Wednesday, March 31, 2010

College Football: Texas State holds its 2010 Pro Day (VIDEO)


Notes
  • Only one scout (Houston Texans) showed up to put the Bobcats through a variety of drills. Word had it that Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant surprised many by holding his workout a week early in Lufkin, which pulled any scouts ready to watch Texas State 250 miles away.
  • Former Texas State quarterback Bradley George set the best marks of the day with his times in the "L" and Pro-Agility drill. George also posted a workout-leading 31.5-inch vertical jump.
  • Former Texas State tight end Kyle Anderson impressed the scout with his soft hands and speed. While Anderson couldn't bench press due to a bone spur in his shoulder, he ran the best time in the 40-yard dash (4.78) and posted the second-best vertical (31 inches).
  • The Bobcats will hold a second Pro Day next week for the 2011 senior class.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Monday, March 29, 2010

In case you missed some of our stories recently...



San Marcos — Teenagers and young adults don’t like waking up early on weekends. If they had their way, they’d sleep until the afternoon, get up, eat dinner and then begin their night.

Football players don’t have that luxury — especially at Texas State.

Saturday morning, while most of their fellow classmates were asleep, the Bobcats took to the turf at Bobcat Stadium for their final spring scrimmage.

“We got used to practicing in the mornings last year, but it’s always different waking up in the morning and coming out hitting,” Texas State linebacker Bryan Iwuji said. “After you go through your warm-ups and individual drills, you’re ready to go.”




San Marcos — Something was wrong with Kyle Kubitza.

His swing didn’t just have a hitch, it looked as if a bungee cord was wrapped around his bat and attached to the backstop.

Kubitza wasn’t getting the necessary torque from his body to uncoil on the swing and his average dipped. In 12 non-conference games, he hit a meager .208 with no home runs and six runs batted in.

So the coaching staff recently went back to the drawing board with Kubitza and tried to figure out the culprit.

“We wanted to change a little bit about his launch position to get him into a better position to hit the ball,” Texas State head coach Ty Harrington said. “You could be the smartest coach in the world, but if the kids don’t take the information, then you have nothing to show for it. Kyle’s coachable and has made us look good.”




San Marcos — Since Doug Davalos assumed the position of head coach of Texas State, the Bobcats have been on a steady rise in the Southland Conference.

Davalos took over a team that went 3-24 in 2004-05 under Dennis Nutt. The program wasn’t only in trouble on the court, but off of it, as grades plummeted and NCAA sanctions were on its way.

Texas State turned it around the next season, tripling its win total (nine) and slowly crept its way out of academic probation. The Bobcats finished one game out of the SLC tournament in 2007-08, but have made back-to-back trips to Katy in each of the last two seasons.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

College Football: Notes from the final spring scrimmage and video


  • The Bobcats' defense really came out to play Saturday morning. Not only did it hit hard, but the intensity was easily double what it was during the Maroon vs Gold scrimmage.
  • Texas State's linebackers and defensive backs looked the best they have in two years. Bryan Iwuji led the linebackers with several big stops (including a goal-line stuff of Frank Reddic) while Derek Lopez and Mario Wiggins, Jr. batted weak passes away.
  • The offense only managed to score four touchdowns, three on runs by second-string quarterback Bryan Hill.
  • Hill looked the best out of the trio of quarterbacks. Tim Hawkins and Eric Soza battled misreads and overthrows. Hawkins and Soza were lucky several interceptions were dropped.
  • Play of the Day: Frank Reddic absolutely demolished a defensive back en route to a touchdown on a screen pass. You can see the video here.

College Football: Reddic brings the pain (VIDEO)

TwitVid




YouTube

Friday, March 26, 2010

College Football: A conversation with Brad Wright

Sat down with Bobcats head football coach Brad Wright yesterday to talk about spring practice, quarterback play and his opinion on the 2010 schedule.

Wright on the Maroon vs. Gold scrimmage: "Quarterbacks came out and played the best that they played. Our defense had a bunch of hustle and a bunch of hitting, but they lacked that intensity — that definitely needs to change.

Wright on the play of the quarterbacks during the Maroon vs. Gold scrimmage: "We're a long way from being a good football team with our quarterbacks. What they did do was manage the offense, with exception of the last play of the game (an interception). They took decent care of the football and got the ball to where it needed to be. They played into our strengths, which was putting it in the hands of the wide receivers."

Wright on what Tim Hawkins needs to improve to become a better quarterback: "Tim needs to learn to use his running ability better instead of sitting back and thinking 'I have to make the throws.' He doesn't use his speed enough. Tim's got to get the mental part down, especially in the passing game. There are four or five routes being run and he has to know what looks good against what coverage shows up on that play."

Wright on what Eric Soza needs to improve to become a better quarterback: "Eric needs to learn the playbook. In the fall, he was running the scout team offense. He was running the opposing team's offense. He has to learn a whole new offense and he’s done a good job of it so far."

Wright on when he expects the quarterbacks to be completely ready: "We have two more practices, fall camp, four non-conference games and then hopefully by then, they'll have it down."

Wright on any surprises so far during spring practice: "I'm the happiest right now, if he continues to progress, about Ralston Dews. If he keeps at it, he's going to be a force. On offense, Dexter's done a good job of running downhill and we have to get him running behind his shoulder pads a little better. I've been excited about him."

Wright on the 2010 schedule: "You know, it's nice to not play one game, have an off week and then have to play 10 in a row. We're going to play some teams we haven't seen or played in a while, so it should be a challenge."

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Special Edition: Bobcat Live Chat (7 pm)

Tonight, we'll be talking about Texas State football, baseball, basketball and softball. Tons of news about spring practice as well as other Bobcat-related information. Check us out at 7 p.m.

College Basketball: Q&A with Texas State head coach Doug Davalos (Part 1)

Sat down with Texas State head men's basketball coach Doug Davalos yesterday and wrapped up the 2009-10 season.

The Bobcats finished the season with three consecutive wins to attain the No. 5 seed in the Southland Conference tournament. Texas State didn't fare well in Katy, falling in the first round after holding a double-digit lead at halftime, for the second consecutive season.

For part two of the interview, check out Sunday's edition of the San Marcos Daily Record.


Q: Were you surprised at how well Sam Houston State played Baylor in the first round of the NCAA Tournament?

A: I was surprised they didn’t make shots. I've sat and watched that happen to our program and those guys — Ashton Mitchell and Corey Allmond, specifically — all year long had knocked down shots. I don't know what it was but they were like 5 for 30. If they were 10 for 30, they would have won the game. They represented our conference very well, but I really think they had a good enough team to win a couple games.

Q: What is it about the NCAA Tournament that allows certain teams to pull off major upsets (Northern Iowa, Cornell, Ohio, etc.)?

A: It's not like you line up a 5-foot-11, 240-pound offensive lineman is going to beat up on a 300-pound lineman every game. He's not going to get this inner strength and blow him off the line. Football is a different monster. You don't have guys that run a 4.7 40-yard dash aren't going to be able to catch guys who run a 4.3 40. The great thing about basketball is that any night you can have someone step up. Sometimes a little guy, because of the 3-point line, nobody is out of games.

Q: Speaking of tournaments, have you watched the game tape from your team's first-round loss in the SLC tournament?

A: I went back and watched some of the game. I still haven't been able to watch the whole thing. I will watch it at some point, but I don't want to watch it right now. I watch every game a day after, but this one, I'm not getting ready for another game and there’s no point beside making me feel like crap.

Q: What are your impressions of Reid Koenen (a 6-foot, 7-inch forward from Racine, Wisc., who is the first signing of 2010 recruiting class)?

A: He's a really good shooter. He reminds me a little bit in the way he plays of (Texas-San Antonio guard) Melvin Johnson. He's a tall shooter with guard skills. He's a good academic kid. We have to get him stronger but he's going to be a good player for us.

Q: There have been some questions as to the academic standing of AJ Stewart and Eddie Rios. Can you offer an update to their status and are you worried about any other players?

A: They're both going to school. I don't have a status for you until the semester is over. They're here, but their situation is going to be determined by how they finish out the semester. We totally have AJ worrying about academics right now. That started at the beginning of this semester. His total semester was to focus on academics and everything else doesn't matter unless he takes care of his academics. The people I'm not worried about are those guys who have gone past the eligibility portion and are working towards their degree, like John Rybak, Jonathan Sloan and Ryan White. In the sport of men's basketball, every spring, there's going to be some guys who have to pick it up. Hopefully it's one or two, but sometimes it's four or five. That’s just the nature of the game and in fairness to our guys, they miss a lot of school for basketball-related activities.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

College Softball: The anatomy of redemption

Texas State head coach Ricci Woodard had no other option in her team's game against McNeese State. Woodard didn't want to pull Leah Boatright, a senior, from the game, but needed to make a change.

Boatright was hurting the team — there was no other way around it. In her previous 25 at-bats, Boatright held a .200 batting average and struck out more times (six) than she collected hits (five).

And Boatright knew she wasn't putting her team in the best position to win.

"I wasn’t surprised (that I got benched) because I had been struggling and not having quality at-bats," Boatright said.

If Boatright were to get back into the lineup, she'd need to make some changes.

Teams were pitching Boatright outside and she wasn't adjusting well enough. When Boatright tried to inch closer to the plate, opponents sawed her off.

So with some extra work with Woodard in the cages, Boatright regained confidence in herself and her swing. When Boatright requested to be put back in the lineup, Woodard obliged, but wanted to see progress from the senior right fielder.

Woodard also wanted to let Boatright knew how important she was to the club.

"I told her that if we’re going to win the Southland Conference, we’re going to need to have Leah Boatright’s bat in the lineup," Woodard said. "I took her out of the lineup against McNeese and it really caught her attention."

Boatright answered the call and has been setting the world on fire in her last four games (6-for-10, three home runs and 13 runs batted in).

She belted two home runs Wednesday night against No. 15 Texas, including the game winner, a three-run shot in the seventh inning.

Boatright now has 20 career home runs, which moved her into fourth place in the record books. If Boatright sends four more balls over the fence in 2010, she'll sit in second, five home runs behind Katie Ann Trahan (29).

It wasn't the first time Woodard pulled Boatright from the lineup to get her attention.

"As a sophomore, I did the same thing to her and she came in to see me and she came back out and lit it back up," Woodard said. "It was a battle for her, but I think it was more of a challenge to get her going again."

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

High School Baseball: An interview with Texas State-bound Blake Bagley

Blake Bagley, who signed to play for Texas State in 2011, pitched Tuesday night against Lehman for San Marcos High. Bagley didn't allow a hit in two innings and struck out three.

The Rattlers didn't need Bagley too much, as they posted an 18-1 win over the Lobos.

Here's what Bagley (at right) had to say about his choice to attend Texas State and his thoughts on the rest of his high school baseball career.

Bagley on why he chose Texas State: "It seemed like they liked me a lot. I felt really good when I went on the visit. I love what they're doing there and I felt at home."

Bagley on how many other school were seeking his services: "I had a few others, but I felt like Texas State was the right choice for me."

Bagley on what he's working on during his senior year to become a better pitcher: "I'm trying to get tougher mentally. I used to worry about how many hits an opponent got off me, but while I still want to limit them the best I can, they don't get to me as much."

Bagley on what he feels his biggest strength is: "I play the game the right way. I hustle every play and make sure I give my all every game. I feel my teammates and coaches deserve the best."

Monday, March 22, 2010

A few notes...

  • Texas State junior shortstop Jason Martinson was recently named Southland Conference Hitter of the Week. Martinson, who went through his struggles at the plate earlier this season, batted .471 and scored five runs last week.
  • The gridiron Bobcats have two more practices this spring before breaking until two-a-days begin in August.
  • Texas State held its Maroon vs. Gold scrimmage last Saturday and the offense looked like a juggernaut, scoring 15 touchdowns.
  • If there is a demand, I'll be holding a live chat Thursday night to talk about the aftermath of spring football practice and where the team stands.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

College Baseball: Texas State at Sam Houston State (By the Numbers)

  • Tyler Sibley is coming into his own for the Bobcats. Sibley rapped out six hits in 14 at-bats and scored six runs. He also walked twice.
  • Bret Atwood is on a tear. Atwood continued his hot hitting from the game with Texas Tech into this weekend. He collected seven hits in 16 at-bats and drove in three runners. That's not bad production out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
  • Something might have got into Jason Martinson. He struggled to find his swing early, but Martinson is raking in the hits now. Martinson went 4 for 5 with three runs scored in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader and upped his average to .306. In comparison, Martinson batted .205 at the start of the series with Penn State.
  • Brian Borski needs to get it together on the mound. Borski, who was pulled from the weekend rotation, allowed 3 ER in less than an inning pitched. His earned-run averaged rose to 7.59.
  • Carson Smith cemented his place in the weekend rotation with his Friday start. Smith pitched 7 2/3 innings, struck out five and allowed eight hits. While Sam Houston State tagged him for five runs, the Bearkats' runs crossed the plate in the seventh and eighth innings. On another positive note, Smith induced 12 ground-out outs.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

College Football: Observations from the 2010 Maroon/Gold scrimmage

  • Texas State didn't feel like playing defense Saturday night, as the offense rolled up 367 yards and 15 touchdowns on 98 plays.
  • Believe it or not, the Bobcats had quality quarterback play from Tim Hawkins, Bryan Hill and Eric Soza.
  • Hawkins didn't dance around nearly as much in the pocket as usual and tried to beat the defense with his arm (completed 5-of-11 passes for 41 yards). Hill settled into his role as second-string signal caller and led the offense on four scoring drives. Soza didn't win himself the starting role as of this moment, but certainly helped his cause by completing 9-of-14 passes for 85 yards and four touchdowns.
  • The quarterback's favorite target was Daren Dillard, who reeled in six catches for 42 yards and four touchdowns. Dillard caught three scoring strikes from Soza.
  • Dexter Imade and Frank Reddic will be a solid 1-2 punch for Texas State in 2010. Imade rushed 12 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns while Reddic toted the ball 18 times for 69 yards.
  • The Bobcats' linebackers (Brian Lilly, Bryan Iwuji and Joplo Bartu) combined for 28 tackles (10 solo). Each had a tackle for a loss.
  • Texas State sophomore nose guard Ralston Dews continued his emergence as a viable option on the defensive line. Dews, who sprained his ankle during practice Thursday afternoon, had his hand in five tackles, including two stops on the goal line.
  • QUOTABLE: "Today was the first day, I really feel, that these young men stepped up and possibly could become the kind of guys that could help us win some football games next fall." ~ Bobcats head coach Brad Wright on the quarterbacks.

College Football: 2010 Maroon and Gold spring game


Be sure to check back into this post for updates from the 2010 Texas State Maroon and Gold spring football game. "Kickoff" is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

Two areas in which I want to see the most improvement out of the Bobcats:
  • Quarterback play -- By now, this should be self-explanatory. Texas State needs one of the four quarterbacks it has on its roster to step up. There's no better time than the spring game, where they'll be under the scrutinizing eye of the coaches and fans.
  • Continued growth out of the defense -- The Bobcats enter their third season under defensive coordinator Fred Bleil. Texas State should be well-read in Bleil's schemes, especially the defensive backs. With the addition of Jarrod Steward in the secondary, the Bobcats should be stout with Mario Wiggins, Jr., Derek Lopez and Darryl Morris returning.

Friday, March 19, 2010

College Baseball: A few changes to the Bobcats' rotation


Texas State head coach Ty Harrington is fiddling around with his pitching rotation in an attempt to find the best possible combination. Harrington only had three possible starters from which to pick (Brian Borski, Lee Colon and Michael Russo) before Carson Smith proved he belonged in the mix with his start against No. 3 Texas.

Smith dominated the Longhorns through seven innings. He scattered five hits, struck out eight and only allowed one runner to cross the plate.

So Harrington went back to the drawing board with a big early-season clash with Sam Houston State on the horizon. The Bobcats meet up with the Bearkats tonight in a rematch of the 2009 Southland Conference championship game.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight with the final two games of the series set for Saturday and Sunday.

Harrington chose to leave Borski (1-2, 6.53 ERA) out of the rotation and slide Smith (1-2, 3.38 ERA) into the opening. Michael Russo (2-0, 3.16 ERA) and Lee Colon (2-1, 3.20 ERA) will both stay in the mix with Russo pitching Saturday and Colon throwing Sunday.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

OT: How the staff at the SMDR see the tournament


Here is how some of the staff at the San Marcos Daily Record see the NCAA Tournament shaping up. Click this link to find out.

Tyler Mayforth: Kansas over Kentucky
Jeff Walker: Kentucky over Syracuse
Ashley Landis: North Texas over Texas
Randy Stevens: Kentucky over Kansas

As you can tell, Landis is an unabashed North Texas fan, while the rest of us are more sensible. Yet, the Mean Green are probably going to win the whole thing. Sometimes that's the way it works out.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

OT: Breaking down the brackets (Part 2)


By now, March Madness brackets have taken their annual pilgrimage around classrooms, offices and schools. People are gearing up for the NCAA Tournament, which begins Tuesday with the "Battle for No. 65" or as it as more commonly known, the play-in game.

So for those of you who can't get enough analysis, here's Part 2 of the Cats' Cradle NCAA Tournament bracket breakdown.


Region: South

Team to beat: No. 3 Baylor. There's just an allure about the Bears this year. I can't put a finger on it, but something just sticks out about the team from Waco. Also, out of the top 3 seeds, Baylor is the easiest team to trust out of Duke (never trust the Blue Devils in an NCAA Tournament) and Villanova (too many late-season losses).

Best game: No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 14 Sam Houston State. Now, I know what you're going to say — there's a whole lot of Baylor love going around this blog today. Yet, the Bears are a high-tempo team and if one is going to keep up with them, it's going to be the Bearkats. Sam Houston State was the class of the Southland Conference and kept up with Kentucky and beat Auburn.

Potential upset: No. 7 Richmond over No. 2 Villanova (2nd round). The Spiders are giant killers, as they took out then-No. 13 Florida, Missouri and Mississippi State. The Wildcats are a weak team, reeling off several bad losses to finish the season, so look for Richmond to attack.

First-round winners: No. 1 Duke, No. 8 California, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 4 Purdue, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 3 Baylor, No. 7 Richmond and No. 2 Villanova.


Region: West

Team to beat: No. 1 Syracuse. For the Orange to waltz through this bracket, they are going to need Arinze Onuaku to be healthy. If Onuaku is hobbled, Syracuse will look toward DaShonte Riley to step up in his absence. The Orange are just a stacked team but are vulnerable, as they lost twice to Louisville.

Best game: No. 5 Butler vs. No. 12 UTEP. This is a matchup that makes you scratch your head. Before the tournament began, Butler and UTEP were two of the consensus picks to make some noise — and they are playing each other in the first round. Some are yelling out "conspiracy theory," but I just see a good game then. The winner of this game wears a glass slipper into the Elite Eight.

Potential upset: No. 5 Butler/No. 12 UTEP over No. 1 Syracuse (Elite Eight). Whichever team wins the first-round matchup between the Bulldogs and Miners is going to be Cinderella. Both squads have what it takes to wreak havoc in the tournament and there isn't a better way than taking out a No. 1 seed.

First-round winners: No. 1 Syracuse, No. 8 Gonzaga, No. 5 Butler, No. 4 Vanderbilt, No. 6 Xavier, No. 3 Pittsburgh, No. 7 BYU, No. 2 Kansas State.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

College Football: Notes from practice (3/16/10)


  • Texas State ran about 24 five-minute periods at practice Tuesday afternoon.
  • The Bobcats went through various repetitions, which were capped by 1st-and-10, 3rd-and-long and Red Zone drills.
  • After a sluggish start to practice, Texas State picked up the intensity near the end. One player, who will remain nameless, believed "too much partying on the beach" had something to do with it.
  • Tim Hawkins and Eric Soza each threw well, but Soza still has the better spiral and touch. Hawkins looked to make a concerted effort to hold onto the ball for longer in the pocket, but it resulted in him being sacked twice.
  • Local product Roger Martinez (from Lehman) was on the receiving end of some harsh words from defensive line coach Mike Bugar.
  • Bobcats running back Karrington Bush, who was arrested earlier this month, was back at practice and ran through his normal drills.

OT: Breaking down the brackets (Part 1)


By now, March Madness brackets have taken their annual pilgrimage around classrooms, offices and schools. People are gearing up for the NCAA Tournament, which begins Tuesday with the "Battle for No. 65" or as it as more commonly known, the play-in game.

So for those of you who can't get enough analysis, here's Part 1 of the Cats' Cradle NCAA Tournament bracket breakdown.


Region: East

Team to beat: No.1 Kentucky. Many have pegged the Wildcats as a sure bet to make the Final Four and I can't blame them. Kentucky dominated the SEC Tournament and only lost two games in 2009-10. The Wildcats also have a fantastic freshmen duo in John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins so if they grow up quickly, it could be curtains for the rest in the East.

Best game: No. 5 Temple vs No. 12 Cornell. Now, I know you must be wondering if I'm off my rocker, but hear me out. Temple is coached by Fran Dunphy, who was a long-time coach Pennsylvania, who like Cornell, is in the Ivy League. Dunphy knows what the Big Red are all about (slow tempo, 3-point marksmen and half-court trap artists) so unlike other squads, the Owls won't be confused.

Potential upset: No. 11 Washington over No. 6 Marquette. The Huskies come into the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the nation, winning 12 of their last 14 games. Washington also beat California to claim the Pac-10 title last weekend. The Golden Eagles earned an at-large bid by making some noise in the Big East. MU doesn't have depth, so if the Huskies can get the Golden Eagles into foul trouble, look for Washington to advance.

First-round winners: No. 1 Kentucky, No. 8 Texas, No. 5 Temple, No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 11 Washington, No. 3 New Mexico, No. 7 Clemson and No. 2 West Virginia.


Region: Midwest

Team to beat: Kansas. Other than Kentucky, the Jayhawks must be one of the most-unanimous picks to cut down the nets in April. Kansas has a great inside-out game as well as solid senior leaderhsip. The Jayhawks have also been there before (winning in 2008), so don't expect them to be scared on the big stage.

Best (potential) game: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Georgetown. Both squads are loaded with lottery-pick talent and pose threats to any opponent. If the Buckeyes meet up the Hoyas in the Sweet 16, watch out.

Potential upset: No. 11 San Diego State over No. 6 Tennessee. The Azteks are a difficult draw for the Volunteers, who had been assuming they'd receive a better seed. SDSU is tough in the post (freshman forward Kawhi Leonard grabbed 21 rebounds in the Mountain West championship game) and lock down on opposing shooters (40.5-percent field-goal percentage). The Azteks lack a true scorer, so if Wayne Chism or J.P. Price go off for Tennessee, this potential upset won't be.

First-round winners: No. 1 Kansas, No. 8 UNLV, No. 5 Michigan State, No. 4 Maryland, No. 11 San Diego State, No. 3 Georgetown, No. 7 Oklahoma State, No. 2 Ohio State.


**Be sure to check back tomorrow for the South and West Region breakdowns.**

Monday, March 15, 2010

Here and there: Some random notes

  • Texas State holds its Maroon and Gold spring game Saturday night. The Bobcats took off from practice Monday and resume Tuesday through Friday before taking to Bobcat Stadium for the glorified scrimmage.
  • If you're heading out to the spring game, be sure to keep a close eye on the battle for quarterback. There wasn't a clear-cut favorite once spring break started, so hopefully by the Maroon and Gold game, someone will have stepped up.
  • Texas State wrapped up a three-game sweep of Penn State Sunday afternoon. It marked the ninth consecutive win by the Bobcats against a team from the Big 10.
  • Sam Houston State, a team that Texas State beat 101-97 in the regular season finale, will play Baylor in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bearkats earned the 14th seed out of the South region.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

College Baseball: Texas State's bats are waking up


Texas State is finally breaking out of its season-long slumber at the plate and bringing out the bats. The Bobcats pounded out 16 hits Saturday afternoon and posted 15 runs in their 15-6 drubbing of Penn State at Bobcat Field.

This marks the second consecutive game where Texas State posted more than 10 runs as the Bobcats won 20-6 Friday night.

Texas State was led by Jason Martinson and Kyle Livingstone at the plate, as the duo combined to belt out five hits and drive in seven runs. Martinson launched his second home run of the season, a three-run shot in the first inning, to ignite the Bobcats' attack.

The Nittany Lions used five pitchers against Texas State Saturday afternoon, including two position players, in an effort to find an continuity out of their staff. Those position players (center fielder Steve Snyder and first baseman Joey DeBernardis) held the Bobcats scoreless in the final three innings.


Quotables

Texas State head coach Ty Harrington on the difference in production at the plate so far this season (the Bobcats entered this weekend batting .252 as a team and now have posted 35 runs in two games): “A little bit of what has been going on with us is the teams we face and the quality of arms. Being able to get back home and be in your own ball park helped us and we still have another game to go. We’ve done a really good job of adjusting to what they may be doing and when we had pitches to hit, we did a good job of recognizing them."

Texas State shortstop Jason Martinson on his recent games: "I’m starting to get back into the feel of live pitching. I was trying to do a litte too much. Now, I’m just relaxing since he moved me down in the lineup."

Martinson on the emergence of the Bobcats' offense: "It seems like 1 through 9 is starting to see the ball. Everybody is understanding their roles at the plate and not trying to do everything themselves at once with one swing of the bat."

Friday, March 12, 2010

College Baseball: Pitching probables for the Penn State series

Texas State returns home tonight for a three-game set with Penn State.

The Bobcats are looking to rebound from a 4-3 loss Tuesday night to No. 3 Texas. After taking a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the eighth, Texas State suffered another bullpen meltdown at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Longhorns tagged Michael Pitts and Garrett Carruth for three runs to take the lead and Chance Ruffin closed the door on the Bobcats.

Texas State has a good opportunity to get back on the winning track tonight against Penn State. The Nittany Lions are currently riding a four-game losing streak.

Here are this weekend's pitching probables:

Game 1 — Friday night, 6:30 p.m.
Texas State: Michael Russo (1-0, 2.29 ERA)
Penn State: Ryan Ignas (1-0, 2.81 ERA)

Game 2 — Saturday afternoon, 2 p.m.
Texas State: Brian Borski (1-2, 6.75 ERA)
Penn State: Neal Herring (1-0, 3.46 ERA)

Game 3 — Sunday afternoon, 11 a.m.
Texas State: Lee Colon (2-1, 4.26 ERA)
Penn State: Steven Hill (1-2, 2.13 ERA)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

College Basketball: What they said


Here's a batch of quotes from both coaches and some players following Texas State's 79-78 overtime loss to Southeastern Louisana in the quarterfinals of the Southland Conference tournament.

Texas State head coach Doug Davalos on Cameron Johnson and Ryan White: "It's ridiculous these guys weren't selected to the all-conference teams or at least honorable mention (NOTE: Johnson was honored as a third-team selection). We would not have been here without them. It's fitting that they're here. They have carried us on their back for most of the game and I appreciate what they've done and I look forward to coaching them another year."

Davalos on what cost his team the game: "Our inability to handle the ball cost us. I told them we won our last three games by handling the ball down the stretch. You can't win by turning it over 21 times."

Davalos on how the game slipped out of their grasps: "We didn’t play well enough down the stretch to win this game and I told these guys, ‘Don’t beat yourself up. I take responsibility for this game.’ The problem with this game was the first five minutes of this second half."

Texas State junior guard Ryan White on what the Bobcats could have done differently: "If I had the answer, we wouldn’t have lost right now. I really can’t tell you. We would have won the game if I knew that answer."

Texas State junior forward Cameron Johnson on what the team can take from this defeat: "Throughout this offseason, we just have to remember this game and as a leader, I need to be able to show some poise. When they were going on their run, there were some times that I could have stepped up and settled my troops. I also take responsibility for this."

Southeastern Louisiana head coach Jim Yarbrough on the comeback: "We knew it was in us, but you hate to be in that position, but it’s why they call it March Madness. You don’t know how it’s going to go, but you’re have to keep fighting."

Southeastern Louisiana senior forward Patrick Sullivan on the end of the game: "I just knew I needed to come out and put my team up. I knew that there was no tomorrow and I had to do this with me being a senior."

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

College Basketball: Another disheartening SLC tourney loss


Stop me if you heard this before: Texas State blows a double-digit lead in the second half and falls to Southeastern Louisiana in overtime.

If you happened to follow the Bobcats during football season, then Oct. 10 still haunts you to this day. Texas State choked away a 24-point lead in the fourth quarter while the Lions stormed back to eventually win 51-50.

“Obviously there were some things that went wrong today,” Bobcats head football coach Brad Wright said Oct. 10. “I'm not exactly sure what happened. It's disheartening and obviously they made plays when they needed to.”

And if you are one of the few people who support the Bobcats' men's basketball team, then you saw Southeastern do the same thing Wednesday night. The Lions methodically cut into Texas State's 17-point halftime advantage in the quarterfinal of the Southland Conference tournament and ended the Bobcats' season in overtime.

“If I had the answer, we wouldn’t have lost right now,” Texas State junior guard Ryan White said following Wednesday night's 79-78 loss. “I really can’t tell you. We would have won the game if I knew that answer (about how we let the lead slip).”

The answer was simple as to how the Bobcats let their lead slip: They stopped executing.

Texas State quit doing what staked it to a comfortable lead Wednesday night. The Bobcats didn't keep pressure on the Southeastern's jump shooters and it allowed the Lions to knock down 3-pointer after 3-pointer in the first five minutes after halftime.

Once Texas State's defense struggled, its offense followed and Southeastern went on a 19-7 run to open the second half.

"Basketball is a transition game. You can’t say our defense gave up four sacks. It’s a flowing game," Bobcats head coach Doug Davalos said. "When you don’t make stops, it leads to some complacency on offense. We got out and run and got some transition baskets and then when we turn the ball over, we had some problems on defense.

"That first half of team defense was as good as I’ve seen at Texas State and that’s what frustrates me that when you see a half of defense like we played and then seeing one of the worst halves of defense we played this year. It’s frustrating."

Even though Texas State didn't deserve to win, the squad nearly backed into it.

Cameron Johnson did everything but stand on his head to keep the Bobcats in the game and even gave Texas State three different leads in the final two minutes. He scored 15 of his game-high 23 points in the second half and overtime.

Johnson had an opportunity to win the game in overtime, but his wide-open jumper with 2.3 seconds remaining clanged off the upright — oops, I mean rim.

College Basketball: 2010 Southland Conference tournament predictions


The 2010 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament begins today at the Merrell Center in Katy and runs through Saturday. At the end of the tournament, one champion will be crowned and earn the right to represent the SLC in the NCAA Tournament.

Here is an educated guess on how it will shake out...

Quarterfinals

No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. No. 8 Nicholls State – On one hand, you have one of the hottest teams in the league (Sam Houston State) and in the other, a team that barely squeaked into the postseason. The Bearkats have three options on offense (Corey Allmond, Ashton Mitchell and Gilberto Clavell) while the Colonels have one (Anatoly Bose). It shouldn't be close. Daily Record Prediction: No. 1 Sam Houston State. CORRECT.

No. 2 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 7 UT-Arlington – The Lumberjacks enter the tournament coming off their first home conference loss since 2008. SFA dropped a 65-63 decision to Texas-San Antonio last Saturday night. The Mavericks lost their final three games but feature the reigning SLC Player of the Year (Marquez Haynes). While Haynes might be able to keep UTA close, he won't be able to win the game single-handily. Daily Record Prediction: No. 2 Stephen F. Austin. CORRECT.

No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. No. 6 Texas-San Antonio – The Islanders finished the regular season with a 10-6 record in conference games while the Roadunners ended a game behind at 9-7. A&M-Corpus Christi and UTSA met twice this season with each team winning at the opposing team's home floor. The Islanders are a solid all-around team with guard Kevin Palmer and forwards Justin Reynolds and Demond Watt while the Roadrunners are guard-based with Devin Gibson and Morris Smith IV. If A&M-Corpus Christi pounds it inside with Reynolds and Watt, don't look for UTSA to keep up. Daily Record Prediction: No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. CORRECT.

No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana vs. No. 5 Texas State – These are two of the hottest teams in the SLC right now. The Lions and Bobcats are each riding three-game win streaks but Texas State had the tougher schedule. The Bobcats battled Northwestern State, UTSA and Sam Houston State while SLU tackled Central Arkansas, Northwestern State and McNeese State. The Lions won the teams' only meeting this season by nine points, but that's still fresh in Texas State's mind. Look for the team that played the tougher schedule to close the season to come out on top. Daily Record Prediction: No. 5 Texas State. INCORRECT.


Semifinals

No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. No. 5 Texas State – If the Bobcats want to win this game, they'll need to play as well as they did in the teams' final meeting this season. Texas State went blow-for-blow with the Bearkats and walked out with a 101-97 overtime win in San Marcos. It wasn't the same story when the two teams met in Huntsville, with Sam Houston running Texas State out of the building. Can the Bobcats continue their momentum after a first-round win? Or will the Bearkats use the teams' last meeting as fuel to an already smoldering fire? Bet on the second. Daily Record Prediction: No. 1 Sam Houston State. CORRECT, but incorrect matchup.

No. 2 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – This might be the best game of the tournament. Both teams have solid guard play and forwards that can take over the game if need be. While the teams' only meeting during the regular season was forgettable (a 21-point win for the Lumberjacks), look for it to be a little bit closer. Daily Record Prediction: No. 2 Stephen F. Austin. CORRECT.


Final


No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. No. 2 Stephen F. Austin – Kind of funny how the seeding works its way out, huh? Both teams were head-and-shoulders above the rest of the conference during the regular season, but the Bearkats were on another echelon. Texas State head coach Doug Davalos said it best, “Take Sam Houston State out of it and then draw teams out of a hat and every matchup will be even.” There's a reason he took Sam Houston State out of the running: The Bearkats are just that good. Daily Record Prediction: No. 1 Sam Houston State. CORRECT.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

College Baseball: An upset bid falls short


Texas State held a lead against the third-ranked team in the nation, Texas, Tuesday night for seven innings. The Bobcats were unable to hold on, as the bullpen collapsed once again at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

Carson Smith's masterpiece (7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 8 K) went from a win to a no-decision while Mitchell Pitts and Garrett Carruth allowed the Longhorns to seize the lead.


Now for some thoughts...
  • Carson Smith will be a weekend starter for Texas State. Bobcats head coach Ty Harrington confirmed that thought after the game, but Smith cemented his place in the rotation with his performance. Smith kept a dangerous Texas lineup at bay with his mid-90s fastball and vertigo-inducing off-speed pitches.
  • Texas State needs to find some consistency within its lineup. The Bobcats had one big inning (the two-run fourth) but a bunch of other forgettable at-bats. Granted, it's still early in the season, but Texas State must pick it up with some tough weekend and mid-week games approaching.
  • Jason Martinson and Laurn Randell are hurting the Bobcats' offense right now. Martinson did rip an RBI double Tuesday night, but his average is barely above the Mendoza line (.209). Randell turned in another 0-for and his averaged dropped to .200.
  • Texas State just can't get it together in the late innings. The Bobcats had a two-run lead with four outs remaining in the game and couldn't close it out.
  • If I were Harrington, I'd look closely at Pitts before using him again. Pitts threw 11 pitches and two of those were belted inches next to his noggin for singles. His earned-run average rose to 8.53.

Quotables

Harrington on whether or not he was worried about putting the ball in Smith's hands: "The kid wanted the moment. He got into it and pitched like he wanted to be in there."

Harrington on the team's struggles in the eighth and ninth innings: "It's just like everything else, you have to keep practicing at it. You have to be able to get into that moment, and this is one of the few places in America where you can get into that moment and attack something when it feels like the whole world is watching. We need to be able to adapt it emotionally to help us physically to be able to excel in this situation."

Smith on Texas' lineup: "I had to go attack their lineup like anybody else I'd face. You have to respect them, but at the same time, you can't put them above you. You have to go right at them."

Texas State first baseman Kyle Livingstone on the almost double play: "I knew the throw had to be perfect, so I stretched and hoped, but he got it. He was safe. That's what they did all night. They had infield hits. They weren't hitting the ball hard but they got the breaks when they needed them and it was pretty frustrating knowing we made all the plays, but the one we needed we just didn't get."

College Basketball: Texas State is flying high at the right time (VIDEO)


Texas State opens play in the Southland Conference tournament tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. vs. Southeastern Louisiana. If the Bobcats beat the Lions, they'll face Sam Houston State in the semifinals Thursday night.

Monday, March 8, 2010

College Basketball: SLC awards to be released Tuesday


The Southland Conference is set to announce its 2009-2010 All-Conference award winners Tuesday morning. Among those awards given out will be the prizes for Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.

Here are my picks for POY, DPOY and COY:

Player of the Year — Gilberto Clavell (Sam Houston State) or Kevin Palmer (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi). Clavell averaged 18 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while knocking down 57.8 percent of his shots. Palmer, on the other hand, poured in 19.5 points per game while leading the SLC in steals. ACTUAL SELECTION — Marquez Haynes.

Defensive Player of the Year — William Mosley (Northwestern State). Mosley led the SLC in rebounds (11.1), defensive rebounds (7.4) and blocks per game (3.6). ACTUAL SELECTION — Not given out.

Coach of the Year — Bob Marlin (Sam Houston State). Marlin should be an unanimous pick. He guided the Bearkats to a 14-2 record in the SLC and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. ACTUAL SELECTION — Bob Marlin.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

College Basketball: 2010 SLC tournament pairings


The pairings for the 2010 Southland Conference basketball tournament have been set.

Texas State, by virtue of its 101-97 win Saturday afternoon against Sam Houston State, clinched the fifth seed. The Bobcats will play Southeastern Louisiana Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m.

Here are the official pairings...

  • No. 1 Sam Houston State vs. No. 8 Nicholls State, 6 p.m. Wednesday
  • No. 2 Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 7 UT-Arlington, 12 p.m. Wednesday
  • No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. No. 6 UTSA, 2:30 p.m. Wednesday
  • No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana vs. No. 5 Texas State, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday

Keep checking back in to the Cats' Cradle as I'll be handicapping the tournament leading up to Wednesday's tip-off.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

College Basketball: Recapping Saturday's 101-97 overtime win


Texas State posted its third consecutive win after beating Sam Houston State, 101-97, Saturday afternoon at Strahan Coliseum. The Bobcats also assured themselves at least the sixth seed in the Southland Conference tournament.

John Rybak led Texas State with 25 points while Emmanuel Bidias a Moute chipped in 16. Both seniors were monumental in the Bobcats' win.

Rybak drained back-to-back 3-pointers to give Texas State the lead late in the second half while Moute set the tone early by battling for tough lay-ups.


Player of the Game: You can't go wrong by giving it to both seniors as they combined for 41 points. It was a welcome sight to see Rybak regain his shot after struggling through most of the SLC slate.

It was over when ... Ryan White took over the game in overtime. White's lay-up with 1:30 remaining gave the Bobcats a four-point lead and his six free throws iced the win.


Quotables

Texas State head coach Doug Davalos on the game: You have to make some big shots and our guys stepped up and made big shots. When our guys do that, we become such a better defensive team that we’re going to be in most games. This ain’t a shocker to the guys in the locker room. We expect, when we play well, to win."

Davalos on the importance of winning on senior night: "We want to kind of make it a tradition here where we send our seniors off with a win. We’ve done it past three years and I said, ‘That’s what you owe to these guys, because you’re going to be a senior one day and the underclassmen when you’re a senior are going to owe it to you. That’s a heck of a tradition to set. The great thing was that the seniors said if you’re not going to do it for me, we’ll carry it ourselves, as well. You can’t write a better script that two seniors were so instrumental in our win."

Rybak on his two huge 3-pointers in the second half: "I've been struggling in the past a little bit, but when you hear that as a shooter (the crowd's cheers after he made the first), it’s almost a given the second one is going in."

Friday, March 5, 2010

College Football: Texas State holds its first spring scrimmage (VIDEO)




A few notes...
  • The Bobcats cycled through several first-team QBs to try to find any consistency in the group. Eric Soza and Tim Hawkins started the day with the first team (mainly Soza) but by the end, Alvaro Garcia got his shot.
  • Hawkins didn't look sharp at all, but he did lead an 80-yard drive to close practice. The ball was placed at the opposite 3-yard line and the first-team offense tried to score against the first-team defense. Hawkins' legs kept several plays alive, but two incomplete passes stalled any chance at a score.
  • Frank Reddic and Dexter Imade looked strong running the ball yesterday. Reddic and Imade should see steady carries next season.
  • Texas State's coaches moved Corey Petro, a redshirt freshman wide receiver, to running back in an effort to give that position depth. Petro earned all-state Class 5A honorable mention and first-team District 3-5A honors as a running back at Midland Lee.
  • The Bobcats recorded two sacks yesterday as redshirt freshman Roger Martinez and soon-to-be-senior Ron Jackson wrapped up the quarterback.
  • Texas State's secondary came out ready to play, putting a few big hits on the wide receivers and picking off three passes.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

College Basketball: Video recapping Wednesday's 83-76 win



Player of the Game: Does it need to be said? Cameron Johnson absolutely dominated UTSA. Johnson scored 29 points on 9-for-17 shooting, made 11 of his 14 free throws and grabbed nine rebounds.

College Baseball: An interview with Texas State OF Bret Atwood

I had an opportunity to speak with Texas State OF Bret Atwood last night at the softball game about his feelings on the Bobcats' first six games and an assortment of other things. Atwood is batting .130 so far through 23 at-bats with six strikeouts.

Texas State opens its 2010 home schedule tonight vs. No. 16 Rice at 6:30 p.m. The Bobcats were scheduled to play the Owls earlier this season, but the game was postponed due to a wintry mix.

On the team's low batting average through six games (.225) — "We’re just missing balls. We’re not too worried about our batting averages right now because we know they’re going to get up there and we know we’re going to start hitting people in the mouth like we have been."

On what leads to a low team batting average early in the season — "You want to start off well so a lot of people are pressing a little bit. If they’re relaxed, you know they’re going to hit it. We hit a lot more quality at-bats at Baylor and even though they’re not falling right now, they’re going to."

On the competition at the QTI Classic in Waco (Baylor, Texas A&M and Western Kentucky)
— "It actually felt like a regional atmosphere, as far as the teams were. Our coaching staff was telling us, 'Take this as where you want to be in three months. You want to be playing in a tournament where these types of teams are.' Even though we got swept, we felt we were in all three games."

On what it takes to turn those losses into wins in that kind of atmosphere — "It's confidence. Coming off a sweep, it was a good confidence builder, but we didn't hit the ball like we knew we could, even though we swept them. If we have confidence, we get that extra-base hit that drives in two runs instead of popping it up and getting out of the inning."

On who is going to fill Paul Goldschmidt's spot in the lineup and bring the power — "Kyle Livingstone is doing a great job of providing some power in the lineup right now. Kyle Kubitza is just missing some balls right now. You can tell he's right on it, but fouling them off. He's going to be a big part of the lineup. Jason Martinson is missing balls too even though we watch him in practice hit a ball as far as Paul. We know it’s going to come around."

On how it feels to be back home (Texas State plays 9 out of its next 10 at Bobcat Field) — "We practiced (Tuesday) and it was like, 'Thank God, we're back at home.' We're really glad to start today and see what happens there."

On whether he'll be using 'The Circle of Life' as his batter walk-up music again — "I'm still going with 'The Lion King' this year. They gave it to us our freshmen year and I guess it kind of fits. It keeps our team loose. People start laughing, joking around and holding up the fake Simba in the dugout. It kind of keeps people loose to where it's a better atmosphere."

On some possible spoilers in terms of walk-up music this season — "There's a couple, but I guess you're going to have to find out (tonight)."

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

College Football: Videos from spring practice (3/2/10)

Lee Conoly vs Prestin Brown




Steven Kenney vs Prestin Brown

College Football: Texas State releases its 2010 schedule


Sept. 4 at Houston TBA
Sept. 11 Southern Arkansas 6 p.m.
Sept. 18 Cal Poly 6 p.m.
Sept. 25 Southern Utah 6 p.m.
Oct. 9 at Southeastern Louisiana TBA
Oct. 16 Nicholls 6 p.m.
Oct. 23 Northwestern State 3 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Stephen F. Austin 2 p.m.
Nov. 6 Central Arkansas 3 p.m.
Nov. 13 at McNeese State 7 p.m.
Nov. 20 at Sam Houston State TBA


Analysis:
Right off the bat, it looks like a decent schedule. Texas State faces a stiff challenge in its first game (Houston) and get three consecutive home games following its meeting with the Cougars. The Bobcats have a solid chance at going 3-1 before Southland Conference play, but Cal Poly had a rebuilding season in 2009 (so the Mustangs should be dangerous in 2010) and we all know how Texas State matches up with Southern Utah. The Bobcats don't have to travel to Nicholls and Northwestern State again, but they do have trips to Hammond, La. (Southeastern Louisiana) and Lake Charles, La. (McNeese State).

What are your thoughts?

College Basketball: Less cap? No, mocap!

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to create a video game? Well, former Texas State guard/forward Brandon Bush is about to live your dream.

Bush is going to help 2K Sports and Visual Concepts develop their newest installment in the NBA 2K series. He's scheduled to fly out to California on March 23-25.

"I'm extremely excited," Bush said. "I don't know how they do it, but it's going to be fun."

Bush, who played professional basketball in Europe after graduation, is now back home in Houston. He attended last Wednesday's basketball game between Texas State and Stephen F. Austin.

Monday, March 1, 2010

College Basketball: Updated standings in the SLC


Here are the current standings in the Southland Conference.

Men's Basketball
xy SHSU (13-1)
x SFA (10-4)
x UTA (8-6)
x UTSA (8-6)
x TAMUCC (8-6)
x Southeastern La. (8-6)
x Texas St. (7-7)
McNeese St. (5-9)
Nicholls St. (5-9)
Northwestern St. (5-9)
Lamar (5-9)

x - clinched berth into SLC tournament
y - clinched regular-season title

What this means for Texas State: The Bobcats needed to win last Saturday and have McNeese State beat Nicholls State to earn a berth into the SLC tournament -- and that's exactly what happened. Texas State used J.B. Conley's 42 points to beat Northwestern State, 89-75, and the Cowboys throttled the Colonels by 16 points. The Bobcats can only improve their seed if they keep winning. If Texas State loses its last two games and Nicholls State or McNeese State go on a run, the Bobcats would get the No. 8 seed.


Women's Basketball
x Lamar (12-2)
x SFA (11-3)
x TAMUCC (10-4)
x UTSA (9-5)
x UTA (8-6)
x Northwestern St. (6-8)
x SHSU (6-8)
Southeastern La. (5-9)
McNeese State (3-11)
Texas State (3-11)

What this means for Texas State: Believe it or not, the Bobcats still aren't eliminated from the SLC postseason. Texas State must win out and get a lot of help (Southeastern Louisiana to lose out, McNeese to lose out) in order to make the SLC tournament, but it's possible. One more loss eliminates the Bobcats though.