Hoops, First off NWC has a solid program-they have a very solid JV squad each year and also these young guys are learning the system...with the younger Hanson plus when Discher fully recovers thats a solid core to build around...Discher might just be the best guard in the UMAC when healthy...NWC will compete in the UMAC each year cause the conference is not deep...Presentation, Northland and Crown cannot compete with the top teams in the UMAC

Quote from: Hoopology101 on December 09, 2007, 12:05:39 AM
FormerUmac, I like your observation you brought up some good facts.  But I have to say to say NWC would be good in the miac is jumping the gun.  I mean this year they would be very good in that conf but people for get next year they loose their whole starting 5 and the guys on the bench are going to have to grow together just like the group they have now.  But it will take a while for them to jell like the group they have now.  The only player back will be lil Hanson and he will need a lot of help next year. 

Bethany Lutheran 66 and Martin Luther 62...Bethany shot 35% for the game but they attempted 27 free throws to Martin Luther's 12...Rosin 19points 7boards and Wills chipped in 12 for Bethany...Luther was lead by Nass with 14 and Holzhueter with 12...So it looks like NWC, Morris and Scholastica are the top three teams with the fourth spot open...but more than likely it will be Bethany or Martin Luther

Quote from: Matt Carroll on December 09, 2007, 02:31:25 PM

Quote from: d3bballfollower on December 09, 2007, 04:39:06 AM
Morris takes down PC in Aberdeen 76-61...Will Jensen with 26 and 15...if Morris continues to board as well as they have they could definitely cause problems for NWC

Beat me too it.  Allen chipped in with 20 points.  Scholastica over Northland by 9, Zubke 17 pts and 7 rebounds and Aarneson also had 17 I think.  Anybody have the score for the MLC/Bethany game? 

Hey Hoops,
I was at the Crown and NWC game, and NWC basically won the game on the boards and from the foul line (30 free throw attempts to Crown's 11)...Up front NWC was just too much for Crown...I must admit that the backcourt of Harris and Hale might be the best in the UMAC (they had their way against NWC guards and that is difficult to do)...but with no help from the others they will struggle again this season (especially aganist teams with solid post play)...Where did the kid Harris come from? Hale has improved his jumpshot and overall game all together he looked very solid running the show for the Storm...But once again the balanced attack that NWC has is just way too much for the UMAC conference...maybe they should consider the MIAC? They have at least 3-5 players who should make all-conference and the player of the year in Dan Hanson

Quote from: Hoopology101 on December 08, 2007, 08:17:58 PM
Update on Crown game  NWC won 74 to 62, it was a good game.   It really could have been an 8 point game or so but free throws at the end pushed the score up.  D Hansen had 15 points and 10 boards.  Crown was in the game but just got out boarded like 50 to 22 so that hurt them alot!  But I have to say it was a tough night for the Harris kid it was not the D he just missed some shots but he had 26 points but shot poor from the field and Isaac H had 15 points, NWC played good D on the rest of the guys and early foul trouble played a huge factor for Crown.  Hey at the end NWC is a very good team and they got the Win! thats all that matters.  But I also have to say with Harris, and Issac the cronf better look out! Will see how things play out after the break.

Does anyone have any updates on the other games?

Quote from: Hoopology101 on November 01, 2007, 10:42:57 PM
Well it has been a while since I posted something but the season is finally here.  It is time to stop doing all the talking and let the teams do the talking for everybody.  Has anyone went to any scrimmages?

Well I checked out Crown they played Rochester CC  I had a couple of buddies that play for Rochester, but anyways Crown held there own They won the first 2 sestions in the scrimmage the last 3rd period they ran out of wind.  I have to say Crown added a new guard that will help out Isaac a lot I think the confrence will have some trouble with this guy he is a juco trasfer but played really good.  Also they had a couple of 6'5 guys that looked pretty good one is athletic and can jump out the gym! but you can tell that he has a lot to learn about the game, I'm not sure what impact he will have but I know he will help out a lot on the boards.  The other big guy knows the game a lot but is young and still needs toget in better shape.  For 2 weeks of practice they looked good.  Last year Crown got killed by like 45 points against this same team.  I also heard a rumor that come 2nd semester Crown will have a 6'6 trasfer, 6'5 and adding another guard, plus they had another 4 spot player that did not play because of football he is the starting quarter back and will add alot to the team.  I know it is early but look out they might sneak up on some teams.  Rochester CC will have another good season like last year I think they only lost 5 or 6 games last year.  They already played in a tourney this year and went 2 n 3 plus they have been practcing since october 1st they looked good.  But being that Crown has 2 guards now in the backcourt thye can handle the pressure.

Hoops,
My good buddy is actually one of the assistants at RCC, so I came out with a friend to watch the scrimmage last night. You have got to be joking, Crown got beat up on the boards badly and they have absolutely no post presence at all. I must say the guard-combo, with Hale leading the way and Kirkpatrick and the new recruit (a Lefty who plays very aggressive) well be fun to watch this season. Even if they have one new recruit and some transfers for 2nd semester you've got to remember that the tops teams in the UMAC have been playing together and they know what it takes to win/Crown doesn't. This is a program that has won 2 or 3 conference games altogether in the last two seasons combined; it takes time to build a winning and successful program. They might finish as high as 6th but that's it (be realistic)...what would make you think they can contend?? You think they can split games with Northwestern, Bethany, St. Scholastica, Morris or Presentation (not a chance)? I might seem a little hard on Crown but you cannot build a program overnight. Hoops, to answer your question I graduated from Northwestern a long, long time ago...lol. 

Quote from: Hoopology101 on October 18, 2007, 08:17:54 PM
I hear what you are saying about a scoring point guard he might be able to carry some of  the load but lets not hype the situation yet, you do loose a huge player that plays in the cba now and he single handling carried the team last year, this point guard might be good but no maupins, plus they lost a great shooter.  But they do bring in a 6'9 post player from superior the height sounds nice but does anyone know if he can play? that is huge for them.  Now Crown you are right Hale looks to pass first, sometimes to much but this year they have no choice but to get better, they brought some athletic guys in that will be able to pressure the ball on D pretty good. I do believe that it is a 2 team race for 1st and 2nd with Bethany and NW, NW being number 1, but 3rd and 4th place is wide open.  The UMAC is more even this year with all the teams, so look to see some good games.

Hoops,
Come on to say 3rd and 4th place are open is a joke...count Crown, Northland and Martin Luther out of it...meaning 5 teams will battle for four spots/my fault 4 teams will battle for 3 spots cause Northwestern is automatically in...The PG from Scholastica can carry the load on the offensive end for sure...I saw him hang 33 points on Northwestern so lets be real...The 6'9 kid from Superior can play he just didn't get a chance because they were so deep in the front court (he will be an impact player this season for sure) who do you think are the top two players at each position in the UMAC conference (PG, SG, SF, PF and C)?

Quote from: Hoopology101 on October 17, 2007, 02:19:46 PM
Former Player, what team did you play for? have you read some of the recent topics that we have been talking about on here?  it is great to have more people discuss UMAC bball,  to talk about your ranking I agree on a lot of things.  The Crown situation last year was horrible for the coaching staff they had to play with a jv team because the former coaches at Crown never recruited, so Crown was ok with Kinkade, and Hale, but they have some new recruits that shuld help so we will see about that situation. Scolastica now looses Maupins which was a great player, but also there 2nd leading scorer which was a really good shooter also is gone, it is true that they have their point guard back that had an injury last year, but we all know that he will not have any scores to pass to so it might end up like how Crown was with Hale having no one to pass to last year and teams jumping on the only scorer Kincade.  I think that Morris needs to step up they under achevied last year, so I think they will play big this year. Morris also has a new assitant coach that is really good and they already have a great head coach so I look for those two to get that team into some shape. 

Hey Hoops,
The point guard from Scholastica is more of a scoring point guard so he can carry the load and also make it happen for others. Hale from Crown is more of a traditional point guard and looks to pass first and really doesn't look to score (from what I've seen). Hoops I also see you said Crown has some new players coming in-do you think it will really help the situation (they were 0-14 in conference last season)? The talk of the UMAC should be focused on can Northwestern run the table or can Bethany Lutheran take the top spot this season. It's a three team race between Northwestern, Bethany and St. Scholastica...Minnesota Morris and Presentation will fight for 4th place...The UMAC has three solid teams right now and two that might step up to make it five.

Wow!!!...as a former UMAC player it is Great to see this post for the conference. Here is my take on the preseason rankings for this upcoming season (I generally catch 10-12 UMAC games a year):
1.   Northwestern Bible College hands down. With Strelecki, Anderstrom, Hansons (both), Discher and Zuleger all returning how can you pick against these guys. Coach Grosz has done a wonderful job with recruiting and building a solid program. Finished 12-2 in conference last season
2.   Bethany Lutheran: Losing Mayfield will be big but guys such as Grant and Priem provide Senior leadership. It also doesn't hurt that Bethany is the most athletic team in the conference, so if they get you to play into their style look out. Finished 11-3 in conference last season
3.   College of St. Scholastica: Yes losing Maupins will hurt but remember the point guard Schmitz who suffered a knee injury last season. He along with Anderson led Scholastica in the 05-06 season when Maupins played his first year. If healthy Schmitz might be the top point guard in the UMAC and he provides Senior leadership. Finished 9-5 in conference last season
4.   Minnesota Morris: They return nine players off of last years team. There big up front and have decent guard play. Finished 6-8 in conference last season
5.   Presentation College: Solid core of young players returning. Not sure about the new coach and how the players will respond but finished 6-8 in conference play last season.
6.   Martin Luther College: With the loss of Dolan and Kurbis not sure if they can replace those two. Martin Luther had a thin bench last season but they have Schultz 6'9, Kolander 6'6 and Gephart 6'5 in the front court...guard play will be a big question. Finished 8-6 in conference play last season.
7.   Northland College: Very young team returning. Not much talent but playing in coach Robinsons system you must play aggressive and play tough defense-which Northland does. Might be another down season but don't overlook. Finished 4-10 in conference play last season.
8.   Crown College: With a first year coach and not much depth last season Crown struggled big time. Kirkpatrick is the leader and only scorer and Hale played decent in the backcourt last season. Look for Crown to struggle again but make some small strides this season. Finished 0-14 in conference play last season.