WBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  WLC 67, CUC 42   

[Captain_Joe08]

Here are the standings after yesterday's games.

North

1. Maranatha 6-1 (4-1)
2. Concordia Wisconsin 6-4 (5-2)
3. Alverno 5-5 (3-2)
4. Edgewood 4-7 (3-2)
5. Lakeland 4-8 (4-3)
6. Marian 3-6 (2-3)
7. MSOE 0-8 (0-5)

South

1. Wisconsin Lutheran 8-1 (4-0)
2. Benedictine 5-6 (3-1)
3. Aurora 4-6 (2-3)
4. Concordia Chicago 2-7 (2-3)
5. Rockford 1-9 (1-4)
6. Dominican 0-10 (0-4)

Thoughts

So far it has been a rough year (with the exception of WLC and Maranatha to a degree) for NAC teams in their out of conference games. So far NAC teams are a combined 15-45 (.250) out of conference. It could be a result of the talent dropoff from last year to this year in the conference among other factors.

As stated before once conference play gets underway in January, the race for the NAC North is going to be something to watch for. Not entirely sure if Maranatha has the staying power to continue leading the North but I think it could be a three team race to decide that division.

WLC has shown that they are the dominant force in the South this season. The big race could be who will finish behind them. Benedictine recently has shown that they are currently the number two in the south although Aurora and Concordia Chicago are not that far behind.

My mid-season predictions for how the conference stands after the dust settles....

North

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

South

1. Wisconsin Lutheran
2. Benedictine
3. Concordia Chicago
4. Aurora
5. Rockford
6. Dominican

[Captain_Joe08]

12/27-12/30 Picks

12/27

MSOE vs UW-Stevens Point (at Wisconsin Dells): Over by halftime....

12/28

Illinois Wesleyan vs Concordia Chicago (at Waverly, IA): This one as well will be done by half even though IWU may appear to be a tad down this year.

MSOE vs UW-La Crosse (at Wisconsin Dells): MSOE's long season continues
Trinity Christian at Alverno: Inferno should be able to handle this one right?
Aurora at Dubuque: Not sure how the Spartans will be able to match up against Dubuque. Going with the home team here.

Chapman vs Marian (at Redlands): Chapman should be able to handle Marian here.

12/29

Rockford vs Spalding (at Greencastle, IN): Could go either way???
Dominican at Salem State: Stars again still hunt for their first win.
Concordia Wisconsin vs Calvin (at Colorado Springs, CO): Calvin looks strong again this season.
Benedictine at Franklin: Franklin handles the Eagles....
Williams vs Wisconsin Lutheran (at Whittier, CA): Great test for the Warriors to see where they stack up against a traditional power such as Williams.

Edgewood at UW-Stevens Point: Pointers have no trouble against Edgewood.
Marian vs Manchester (at Redlands): Could go either way.

12/30

Dominican vs Southern Maine (at Salem State): 16th ranked Huskies don't have trouble with DU.
UW-Superior at Alverno: Hornets continue their surprising start to the season.
Concordia Wisconsin at Colorado College: Just a hunch...
Wisconsin Lutheran at Whitter: Warriors earn a split in their western roadtrip.

[WLCALUM83]

Benedictine/Franklin just underway as I post:

(Found out Rockford beat Spalding 66-62)

[WLCALUM83]

Half:  Franklin 27, Benedictine 16

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  Franklin 54, Benedictine 45  (iL Eagles made a bit of a run in the second half, had it down to single-digits but were forced to foul late and Franklin hit their FTs to seal this)  Franklin had a 51-32 edge on the glass.

[WLCALUM83]

1/2-5/13 NAthCon in-conference docket:

1/2:  Marian at Edgewood;  Going with the Sabers on the road in a tight one-moreso if they can pile up the fast-break poiints on the Eagles like Trine did.

1/3:  CUC at Alverno:  Going with the Inferno (been in a bit of a slump, this is the game they get well in a tight one),

1/5:  WLC/Maranatha:  Warriors eke out a win--could go either way if the Crusader crowd isn't taken out of the game early. Dillon and Peotter have a tendency to collect steals by the gross.

          Benedictine/CUW:  CUW in a close one.

          Rockford/Marian:    Sabers are more of a 3 point threat, figuring on another home win for them here.

          Dominican/Lakeland:    Lakeland

          CUC/Edgewood:           Edgewood in another close one

          Aurora/Alverno:           Inferno take this one at home.     

[Captain_Joe08]

My guesses:

1/2

Finlandia at Lakeland: Muskies win handily over a struggling Finlandia squad.

Rockford at Knox: Prairie Fire should have little trouble against the Regents.

Marian at Edgewood: Have to take the Eagles at home. Marian could make this a game though.

1/3

Alma at Lakeland: Couple of similar teams....Giving Lakeland the slight edge here.

Kuyper at Maranatha: Kinda wish to see how Maranatha plays against non-NCCAA teams. Maranatha takes it.

Concordia Chicago at Alverno: Alverno continues their "Win one, lose one" type of season.

1/5

MSOE at Finlandia: First win for the Raiders? Maybe....

Wisconsin Lutheran at Maranatha: Warriors have been more battle tested than the Crusaders. Maranatha's bigs can give WLC some fits but WLC uses their strong D to keep them in check.

Benedictine at Concordia Wisconsin: Benedictine is hot winning five of their last seven games. However CUW hangs on for the win here.

Rockford at Marian: Sabres bounce back with a nice win over the Regents.

Dominican at Lakeland: Over by half...

Concordia Chicago at Edgewood: Eagles get a sound win over the Cougars.

Aurora at Alverno: Gotta give props to the Head Coach at Aurora...She has turned that program around after a bad season last year. They could easily win this one here, but I have to give it to Alverno in a tight game.

[thrunt01]

Lots of North v South games Saturday.

[Captain_Joe08]

Lakeland up big over Finlandia 42-17 just a few minutes before halftime.

[WLCALUM83]

Marian/Edgewood on deck:

[WLCALUM83]

Half:  Edgewood 31, Marian 28

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  Edgewood 64, Marian 63  (Eagles' Hill hit a 3-pointer with approx. 50 seconds left and Marian failed to convert on the last 2 possessions in the game-- Sabers' Huray had 27 pts--Marian led for a few minutes in the second half.)

[Captain_Joe08]

Other Non-Conference Finals

Lakeland 92
Finlandia 61

Rockford 77
Knox 66

[WLCALUM83]

Maranatha 46, Kuyper 20  Half

CUC/Alverno up shortly: