CSUSB Coyotes on ESPN Tonight

[jayandbutton]

i think this is a first for the CCAA.

never before in memory can i recall any conference team playing on national television in basketball other than at the national tournament. but tonight that will change.

give coach jeff oliver some huge props for this one. first, he had the connections to get into UCLA's tournament at pauley with an all-DI lineup. and then, all his team did was beat a DI tournament team that won the big sky conference and went to the big dance. this also is the same team that just beat perennial WAC power utah state by seven points, but fell behind the yotes by as many as 19 before losing 71-59.

fresh off winning the disney classic in anaheim against some high quality teams like metro state, the yotes are more than for real. now 4-0 with no cupcake victories they now square off against the #2-ranked DI team in the nation in UCLA.

yes, lakdod, picking this team only third is a huge snub. they won't go unbeaten but i too pick them as league favorites. humboldt just beat the afghan national team, and the leading scorer on the other side is a former bronco player who rode the bench his entire career, hardly a tough foe.

i am dropping everything to see this game on ESPN2 at 7:30.

[lakdod]

That game against Weber was a complete domination by the coyotes. I was litening to it. Tell you the truth i would say they have to be the favorite to win the CCAA right now. The only reason why you rank san bernardino third because of the lack of knowledge with the team. As we see now they are a very good team. I will be watching the game and seeing how the coyotes look.

[jayandbutton]

associate head coach bannon saw the yotes at the disney classic and reports they have no star but also have no weaknesses. read: TEAM. most CCAA clubs have two or three studs and the talent falls off. not with them.

imagine UCLA, though. last year's starting center on a final four club, mata, does not even start on this year's team. read: LOADED.

bruins by fifteen. yotes keep it respectable for a while though.

[jayandbutton]

this one never was in doubt--though basketball fans wouldn't know it since ESPN2 left us watching a throwaway football game between two mediocre teams from the MAC, ball state and toledo, fighting to get/stay above .500.

so we missed the player and team intros and by the time the "classic" in muncie, indiana, was over what we waited for already had the makings of a blowout. to show what a lousy football game it was the majority of the stadium seats were empty.

some observations:

1. UCLA is bigger and stronger than we played them at pauley last year. kevin love already is an NBA level talent and almost had another double double. they only lost aaron afflalo and gained not only love but also a much more mature josh shipp. all the other guys we saw also have a year of maturity. Read: national title contender. i wonder if any program in the nation would have talents like both mata and westbrook on the bench since the bruins are so deep--and experienced.

2. The Yotes have a freaky pressing style of defense that will drive CCAA teams nuts. We didn't see what they can do because they were outgunned, outquicked and outmanned at every position, but they will be a force and surely contend for the title.

3. The announcers were good with some exceptions. It was a great coup for the CCAA that they noted half of the league's teams already had defeated DI programs this year, but they kept calling the league the CAA--which in fact is the Carolinas Athletic Association.

and for the positive thinkers we got to see what ball state's helmets and stadium look like as a bonus.

[lakdod]

It was ugly from the outset the Bruins defense was to much for the coyotes to handle. The defense of the bruins is the reason why they went to back to back final four. Anyways hope the coaches watch the game closley and fins something to help th broncos beat the coyotes in jan.