Reviewing and previewing local college basketball:
WHO'S HOT
Karim Telfer. The Augusta State junior guard posted a career-high 27 points in last week's 70-52 win over Winston-Salem State. Telfer went 11-for-12 from the foul line and continues to lead the Peach Belt Conference in free-throw shooting at 90 percent.
WHO'S NOT
USC Aiken men. After opening the season with three consecutive victories, the Pacers have deflated. The team has lost five of its past six, including a 33-point pounding at Carson-Newman after beating the Eagles a month earlier. The Pacers then lost to NAIA foe Savannah College & Art Design by 14.
NOTE OF THE WEEK
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced this week the addition of three schools: Claflin (Orangeburg, S.C.), Lincoln (Jefferson City, Mo.) and Langston (Langston, Okla.). The institutions will begin non-conference play in fall 2005 and must wait four years to officially join the SIAC.
Later this decade, the SIAC will have 16 schools and will divide into east and west divisions. What does this mean for the conference's smaller schools like Paine? If each team plays at least once a year in every sport, the Lions' travel budget will skyrocket, especially with trips to Jefferson City (834 miles) and Langston (1,090 miles).
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
More baffling? Lynyrd Skynyrd and Black Sabbath not yet inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - or USC Aiken's seemingly annual December swoon. The Pacers have not finished above .500 in December since the 2000-01 season. USC Aiken went 1-4 this month.
RANKING THE MEN'S TEAMS
1. Augusta State (5-3). Through eight games, Jaguars playing well considering the influx of new players and a new coach.
2. Paine (1-5, 0-2 SIAC). Lions second in SIAC in turnover margin (+2.83).
3. USC Aiken (4-5). See above.
4. Aiken Tech (3-8). Twelve of Knights' 15 players are freshmen.
RANKING THE WOMEN'S TEAMS
1. USC Aiken (9-4). Lana Mandic almost shooting better from the field (49.6) than the free-throw line (52.9).
2. Augusta State (6-4). Brandi Hollingsworth shooting the same from inside and outside the arc (37 percent).
3. Paine (2-4, 2-0 SIAC). Chantal Murray among the SIAC's best in steals (4th, 3.33 per game) and assists (8th, 2.67).
GAME OF THE WEEK
Augusta State women at Benedict 6 p.m., Thursday. The Lady Jaguars will have had two weeks off by the time they play in Columbia, S.C. The team needed the rest after blowout losses at Georgia and Shaw. Benedict should provide a stern test as well.
The defensive-minded Lady Tigers are 5-2 and won the SIAC Tournament last season.
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com
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