New podcast up, with a request

The latest edition of The Star's JSU Sports Podcast is up, and there's a special request for your opinion in this week's edition. More on that in a minute.

This week Al and I talk about how the JSU men's basketball team turned a six-game win streak into a two-game losing streak, and how they hope to turn that around in tonight's visit from Berry College before diving into the meat of the conference schedule against Eastern Illinois on Saturday. Also, we talk about the women's team finally scoring its first two wins this season against Division I teams before falling prey to N.C. State in a big way.

Then we get into the still-developing football schedule for 2009, and that's where your opinion comes in. JSU officials have said they want to beef up the schedule to better impress the playoff selection committee in case they wind up in a situation at season's end like they did this year. Plus, the UTC series has been delayed at least year. That leaves Jax State with two games left to play. Who would you like to see visit Paul Snow Stadium, or where do you think the Gamecocks should go? Should they line up against the Championship Subdivison's elite (A la Appalachian State), or look for middle-of-the-pack teams more like themselves (think Coastal Carolina or Nichols State)? Or, should they play for the pocketbook, and schedule another Georgia Tech-style game against one of the upper-tier Bowl Subdivision squads?

Let us know by posting a comment here, or e-mailing me at bcunningham@annistonstar.com. Be sure to tell us what specific teams you'd like to see them play, and why. And don't forget, there are two openings on the schedule. We'll discuss your picks on the podcast when we get enough suggestions to work with.

In the meantime, click the player below to hear this week's episode.


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Hoops on the tube

According to ESPN.com's college basketball schedule, Jacksonville State's game at icy Iowa State on Saturday will be part of the network's Full Court Package and can be seen on ESPN360.com.

Before the Gamecocks go to Iowa, however, they have to take care of some business called UAB.

It'll be an emotional game for JSU guard Jonathan Toles, no doubt. Toles was hoping to follow his pro-playing twin brothers Ronell and Donell Taylor to UAB, but the Blazers chose another guard over him in the recruiting process. He'll talk about that in Wednesday's print edition of the Star.

It isn't immediately known if freshman forward Brandon Crawford will be available to play against the Blazers. Team officials are hoping he will, but it likely will be a game-time decision.

Crawford hurt his knee in a game-day practice hours before the Gamecocks' OVC opener at Tennessee Tech Dec. 6. That day, by the way, was the last time UAB played.

Their stock is rising

After spending virtually all of last year languishing near the bottom of the publicly available basketball RPI rankings, Jacksonville State is now living in the upper atmosphere.

The Gamecocks, who have the best overall record in the Ohio Valley Conference through Sunday’s games, are the highest rated OVC team in both the rpiratings.com and realtimerpi.com indexes.

They are No. 66 in rpiratings and No. 67 in realtimerpi. Murray State is second on both lists at No. 88.

The Gamecocks are also the top OVC team in the Sagarin ratings (No. 97).

What’s next? Getting points in the AP or Coaches poll?

The JSU women, meanwhile, are No. 330 out of 340 teams in the rpiratings.com list and No. 333 on the realtimerpi list.