I really dont think that it is fair to compare a Single A schools schedule to that of South Laurels 04-05 girls team. I am not saying that a weak schedule is good, pineville is not playing a weak schedule, but as a single A school that is surronded by bigger schools every year you can't have these schedules that have 15 or 20 schools that are 3 and 4 A schools. What also doesn't make any sense is that people knock the Class A tournament, and want to say all this negative stuff. If it is so bad then why do all these bigger schools try to get in it every year Example(Corbin, Middlesboro).

I think the difference in talent is the reason they rarely make it out the first round of the Sweet 16, lets not get carried away here.

With all fairness to class A schools, many times larger schools, or schools with tradition, won't schedule them. And being a school with less than 200 students, as Pineville is, they probably have a list of schools that's been on their schedule for years and are similar in size to their school. They usually play a few small schools in Tennessee, and most of the ones in the counties around them, such as Red Bird.

Sometimes small schools without basketball winning tradition can get in some holiday tournaments, but usually not the elite one's. June Buchanan has upgraded their schedule somewhat recently, but it's taken them a few years to do it, and I predict they will soften it once again when this group graduates. JBS is not the usual basketball power, being a school of about 65 students. Pineville is in a similar situation imo.

I really believe that Cumberland has not been in enough big games and it has hurt them. "Them" being not only the players but the coaches. It seems to me that every big game that they play, their coaches do not know how to coach their team down the stretch. That will be the biggest reason that they don't make a run for the region title. They really don't have the experience in the big games.

Congratulations to the Mt. Lions on this win................now just one more victory and they will get to experience something that will always be special to this group of kids.:dancingpa

I really dont think that it is fair to compare a Single A schools schedule to that of South Laurels 04-05 girls team. I am not saying that a weak schedule is good, pineville is not playing a weak schedule, but as a single A school that is surronded by bigger schools every year you can't have these schedules that have 15 or 20 schools that are 3 and 4 A schools. What also doesn't make any sense is that people knock the Class A tournament, and want to say all this negative stuff. If it is so bad then why do all these bigger schools try to get in it every year Example(Corbin, Middlesboro).

 

Obviously, the schedule I cited was an extreme example, but it still illustrates the point that a tough schedule can harden a team and perhaps enable them to do unexpected things once the postseason rolls around. It's not like these good players dropped into Pineville and Cumberland's lap this year, so they've had a couple of years to start lining up home-and-homes with tougher teams so that it would pay off now, when most of the group are seniors.

 

No reason to have teams like Model on the schedule. I understand some of these long-standing out-of-district matchups that have developed over time between the smaller schools. But these games don't do much for anybody when one team is markedly more talented. Reasonable understandings can be forged between ADs so that a series can be renewed after the "up class" graduates.

 

I think the difference in talent is the reason they rarely make it out the first round of the Sweet 16, lets not get carried away here.

 

True, but had some of these teams bothered to play tougher teams out of region, rather than scheduling three, four and five games against teams in their district, we might not see 30-point blowouts in the first round. The regular-season "seasoning" might also make for some surprises once the Sweet 16 rolls around. A team that's seen it all in the regular season will not be shocked by anything Rupp Arena has to offer during the Sweet 16.

I really believe that Cumberland has not been in enough big games and it has hurt them. "Them" being not only the players but the coaches. It seems to me that every big game that they play, their coaches do not know how to coach their team down the stretch. That will be the biggest reason that they don't make a run for the region title. They really don't have the experience in the big games.

 

Another example illustrating my point. Everybody talks about how great Cumberland does in the summer ball leagues. But what most people fail to consider is that the number of fans watching those games is miniscule compared to how many people show up on Friday nights.

Jim,

I agree with everything you have said.

People need to stand in the shoes of a coach before they criticize coaching decisions. Here is the thing most people don't realize. Yeah it is probably true that some coaches that do not have much experience may have trouble during pressure situations but at the same time I don't know of any coach that is going to purposely make a bad decision that will effect their team in a negative way. Coaches are trying their best and in this day and age coaches have everybody in town that thinks they know more about the sport that than the coach does. Some of these people that know so much about basketball and the decisions that should be made need to apply for a coaching job and try it for themselves.

People need to stand in the shoes of a coach before they criticize coaching decisions. Here is the thing most people don't realize. Yeah it is probably true that some coaches that do not have much experience may have trouble during pressure situations but at the same time I don't know of any coach that is going to purposely make a bad decision that will effect their team in a negative way. Coaches are trying their best and in this day and age coaches have everybody in town that thinks they know more about the sport that than the coach does. Some of these people that know so much about basketball and the decisions that should be made need to apply for a coaching job and try it for themselves.

 

It's much easier coaching from the stands..............or from our keyboard, especially with the benefit of hindsight.

Jim,

I agree with everything you have said.

 

Thanks, bro. :thumb:

Just a note about the game: Pineville shot 26 free throws to Cumberlands 7. I think that in regulation play there was only 6 total fouls called on Pineville, I could be wrong there, but I think that is the correct number. In the 4th quarter with around 4 minutes left Pineville only had 3 fouls and was down 5 and at this point they became very aggressive on the defensive end and actually looked like they were trying to give some fouls and they still were not called, then after they made a couple steals they went down on the other end and wound up on the foul line themselves and scored almost all of their points in the 4th and overtime from the line. These stats just seem to be a little lopsided dont some of you think???? Even with all of that to overcome the Skins still should have won the game, but I will give credit to the Lions for battling their tails off to get the win. Those of you people that want to kick a dog when he is down and write the Redskins off that is your right, myself I dont think you have heard the last of Cumberland by a long shot!!!!!

Just a note about the game: Pineville shot 26 free throws to Cumberlands 7. I think that in regulation play there was only 6 total fouls called on Pineville, I could be wrong there, but I think that is the correct number. In the 4th quarter with around 4 minutes left Pineville only had 3 fouls and was down 5 and at this point they became very aggressive on the defensive end and actually looked like they were trying to give some fouls and they still were not called, then after they made a couple steals they went down on the other end and wound up on the foul line themselves and scored almost all of their points in the 4th and overtime from the line. These stats just seem to be a little lopsided dont some of you think???? Even with all of that to overcome the Skins still should have won the game, but I will give credit to the Lions for battling their tails off to get the win. Those of you people that want to kick a dog when he is down and write the Redskins off that is your right, myself I dont think you have heard the last of Cumberland by a long shot!!!!!

 

The Lions have a way of drawing more fouls than their opponents. Look at the Lynn Camp vs Pineville game for an example. Cumberland is a physical team where Pineville is more finesse and plays alot of zone as well.

The foul situation is due to one team in a zone and the other is playing man to man. I thought is was a very well called game and I don't have a dog in the fight and could care less who wins.

In addition to the fact the Lions play a zone, they also know they cant get their starters in foul trouble. They dont have much coming off the bench so they sit in that zone and dont commit stupid fouls. You wont see them committing a lot of fouls if you watch them over the course of the year.