The Sports Guy

This year the Peach Belt conference switched from a round robin format to a divisional format.
GCSU is in the South division along with Augusta State University, Armstrong Atlantic University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University and Georgia Southwestern. The North includes Lander University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, University of South Carolina Aiken, University of South Carolina Upstate, Francis Marion University and North Georgia College and State University.
The divisions have the same number of teams and are balanced geographically but as far as talent goes the South s much stronger.
In men’s basketball the South has an overall record of 68-21 while the North is 35-56. In women’s basketball, the South has an overall record of 58-27 while the North is 38-51.
Furthermore, to prove the South is a stronger division than the North just look at last Saturday’s interdivisional play. The South went 11-1 against the North, as the only team to lose was Georgia Southwestern women’s basketball team. The Lady Hurricane’s lost to North Georgia 82-52.
Also, the North division has not won the conference tournament since 1995 when Lander defeated Columbus State 76-56.
The women’s basketball team is undefeated against the North division. They pummeled northern foe UNC Pembroke last Saturday 64-37. The Lady Bobcats are 2-1 in the South division. They lost to Armstrong Atlantic 71-67 on Jan. 3. Women’s Head Coach John Carrick is unhappy with the new setup.
“I would like to play each team twice,” Carrick said. “How can we have a conference champion if each team doesn’t play each other twice.”
The men’s basketball team has been less successful in divisional play. The men are 1-1 against the North and 1-2 in the South.  Men’s head coach Terry Sellers agrees that the steup is unfair.
“They changed it to cut down on traveling and make scheduling easier but the divisions are uneven,” Sellers said. “The South is much stronger and it makes it tough on our team.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 19 2007. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry