The lone undefeated team in the SoCon ventures into SEC territory to play stout 9-2 Auburn. Time to see how good this team can be! Let’s go 10 11-an-O! First pitch at 7:30 our time. For a fee, you can watch live stats. Or just have some fun with Twitter.

GAME CALLED. Geez .. can’t get game in Boone .. can’t get games away from Boone.

This just in – App State bball season is not over. Maybe.

While Sims and Company will not be dancing, there are still three other opportunities for postseason play. There’s the NIT, the CBI and the .. uh .. somethingsomething.com tournament. /shrug

We are the assumption that there is some kind of automatic bid process to the Not Invited Tournament NIT. According to wiki, “automatic bids are now awarded to all regular season conference champions who did not win their conference tournament” or get an at-large bid to the Big Dance. Yet the NIT handbook doesn’t say that, nor offer specifies regarding which conferences it targets.

App State indeed won a division title, yet CofC had a better regular-season record while finishing second in the South. The Mountaineers own a better Sagarin rating than the Cougars (126 to 139), but Cremins crew has more D1 wins (21 to 20).

If the NCAA takes 64 teams, and the NIT then picks 32 teams, then … /counts fingers, toes, keys on keyboard .. the top 96ish teams in any national ranking should be playing in either, give or take a Michigan (RPI: 93).

Last year CofC went to the CBI, while El Cid played in the … /click back, nose to screen, attempts to dictate to memory … CollegeInsider.com Bowl tournament. And we ALL know who won that last year!!! … /sarcastic look, pauses, then wonders who the heck did win it.

Oh.

This is just a convoluted way of saying, the season ain’t over until Monday afternoon.

NO SPRING BREAK FOR YOU! In Winston paper –

Charlie Cobb, ASU’s athletics director, said that the Mountaineers are probably a “bubble team” for the NIT. Two other possibilities exist — the College Basketball Invitational and the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

“We’re going to try and do a little politicking in the next few days and see what’s there,” Cobb said. “We’ll do the same for the women’s team to see where we are, and hopefully when selections are made Sunday and Monday, we can be part of the postseason. We definitely want to try and play.”

Coach Buzz Peterson said he plans to bring the team back later this week for practice. He said that the NIT might be a long shot but that he feels confident the Mountaineers will play in one of the other two tournaments.

somethingsomething.com bowl tournament!!! Can you feel the excitement?!

Awesome.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft told Boston sports radio station WEEI on Tuesday they’ve reached terms with free-agent Jets defensive end Marques Murrell, but that’s a depth signing.

While we still ruminate the possible end of men’s bball season, how ’bout these other Mountaineers?

Blue Ridge Hockey Conference Playoff Champs

The App State Club hockey team beat Catholic University, 7-5, for the Hulsey Cup. (One of these days we’re making a game.)

SoCon Wrestling Champs

Three App State wrestlers won league titles and are now headed to the NCAAs next week, the most since five went in 2005 – Tony Gravely (125), Austin Trotman (184) and Dylan Temple (174).

SoCon Men’s Indoor Track Champs
A second straight title.

Last weekend Pollard’s Pounders swept Rider 1-2-3 to go 9-0 on the season, best start evah! Today at 2 the team is at Presbyterian, then tomorrow at Auburn. And this weekend the team opens SoCon play at the Stink. Pressure? Nahhh – “Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): App State (9-0)”

TOP OF THE EIGHTH. Live stats – App State 8, Presbyterian 3.

Considering the past, not too surprising – “The Jacksonville Jaguars have scheduled a workout with Appalachian State’s star quarterback, Armanti Edwards.” Also, from cheater Patriots land – “Free agent linebacker Marques Murrell (was) in town to visit with the Patriots yesterday.”

Congrats to Wofford. The Terriers have been good all year.

They beat two SEC teams. Hung with some ranked teams. And shredded the SoCon.

Last night, they cut down App State. /sigh

The Wofford Terriers registered a breakthrough last night, earning their first Southern Conference title and NCAA Tournament berth with a 56-51 victory over the Mountaineers in a physical and somewhat strange game of two halves at Time Warner Cable Arena.

ASU buried itself too deep with a disastrous first-half performance. The Terriers offered a shovel or two to help the Mountaineers dig out in the second half, but the Mountaineers, perhaps worn from digging, couldn’t escape.

Our thoughts …

Sunday night, with just under five minutes to go and a 21-point lead over CofC, App State did something odd. Starters stayed in. And played till the end. Every timeout there was hooping and hollering. Hugs! And when the game ended with a 23-point deficit, the cable box arena exploded.

Only one problem. That was a semi-final. There was still work to be done.

We have no idea what happened after the teevee cameras went dark Sunday night and before the team tipped off late Monday. But that first half ….. yeesh. Five points in 11 minutes. Donald Sims (37 mins Sat., 38 mins Sun.) and Kellen Brand (34 mins,35 mins) were fuh-LAT. The rest of the team was fumbling.

Down 15 at the half (a challenge!), App responded!

The offense still coughed and wheezed, but the D stayed strong. And seemed to get stronger. The door was opened! The opportunity was there! LET’S GIVE ‘EM HELL BOYS!!!

But the offense just … couldn’t … quite … get … going.

At 14:42, it was a 10-point game. (Andre Williamson FG)

At 9:15, it was an 8-point game. (Williamson FG)

At 8:25, 6-point game. (Williamson FT)

At 4:00, 5 points. (Ryann Abraham FT)

At :57, 4 points. (Williamson FT)

And … and .. and …. theycouldgetnocloser.

In the final minutes of the biggest game of the season, Abraham and Williamson became the answers. And that’s just not the way App State was meant to play.

We have no idea the selection process for the NIT and the not-NIT. Chances are the season isn’t quite over yet. For now, well played tournament App State. And Wofford, ya better represent!

* image stolen from Charlotte paper’s slideshow

Not sure what to say really. App State has been here before, about 10 years ago. This is a first for Wooford. Both have a player of the year. Both had big wins Sunday. Both are ROLL-un! So who is the odds on fav to dance? This confuses us, but it’s laid out right here – “Wofford -4.5.”

AT THE HALF. Wofford up, 33-18. It ain’t pretty. Our theory – adrenaline hangover. The Mountaineers just look tired.

First Peppers went (and celebrated). Then Delhomme cut (and fans celebrated). Now this – “Fullback Brad Hoover, one of the more popular players on the Carolina Panthers roster, was released Monday, according to safety Chris Harris on his Twitter feed.”

The Greatest App Ever didn’t get to do too much at the recent NFL Combine. Stupid injury! He wasn’t 100%, so he decided to wait and show off the speedy goodness at his pro day. That day is March 16. Next Tuesday.

Any regrets of not giving it the ‘ol hampered try when all the pro world was watching? Nope.

Q. Tell us about the hamstring. Did you consider skipping the NFL Combine because of it?

A. I strained my hamstring about two weeks before the Combine while running routes at wide receiver. It was disappointing because I had been working so hard to prepare for the Combine. However, I decided to go because it wasn’t affecting my ability to throw passes. I could still play quarterback. My hamstring felt fine when I was playing quarterback. To tell you the truth, it almost feels completely healed. I decided to wait until (Appalachian State’s) Pro Day on March 16 to run my 40-yard dash and do all the other tests, along with go through the wide receiver drills. If my hamstring isn’t already 100-percent, it will be by then, or maybe even stronger than 100-percent.

Q. Do you feel a big relief after finishing the Combine?

A. Maybe a little relief. It would’ve been a big relief to do everything this past weekend. I couldn’t because (of the injury), but I will be able to do everything at my Pro Day. I still have another day to prove myself.

In interviews, most teams asked him the “is playing QB and only QB a deal breaker for you?” What do you think he said?

And by the way, enjoy 22!

NOTHING WOULD BE FINER. More AE plans.

Right now the only private workout is with Carolina. I have a rescheduled workout with the Colts and Dolphins because they can’t make it to my pro day. The Panthers workout will be on March 18th. All of these workouts will be held in school. The Panthers have been showing a good amount of interest more than any team.

I plan on doing wide receiver and quarterback drills on my pro day on the 16th.

I am back in South Carolina right now and I am continuing to workout and head up to my school for the pro day next week.

Let go by the Jets, Murrell is looking for higher ground – “Marques Murrell is scheduled to visit with the Broncos. If he signs, Murrell would likely step into a prominent role in every special teams unit and be part of the mix at outside LB as a pass rush specialist.”

Stats against CofC – 37 points. 14-of-19 shooting. 5-of-6 3pters. 4-of-4 FT. 7 rebounds. 3 steals.

Stats in 2 tourney games – 15 points. 7-of-13 shooting. 6 rebounds. 1 steal.

Averages – 26 points. 65% shooting. 6.5 rebounds. 2 steals.

Ladies and gentlemen, Kellen Brand.

The teams and faces change every year, but there’s one thing you can usually count at the Southern Conference Basketball Championships: Some senior will make sure his school plays in the championship game.

Sunday night, that man was Appalachian State’s Kellen Brand.

The hard-playing Mountaineer put up a career-high 37 points to help ASU coast past College of Charleston, 77-54, in the SoCon semifinals.

“It feels great to just finally explode,” said Brand, whose previous career high was 31 against Western Carolina in 2009.

“I was kind of surprised myself, but I just kept feeling the boost from somewhere,” Brand said. “It’s a blessing to be able to come out and play that way here against Charleston in the semifinal game. It’s a blessing, and I thank God for that.”

App State’s strategy – Keep letting Brand shoot, or feed Hunter and Butts down low (combined 22 points). Defensively, let the Cougars roam free behind the arc. Clunk or swim! And clunk they did! Again! And again! And again! Of their 64 shots, 30(!) were from downtown. And only 8 found net.

“Appalachian played some great basketball,” said Cougars coach Bobby Cremins. “We were outplayed and outcoached. I’m disappointed we didn’t make it a great game. I’m disappointed for our team. This is one of our toughest losses since I’ve been back in coaching.”

Now sets up the ultimate warm and fuzzy tonight, live on ESPN2. Buzz Peterson makes his fourth straight conference final as an App State coach. All that’s standing between him and a second straight career SoCon tourney title is …. Wofford? Really????

Really. Them Dogs do hunt.

Wofford owned the Time Warner Cable Arena’s paint, controlled the glass and ultimately ended WCU’s dream season with a 77-58 victory over the Catamounts in the semifinal round of the Southern Conference tournament.

“They did a good job of controlling the tempo,” WCU coach Larry Huntersaid. “They got some big rebounds and big baskets when they needed to. We were struggling to get anything going.”

The Terriers (25-8) advanced to their first championship game since joining the league in 1997-98.

Here’s some photo goodness.

Go Apps!

Saturday was an App sweep! Men beat El Cid, 71-61. They play in the semifinals Sunday at 8:30 on SportsSouth. The women beat Furman, 71-53, and advance to play 2 seed Lil Sammy Sunday at 2:30. And the baseball team won 8-5 over Rider, to go a school-record best 8-0 on the season.

WINNING FORMULA. Winston paper report – “It wasn’t the same ASU team last night, rather one that shrugged off some first half jitters, defended well, attacked inside and took control in the second half behind the scoring prowess of Donald Sims, who finished with 30 points.”

Davidson’s already done. /high five. The Bulldog battle tonight decides who plays App State tomorrow. Here’s the men’s side and the women’s side of the tourney. App State women play Saturday morning at 11:30ish. Oh, and there’s baseball in Hickory all weekend. Go Apps!

FROM FRIDAY. El Cid advances, 55-43. With less than 10 minutes to go, Lil Sammy only had 25 points! Other games. Saturday matchups. Over on the diamond, App State now 7-0 after 7-5 win.

Welcome back to AppFan. Time to play some oddsmakers, or as we like to call it, “are you glad to read us or is that a goal post in your pocket?” Throw out the first one Mr. Josh Seneca Fritts Kareem Livingston Bunn Sheehan! ….

What are the odds Donald Sims embarrasses the coaches’ POY vote?

We’ll say 88%. The half-man/half-jump shot had a breakout season. He’s been good before, but never this good. He’s the league’s leading scorer at 20 points a game. He’s been in single digits once all year. And at the line he’s more automatic than a recalled Toyota.

But he has one problem. He can disappear. He can go quiet. And when he ain’t hitting, the App State offense ain’t either. Doesn’t happen often or for very long, but happen it does. He’s the gas man. If he dries up, there ain’t no fie-yah. Ye hear that. No fi-yah! Players of the year burn it up. And he’s gonna have to. What’s next?

What are the odds the App State’s women’s team advances further than the men?

We’ll say 33%! Vincent’s crew – and she was coach of the year, ya know – has lost just twice in their last 13 games, and that was by a combined 7 points. You know who they lost to? League champ ‘Nooga at their house by 3, and at the red-hot Stink by 4. Those are good losses, if you can say such a thing.

They got the league’s most efficient offense and its stiffest defense. And if you do get a shot off, it’s blocked! GET THAT OUTTA HERE! They could go all the way. They could be in the title game. They could go dancin’!

On the men’s side, this ain’t the same team that lost to King. Sure, the names are the same, but they’ve been eatin’ cold sandwiches. They’ve been playing shirts and skins at practice. They lose before the final, and they’re walking back to Boone. Barefoot! The coach has a house in Charlotte. He’ll be in bed before they find interstate!! Ain’t no way they don’t make the final. No. Way.

What are the odds Wofford makes the final?
99.9%! Cause there’s a .1% chance an asteroid hits their team bus and they forfeit a game!

Look at who’s in their bracket. You got the ‘Whee, which used to be good but smells like its football team now. They won 10 of their first 11 games, but lost 5 of their last 8. What kinda SoCon team has a better record out of the league than in? A loser! That’s the kind of team!

Elon ain’t beatin nobody, other than Davidson. (Game done!) As for the other two teams, Furman won as many league games as Greensboro did all season!! So it’s Wofford all the way! No doubt!

Last one! What are the odds App State goes dancing?

Well, we already got ‘em in the final under threat of a death march, so we really can’t back down now. They should get past the Bulldogs and they’ve proven they can hang with Charleston. Can they beat ‘em? /shrug. You know they wanna play ‘em again. Grudge match! So yeah, we’ll say they make the finals.

But can they beat Wofford? /shrug. They did once, by 1, and at Wofford, and waaayyy back in early December. Since then the dogs have lost twice. Twice! And both times on the road, at Kent State by 7, and at Charleston by 2.

And yeah, App State did beat Wooford. But three weeks later they were being blown out by Campbell. Campbell! They got blown out by Camels! Can you believe it!! Then they lose at home to King! Which is like the Nets taking out Kobe! Shouldn’t happen!

Yeah they’ve gotten better since then, but Wofford’s been playing better longer. And they got the league’s best coach and player … according to the coaches. So ….

Odds App goes dancing? We’ll say ….. 40%!

That’s it for oddsmakers! Odds are, we won! Time to take a break. When we come back, Bob McKilop crying for Five Glorious Minutes. And later, Brittney Griner, Elizabeth Lambert and Lindsey Vonn. Sounds like the hottub at your house, Clayton.