WBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[WLCALUM83]

All-Conference Team:

IMHO:

Closest things to "locks:  WLC:  S Dillon, K Schulz
                                     Alverno:  D Gorman
                                     MBBC:    T DeLozier, A Peotter (at least 1 of the 2)
                                     CUW:      Luethe and/or Zietlow

                                 
Others worthy of at least an honorable mention:
                                     Alverno:  K Speerschneider
                                     Lakeland:  B Mayo, L Eisner (at least 1 of the 2)
                                     CUC:   Genke
                                     EC:      A Tobin
                           

[NACfan215]

Not sure how two people who are top 4 in both scoring and rebounding in the league are not "locks" (Eisner, Genke)? Over someone who was behind them both in rebounds and 35th in scoring (Schulz)?

Also how Zietlow would be a lock for first team, only 41st in scoring, assuming your basing this on pure "PG" ability, which if this is the case Zietlow does not even come close to comparing to Tilleman from LC last year who led the conference in assist and steals, Zietlow not even #1 conference in assist and not top 10 in steals. And lets not forget Tilleman led the entire NATION at the D3 level in assist to turnover ratio.... and she was only selected as honorable mention all-conference for the NAC.

Seems like most the voters make their decision solely based on the statistics (mainly scoring and rebouding) and not the other intangible that players bring to the court.  with that said here is my opinion (which obviously has its own fair criticism)

First Team:
Genke - CUC
Dillon - WLC
Luethe - CUW
Gorman - Alverno
Eisner/Mayo - LC

Second Team:
Eisner/Mayo - LC
Delozier - MBBC
Peotter - MBBC
Tobin - EC
Strong - MSOE

Honorable Mention:
Zietlow - CUW
Speerschneider - Alverno
Ryczek - RC
Shculz - WLC
Budz - DU

Freshman (who I dont include in all-conference selections)
Kroll - MSOE
Cervany - Marian
Dorrington - AU
Marlow - AU
Tapanes - DU

[WLCALUM83]

I admit to putting Zietlow up as high as I did based on her not being too shy about repeatedly taking the ball "in the land of the giants" so to speak. Secondly, I hadn't intended that all names on my list be etched in stone where I had 'em. I was just trying to generate some talk.

I have no problem with your selections, however. Your reasoning makes sense.

[NACfan215]

Sorry, didnt mean to come off aggressive, was just arguing from a statistical stand point.  I do agree that it seems the voters dont base their decisions on other non-statistical parts of peoples games such as leadership, toughness, clutch, etc...  it would be nice if some of that was factored into the decision. 

[Captain_Joe08]

Anybody looking at potential player of the year? I think it could come down to Genke, Luthe, Dillion to see who gets it.

[WLCALUM83]

IMHO, from a mostly team-needed standpoint, Genke would get the nod. (Case in point, she had to sit due to foul trouble vs. Benedictine, and the Eagle squad made their decisive run when she wasn't on the floor.)

Still, I could also see where the other 2 would be in the running.

[Captain_Joe08]

Wisconsin Lutheran jumps up to 12 votes in the latest top 25 poll (tied with Castleton for 33rd).

[Pat Coleman]

Wisconsin Lutheran jumps up to 12 votes in the latest top 25 poll (tied with Castleton for 33rd).

Thanks for the heads-up -- I looked into this and one of the voters for Castleton did so in error. Point totals have been adjusted.

[WLCALUM83]

NAthCon Semi-Final guesses:

Maranatha/CUW:   Falcons have a bit more quickness in their backcourt. Going with CUW at home. Crusaders can still take this if they get points off turnovers and play and shoot like they did in their last game.

BU/WLC:   Warriors get back to the final by prevailing in a tight one. It'll be interesting though if Hafleigh draws enough charges and Novak and Gaede are hitting their 3s if WLC has an off night.

[Captain_Joe08]

My picks:

Maranatha at Concordia Wisconsin: Feel good story vs established conference power. I feel this could be a close game here but Maranatha needs to be solid on the offensive end and establish their presence inside. I'll have to take the Falcons on this one.

Benedictine at Wisconsin Lutheran: This is the third meeting that these two hook up in the conference tournament. Wisconsin Lutheran ends Benedictine's season for the third straight year.

[thrunt01]

Prediction: CUW and WLC meet for championship

[WLCALUM83]

Maranatha/CUW up shortly:

[WLCALUM83]

Half:  CUW 27, Maranatha 12 
       
             (Crusaders already have 16 turnovers)

[WLCALUM83]

5:08 left  CUW 41, Maranatha 32

(Crusaders had it down to 6 at one point),

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  CUW 47, Maranatha 40

Maranatha had it down to 5 with 1 1/2 minutes left, but couldn't convert on their opportunities. Falcons hit late FTs to seal it.


Other game final:  WLC 69, Benedictine 47

For the third year in a row it'll be another Falcon/Warrior tournament final.