MBB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Buzz]

Yeah, AU hit 19 of 20 two-point field goals after the break and used runs of 15-3 and 23-0 to bury the Jackets. Big statement from the Ravens who are looking very impressive early on this season...

On DC's side, Nick Sales scored six to join the 1,000-point club. He is the 43rd player in DC history to do so and the third in the past three seasons, following CJ Johnson and Anthony Pettaway.

[dc_has_been]

Thanks for the info DC_SID!  Glad to see another great player joining the club.  In my years at DC I got to watch 3 players hit that mark.  Kahle (forgot how to spell it), Gavin Sever, and Frank Kill.  I actually don't remember if Eric Viney hit the mark his junior year or senior year.  He was a year behind.

[Buzz]

Defiance rolled past Rose-Hulman, 82-61, today in the home HCAC opener for the Jackets. DC never trailed (and havent faced a deficit to Rose in the past 95:58 of action spanning three victories) and led by as many as 31 (60-29) at one point. Overall a very impressive bounceback performance after the frustrating second half at Anderson on Wednesday.

Be very interesting to see if 5-1 is good enough to keep the Jackets in the top 40, or if the road loss to a very good AU squad (5-1, 2-0 HCAC) takes them out of the polls.

Also curious to see if DC, AU and Transylvania can all get votes in the next poll. The HCAC is off to a pretty strong start so far this season...

Up next for Defiance is another home game on Wednesday against a much improved Manchester squad.

[dc_has_been]

Regardless of how good Anderson is, DC will drop for their performance.  I'm glad to see they bounced back, but they'll have to go on a win streak to get back into the top 40.

[Jackets Backer]

Defiance rolled past Rose-Hulman, 82-61, today in the home HCAC opener for the Jackets. DC never trailed (and havent faced a deficit to Rose in the past 95:58 of action spanning three victories) and led by as many as 31 (60-29) at one point. Overall a very impressive bounceback performance after the frustrating second half at Anderson on Wednesday.

Be very interesting to see if 5-1 is good enough to keep the Jackets in the top 40, or if the road loss to a very good AU squad (5-1, 2-0 HCAC) takes them out of the polls.

Also curious to see if DC, AU and Transylvania can all get votes in the next poll. The HCAC is off to a pretty strong start so far this season...

Up next for Defiance is another home game on Wednesday against a much improved Manchester squad.

Big bounce back for Jackets. I know it's early but they really need to get a W against Manchester at home on Wednesday. Losing home league games are the kiss of death in the HCAC. 

Have to believe Anderson will be near the Top 25 with its start. They have a big win at UW Platteville and only loss was to a very good and No. 21 Augustana squad. HCAC is loaded this year. AU, DC, Manchester and Transy should all be gaining some attention. It took a half-court heave from Illinois Wesleyan to beat Manchester. HCAC has some high-profile victories this year with Transy beating Centre, AU over UW-Platteville, Hanover over Ohio Northern and Manchester's close loss to IWU is impressive as well.

It's going to be a rock fight in the HCAC this year. I think the last few years it's been a three-team race with DC, Transy and Franklin duking it out. But this year it's a different story.

The conference tournament is going to be a slugfest. Bluffton and Rose look like they're going to take their lumps this year, but the other seven teams are really closely matched. Hanover's at the bottom of the remaining seven teams but have already played two road league games at Transy and Manchester. The Panthers can beat anyone in this league with Mitchell Meyer and have a great non-league win at OAC power Ohio Northern. 

Transy and Franklin don't have the talent they've had in the past. But with coaches like Brian Lane and Kerry Prather, I won't count out either one. DC should be right in the mix again with the depth and talent they have this year. Anderson and Manchester are both really good as well. Plus MSJ is a lot better this season.

I'd be very surprised if the league champ doesn't have at least four league losses this year. I don't see something like the last couple of years where the league champion went 13-3. I think it'll be more like 06-07 (Franklin 11-5, Transy 10-6, Bluffton 10-6, DC 9-7, Hanover 9-7, MSJ 9-7).
The top 7 teams in the league this year are very evenly matched and it's going to be difficult to win a road game at any of their gyms. Whoever can win 5 or 6 road games and hold serve at home has a great shot of hosting the conference tourney.

[Buzz]

i couldn't agree more....a big week coming up for DC with a home tilt with an upstart Manchester team and then a trip to Hanover on Saturday....of course with the HCAC as deep and strong as it is this year, there just won't be too many cupcakes to be found.

buckle up hcac fans, its gonna be a wild one.

speaking of that, where are the rest of the HCAC backers on this board? it is pretty DC dominated right now!

[Jackets Backer]

speaking of that, where are the rest of the HCAC backers on this board? it is pretty DC dominated right now!

Not much coming from anywhere else on this board. I'd be interested to get the take from someone that's familiar with Manchester.

Falling to 1-2 in the HCAC tomorrow night would not be a good start for  DC with a long road trip at a well-rested Hanover looming on Saturday. The Panthers gave DC fits last year by clunking up the last two games.

But first I think is a HUGE game against an up and coming Manchester team. DC has lots of senior leaders and this is a game they need to step up and show they're still a powerhouse in the league against the Spartans. Both teams are very deep with 7 or 8 guys that could go off on any given night.

Not to get too off topic but how about Augustana playing at Gonzaga on Wednesday night? What a great experience for Augie against a major D-1 power. Then Augie returns to play at No. 1 Wash. U on Saturday before playing a really good 5-1 Chicago team next week. Like someone mentioned on the CCIW board, I think it's save to say that's the toughest stretch for a D-3 school EVER!!!!!! Oh yeah, Augie also plays UW-Whitewater on Dec. 22. after playing Monmouth.

[dc_has_been]

I think DC is going to be in a lot of trouble if they drop either Wednesday's or Saturday's game.  Like it was mentioned the conference is going to be a bunch of battles with only one team winning the war at the end.  DC is going to need consistent play from their experience players.  These up and down nights waiting for someone else to step up isn't going to work.  The coach can't spend nights trying to find lineups that work.  Hopefully once Floyd gets back into bball shape he will control the offense and things will really take off.

[Buzz]

Two things..

1-Good for the HCAC to see Manchester and Anderson getting votes now, which makes four teams from the league to do so already this season (DC and Transy being the others).

2-It was a very interesting decision by Coach Brum to bring Floyd off the bench but it worked fine against Rose. With 10 players all playing 20-25 minutes, Floyd with the 'second team' gives the reserves a playmaker and a go to guy....with the starting unit having plenty of scoring options with Sales, AB and Wolfrum all on the court. It just allows them to keep the offense clicking for all 40 minutes and I'm very curious to see how it plays out Wednesday night against Manchester in the showdown between the league's top two scoring teams. Catch the action via the free DC webcast (www.defianceathletics.com/video). Tip starts at 8:00 pm, with the ladies playing at 6:00 pm.

[Mr. Ypsi]

DC_SID,

Not to nitpick, but with only 200 minutes available (5X40), it is impossible to have 10 players all play 20-25 minutes.

Are you guys playing by the rules?

[Buzz]

ha, good point. looking back at the Rose-Hulman box score, DC had 10 players between 14 and 21 minutes.

[AndOne]

How is Franklin looking this year?
Strengths?
Weaknesses?
Thanks to all.

[Buzz]

Not really sure about Franklin yet. I know FC is only 3-5 and lost a two-point game to Transylvania tonight at home. They lost that dynamic guard combo of Redman and Marshall to graduation, but will still be dangerous due to sophomore post player Will Conoley's 21.0 ppg. The Grizzlies are just one of those programs you assume will get it figured out and be right there come tourney time.

[Buzz]

Wow, what a game tonight inside DC's Karl H. Weaner Community Center, as the Jackets scored a 95-82 thriller against No. 42 Manchester. It ultimately came down to Defiance's depth, as DC outscored the Spartans, 53-19 off the bench. Mike Floyd had 17 points and five helpers off the bench, but no reserve was bigger than Heath Armstrong who score 15 points in the final 3:02, including 11-straight from the 3:02 to the 1:51 marks of the second half. Armstrong canned three-straight trifectas in the span of 39 seconds to turn a 73-70 DC edge into an 84-70 cushion. This Yellow Jacket team has its flaws, but man is it deep, athletic and explosive. Great game.

BTW - Really impressed with Manchester. They are for real this year and have really got that program back on track in a hurry.

[RO_24]

Darryl - Hope all is well.

What is going on up in Beaverland this season?  I've been following their games online, and it looks to be a struggle thusfar.

Take care,