MBB: Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

[formerUMACplayer]

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

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. 

[Hoopology101]

We will see about that?  That jv team is not that good, and no one is doubting that they do not have a great program there.  But next season will be diffrent trust me on that.  But this year they have a great team and should win the UMAC.  As far as the bottom teams in the UMAC they will not always be at the bottom of the conf, things change year to year season to season. 

[d3bballfollower]

teams do change from year to year, and not to look towards next year, but I would look for the top 4 teams next year to be, in no particular order...Bethany Lutheran, NWC, Morris and Presentation...I know I am going out on a limb with PC, but they will have a majority of their team returning next year and if Sevareid can do even half of the recruiting he did while at Jamestown the Saints will be in good shape...

[AO]

My guys (NWC) aren't playing well and we're still winning games.  Obviously injuries to Discher and Gonsior are going to hurt, but if you look at the shooting percentages and the lack of assists, there is big room for improvement down the stretch.

I'm anxious to see how Morris looks in person as they've had some great games to start off the year.  I'm surprised Northland got as close to Scholastica as they did.  Northland's got a lot of fight, but I don't think they have the guns this year to stay with most teams (maybe even crown). 

on another note--potential future UMAC team North Central gives up the national single game assist record to Grinnell.  34 assists for the coach's kid.  unbelievable.  and Northwestern only gets 3 the entire game against Crown?  Maybe it's the statisticians...

[Hoopology101]

Lol yeah the stats seem kind of off, I heard the Crown stats are off at times, and I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS TO GO WATCH THE GRINNEL TAPE AND MAKE SURE THOSE STATS ARE RIGHT! BUT IF SO THATS A NICE RECORD.  NORTH CENTRAL DOES NOT LOOK GOOD THIS YEAR THIS ONLY HAVE ONE PLAY THAT THEY RUN AND THERE NOT LIKE LAST YEARS TEAM WHICH WAS ALL UP AND DOWN AND TRYING TO SCORE A LOT OF POINTS.  NWC IS PLAYING OK RIGHT NOW I AGREE THAT THEY HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AND WILL WIN THE CONF THIS YEAR.  THERE GOOD THATS JUST THE BOTTOM LINE.  IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE UMAC SHAPES UP COME MID JAN.

[d3bballfollower]

I can't wait to see NWC play a good team...so far the only good team they have played is Jamestown, who has lost a couple times in the past couple weeks, including a game to Morris...Dec. 29 at home against Macalester and Jan. 2 at Hamline will be good tests to show where the Eagles are at...hopefully Discher and Gonsior will be back by then so we can see a full-strength Eagles team

[d3bballfollower]

Martin Luther gets on big win on the road in Northfield against the Oles...Olaf is only 3-6 I think, but they are a very solid team...congrats to MLC for a solid win...

[d3bballfollower]

with MLC's win every UMAC team now has at least 1 win...overall record is still only 19-29...but better than last year at this time...and with the win over the Oles I think the UMAC and MIAC are tied at 4 in head to head matchups (but i'll have to check that)

[AO]

The UMAC is 4-6 versus the MIAC thus far.

[d3bballfollower]

Morris gets hammered by SJU tonight 81-65 and Bethany falls at Gustavus 88-76...Morris was up 42-35 at half and Bethany was tied with GAC at 41 at the half...the UMAC boys gotta finish out these games...I think this is where the the MIAC shows they have better overall talent and where they show their strength over the UMAC...UMAC's almost there though...

[Matt Carroll]

The UMAC is 4-6 versus the MIAC thus far.

Now 4-8, Bethany loses to the Gusties by 8 with no box score yet.  Morris loses to SJU by 14 I think.  Jensen 20 points and Allen 19.  The boxscore says that Morris was up at halftime by 8 and was up for the most of the game, seems to be the trouble with Morris not being able to close out games.  Same with BLC, they have had some close losses. 

[AO]

But the UMAC is 1-1 on the night against the WIAC as Northwestern handles Superior 86-73, while Crown gets smashed by River Falls 79-34.

3 double doubles for Northwestern against Superior:
12 and 10 for Steve Hanson--without a monster dunk that was called a charge--he did have his knee at about throat level

Daniel Hanson with 23 and 10

Anderstrom with 24 and 13 on 10 of 11 shooting as well as getting 4 blocks

Strelecki finds his outside shooting touch: 5-7 from deep

[d3bballfollower]

Crown shoots 25% from the floor tonight...YIKES!!!

[UWRF]

RF defiantly wasnt going to let this one get away.  Crown is not very strong on either end, RF was able to do whatever they wanted.  No one on the crown roster really blew me away. Not much else to say just a case of one team being superior to the other.

[Hoopology101]

Big Wins For The UMAC NWC, and MLK That is great to see.  On the other end I guess Crown took 4steps back! That is too bad, well maybe they can rebound from the poor performance and be ready to play after break.  I just want to see some competitive games this year.  Any games this saturday?  I know Crown Plays Central at Crown, but that is the only game that I know of, not sure how that game is going to turn out I heard Central is a pretty good team, and the way Crown played last night! lets just say HELP!!! Lol