first of all, it's GREAT to see so much interest in basketball this early into the season. i wonder if these games with UCLA and USC are improving the interest levels--and attendance on the ASI buses will tell--or it's because coach k. has developed into a winner.
second, this league is LOADED this year. lakdod, you have lots of interest and knowledge but be advised that it's very, very tough to consistently win on the road in the CCAA. then when you add so many quality teams into the mix it is possible that nobody dominates--though that home court edge up in humboldt given its remote location means a lot. that said, remember that the jacks have tons of road miles to cover to play anybody, and they're not accustomed to these brutal friday-saturday schedules.
third, while i cannot speak for xiaoxue, it's probably fair to say that last year's team was a disappointment. we had some terrible games against lesser teams like san diego and dominguez and we simply were not consistent. and yes, hervey had a letdown from his tenacious junior year. in fact, in his second and third seasons he was one of the nastiest defenders i have seen in the CCAA, and by the way he also is an excellent student and citizen too. but hey, we only lost the most prolific one-two punch in the program's history in jeff and david. like, duh...surely nobody thought we would be as good without them?
fourth, humboldt is totally loaded this year with everybody back from a top 32 program. san diego returns four starters and an excellent coach and will catch a few from the top tier. san bernardino has a stud transfer from oregon and is keeping even their roster and schedule hidden from the public even as teams start to play this week--read, jeff oliver is packed up again. sonoma returns one of the best players in the league and defends, and even dominguez will get more dangerous. what this spells is many quality teams beating many other quality teams so much so that i could see four or even five losses winning the title and perhaps no more than one patsy to beat up on.
finally, a footnote about hervey since HOF brought that up. yes, some might have banged on him for being "different" in attire from his teammates. what newcomers might not know is that this began when he wanted to recognize a fallen comrade, and in his early years he wore a t-shirt recognizing that. coach k. obviously approved it, and that gesture says something about our recent co-captain.
who's on the bus thursday? see you there!
