to have as few mental errors as possible in a 40-minute period,? Capel said. ?I don?t think we?ve lost a game because of effort, it?s been because of mental errors. We haven?t been consistent at hitting that key shot or getting that big rebound. That?s what I want to see.?
The Mountaineers will be playing for the first time in eight days, and Capel thinks the benefit of extra rest will override any rustiness.
?I think it?s been good for us,? Capel said. ?And I think this team has shown in practice the ability to zero in, and I?m hopeful we?ll respond, be tough enough to stay the course and do the things that haven gotten us leads this year and now be able to finish and win games.?
