MBB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[David Collinge]

For a good list of games this weekend, complete with links to webcast information, see the "Daily Dose" blog, accessible from the front page. 

The best game of the weekend, from an HCAC standpoint, has to be the Sunday afternoon contest between Wittenberg and Transylvania in Lexington.  Both teams are the pre-season favorites to win their conferences.  Witt has two big, talented post players in Dan Russ and Dane Borchers, and already has big wins over Rochester and Capital, but they've stumbled against good competition early in the season the last two years.  This game figures to be a good yardstick for both of these teams.

As for Hanover, I'm very interested to see how they fare against Robert Morris.  Their win against Wabash might turn out to be a good one (Wabash also played well against #1 IWU, at least for 30 minutes), but the Hanover wins against Webster and Maryville (Mo.) were unimpressive to say the least.  Last year, Hanover best these opponents by 29 and 13 points, respectively; this year the margins were by 3 (in OT) and 7, respectively.  Robert Morris figures to be a much tougher opponent than any of the three teams the Panthers have faced yet; it will be interesting to see if they can step it up, especially with the student body (presumably) on break.

[augiedad]

As expected, Hanover fell to Robert Morris in their own tournament today.

http://www.hanover.edu/sports/hcmbb.htm

[David Collinge]

Final from Lex:
Wittenberg 61
Transylvania 52

[fcnews]

If anyone from Manchester saw the Rockford game, I would appreciate any info on the Regents that you might offer. Thanks in advance.

[iwumichigander]

Final Hanover 56 Elmhurst 67.  A tough loss for Hanover after being up by 10 at the 12:39 mark in the second half -- with a 21 point swing to being down by 11 at game end. Hanover fans, I got to tell you I felt your pain listening here in Michigan.

[Basketball Fan]

Wow... Hanover losses to Elmhurst by 11. I was able to attend this game, as I was up in Chicago for a wedding. Very disappointed with the game in a number of ways. 1. The refs, Hanover got "homered" if I have ever seen so. I can honestly say the fouls did not go both ways, I hate to see a great game with great teams be decided by the officials. 2. Hanover's outside shooting. While they rebounded very well, Hanover's strengths are shooting the 3 and overall guard play. Hanover lost the game because their guard play was sub-par. It was a slug-fest just the way Hanover likes to play, but this time couldn't get a W. I saw some IWU fans in the crowd last night. What will Hanover do with them? This was a should win for the panthers that came into the game needing this win. They have a tough schedule over the next 3 weeks. With a home game vs. Earlham who I just saw almost knocked off number 2 Wooster. Then up to IWU. I hate to suggest that maybe Hanover doesn't have it this year but I wonder....

The pre-conference schedule is tough.... but will Hanover be to beaten up going into the conference to reclaim their title....

[Gregory Sager]

Oh, please. Don't blame the loss to Elmhurst on the refs. It was actually a fairly well-called game, with the bad calls evening out for either side. The one legitimate beef Hanover fans have with the refs was with the situation at 14:13 of the second half with Hanover up, 39-29. Chris Martin of the Bluejays got the ball on a fast break, and Ben Lye bear-hugged him as he went up, preventing him from getting off his shot. Martin fell hard, and came up yelling in Lye's face.

Lye must've dropped an f-bomb or something in return, because when the refs came over to the scorer's table they signaled a foul on Lye with an additional technical on top of that charged to the Hanover senior forward. That surprised many of us sitting courtside, as we were expecting the technical to go on Martin. The fouls actually started a run for the Bluejays that erased the Hanover lead and put Elmhurst up by one at 44-43 and 46-45, but the Panthers then went on a mini-run of their own to take back control and post a 52-47 lead. So it's not as though the Lye/Martin situation proved to be a critical momentum swing.

Overall, I was very impressed with Hanover. For a team working in a bunch of new guys after losing three players to graduation, I was very impressed with their skill level and their cohesion. They couldn't hit a trey on Saturday evening to save their lives, but that happens sometimes. Defense, however, is a constant in every game, and the Panthers certainly play quality D. Hanover will do alright this season.

[iwumichigander]

"Sophomore guard Clint Parker (Brownstown, IN) canned two free throws to pull Hanover within 61-54 with 1:39 left. The Panthers, however, missed four three-pointers and Elmhurst converted 6-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win." - Hanover College website

It was not the officiating in my opinion.  Officials tend to give the calls to the agressor team; and, Elmhurst was more agressive going to the hoop in the 2nd half.

It was shooting 19% treys and staying with an inside out game.  I had expected Hanover to try and penetrate rather than continue to kick out to the perimeter (and, continued to miss open shots).   ... And, I don't expect Hanover to shoot treys for 19% against IWU.

I was not at the game, but listening to Hanover broadcasters it sure seemed like Hanover made fouls on plays in the paint when Elmhurst had beaten their man to the basket.  Something you don't do against Elmhurst who will make an oppenent pay at the line (and did).

[True Basketball Fan]

ANYBODY who goes on the road has to expect a few calls will not go their way.  For the most part, that is very normal for every team.  I'm sure Elmhurst got screwed on a few calls at Platteville and Hope.  I'm sure Hanover's opponents have been screwed over a few times down at there place.  I'm also sure that Beitzel (spelling?) will not complain or place blame on anybody else but him and his team.  For that reason along with many others, that's why he is a helluva coach.

[southofoac]

How will Bluffton do this season?? Anyone have any news on them.

[Darryl Nester]

southofoac:
If you're still interested a week after you asked the question ... I'm cautiously optimistic about the season.  Bluffton's 5-1 record tells part of the story.  Their wins have not come against D3 powerhouses (Earlham, Heidelberg, ...), but the thing that has impressed me so far is that, in past seasons, I have observed that Bluffton tended to play barely well enough to beat these same opponents (and sometimes to lose to them).  This year, they have won with margins of victory have ranged from 10 to 23 points.  Their one loss (by one point) was a game in which neither team played well; I hope we don't have more games like that one.

Not sure what to expect of the rest of their non-conf schedule.  I don't anticipate difficulties with Marygrove and IU East, and I don't know what to expect from Notre Dame College. Carnegie Mellon on January 2 is currently 9-0, and getting votes in the d3hoops poll.  They might also be challenged in the second round of their Holiday tournament (vs. either Millikin of Tiffin).

[RO_24]

I watched the guy play at Denison and was impressed.  I agree with Nester, that in past years some of the teams that they are taking care of easily, may have been a struggle in the past.  The thing is with this team, is that Denison held Bergman below 10 points but Sweet and Anthony stepped up and played well...These guys hustle more then a lot of teams in the past at Bluffton.  Hopefully they continue this streak they are on and continue it into the conference.  Be nice to see these guys vie for the title this year.

[earlhamalum]

Anyone see Franklin this year... I know Earlham and Franklin plays tonight.  They have played good teams well and played bad against bad teams.. just wondering on insight about Franklin...  Earlham has 3 players that usually show up every night... and it all depends on what 2 or 3 other guys do when they play.

6'6 Brandon Miller  13.4 ppg 9.4 rebound (heck of an athlete... not shooting from the field what he is capable of)
6'6 Markcous Jewett  16.4 ppg (loves to score... his D is another story.)
6'0 LaRon Henry  14. 8 ppg  13-19 from 3pt land. (solid all the way around)

They have 3 starters that are  37-64 from three pointers which is  57%.  They are not very deep... but if they come to play can hang and beat anyone one on any given night... just depends on what team shows up.

[FCALUM_84]

I have been to almost all the Franklin games so far including the game last night at Earlham. They are better than advertised as the freshman have stepped up. They also have a d-1 transfer coming in Jan from Indiana State.  Nick Kane is virtually unguardable one on one. He had 36 and 17 last night to go with 6 blocked shots. Only Lye of Hanover should even garner any conference MVP votes this year.

[Darryl Nester]

FCALUM:

Any word on what has happened to Kane in the last two games (12 minutes/2 points, then 3 minutes/5 points)?  Is he injured, or fighting the flu, or something else?