WBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[NACfan215]

NACfan215's post got me to look up Marian's stats. For the season (and within conference play), they took 26 3FG att/game and 29 2FG att/game.
They made .325 of their 3FG att, a reasonable pct, equivalent to .487 for 2FGs. Where they were somewhat deficient was in the offensive rebound category, seems to me. They got 30 pct of possible offensive rebounds (.31 in NAC play). If you shoot a lot of threes, the number 1 rule is to contest for offensive rebounds, since you're going to miss 2/3 of the 3FGs.
When I say contest for offensive rebounds, I mean 3 or 4 of your players doing so.
That said, Marian did alright: 9-9 in NAC play and 13-13 overall.
Most of the NAC teams below them lived and died with the 2.

Agreed, they were a very good team and a tough team to beat when making their 3s, however if you look at their record after Zuts left (Mid to late January) they were very average at best.  What I was referring to is next years squad, which I believe will struggle a lot more than this year, mainly for two reason.  1. Like you said when you rely on the 3s so much you have to be above avg at offense rebounding, their problem next year is they lose their top two (if not their only two) offense rebounding threats in Zuts and Becker.  2.  And arguebly just as important is an inside out game, which frees up shooters for open shots.  With Becker gone there is no threat inside which frees up teams to focus solely on the shooters,  when you have a big that is as good as a passer as Becker was it frees up alot of open shots for your good shooters.   I would almost say its a bigger hit to a good 3 point shooting team losing Becker and the inside present than it would be to lose your best 3 point shooter?


But...anyone can get hot on any night.

[WLCALUM83]

What also helped last season was Marian had the best 3-pt shooter in all of D3 last year in terms of FG pct. (Albert).

[WLCALUM83]

Bittersweet news here:

http://northernac.org/releases/20120517mbbcw

[WLCALUM83]

Dominican's got a new coach:

http://northernac.org/sports/wbkb/2012-13/releases/20120604xp587f

[NACfan215]

New president and AD at lakeland after 20 years, could see some big changes on the athletic front.   

[NACfan215]

Well I figured we could get some preseason chatter going seeing as Monday is the official start to the season and teams can officially start practice.

Any big news over the summer?  Who are the current favorites?  What can we expect from non-conference play?  Anyone want to give a crack at a preseason ranking of the NAC?

One big thing that I noticed in my search was from the WLC team, and maybe this is already common knowledge but the reigning NAC freshman of the year Katelyn Kuehl is no longer on the roster?  Is this correc, and if so was it a transfer or change of heart for basketball? How does that change WLC season predictions and where they stand within the NAC?  After losing Johnson to graduation and now Kuehl, is that to much to replace?  Maybe WLCALUM has some input on this?

I think its going to be a great year with more teams vying for the top spots and a more balanced outcome to the season (not sure if there are the 1-2 dominate teams as in years past)

Good Luck to all the teams as they start practices on Monday and may everyone have a safe and injury free season.

[thrunt01]

Well I figured we could get some preseason chatter going seeing as Monday is the official start to the season and teams can officially start practice.

Any big news over the summer?  Who are the current favorites?  What can we expect from non-conference play?  Anyone want to give a crack at a preseason ranking of the NAC?

One big thing that I noticed in my search was from the WLC team, and maybe this is already common knowledge but the reigning NAC freshman of the year Katelyn Kuehl is no longer on the roster?  Is this correc, and if so was it a transfer or change of heart for basketball? How does that change WLC season predictions and where they stand within the NAC?  After losing Johnson to graduation and now Kuehl, is that to much to replace?  Maybe WLCALUM has some input on this?

I think its going to be a great year with more teams vying for the top spots and a more balanced outcome to the season (not sure if there are the 1-2 dominate teams as in years past)

Good Luck to all the teams as they start practices on Monday and may everyone have a safe and injury free season.

I'm glad to report, for a variety of selfish reasons, that Kuehl is now a member of the UW Oshkosh Women's basketball team. WLC will still be tough though I am sure. CUW has some skill coming back I'm pretty sure. LC has some pieces as well. MSOE will likely take a dip after losing Cayo. Coaching change at Dominican leaves question marks as well. I expect Rockford to be better this year. Those are my thoughts and insights.

[Captain_Joe08]

Well I figured we could get some preseason chatter going seeing as Monday is the official start to the season and teams can officially start practice.

Any big news over the summer?  Who are the current favorites?  What can we expect from non-conference play?  Anyone want to give a crack at a preseason ranking of the NAC?

One big thing that I noticed in my search was from the WLC team, and maybe this is already common knowledge but the reigning NAC freshman of the year Katelyn Kuehl is no longer on the roster?  Is this correc, and if so was it a transfer or change of heart for basketball? How does that change WLC season predictions and where they stand within the NAC?  After losing Johnson to graduation and now Kuehl, is that to much to replace?  Maybe WLCALUM has some input on this?

I think its going to be a great year with more teams vying for the top spots and a more balanced outcome to the season (not sure if there are the 1-2 dominate teams as in years past)

Good Luck to all the teams as they start practices on Monday and may everyone have a safe and injury free season.

I am a little shocked Kuehl transferred to Oshkosh....She had a bright future at WLC (IMO she would've been the next player to break the 1,000 point mark after Dillion does).

Overall it will be a blow for WLC to adsorb, but they still have everyone else coming back. Shavon Dillion I think will be moved back into the starting lineup after coming off the bench. Day, Alister, Hoft will dial it up from long range again this year and Kristen Schulz will be the inside presence again this year.

I see the North like this right now.

1. Wisconsin Lutheran
2. Concordia Wisconsin
3. Lakeland
4. Edgewood
5. Maranatha
6. Marian
7. Alverno

Maranatha and Marian could be switched around here.

The South is a little unclear here.

1. Dominican
2. MSOE
and everyone else factoring in after that. 

[NACfan215]

I agree with the WLC analysis, plus I believe they should be #1 until someone knocks them off.

As for CUW and LC, I have them 2a and 2b as each teams has 5 or 6 total returning players, each team has 4 returning starters, and each team has 6-8 incoming freshman.  I believe the winner of those two will be determined by which team has a more impactfull freshman class.

In regards of Maranatha and Marian being flipped, I firmly believe Marian will have a significant drop this year with the loss of Becker.  I would actually argue that Maranatha and Edgewood could be flipped in the standings, I really think MBBC can have a strong year with almost their entire starting lineup returning, if they build some depth they will be a tough team to beat.

As for the south, I am not sold on Dominican as they lose their top two scorers and arguebly their best two players, plus a coaching transition, thats a lot to replace for any team to repeat.  Same can be said for MSOE, not much there once you take away Cayo.  My surprise team from the south this year will be CUC as rumor has it Genke from LC has transfered from LC to CUC and should be a major addition for CUC this season.

[thrunt01]

I agree with the WLC analysis, plus I believe they should be #1 until someone knocks them off.

As for CUW and LC, I have them 2a and 2b as each teams has 5 or 6 total returning players, each team has 4 returning starters, and each team has 6-8 incoming freshman.  I believe the winner of those two will be determined by which team has a more impactfull freshman class.

In regards of Maranatha and Marian being flipped, I firmly believe Marian will have a significant drop this year with the loss of Becker.  I would actually argue that Maranatha and Edgewood could be flipped in the standings, I really think MBBC can have a strong year with almost their entire starting lineup returning, if they build some depth they will be a tough team to beat.

As for the south, I am not sold on Dominican as they lose their top two scorers and arguebly their best two players, plus a coaching transition, thats a lot to replace for any team to repeat.  Same can be said for MSOE, not much there once you take away Cayo.  My surprise team from the south this year will be CUC as rumor has it Genke from LC has transfered from LC to CUC and should be a major addition for CUC this season.

Agreed on CUC. Just found out about that transfer tonight. It's a game changer.

[Just Bill]

I can guarantee you that WLC will not win the North Division this year. 

You may not realize that the divisions have rotated for this year....

North: Alverno, CUW, Edgewood, Lakeland, MBBC, Marian, MSOE
South: Aurora, Benedictine, CUC, Dominican, Rockford, WLC

This is also the last year that the league will split into divisions. Once MBBC exits the NAC will scrap the divisions and play all together.

[NACfan215]

I can guarantee you that WLC will not win the North Division this year. 

You may not realize that the divisions have rotated for this year....

North: Alverno, CUW, Edgewood, Lakeland, MBBC, Marian, MSOE
South: Aurora, Benedictine, CUC, Dominican, Rockford, WLC

This is also the last year that the league will split into divisions. Once MBBC exits the NAC will scrap the divisions and play all together.

This is correct, I forgot to take into account the division rotation.

With that being said, WLC will NO DOUBT win the South division this year

As for the North, I believe that leaves it as a toss up between CUW and LC with a couple darkhorses being Edgewood and MBBC (yes I did say that)

But I think the North overall this year will be a fairly tight race all the way till the end.

Hope everyone had a great first day of practice and cant wait for the first games.

[Captain_Joe08]

I can guarantee you that WLC will not win the North Division this year. 

You may not realize that the divisions have rotated for this year....

North: Alverno, CUW, Edgewood, Lakeland, MBBC, Marian, MSOE
South: Aurora, Benedictine, CUC, Dominican, Rockford, WLC

This is also the last year that the league will split into divisions. Once MBBC exits the NAC will scrap the divisions and play all together.

I just starting to like WLC in the North Division. Well WLC should be the heavy favorite to win the South.

[Just Bill]

I hope you all stick around for the season. This has been a rather dull message board in recent history.

[thrunt01]

I hope you all stick around for the season. This has been a rather dull message board in recent history.

I'll be here. No worries.