MBB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Not trying to be "asinine" but I checked the facts on the HCAC website.

REG SEASON Standings 2001 forward:

2000-01 Manchester College 7-5 (conference tournament host)
Hanover College 7-5
Defiance College 7-5
2001-02 Hanover College 11-3
2002-03 Hanover College 13-1
2003-04 Hanover College 14-0
2004-05 Hanover College 11-3
Transylvania University 11-3
2005-06 Transylvania University 12-2
2006-07 Franklin College 11-5
2007-08 Defiance College 13-3

POST SEASON CHAMPS 2001 forward

2000-01 Defiance College
2001-02 Franklin College
2002-03 Hanover College
2003-04 Hanover College
2004-05 Hanover College
2005-06 Transylvania University
2006-07 Transylvania University
2007-08 Franklin College

[sac]

Grizzbacker- NOT SO FAST!
To say Defiance has been the front runner in the last 10-12 years is completely asinine. In the past decade-Franklin and hanover began with its dominance and then Transy and Franklin owned the league for the past 5 years- with Defiance having only 1 tournament championship. I would agree the conference is not over and Anderson is going to run away with it, however, they do have the most talented team in the league. To your point-I find it ironic that Franklin has received no votes for the top 25 and they are 5-0 in the league. Enough with that.

Another exciting weak in the HCAC. Franklin remained undefeated with a bye on Saturday. An interesting matchup will be the Grizzlies traveling to Transylvania on Wednesday. A week to prepare for Coach Praither could be trouble for a very inconsistant but talentine Transy club. Anderson continued to roll with a big win over Defiance. The biggest question for Anderson will be can they sustain this run when they finally have to go on the road- 9 of its wins have come on the home court. Bluffton defeated Transy and Hanover this week as Coach Guy Neal has done an impressive job with his team again. As for the rest of the league-good luck in your recruiting for next season!

Should be an exciting week again.

Defiance has been near the top the last few years. In fact FC had to beat them at their place last year to get to the NCAA.  Franklin also beat them in the conference championship down at Hanover in 2000 or 2001 (i don't recall exactly what year).  If that's being "asinine" so be it.  Defiance has had several good teams in the last 10 years as I recall. They may not make the tournament as much as FC Transy or Hanover.

Defiance was member of the MIAA for 2 years, 1999 and 2000 before joining the HCAC in 2001.  They made the conference tournament championship both years, but were 2nd or 3rd in the final standings.    They've only been in the HCAC for 8 years, this is year 9.

The 2001 Defiance team won the HCAC tournament and went to the NCAA's losing in round 1 to Calvin.

From there it was a steady decline after Tom Polombo left for Guilford, Defiance finished last in the HCAC in 2005 and 2006    http://www.heartlandconf.org/m_basketball/2004/04_05_mbb_season.htm

http://www.heartlandconf.org/m_basketball/05_06_mbb_season.htm

D3hoops.com has all the archives of all the d3 teams going back to 2002.  http://www.d3hoops.com/school/DEF/mens/2009

[hcacdad1]

OK-didn't mean to cause this much of a stir. I guess it is all relative- its obvious my definition of "front runner" is not the same as yours. When I think of front runner- I think tournament winners....not 7-5 with 1 trip to the "dance." I would have to think that past HCAC champs wouldn't include Defiance as one of the "front runners" in the past decade-certainly a "contender" as of late in my opinion. Grizz backer-I agree to disagree pal!

[cave2bens]

In case a few HCAC posters weren't aware, prior to Tom Polombo and MIAA/HCAC affiliation, Defiance did exist in basketball and beat some MAC teams on occasion.    Marv Hohenberger (coach from 1965-1997) accumulated a record of 580-294 and at the time of his retirement was the winningest coach in DIII.  Tournament appearances, whether NAIA or NCAA were an expected norm. 

Change is inevitable within programs and consistency, especially on the non-athletic grant campus.  While DC may not be top dog this year, given their roster, I wouldn't bet against a resurgence, either at conference tournament time or next season. New coaches, new plan, and a dreadful need to reverse the assist to turnover ratio - a -2, and 22 points surrendered on 17 turnovers is a deal breaker in a seven point loss on the road. 

[GRIZ_BACKER]

OK-didn't mean to cause this much of a stir. I guess it is all relative- its obvious my definition of "front runner" is not the same as yours. When I think of front runner- I think tournament winners....not 7-5 with 1 trip to the "dance." I would have to think that past HCAC champs wouldn't include Defiance as one of the "front runners" in the past decade-certainly a "contender" as of late in my opinion. Grizz backer-I agree to disagree pal!

Cool.  I am assuming that you may be affiliated with Anderson.  I agree they are certainly one of the favorites to win the 2008-09 reg season and possibly make the 2009 tournament.  If they do it will be the first time since the HCAC was founded in 1989.

[hcacdad1]

Picks for this week!!

Defiance 92 Mt. St Joe 72
Rose Hulman 64 Hanover 60
Anderson 76 Bluffton58
Franklin 62 Transylvania 68

[Darryl Nester]

Wow.  I had not visited this page for over a week, because I asked for email alerts when new posts are made ... and had not gotten any.  I guess adding "MBB:" to the name of this chat room nullified my subscription.

It is shaping up to be another competitive year, as five teams (Transy, Franklin, Bluffton, Defiance, and now Anderson) have gotten votes in the d3hoops Top 25.

It will be interesting to see how the standings have shaken out when we get to the middle of the season. The five front-runners each play two other front-runners, and one game against one of the bottom four ... which is not to say that those latter games will be easy!  Franklin is 5-0--having dealt Anderson and Bluffton their only conference losses--but plays Transy and Defiance on the road before a home game against Hanover.  Anderson hosts Bluffton before traveling to Transy and Manchester.  Bluffton faces AU and MSJ on the road before hosting Defiance.  Transy and Defiance each face MSJ in addition to the teams above.

hcacdad -- I'm hoping for a different result in the AU-BU game ... but at least I hope that it is not decided in the closing seconds like the last two Bluffton wins.  I dont' think my blood pressure could take that.

[hcacdad1]

Looks like 4-0 last night on picks!

The Defiance score was a little closer than predicted as well as Bluffton taking Anderson to OT. Transy beat Franklin to cause a log jam in the rankings from 1-5. Any thoughts on what happened to Franklin last night?
Lots of changes coming on Saturday as Franklin travels to Defiance and Anderson travels to Transy-

[BUBeaverFan]

The Beavers and Anderson was a close game all the way.  I think the biggest lead for either team was 8 or 9 points.  Anderson outscored Bluffton by 16 at the line. The HCAC could take awhile to sort out beyond Anderson which I think will come out on top.  The Franklin Transy score surprised me a bit, but both of those teams will be a part of the picture come late February as well.  I hope the Beavers can hang around enough to make the HCAC tourney and then who knows. 

[hcacdad1]

Picks for Saturday!

Bluffton 54 Mt. St. Joe 62
Rose Hulman 62 Manchester 50
Franklin 68 Defiance 78
Anderson 57 Transylvania 64

Knowing the history of the HCAC- I went with a couple of upsets this week. As a fan...I hope I am wrong..As a realist...I know history....

Anyone else intersted in joining in picks, please feel free to post. It will give us all the more reason to visit d3 hoops and get some activity going on this board-afterall, it can only help the league!
Best of luck to the HCAC!

[GRIZ_BACKER]

I have to agree on the picks above.  Not a good feeling for FC.  However if they do pull this out I like there chances to host later in the year. 

[cave2bens]

Log jam... nice job with the picks, HCACdad.  All games were toss-ups yesterday, though must admit some surpirse at the outcome from Delphi.  Perhaps the MSJ showing vs Defiance wasn't a fluke as previously thought and the Lions are showing some pride.    The second half of the season should be a barnburner.

Despite Pettaway being saddled with foul trouble and playing but 18 minutes, the guards and Nick Sales (double-double with 16 and 16) closed the deal early on at McMaster.  Source of surprise was the shooting percentage from beyond the arc, and the fact that FC never sniffed a lead after knotting the game at 2-2 in the first minute.   

We don't see any scores for small college in the local fishwrap, much less coverage, in "Sodom on the 'Hooch" (Atlanta), so thanks to all contributors for their updates and providing "a fix" for this misplaced midwesterner.

[hcacdad1]

Posted total 7-1!

4 teams tied for 1st! I wouldn't have it any other way.

Defiance rebounded nicely with a big win over Franklin. Mt. St. Joe with a big win over Bluffton. Transylvania defeated #22 Anderson. Kudos to Joey Verax of Transy who will no doubt be the HCAC player of the week.. 10-10 on Wednesday and posted 39 yesterday in 2 big wins for Transy. Manchester beating Rose was a bit of a surprise...It's evident why the HCAC struggles to get national recognition-they all beat each other up all year. Any thoughts on who is the best right now?

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Fun times in the HCAC!!  With the group of bunched at the top the playoffs start now. Getting a top seed will tough and the tiebreaker may be needed this year.  Hard to say who is on top at this point.  No real road warriors have emerged.  FC has another tough Saturday trip this week at Anderson and no gimme on Wed night against rival Hanover.

[hcacdad1]

Picks for tonight: Posted Record: 7-1
Defiance 71 Bluffton 63
Hanover 51 Franklin 64
Transylvania 72 Mt. St. Joe 60
Anderson 81 Manchester71.

Don't see any major upsets tonight...If I had to pick one...Bluffton has the best chance...

Good Luck!