lovedeball

I believe onlythefacts agrees with me. Maddux has always underachieved.

He must have schooled you at some time. No finer guy than Drew. A classic over-achiever.

Five years ago CPA was beat on a tip in in the state semis. Four years ago they lost in the sectional game and graduated 8 seniors. Three years ago they were basically all Freshman and were multiplied which moved them up to double A (not exactly a recipe for success). They fired their coach (Brooks) who did good job and hired Maddux. Two years ago Z Mason transferred back to CPA from Davidson where he did not play but attended after he was put out of CPA. They had a really good year. One year ago they lost in the state tournament to a good Dyer Co. team on what can only be called an embarrassment to officiating and the state tournament. They graduated a couple of starters that were role players, but good role players. This year they played a lot of close games not always at full strength and survived for most of the year until they ran into a hot shhooting team. They never really developed new role players to fill in like the last guys. Did they under achieve? In their eyes, I would believe so. In a vast majority of the state that would kill to be in the region semis? No way!

 

Here's something to think about. Ty Willingham and Charlie Weiss will be debated on how much different their success was at Notre Dame. Couldn't there be the same debate at CPA over Maddux and Brooks' success?

Not really fair to compare Maddux and Brooks. One was a great player, coach and a natural born leader. The other was a great player and coach but not much of a motivator/leader. These days the kids must "want" to play for you. Clearly the success of Maddux cannot be quanitfied by wins or losses but rather in personal impact on players lives. This is what endures the test of time.

Just wondering.... is anyone as surprised as I am that CPA did not get one single player on the Region All Tournament team? They made it to the semis and got beaten by a very, very good Marshall County team. I'm not a CPA fan, but this really surprises me. No disrespect intendend to reps from other schools but after the MC and DL guys, I would have thought at least one slot would have gone to a CPA player. If I had a vote (which I don't) it would have gone to the Anderson kid. He played his heart out the whole game.

 

Just a thought. /huh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":huh:" border="0" alt="huh.gif" />

I couldn't agree more. CPA almost came back and David Anderson was one of the main reasons.

Five years ago CPA was beat on a tip in in the state semis. Four years ago they lost in the sectional game and graduated 8 seniors. Three years ago they were basically all Freshman and were multiplied which moved them up to double A (not exactly a recipe for success). They fired their coach (Brooks) who did good job and hired Maddux. Two years ago Z Mason transferred back to CPA from Davidson where he did not play but attended after he was put out of CPA. They had a really good year. One year ago they lost in the state tournament to a good Dyer Co. team on what can only be called an embarrassment to officiating and the state tournament. They graduated a couple of starters that were role players, but good role players. This year they played a lot of close games not always at full strength and survived for most of the year until they ran into a hot shhooting team. They never really developed new role players to fill in like the last guys. Did they under achieve? In their eyes, I would believe so. In a vast majority of the state that would kill to be in the region semis? No way!

 

Here's something to think about. Ty Willingham and Charlie Weiss will be debated on how much different their success was at Notre Dame. Couldn't there be the same debate at CPA over Maddux and Brooks' success?

I don't think you can debate the "success" of these two coaches.

Five years ago CPA had eight seniors on a team that won the District and made a run at the post season but didn't quite get past sectionals. A great, athletic team with powerhouse, Travis Sykes on it. Ken Brooks was coaching. CPA chose to keep and play all eight seniors even when they were up big in many games. Face it, if you choose to have eight seniors on your team then you stand the risk of not having any varsity experience with your younger players. This is risky at best.

For CPA, only one junior (Peter Carrol) played real varsity minutes that season. Interestingly, only Peter and one other senior showed up for the next season. This left a team with two seniors but only one with any varsity experience, one junior (Ryan Burkett) who had little varsity experience, two sophomores with no experience, and a group of freshmen that included Miller, Anderson, and almost.....Z Mason. He was unable to play his freshmen year. A huge loss.

So, in a year where everyone knew CPA was rebuilding, they had a tough season with little experience on the floor. In the end, you had a group of very discouraged players and fans. It's an understatement to say that Coach Brooks had a difficult time with the re-building year.

For whatever reason, CPA went a different direction. Drew Maddux was hired as head coach. Z Mason came back to CPA and dominated the paint, Hunter Miller roared into the point guard position as one of the best in the state and David Anderson showed that he was a force on both ends of the floor......all sophomores. The two juniors (Reeves & Peterson) got stronger and pretty soon you had a better looking line-up evolving for the 2006-07 season. Still only ONE senior (Ryan Burkett) on the team. Ryan had tremendous speed and was a solid senior leader. This group was pretty successful for their age. The future was looking bright.

As expected, this team roared into the 2007-08 season. Maddux had the team believing they could win it all. The two senior starters (Kyle Reeves & Jake Peterson) turned out to be solid players who were athletic, could shoot and play "D" to go with the exceptional trio of Z Mason, Hunter Miller and David Anderson. Conner Lowry also proved to be a valuable senior player off the bench and one of CPA's all time great leaders. (a star quarterback in football) This was a team that had great chemistry and skill. An explosive, fun team to watch. Under Drew Maddux, CPA didn't lose a game in TN until a controversial set of calls at a state tournament game ended their season. Still...district, region and sectional champions for this team.

Sure, the 2008-09 season didn't go as planned although there were bright spots for sure. Senior Will Chapman returned and offered fire power and experience almost every time it was needed. Junior Matt Zelnick emerged as a fine shooter that understands the game in the post. We see a great up and coming point guard in Taylor Akers and a new sophomore that ended up being a starter late in the season. However, they did have some unexpected losses to teams that were not considered a threat. Under-acheivers? I don't know, hard to say. Any way you look at it, they fought through tragedy, injury, sickness and STILL won the district. A team with SEVEN great seniors. So let the rebuilding begin. Even with this senior laden team, Maddux did a good job of getting his younger players varsity experience when he could. That will likely payoff big. A new ERA begins.

This thread needs an unbiased viewpoint. I was at the game last night, and I am not associated with either team. I am actually a referee in several college leagues and personally have worked college games with two of the officials from last night's crew, not to mention I played Div. I basketball and was an assistant coach briefly at the college level. I say this simply to point out that I have seen the game from all sides. The game was not refereed perfectly (just as no game is), and the officials would tell you the same thing I'm sure. After every game, officials discuss plays that occurred and whether calls were missed and so forth. But I will say that I absolutely think the game was called 100% equally and justifiably as to how the game was played. #45 for Marshall Co. is a stud talent-wise but needs to learn to play smarter. Fans miss the point so many times. Why was he trying to block a 3-point shot 23 feet from the basket with four fouls? I can understand contesting the shot with a hand in the kid's face, but swatting at the ball? And yes, he did hit the guy's arm. If it was such a bad call, why was there no protest from the coach or the player? As far as him pushing off with his off arm while dribbling, the DL players were initially holding/hand-checking him which was called at least twice by the crew, and later #45 for MC was called for pushing off. So why are fans from both sides still complaining when the officials adjudicated both situations correctly? Also, #45 for MC could have easily been called for a bone-headed hand-checking foul in the first quarter when he had both hands all over a kid 25 feet from the basket. But thankfully the official used great judgment and told him to get his hands off without calling a foul. Why is that not cited as a situation where the officials properly saved him from a stupid foul? The officials have much more integrity and capacity to manage games than most anyone gives them credit for.

 

I will say that after talking with the crew after the game, they commended both coaches on being class acts, and watching the game I totally agreed.

 

Fans have a right to disagree with calls, but try to maintain some class while doing it. Throwing personal jabs in there only shows the lack of intelligience and dignity a person has. It is also amazing to me how certain schools are supposed to be Christian-based yet their fans will yell some of the nastiest things you could hear. And that goes for any fans of any school whether they are Christian-related or not. I'm certainly no where close to being perfect, but it's got to be hard walking into church on Sunday morning when you've disgraced yourself on Friday and Saturday night.

I have to totally agree with this (at least in this game). All three refs seemed to have the game well in hand and cut boths teams plenty of slack. It was indeed a flury in the end. Tough to call.

I thought the refs let Lipscomb get away with a lot of pushing to call a couple of what looked like iffy calls to me. If Johnson doesn't foul out for another minute or two then it probably would have been a double-digit victory for Marshall Co. McCullough willed Marshall Co. into that 2nd OT with clutch shots. Like I said in my first post, Marshall Co. had chances to win at the line so this isn't the refs fault. But the refs let Lipscomb get away with some stuff that got them back in the game. Lipscomb's double team would seem to foul Marshall Co. then get a steal with no call. I also thought that Lipscomb got away with a few walks. However, still a great game, just wish it wouldn't seem that the refs had such an impact.

If ever there was a game that the refs didn't overly impact, it would be this one. Good news for MC though......you're still playing and have a great opportunity with a very good team. Certainly agree that Johnson fouling out left the window open for Lipscomb. The comeback probably falls short with him in the game to the end.

Probably one of the top five games I've ever seen. Both teams left everything they had on the floor in double OT. Congrats to Lipscomb on what has to be one of the greatest comebacks ever. Down 20 in the 3d! Caleb Simpson took over the game after Marshall County fouled out one of their best players with over 6 minutes left. Costly!!!! Credit to all the Lipscomb players though. You just refused to lose.

Sorry Marshall County, I don't know your guys but they played great and are a bunch of class guys. A very good team and coaching effort. Not many teams put "5" three point threats on the floor. Your sophomore shooting guard is amazing. A tough break fouling our your point guard and biggest player. He's a great player. Credit to #23 who put the team on his back and almost won the game. I wouldn't count you guys out. I think you could make it to the BORO.

Both schools, thanks for the great entertainment.

Now that, Matt610, is how you do condescending. From the very first sentence. And righteousness to boot with the first sentence of the second paragraph. This is exactly what I was talki....never mind, it's pointless.

 

 

Great job to Marshall County. Sad to see the end of a era at CPA. I have watched those seniors since their freshman year. What a special group. To wear the target every game, deal with injuries and tragedy, and have the record they did these past few years is outstanding. Good luck to those boy in whatever comes next, although they are well prepared for the world luck or not. As a parent at a rival school I am speaking honestly when I say that it is sad to see it end.

Bodawgs, you are truly pathetic.

I just stated that CPA seemed to come out unprepared because Marshall Co. jumped out to a big lead early. CPA is a good team. Mason is very impressive inside and outside. I'll give the CPA coach credit for his strategy to foul. Leading up to this game, there was already talk in a few other threads of a rematch with Dyer Co. Marshall Co. was able to play the underdog role and come out fired up. CPA didn't seemed as fired up.

You are correct. The "fire" has been something that CPA has been searching for all season. I'm not sure about the unprepared part. Maybe just overwhelmed with such a shooting performance that Marshall County put on. Hard to answer that.

Absolutely perfect. So true in everything you posted...by the way, good game tonight CPA. Now maybe every thread won't turn into a discussion about CPA and how they are better than everyone else.

You must have gotten cut from your high school team.

I don't see how he could have complained about the refs. I don't think he minded the fouls on Marshall Co. in the 4th quarter as he seemed to want aggressive defense.

 

The key was Marshall Co. holding Hunter Miller in check all night. The Marshall Co. shooters came in underrated and outperformed him. CPA came out completely unprepared. It seemed that they might have been overlooking the Tigers. But still, the better team tonight came out on top. Marshall Co. was able to knock down shots and fend off the CPA run when they cut it to 10.

 

Great win by the Tigers. I guess we won't be seeing CPA get another shot at Dyer Co.

 

I don't see how he could have complained about the refs. I don't think he minded the fouls on Marshall Co. in the 4th quarter as he seemed to want aggressive defense.

 

The key was Marshall Co. holding Hunter Miller in check all night. The Marshall Co. shooters came in underrated and outperformed him. CPA came out completely unprepared. It seemed that they might have been overlooking the Tigers. But still, the better team tonight came out on top. Marshall Co. was able to knock down shots and fend off the CPA run when they cut it to 10.

 

Great win by the Tigers. I guess we won't be seeing CPA get another shot at Dyer Co.

 

And how about some recognition for Jason Tigert as one of the best coaches in the area.

It's not enough that Marshall County shot better than any high school team could ever hope to shoot. It's not enough that everyone of your starters had the game of their careers. It's not enough that your guys shot over 60% from the downtown. It's not enough that your team shot maybe 90% from the free throw. It's not enough that your guys were beautifully coached and executed the game plan perfectly. Instead of bragging on your guys, you spend pointless words being critical of our coach and kids. Come on, you just saw your team play one amazing game, you should be focused on them.

So tell you what.......I'll do it. Way to go Marshall County. You were amazing against a very good CPA team that has had a lot of success. You brought it and it clicked for you tonight. You're athletic and quicker than any team in 9AA. Amazing performance by any standard or any level. Congrats to you guys.

Lipscomb-Page is the first game, followed by CPA-Marshall Co.

Lipscomb-Page High at 6 pm

CPA-Marshall Co. at 7:30 ish

Bobcat,

 

I don't know a thing about the circumstances around changing the game time or date, there are many legitimate reasons CPA may not have been able to accomodate an earlier time. That said, trying to argue with righteous and holier-than-thou CPA fans is a pointless and frustrating excercise. CPA fans who post on this site think themselves to be the watchdogs of their schools good name. Their fans, some of whom often form prayer circles before games to pray for victory (among other more worthy things), have been blinded by the hubris of a religious dogma run amok. Some of them think their faith and the blessings of their school justify and actually legitimize their righteousness. While there are many, many wonderful people associated with CPA, most of them rarely visit these pages or call in to question the condescending behavior of their fellow Lions. Although, to his/her credit Lovedeball comes as close as a CPA fan can to apologizing above.

 

To beat a couple of cliches to death, what goes up must come down, and pride cometh before the fall. These vocal CPA fans need to realize how they sound to others because the black hat they feel they have been unfairly given is starting to fit rather comfortably.

 

I am sorry for your ordeal, and I am glad your kids got home safely.

You started out your post by saying..."I don't know a thing about". I think that pretty much sums it up Bodawgs.

Please understand this: No one at CPA would ever knowingly put another school's fans or players in harms way over a sporting event or any kind of circumstances. Nothing is worth that. We are thrilled that everything worked out and that all the GC kids and fans arrived home safely. I'm sure the decisions that were made were agreed on by all parties and had numerous factors that had to be considered.

In hindsight, you are likely correct about that night. Games should have been cancelled.

Congrats to CPA for repeating as District 9AA champs. A great game for the Lions. Lipscomb is a tougher team than what we saw tonight. It's likely a CPA-Lipscomb game in the Region championship as well. Z showed up big and could not be stopped on either end of the floor.

Congrats to Coach McPherson for winning Coach of the Year. He does a great job for the Mustangs. I must admit that we still think Drew Maddux is OUR Coach of the Year. (sorry if that's a contradictory statement) In the end, both teams are well coached as well as some of the other 9AA teams. I'd love to see what Doc Shelton would do at MLK with more size and a real post player.

Firstly, DL offense definitely torched CPA's defense in the CHAMPIONSHIP game, until CPA dropped into a zone. I never said anything about the other 2 games. And yes, I would say their offense was great, otherwise CPA wouldn't have dropped into a zone. You think that CPA dropped into a zone just for fun? Secondly, no one wants to give you anything because you are arrogant and think that CPA is better than any other school. "Maddox is building a fence" whatever that means? And teams should win or lose like men, not stall. "Play the game like it was meant to be played." But now you are saying that Maddox would do the same thing? So does that mean CPA plays cheap ball and don't play like men? Your arguments are full of holes and you make zero sense. If you want to have a legitimate discussion, first realize that CPA is not the best team ever like we should all respect you for something. You will get respect when you stop talking and asking for it. It's called modesty. Secondly, don't say one thing and then try and change it. You said DL should play the game like it should be played, but then went on to say that CPA would do the same and that it was a good strategy. Your exact quote was "No, it's a cowardly thing. Play the game like it was meant to be played. Win or lose like a man." Your arguments don't make sense. Then in your last post you start with "Ha.....so let me get this straight. DL's offense, in that championship game (that CPA won) was so great that CPA had to back off. No, I don't think so" but then changed to "He spread the floor and caused CPA to overplay the ball which did indeed cause problems for CPA." Pick your argument then try and make it without trying to make CPA seem like the God's of basketball. After this year you will be on the same level, if not below average for 9AA.

Feel better. Pathetic. Are you Lipscomb's basketball lawyer?

Regardless if you want to call it a stall, CPA would do the exact same thing if that is what it took to win. Do not act like CPA is almighty and plays some fair game like it's supposed to play. They would do the exact same thing if that is what it took to win. Who cares what offense you run as long as it is legal and helps you win. I mean is CPA too good to run a slow down offense? Or are they just too mighty and fair to ever do something like that? Ridiculous...Secondly, CPA dropped back off of DL way before DL held the ball. Their offense was great, so CPA went to a sag off defense.

Ha.....so let me get this straight. DL's offense, in that championship game (that CPA won) was so great that CPA had to back off. No, I don't think so and most folks would not agree either after DL had gone 0-2 against CPA before that game. Here is what happened. Coach McPherson knew that the DL team could not run with last years CPA team so he did what any good coach (including Maddux) would do. He slowed the game to a crawl and made it a chess match. He spread the floor and caused CPA to overplay the ball which did indeed cause problems for CPA. CPA made the adjustment to pull back into a zone and DL stood in the corners with the ball and let the clock run. Maddux chose to let them. That's how Coach McPherson equalized the talent on the floor. It totally worked and DL almost won. No one ever said that CPA was to mighty to play a game that way. Just like any team, they will do whatever needs to be done (inside the rules) to win.

By the way flatline17, it's amazing how you can still spout off about CPA but have nothing to back it up with. CPA won the district and the region and went to the state tournament. They didn't lose a single game in the state of TN last year until the state tournament. It was one of those years to remember. Why not just be happy for the guys. Other schools will have their day.

It was a rare "up" year. 9AA in not usually represented at the BORO. We'll see how tomorrow goes in the 9AA championship game. David Lipscomb will be tough. They are playing very well. I hope it's a classic.

Hmm... I seem to remember CPA holding the ball for the entire third quarter in the 2004 region finals. You do what you have to in order to win.

 

Plus, last year DL ran the same offense the whole game, just eventually when DL was tooling CPA with it CPA decided not to guard them. Give DL credit for taking advantage of the rules. Get over yourselves... apparently you all would not do what was needed to win.

Ha Ha....how can you take advantage of the rules when you lost? I believe CPA won that championship game last year against DL as well as the other games that year. In fact, we totally put in to you in your own gym. A clean sweep by a CPA team that won the district and region titles. In regards to the 2007-08 season, why should we get over ourselves.....we won.

If you're going to talk about last year then at least have something to back it up with. 0-3 against CPA doesn't exactly give you bragging rights. On the other hand, I give credit to Coach McPherson for playing that game in the only way that DL could possibly win. He knew that he'd have to slow the game way down to have a prayer of winning. He almost succeeded by simply choosing not to play. Boring but effective.

Now let me say that the DL-CPA match up on Tuesday will be a classic. It will go to the team that takes care of the ball and makes free throws.

au contraire. The stall, when run to perfection, can be a beautiful thing.

No, it's a cowardly thing. Play the game like it was meant to be played. Win or lose like a man.

No way that Maddux should win coach of the year. With the way CPA has under performed this year and with all that talent. He should be towards the bottom of the coaches that should win the award.

I don't really think Maddux can be blamed for Hunter Miller getting sick over the summer and David Anderson having two surgeries and then getting injured again. You can't blame Maddux for Z Mason deciding to play or not on any given night. What really happened is the 24/7 basketball mentality of these three players finally caught up with them. You can't blame the kids either. If you're going to "go for broke" then you have to sell out and give it 24/7. You can't blame Maddux for graduating (last year) two seniors that were the perfect compliment to these three great players. You can't blame Maddux for the TSSAA's screw up at the state tournament last season. You can't blame Maddux for running off good players that should be playing (like a few years ago). That hasn't happened. If anything, new players are coming out of the woodwork at CPA. It's already ready starting to happen.....the kids want to play for him and you will see him build a future powerhouse at CPA (if he stays).

So for me, if Maddux, through all of this, manages to rally the troups and pull off a district title and maybe even a region title, then he is without a doubt "coach of the year" in 9AA. Talk about overcoming adversity. Either way, he's still a great coach that will see many more great seasons. If there is any one thing that Drew could improve on it would be talking to the refs less and coaching more. He's like having another really smart man on the floor when he's got his head in the game and not on the refs. Of course, this is just my humble opinion.

I think CPA is just fine at the 5 position offensively and defensively with Z Mason, he has been a terror around the basket blocking shots the last few games. You are correct though that a weak link in CPA's team is the 4 position, lacking someone with both size and athleticism like they had last year with Kyle Reeves and Jake Peterson. Matt Zelenik is big and has possibly the best shot on the team, but has struggled at times defensively staying with more athletic 4 men because of his speed. Marshall Ellson is a very good role player who rarely takes a shot, but has come up huge with hustle plays and offensive rebounds, even though his size is much more suited to play the 2 or 3 spot rather than the 4. I assume that a rotation of players at the 4 spot, largely based on match-ups, will suffice as CPA moves through the tournament. You are correct that CPA looks good when they are running in transition against 9AA teams, but you must remember that the further you get into the playoffs, especially state (i.e. Dyer Co.), the teams are much faster and more athletic than what CPA is used to seeing, and CPA will need to slow the pace of the game rather than speed it up to put the chances in their favor.

I don't disagree with anything you've said. By the 4 & 5-- I was refering to the positions after Miller, Mason, and Anderson. So far, the next three to four players on the team lack some of the ingredients to go deep in the post season. Granted, they have made some big shots and hustle plays on occasion but the lack of rebounding and defensive containment in these postions has hurt CPA. Again, you can't deny that they have made some big shots in a few games....which helps as they don't get many looks.

CPA playing the trapping zone is a good thing at this point. I think you're absolutely right about needing to slow the game down if CPA gets to see a Dyer County type team. I wouldn't expect many teams could run the floor with them. I still think CPA will make a run at the BORO.

That was not stated or remotely insinuated. Hume-Fogg obviously had both last week when they came back in the 4th quarter to beat CPA. Like I said, it is something that CPA has lacked for much of this season.

I figured that CPA would show up for the tournament. The seniors Miller, Anderson, and Mason will not go without a serious fight. It's going to take more than streaky 3s to go deep into the post season though. The 4 and 5 positions for CPA are still a huge question mark. They must play better defensively. This year CPA has played best when in a half court trapping zone. The main players don't really play this way, the zone slows the game down which doesn't favor CPA. They're best when they run and score in transition. That's why you haven't seen as many blow outs this season.

CPA beats East Lit. by only 4 AT HOME on SENIOR NIGHT and HOMECOMING. Wow!

 

DL won, so who is #1 seed in the District tourney? Anyone know?

East Lit played the only way you could. They slowed the game down to a crawl, showed a lot of patience, and shot the ball pretty well. CPA still prevailed but it wasn't pretty.

Just no fire in the belly for CPA. No fire in the crowd, the team, or even the student body. Drew got a technical....at least he's fired up. What in the world has happened?

Good post, but you overstated my criticism, and misunderstood my points.

First of all, I doubt if you have watched CPA as long or as much as I have, but that is a moot point. I am not any more of an expert than probably you or many others, which is not much.

My only point was not to criticize the coaching, because I am a big fan of the coaches (especially the aspects of how they teach values, not just ball); however, the CPA team has not met its potential this year- that is a fact. I'm sure there are a lot of reasons, and I believe one is that when you are relying on 4 of 5 starters whose position is not in jeopardy regardless of their performance then you are at the mercy of those players getting complacent, physically and mentally.

With that said, I am not saying the players are lazy or don't care. They are great kids who have worked hard and want to win. I am saying part of coaching is helping players not only meet their playing potential, but also meet their potential in terms of the mental and motivational parts of the game. As far as talent, they have plenty of talent to win against the competition they play if they put things together every night.

I agree, they should have fun and not feel pressure, but that is a pollyanna attitude that no longer exists in sports. The kids want to win worse than we pressure them to do so. But they need to be totally prepared, physically and mentally, each night. They are too young to sometimes understand that fully, so it is up to the coaches to teach them how.

That's all I am saying on the matter. I love CPA, the coaches, and players, and I am behind them 100%. Like you say "Time is running out and you will be like me. Shooting baskets at the Y and wishing I was 17 again." That is reason enough for them to meet their potential, because they don't want to look back with regrets when it is all over, and too late to do anything about it.

You both make great points. This would be true of any team. Here's the point guys....."BRING IT".....if you don't someone will. CPA may have gotten the shaft last year by the TSSAA but one thing is for sure.....we left it all on the court at the end. There was nothing left.

In a sense, but the "buck stops here". Translating talent into results is the coach's job and challenge. It's not all about X's and O's. I sometimes wonder if coaching the same good players for several years that know they have won a starting job inhibits your ability to motivate them to give 110% and improve every day.

I do believe one problem is that Mason is not playing to impress college coaches anymore.

Hard to argue this point because you are likely correct. In high school, I still remember going to the locker room each game day to see who the posted starting lineup was that night. Never a guarantee. Problem is, there is no way to sit any of the main players and still win late in the season. Not to be critical, but the depth is just not there and has never been since Miller, Anderson, and Mason all got to the starting lineup their sophmore year. Honestly, the most impressive games these three guys played were last year.

It's not to late. I still think these CPA guys can pull it off. I'll bet we're in for some serious fireworks. Z knows this is it and I'll bet he explodes from here on out. That loss to Hume Fogg will "awaken the giant". I can tell you for sure that Maddux will not quit coaching these guys. Play a little "D", make some freethrows, take care of the ball and you may be surprised at what happens in the post season for CPA.