By Jeremy Wright
2020-21 MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS
| SCHOOL | MSC | % | OVERALL | % | GB | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Freed-Hardeman | 2-0 | 1.000 | 5-0 | 1.000 | — | Won 5 |
 RV Thomas More | 1-0 | 1.000 | 3-0 | 1.000 | 0.5 | Won 3 |
 RV Shawnee State | 1-0 | 1.000 | 4-1 | .800 | 0.5 | Lost 1 |
 Lindsey Wilson | 1-1 | .500 | 3-1 | .750 | 1 | Won 2 |
 15 Cumberlands (KY) | 0-0 | .000 | 5-0 | 1.000 | 1 | Won 5 |
 Martin Methodist | 0-0 | .000 | 3-0 | 1.000 | 1 | Won 3 |
 1 Georgetown | 0-0 | .000 | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1 | Won 2 |
 Pikeville | 0-0 | .000 | 1-0 | 1.000 | 1 | Won 1 |
 Campbellsville | 0-0 | .000 | 2-1 | .667 | 1 | Lost 1 |
 Bethel | 0-1 | .000 | 1-1 | .500 | 1.5 | Lost 1 |
 Cumberland (TN) | 0-1 | .000 | 0-2 | .000 | 1.5 | Lost 2 |
 Life | 0-2 | .000 | 4-2 | .667 | 2 | Lost 2 |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn) (5-0, 2-0 MSC)- Idle last week, Idle this week. The Lions lead the conference in points per game (Minimum 2 games played) with 91 points per contest and 3-point field goal percentage (minimum 2 games played) at a 40% clip. The team also leads the conference in assists per game at 17.4 per game behind Kortland Martin who ranks third in the nation with 8 assists per contest.
(RV) Shawnee State (ohio) (4-1, 1-0 MSC)- The Bears suffered their first loss of the season against Rio Grande (Ohio) on Wednesday. The team is scheduled to take on Lindsey Wilson (Ky) on Thursday on the road, and host Martin Methodist (Tenn) on Saturday. The team is led by reigning MSC player of the week James Jones, who averages 22.4 ppg at a 49% shooting clip from the field.
(RV) Thomas More (Ky) (3-0, 1-0 MSC)- The Saints picked up a win over Midway on Tuesday, and are scheduled to travel to Lindsey Wilson (Ky) on Thursday and to Cumberland (Tenn) on Saturday. The Saints have shown that they have a diverse offensive attack, as they have four players currently averaging double figures in scoring with Ryan Battle leading the team averaging 26.33 ppg, Garren Bertsch averaging 14.33 ppg, Keegan Saben averaging 13 ppg, and Reid Jolly averaging 12 ppg.
Lindsey Wilson (Ky) (3-2, 1-1 MSC)- The Blue Raiders picked up a huge win over #18 Dalton State (Ga) on Saturday. The team is scheduled to host (RV) Thomas More (Ky) on Thursday and (RV) Shawnee State (Ohio) on Saturday. The team has four players averaging double figures in scoring with Elijah Jordan leading the team in scoring averaging 16.6 ppg, Payton Cundiff is averaging 14 ppg while shooting 50% from beyond-the-arc, Colen Gaynor is averaging 11.8 ppg after a 26-point outing vs Dalton State, and Josh Smith is averaging 10.3 ppg.
(15) Cumberlands (Ky) (5-0, 0-0 MSC)- Idle last week, the Patriots are scheduled to make their MSC opener on Thursday at Life (Ga) and at Martin Methodist (Tenn) on Saturday. The team moved up a spot in the latest NAIA Hoops Report Top-25 to #14. Tevin Olison leads the team in scoring with 18.4 ppg, and the team ranks 7th in the nation in scoring defense as they surrender 60.4 ppg.
Martin Methodist (Tenn) (3-0, 0-0 MSC)- Idle last week, the Redhawks are set to make their MSC debut this weekend as they host Pikeville (Ky) on Thursday and (15) Cumberlands (Ky) on Saturday. Adarian Hudson leads the team in scoring averaging 18.3 ppg, and he is 6th in the nation with 7.3 assists per game. Darrin Jenkins averages 14.6 ppg, and 7 rpg, and Teddy Fifer averages 13.3 ppg, while shooting 53% from beyond-the-arc.
(1)Georgetown (Ky) (2-0, 0-0 MSC)- Idle last week, the Tigers are scheduled to be back in action on Tuesday as they host Indiana University Southeast, and open MSC play on Saturday as they host Bethel (Tenn). The team retained the #1 ranking in the latest NAIA Hoops Report Top-25. The team is led in scoring by Jake Ohmer, who averages 23.5 ppg, Kyran Jones averaging 17.5 ppg at 68% shooting from the field, Michael Turay averaging 13.5 ppg at 55% shooting from the field, and Brodricks Jones averaging 10 ppg at 50% shooting from the field.
Pikeville (Ky) (1-0, 0-0 MSC)- Idle last week. The Bears are set to open MSC play on Thursday at Martin Methodist College (Tenn) and at Life (Ga) on Saturday.
Campbellsville (Ky) (2-1, 0-0 MSC)- The Tigers are set to open MSC play on Thursday as they host Bethel (Tenn). The team is led in scoring by Taiveyhon Mason with 18.6 ppg, and Jacob King averaging 10.7 ppg while shooting 66% from beyond-the-arc.
Bethel (Tenn) (1-1, 0-1 MSC)- Idle last week. The Wildcats are scheduled to host Blue Mountain (miss) on Monday, and resume MSC play visiting Campbellsville (Ky) on Thursday and (1)Georgetown (Ky) on Saturday.
Cumberland (Tenn) (0-2, 0-1 MSC)- Idle last week. The Phoenix resume MSC play as they host (RV) Shawnee State (Ohio) on Thursday and (RV) Thomas More (Ky) on Saturday.
Life (Ga) (4-2, 0-2)- Idle last week. The Runnin’ Eagles resume MSC play on Thursday as they host (15) Cumberlands (Ky) and Pikeville (Ky) on Saturday.
Wright’s Wonder Rankings
(1)Georgetown (Ky)- Hopefully 2020is done messing with the Tigers season. After being on hiatus for nearly a month, it seems like the reigning national champs are set to get back into action. You can guarantee that eyes will be on the team this week to see how they respond after a hiatus.
(15) Cumberlands (Ky)- 2020 has impacted the Patriots season, but hopefully the team has served their due time during their hiatus, where they haven’t played since November 7th. The Patriots were one of the sharpest teams in the country before their hiatus, so keep an eye on their games this week post-hiatus.
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn)- 2020 events have made their way around the conference, and claimed the Lions program as it’s next victim. The team is off until December 7th and haven’t played since November 22nd. Prior to the team’s hiatus, the Lions shook up the MSC standings early with two statement wins to open conference play. Keep an eye on the Lions to see if they can pick-up where they left off after the hiatus.
Thomas More (Ky)- The Saints got off to a good start in conference play last week, and I think they have favorable matchups vs Lindsey Wilson (Ky) and Cumberland (Tenn) to potentially move to 3-0 early in conference play.
Shawnee State (Ohio)- After a setback loss to Rio Grande last week, the Bears need to recover quickly as they have matchups with Lindsey Wilson (Ky) and Martin Methodist (Tenn).
Lindsey Wilson (Ky)- After a tough outing to open MSC play, the Blue Raiders have responded with a pair of impressive wins. After taking down #18 Dalton State (Ga) last week, the team showed they can compete at a high level. The team faces two tough matchups vs (RV) Thomas More (Ky) and (RV) Shawnee State (ohio), and close eyes will be on the team to see if they can compete with MSC powers at full strength.
Pikeville (Ky)- The Bears are another victim of 2020 events, but the team is set to be back in action this week with matchups with Martin Methodist (Tenn) and Life (Ga). I will be tuned in to watch the team post-hiatus, as the team had an impressive performance in their only game so far against Rio Grande (ohio) but another sample is definitely needed for the Bears to show that they are legit.
Martin Methodist (Tenn)- 2020 man. After a hiatus, the Redhawks are set to make their MSC debut. We saw Freed-Hardeman enter MSC play with a bang last week, and the Redhawks will try to do the same. After some impressive play to open the season prior to the hiatus, be on the lookout for this team as they try to make a statement to the rest of the MSC.
Life (Ga)- As if 2020 events weren’t bad enough, the Runnin’ Eagles have been without Isaiah Hart due to injury. Hart, the team’s leading scorer has missed the last few games, and the team has still put up a good fight. The team might have the toughest set of games this weekend of anyone in the conference as they face (15) Cumberlands (Ky) and Pikeville (Ky).
Campbellsville (Ky)- Once again, 2020 man. The Tigers have been off since November 7th, and are set to be back in action this week. The team has an interesting matchup with Bethel (tenn) on Thursday.
Bethel (Tenn)-Last week we saw the Wildcats drop a tough matchup with Lindsey Wilson (Ky) fresh out of a hiatus. I don’t know how much weight to carry on that performance, but Thursday’s matchup with Campbellsville (Ky) should give us a better picture of where the team could potentially land in the MSC.
Cumberland (Tenn)- As the lone winless team in the conference, the Phoenix face a tough weekend slate as they face (RV) Shawnee State (Ohio) and (RV) Thomas More (Ky).
MSC Schedule and Predictions (Prediction in Bold)
Monday, November 30th
Bethel (Tenn) vs Blue Mountain (Miss)
Thursday, December 3rd
Bethel (Tenn) @ Campbellsville (Ky)
Shawnee State (Ohio) @ Cumberland (Tenn)
Thomas More (Ky) @ Lindsey Wilson (Ky)
Pikeville (Ky) @ Martin Methodist (Tenn)
Cumberlands (Ky) @ Life (Ga)
Saturday, December 5th
Bethel (Tenn) @ Georgetown (Ky)
Shawnee State (Ohio) @ Lindsey Wilson (Ky)
Pikeville (Ky) @ Life (Ga)
Cumberlands (Ky) @ Martin Methodist
Thomas More (Ky) @ Cumberland (Tenn)
