Southern Conference Rundown: SoCon Power Rankings, Elon Season Update

As a contributor for MocsMania, a Southern Conference basketball blog, I am asked to provide power rankings on a weekly basis as part of a series entitled "Scanning the SoCon." I am also tasked with selecting the player of the week and the upcoming game of the week in the Southern Conference for this series. On some weeks, I am also assigned questions that range from a wide variety of Southern Conference related topics. To read this week's Scanning the SoCon, which includes other SoCon writers' opinions on power rankings, player of the week, various SoCon questions, etc., hop HERE. The post below will include my personal power rankings for the SoCon and a season update for Elon's basketball squad.  

SoCon Power Rankings

1.       Davidson (14-11, 10-1)

2.       Chattanooga (15-11, 9-2)

3.       Elon (14-11, 7-3)

4.       Wofford (13-10, 8-3)

5.       Western Carolina (13-11, 6-3)

6.       Samford (11-15, 5-6)

7.       Georgia Southern (11-14, 4-6)

8.       UNC Greensboro (11-14, 4-6)

9.       Appalachian State (7-16, 3-7)

10.     Furman (7-16, 1-9)

11.     Citadel (4-22, 0-11)

Current State of the Elon Phoenix

Elon (14-11, 7-3) extended its winning-streak to four with home victories over UNC Greensboro and Georgia Southern this weekend. Senior forward Ryley Beaumont paced the Phoenix with 14 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one block in Elon’s 72-66 win over UNC Greensboro on Thursday night. Beaumont became the fourth member of the current Phoenix squad to score over 1,000 career points, joining teammates Jack Isenbarger, Lucas Troutman and Sebastian Koch in eclipsing the century mark in scoring for Elon. Elon is now one of just two NCAA Division I basketball programs to feature four current players with over 1,000 points scored.

Elon seemed to be in complete control of this contest after entering the intermission with a ten point lead, surrendering just 25 first-half points to the visiting Spartans. However, Elon entered a lengthy cold streak from the floor, scoring just nine points in the first nine minutes of the second half. As a result, the Spartans were able to storm back to take the lead, using an 11-1 run to capture a 44-41 lead with under 11 minutes remaining. However, Elon came right back with a 9-0 run of their own to regain a lead they ultimately never relinquished. Elon won the game in spite of its dreadful shooting from outside, connecting on just two of 20 three-point attempts. The Phoenix has now defeated the Spartans nine consecutive times.

Elon seized its most thrilling victory over the season over Georgia Southern on Saturday night. The Phoenix defeated the Eagles, 60-59, as senior guard Jack Isenbarger hit a game-winning three pointer with .2 remaining in regulation. Beaumont led the Phoenix in points (14), rebounds (13) and steals (2), but Isenbarger stole the show with his clutch three-pointer from well behind the arc. With the win, Elon remained undefeated at home in Southern Conference play. 

NFL 2013 Coach of the Year Honors: Carolina's Ron Rivera Stands Above Stacked Crowd of Worthy Candidates

The NFL will celebrate its third annual “NFL Honors” event on the stage of Radio City Music Hall in New York tonight at 8 P.M. on FOX. The Associated Press will present many of the accolades for the 2013 NFL season on the eve of Super Bowl XLVII. Of all the awards that will be handed out tonight, the Coach of the Year Honors offers the most intrigue.

            There are a bevy of coaches that merit praise for their work in the 2013 season. Chip Kelly adapted to the professional game commendably in his inaugural season, leading the Eagles to a 10-6 record and the NFC East title. Kelly inherited a 4-12 club that finished in last-place in the division a season ago. He successfully changed the culture of the team, overseeing a potent offense (2^nd in total yards per game) and a defensive revival as the Eagles won seven of their final eight contests to secure a playoff berth for the first time in three seasons.

            Speaking of head coaches that thrived in their first year at the helm, the work of San Diego’s Mike McCoy cannot go unnoticed. McCoy steered the Chargers to their first playoff appearance since 2009. San Diego finished with a 9-7 mark, earning the second wild-card spot in the AFC playoffs. The Chargers were the hottest team in the NFL down the tail-end of the season, winning four straight to reach the postseason, including a crucial victory over the Broncos at Mile High Stadium on a “Thursday Night Football” contest. The Chargers won their first playoff game in five years, stomping the Bengals in Cincinnati in the AFC Wild Card round. Of the eight new head coaches hired in 2013, McCoy was the only one to lead his team to the Divisional round of the playoffs.

            Two NFC West head coaches must be applauded for their 2013 season. Let’s start with Pete Carroll, who led the Seahawks to a 13-3 record and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Not only has Carroll has established the NFL’s top defensive unit, he also has crafted the “Seahawk Way”, which his players endorsed on Super Bowl Media Day. With a victory tomorrow night, Carroll will become just the third coach to win a NCAAF National Championship and a Super Bowl.

Pete Carroll has the Seahawks on the verge of their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

            Bruce Arians, another rookie head coach that flourished in his first opportunity at the helm, guided the Arizona Cardinals to a 10-6 record in 2013. The Cardinals featured a five-game improvement from 2012 to 2013 and stayed in the hunt for a playoff spot, despite playing in the ultra-competitive NFC West. The Cardinals recorded impressive blowout victories over the Panthers and Colts and defeated the Seahawks in Seattle, handing Russell Wilson his only career loss at CenturyLink Field. Arians was unable to get his team to the postseason, but he was able to form an elite defense that will likely be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

            Kelly, McCoy, Carroll and Arians have all earned consideration for the nod as the NFL’s best coach of 2013. However, in my opinion it is a three-man race for this year’s NFL Coach of the Year Award.

3. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

            Andy Reid transformed the Chiefs into a winner in his first season in Kansas City, leading the team to 11 wins and a postseason appearance, a year after the team finished with the worst record in the NFL. Reid took over a Chiefs club that desperately needed a fresh start after winning just two games in 2012. Under the wing of Reid, the Chiefs stormed out of the gates to a 9-0 start. Kansas City came down to earth in the following weeks, losing three in a row en route to a 2-5 finish to the season. Even so, Reid directed a 9-win improvement from last year, helping the Chiefs make their first postseason since 2010.

 Reid revitalized a Chiefs’ offense that had not taken advantage of its immense talent. Jamaal Charles, who is up for the Offensive Player of the Year Award, had a career year in Reid’s offensive system. Charles rushed for a NFL-best 12 touchdowns in 2013, racking up 1,286 rushing yards in the process. Alex Smith also had his finest season as a QB, tossing 27 touchdowns passes versus just 13 interceptions.

The knock on Reid will be that the Chiefs posted a 10-0 record against non-playoff teams this season, but a 1-5 mark against teams that qualified for the postseason. Nonetheless, Reid engineered a major turnaround for the Chiefs in 2013 and now the future looks suddenly very bright for the franchise.

2. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

Bill Belichick had the burden of dealing with the Aaron Hernandez debacle this offseason. Distractions were at all-time high in New England after Hernandez was charged with murder. Belichick, however, refused to let the team get buried by off-the-field diversions. Belichick mandated that his players not discuss the Hernandez investigation with reporters, instead demanding they focus on just football and the task at hand.

No team in the NFL lost more impact players to season-ending injuries than New England. Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and Tommy Kelly were all placed on injured reserve, testing the depth of the maligned Patriots’ defense. The Patriots also lost Sebastian Vollmer and Rob Gronkowski to season-ending injuries on the offensive side of the ball. Yet, the Patriots were able win 12 games and capture another AFC East title in 2013, seizing a first-round bye for the fourth straight season.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft believes this might be Belichick’s best coaching job in New England. Think about the magnitude of that statement. Belichick led the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory in 2001 with then-backup quarterback Tom Brady. He guided the Patriots to a perfect 16-0 season in 2007. A season later, he led the Patriots to 11 wins, even with Brady sidelined for the entire season after tearing his ACL in Week 1. Kraft gave Belichick the ultimate praise by stating that this may be his best season yet, given the track record of his Hall-of-Fame head coach.

1. Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers

No coach is more meritorious of the Coach of the Year Honors than Ron Rivera

Ron Rivera deserves the nod for Coach of the Year for turning around a Panthers’ squad that had experienced immense losing in the past half-decade. After the Panthers started the season off with two ugly losses, many were calling for the dismissal of Rivera. A report surfaced that the Panthers had begun looking for potential replacements to supersede Rivera. The league-wide perception was that Rivera would be fired if his club were to lose to the lowly Giants in Week 3. The Panthers, though, played an inspired game against the Giants that day, pummeling the visitors 38-0 as they handed Tom Coughlin his most lopsided loss since taking over the head coaching duties in New York.

The Panthers were unable to sustain their success after their bye-week and got crushed on the road in Arizona. Rivera’s job again appeared on the line as the club fell to 1-3 on the year. That is when Rivera acknowledged he needed to take more risks, including keeping the offense on the field in fourth-and-short scenarios. He stayed true to his word in the first game following these remarks, going for it twice on the same drive on fourth-and-1 situations, rather than kick a field goal. The Panthers converted both plays, with the second resulting in a touchdown in the team’s 35-10 victory over the Vikings. This was the first victory for the Panthers in a stretch of 11 wins in their final 12 contests. Rivera consequently received the nickname "Riverboat Ron" after showing a recurrent willingness for gambles. Rivera’s risks paid off for the Panthers, who reached the postseason for the first time since 2008 as they won the NFC South and seized a first-round bye in the playoffs.

NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Patriots, Panthers Notch Statement Wins; Lions Complete Historic Collapse

1.      Denver Broncos (12-3)                                    Last Week: 2

Peyton Manning tossed his NFL-record 51^st touchdown pass of the season in the Broncos' blowout victory over the Texans, surpassing Tom Brady’s 50 TD mark from 2007…The Broncos can secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win at Oakland. The Broncos did, however, suffer a devastating blow on Sunday as they lost linebacker Von Miller to a season-ending ACL tear. The Broncos’ defense must make significant adjustments to compensate for the loss of Miller.

2.      Seattle Seahawks (12-3)                                  Last Week: 1

The Seahawks were inept on offense in their 17-10 loss to the visiting Cardinals, totaling just 102 yards to go along with nine penalties. Russell Wilson never found his groove in his first career loss at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks remain in good shape as they can gain home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win versus St. Louis next Sunday. Even so, NFL teams want to be playing their best football entering the postseason and it seems as if Seattle’s overall play has regressed in recent weeks.

3.      Carolina Panthers (11-4)                      Last Week: 3

The Panthers clinched their first playoff appearance since 2008 in thrilling fashion as Cam Newton led the Panthers on a game-winning, 65-yard drive capped off by a 14-yard TD reception by Domenik Hixon (his first TD catch of the season) with 23 seconds remaining in regulation. Carolina can wrap up the NFC South and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win next Sunday at Atlanta. The Panthers are still alive for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, but they would need the Seahawks to lose at home for a second straight week (versus Rams in Week 17) and the 49ers to defeat the surging Cardinals in Arizona. This would set up a three-way tie between the Panthers, Seahawks and 49ers, in which the 49ers would claim the NFC West title and the Panthers would own the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed by virtue of their victory over San Francisco at Candlestick Park earlier in the season.

4.      New England Patriots (11-4)                Last Week: 5

The Patriots became the first team in NFL history to win 10 division titles in an 11-year span after trouncing the Ravens, who bounced New England from the playoffs in the AFC Championship game last January. The Patriots used a steady rushing attack led by LeGarrette Blount (76 yards, 2 TD’s) to embarrass the Ravens in Baltimore, 41-7. The Patriots’ opportunistic defense forced four turnovers, including two interceptions from rookie cornerback Logan Ryan, a fumble recovery in the end zone by Chandler Jones and a 74-yard pick-six by safety Tavon Wilson. The Patriots can clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC with a victory at Gillette Stadium versus the Buffalo Bills in Week 17. In the unlikely event that the Broncos lose to the Raiders, the Patriots could seize the No. 1 seed and thus home-field advantage throughout the AFC portion of the postseason.

5.      San Francisco 49ers (11-4)                  Last Week: 4

The 49ers did not play their “A” game versus the Falcons on “Monday Night Football”, but were able to send Candlestick Park an exciting farewell via NaVorro Bowman's 89-yard pick-six to seal a close win and a playoff berth for the third straight season.

6.      Philadelphia Eagles (9-6)                      Last Week: 11

Despite knowing that they had everything on the line for next week’s finale at Dallas and essentially nothing on the line against a Bears club trying to clinch a division title, the Eagles provided one of the most dominating performances from any team this entire season. Nick Foles, the NFL leader in passer rating, was 21 of 25 for 230 yards, and set a franchise record with a completion percentage of 84.0. In nine starts this season, Foles has thrown a whopping 25 TD passes versus just two interceptions…LeSean McCoy, the NFL leader in rushing yards, torched the Bears for 133 yards and two TD’s in the ground attack.

7.      Cincinnati Bengals (10-5)                      Last Week: 12

The Bengals clinched the AFC North title for the third time in the Marvin Lewis era by virtue of their throttling of the Vikings and the Ravens’ loss to the Patriots.

8.      Arizona Cardinals (10-5)                                  Last Week: 9

The Cardinals’ defense stymied the Seahawks potent offense, sacking quarterback Russell Wilson four times, while also holding him to a career-low 40.7 completion percentage and a career-worst 108 yards. Carson Palmer almost blew the game by tossing four interceptions, but the Cardinals’ elite defense compensated for its QB’s gaffes. The Cardinals are a dangerous team, possessing arguably the third best defense in the league (behind only Carolina and Seattle); nevertheless, they will need some major help to make the playoffs. Even if the Cardinals defeat the 49ers next week, they will still need the 4-11 Buccaneers to go on the road and beat the 10-5 Saints (7-0 at home) to reach the postseason.

9.      New Orleans Saints (10-5)                   Last Week: 7

The Saints choked away a chance at clinching the NFC South title in Carolina. They were unable to contain Cam Newton in the final minute of the contest, who was without the services of WR Steve Smith (injured earlier in the game) or the luxury of a single timeout. The Saints can still win the NFC South with a victory and a Panthers’ loss to the Falcons. Then again, the Saints can miss the postseason entirely if they lose at home to the Bucs and Arizona defeats San Francisco.

10.  Indianapolis Colts (10-5)                      Last Week: 14

There is a case to be made that the Colts’ midseason struggles were just a fluke, after they defeated another elite team on Sunday. The Colts have now beaten four Super Bowl contenders this regular season—the 49ers (in San Francisco), the Seahawks, the Broncos, and the Chiefs this past Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

11.  Kansas City Chiefs (11-4)                    Last Week: 6

The Chiefs laid a dud in a potential playoff preview against the AFC South champion Colts. The Chiefs had much more to play for—with the No. 1 seed in the AFC still within reach—yet were overmatched by the visiting Colts.

12.  Chicago Bears (8-7)                             Last Week: 8

The Bears’ 54-11 loss to the Eagles was an embarrassment for the franchise. The Bears failed to show up in a game that would have a secured a division championship with a win. Jay Cutler played horrendous, throwing erratic passes all night long until finally Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin intercepted the maligned QB and ran it back 54 yards for a touchdown. The Bears’ biggest problems, however, lie in their inability to stop the run game. The Bears dead last rushing defense must make a stand against rookie of the year candidate Eddie Lacy and the Packers next week if they have any hopes of beating their rival to sneak into the playoffs with the NFC North crown.

13.  Miami Dolphins (8-7)                           Last Week: 10

Miami blew a golden opportunity to control their own destiny as their inadequacies on the offensive line were exposed once again in their deflating loss to the Bills…The Dolphins will reach the postseason with a victory over the Jets at home AND a San Diego victory over the Chiefs.

14.  San Diego Chargers (8-7)                     Last Week: 15

Ryan Matthews continued his torrid stretch in the ground game, rushing for 99 yards and a TD in the Chargers’ 26-13 victory over the visiting Raiders. Matthews has posted a career-best 1,111 rushing yards on the season. The Chargers still need help to make the postseason even if they defeat the Chiefs in Week 17. San Diego’s playoff fate rests on the shoulders of the Jets (who must beat the Dolphins in Miami) and the Bengals (who must beat the Ravens at home) for the Chargers to grab the No. 6 seed in the AFC.

15.  Baltimore Ravens (8-7)                         Last Week: 13

The Ravens no longer control their own destiny after getting smacked by the Patriots. The 41-7 defeat was their worst home loss in franchise history. If Miami and San Diego win their respective games, the Ravens will miss the playoffs even with a victory at Cincinnati as the three-way tiebreaker would go to the Dolphins.

16.  Dallas Cowboys (8-7)                          Last Week: 18

Tony Romo put the team on his back in a dramatic 24-23 victory over the Redskins. Romo can no longer carry the team because of a herniated disk in his lumbar region that will force him into season-ending surgery. The Cowboys will rely on backup QB Kyle Orton to defeat the Eagles in a winner-take all NFC East showdown on Sunday night.

17.  Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8)                       Last Week: 20

The Steelers nail-biting victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field kept their slim playoff hopes alive. In order for Pittsburgh to make the postseason, the Steelers need to defeat the Browns at home next week and the Dolphins, Ravens and Chargers must all lose their respective contests. For the Steelers, who were 2-6 at the midway point of the season, to even be in the playoff picture in the final week of the season is a testament to the elite quarterback play of Ben Roethlisberger.

18.  Green Bay Packers (7-7-1)                  Last Week: 16

The Packers can wash away any memories from their frustrating home defeat to the Steelers, thanks to the Bears’ loss to the Eagles. The Packers can win the NFC North with a win at Chicago this Sunday, an impressive feat for a team deprived of its best player for the latter half off the season.

19.  St. Louis Rams (7-8)                            Last Week: 19

Zac Stacy led the Rams’ improving offense with 104 yards and a TD in their 23-13 victory over the visiting Buccaneers. The defense did not disappoint for the Rams either. Defensive player of the year candidate Robert Quinn tied his career high with 3 sacks on Sunday to boost his season total to 18, the most in the NFL and the most in a single season in Rams history. (Via ESPN Stats & Information)

20.  Buffalo Bills (6-9)                                 Last Week: 24

The Bills sacked Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill seven times in their 19-0 bashing of their AFC East rivals. In doing so, the Bills extended their league-lead in sacks to 56.0, providing another stellar outing at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

21.  New York Jets (7-8)                            Last Week: 22

The Jets delivered an inspired victory for head coach Rex Ryan, who told his team he would likely be fired at the end of the season. With 7 wins on the season and one game still left to play, the Jets have vastly exceeded expectations.

22.  Tennessee Titans (6-9)                         Last Week: 21

The Titans notched their first division win of the season by defeating the Jaguars 20-16 on Sunday. The win may be too little too late for head coach Mike Munchak, who has posted a dreadful 5-12 record against AFC South opponents in his three-year tenure. Overall, the Titans are a middling 21-26 since Munchak took over the rains in 2011.

23.  New York Giants (6-9)                                    Last Week: 25

Tom Coughlin should be lauded for leading a club that started the year 0-6 to six wins in their past nine contests…Eli Manning threw his 26^th pick of the year in the Giants’ 23-20 overtime victory over the Lions, setting the franchise single-season record for interceptions thrown.

24.  Detroit Lions (7-8)                               Last Week: 17

The Lions failed to win the NFC North despite a 6-3 start to the season and critical quarterback injuries to the Packers and Bears. Detroit lost winnable games at home to the lowly Buccaneers and most recently to the Giants in this catastrophe, likely sealing the fate for head coach Jim Schwartz. The Lions, who have yet to win a game the entire month of December, look foolish for giving turnover-prone QB Matthew Stafford a lucrative contract extension this past offseason.

25.  Minnesota Vikings (4-10-1)                  Last Week: 23

Adrian Peterson said on Friday that he looked forward to playing for Leslie Frazier for the rest of his career, but can the Vikings afford to keep the embattled coach after another lopsided defeat?

26.  Atlanta Falcons (4-11)                          Last Week: 29

The Falcons almost beat the 49ers in the Candlestick Park finale. Could they upset the Panthers next Sunday at the Georgia Dome to foil Carolina’s division title hopes?

27.  Cleveland Browns (4-11)                     Last Week: 27

The Browns’ defense has staggered to the finish line in 2013 as they continue to crumble late in first-halves and at clutch moments at the end of the games…Entering Week 17, Josh Gordon leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,564), yards per game (120.3) and yards per reception (19.6). Gordon also has recorded a league-high 28 receptions of 20 yards or more and ranks fourth in the NFL with 619 yards-after-catch.

28.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11)             Last Week: 28

The Buccaneers mustered just 170 total yards in their loss to the Rams, setting a season low for the second straight week. Does a second consecutive dismal offensive showing put the nail in the coffin for head coach Greg Schiano?

29.  Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11)                   Last Week: 26

With home losses to the Bills and Titans in consecutive contests, the Jaguars have lost all the momentum they gained from winning four of five in weeks 10-14.

30.  Oakland Raiders (4-11)                                    Last Week: 30

Dennis Allen's record fell to 8-23 in his coaching tenure in Oakland after Sunday's loss to the Chargers. The Raiders appear headed for a second consecutive 4-12 finish to the season, putting Allen’s job status in jeopardy.

31.  Washington Redskins (3-12)                 Last Week: 31

Pierre Garcon caught 11 passes for 144 yards on Sunday, breaking Art Monk’s single-season franchise reception record in the process. Garcon has caught a league-leading 107 passes this season.

32.  Houston Texans (2-13)                         Last Week: 32

With four catches on Sunday and 103 receptions for the season, Andre Johnson joined Wes Welker as the only players in NFL history to record five seasons with at least 100 catches.

NFL Week 16 Picks

Minnesota Vikings (4-9-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (9-5)

Indianapolis Colts (9-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)

Miami Dolphins (8-6) at Buffalo Bills (5-9)

Denver Broncos (11-3) at Houston Texans (2-12)

Cleveland Browns (4-10) at New York Jets (6-8)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10) at St. Louis Rams (6-8)

New Orleans Saints (10-4) at Carolina Panthers (10-4)

Tennessee Titans (5-9) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10)

Dallas Cowboys (7-7) at Washington Redskins (3-11)

New York Giants (5-9) at Detroit Lions (7-7)

Arizona Cardinals (9-5) at Seattle Seahawks (12-2)

Oakland Raiders (4-10) at San Diego Chargers (7-7)

New England Patriots (10-4) at Baltimore Ravens (8-6)

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-8) at Green Bay Packers (7-6-1)

Chicago Bears (8-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-6)

Atlanta Falcons (4-10) at San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

WEEK BY WEEK RESULTS 2013

Week 1: 11-5

Week 2: 13-3

Week 3: 6-10 

Week 4: 11-4  (Byes: Carolina, Green Bay)

Week 5: 8-6 (Byes: Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Washington)

Week 6: 9-6 (Byes: Atlanta, Miami)

Week 7: 10-5 (Byes: New Orleans, Oakland)

Week 8: 10-3 (Byes: Chicago, Tennessee, Indianapolis, San Diego, Baltimore, 

Houston)

Week 9: 9-4 (Byes: Denver, Detroit, NY Giants, Arizona, San Francisco, Jacksonville)

Week 10: 7-7 (Byes: Cleveland, New England, NY Jets, Kansas City)

Week 11: 8-7 (Byes: Dallas, St. Louis)

Week 12: 6-7-1 (Byes: Seattle, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Philadelphia) 

Week 13: 11-5

Week 14: 11-5

Week 15: 8-8  

Season Record: 138-85-1