MBB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Jackets Backer]

Yes the FT disparity is glaring on the box score but several of those FT's came in the final minute when DC kept turning the ball over and having to foul to prevent a layup and/or to stop the clock. I will say that there were definitely moments during the game that DC's offense was very 'stand still' and there just wasn't much movement. Transy really did a nice job breaking the press and controlling the tempo by limiting DC's transition offense. The Jackets have plenty of weapons to play a half court game and succeed, it just didn't work last night with all the turnovers in crucial spots. DC also had some very poor shot selection. Not going to name names there but hopefully that can be addressed.

On a side note - TU's Brandon Rash didn't get to play much due to fouls, but he looks like he could be a very special talent in the HCAC. Maybe it was just a good game for him? But just based on 15-20 minutes, he looks like a keeper.

It always infuriates me when fans  think because there was a big disparity in foul shots that one team was getting the whistles and the other wasn't. The team that's more aggressive will get to march to the charity line more often and Wednesday, Transy was more aggressive. Officials don't say hey, that team's shot 10 more freebies, let's even it up.

Transy's M.O. over the years for beating DC has been changing the tenor of the game to a grind it out, half-court affair. They succeeded again Wednesday. Coach Lane knows they can't run with DC for 40 minutes, case in point the 2007 game at Transy when DC won by like 40 running and gunning. Sure, DC can play a halfcourt game but it seems like it makes them uncomfortable and the turnovers prove that. Most league games are slow, half-court games since teams know each other so well. Jackets have to figure out how to win those games.

Tim Tierney's is just another in a long line of Transy vets that seem haunt the Jackets each year. I remember watching Nick Feagan take over when it mattered the most against DC his senior year in all three games that year. Especially in the HCAC championship game at Franklin. He was a special player when the game was on the line ... he was what you call clutch. I always got so frustrated watching him just do whatever he wanted, even when DC was trying its hardest to stop him. He was just unstoppable. Throw Joey Searle, Mark 'let it' Baine, Joey Verax and now Tierney and couple other guys I can't remember names into that same category as Jacket Killers. Coach Lane seems to have one every year down there.

Totally agree with your assessment of Brandon Rash. He might just be the next Jacket Killer. Loved watching him Wednesday night. The scary thing is he's just going to keep getting better.

[Buzz]

A look at Saturday's HCAC slate, which features a gem of a game with Anderson going to Transylvania. AU has been at home for what seems like the entire season and TU is playing really well at the moment, so very interested to see how this one plays out. Also torn because I like having an HCAC school in the top 20, but as a DC fan, we need AU to lose a few games.

Anderson at Transylvania - Its a close one, but I think Anderson's size will excel if Transy tries to slow it down, so I'm taking the Ravens to improve to 5-0 in the league and take a commanding 2 game lead over the field.

Manchester at Franklin - I haven't seen Franklin yet and I was impressed with Manchester, but I just have a hunch Franklin defends its home court in this one and stays in the hunt by moving to 3-2.

Bluffton at Rose-Hulman - A clash between the bottom two teams in the league, but I don't see Bluffton getting its first win of the season on the road. Give me Rose-Hulman moving to 2-3.

I also think the Defiance at MSJ game will be right there with the AU/TU contest as the best of the day and I view it as a coin flip right now. Being a DC homer, I'll just stick to picking the non-Defiance games, but the Jackets really need this one.

[Jackets Backer]

A look at Saturday's HCAC slate, which features a gem of a game with Anderson going to Transylvania. AU has been at home for what seems like the entire season and TU is playing really well at the moment, so very interested to see how this one plays out. Also torn because I like having an HCAC school in the top 20, but as a DC fan, we need AU to lose a few games.

Anderson at Transylvania - Its a close one, but I think Anderson's size will excel if Transy tries to slow it down, so I'm taking the Ravens to improve to 5-0 in the league and take a commanding 2 game lead over the field.

Manchester at Franklin - I haven't seen Franklin yet and I was impressed with Manchester, but I just have a hunch Franklin defends its home court in this one and stays in the hunt by moving to 3-2.

Bluffton at Rose-Hulman - A clash between the bottom two teams in the league, but I don't see Bluffton getting its first win of the season on the road. Give me Rose-Hulman moving to 2-3.

I also think the Defiance at MSJ game will be right there with the AU/TU contest as the best of the day and I view it as a coin flip right now. Being a DC homer, I'll just stick to picking the non-Defiance games, but the Jackets really need this one.

TU finds a way to knocke off another top 20 team against Andy.

I'll take Franklin as well to defend its home planks.

Give me RHIT on the Indiana-Illinois border to keep the Beavers winless.

As much as I'd like to think DC will take down MSJ, the western edge of the Natti has been a tough place for the Jackets to win as well and considering DC's road woes, this one's a toss up in Delhi.

[Darryl Nester]

Wow -- I had not bothered to check this board since early December because I had not been notified (until today) that there were any postings.  (Maybe I just missed the notification a month ago?)  Turns out things are busier here than ever.

I'm not sure how much I would have been inclined to contribute; right now, I'm mostly feeling jealous of any teams with single digits in the "L" column.

I'll go with Transy and Franklin at home, but I continue to live in the hope that the Beavers will finally put together a whole game and pick up a win.

[Buzz]

Well big statement wins today for three HCAC squads, as Defiance, Manchester and Anderson all knotched big road victories. Rose-Hulman's win over Bluffton came at home but puts the Engineers rights in the mix at 2-3. If I have my standings correct, we've got AU all alone at top and Bluffton all alone at the bottom with the other seven teams all having 2 or 3 league losses.

Anderson 4-0
Transylvania 4-2
Manchester 3-2
Hanover 3-2
Defiance 3-3
Mt. St. Joseph 2-3
Rose-Hulman 2-3
Franklin 2-3
Bluffton 0-6

I suspect this will sort itself out in the next couple of weeks, but this has the potential to be a thrilling race down the stretch...at least for positions 2-6 in the HCAC Tourney. Right now it sure looks like everyone should pencil in a trip to Anderson for the HCAC Tourney (jinx alert!)

[Jackets Backer]

Pack your bags for Anderson. The Ravens are 5-0 with a two-game lead with 11 left. Already won at Transy, can't imagine they'd lose more than two the rest of the way. Likely if they continue at this pace, the Ravens will be receiving an at-large bid and won't even need to win the league tournament to go dancing.

[wc4252]

Anderson continues to roll after shooting 63% for the game.  They have shot the ball incredibly well all year, especially in conference.  It's hard to imagine they can keep up that kind of pace but to put on that kind of performance at Transy is very impressive.  I think the most encouraging thing about AU is that they have won some tough, low scoring games but have also been able to put some big time points on the board (59 I think in the 2nd half today) when they needed too.  How did everybody else look today?

[dc_has_been]

I don't know who in the HCAC will be the team to take down Anderson?  They've beat some pretty good teams (Witt, UWP)  and don't seem to be slowing down.  They've been averaging 16.6 point margin of victory since their loss to Augustana and their closest win was by 9 during their current win streak.  I agree with DC_SID that the #2 spot is still up for grabs. 
If DC can be more consistent and hold onto their leads they could do some damage the rest of conference action.  They have Transy, Anderson,  & Hanover at home after losing on the road to all three of them.  Regardless of those three, they still have to play at Manchester & RHIT at their place and Franklin twice.  It's still nice that they have 4 of their last ten games on the road.
Transy has a tough road the rest of the way through.  After MSJ they have a four game road trip with one being a non-conference game against a good Maryville team; two games against Manchester, and have to travel to DC and AC as well.  Overall, 7 of their last 11 on the road.
Manchester has two games each against Anderson and Transy, and have to travel to Hanover too.  I don't see them fairing very well with those five games, plus they still have DC to play as well.
Hanover has to play Anderson twice, travel to DC, and still have games against Transy and Manchester at their place.
I'm still not counting out RHIT, MSJ, or Franklin, but I think that DC, Transy, MC, or HC have the best shot at taking the #2 seed when it comes tournament time IMO.  Regardless, I think that the HCAC has done very well for themselves making noise in DIII bball this year. 

[cave2bens]

Good weekend - Z-pack has beaten down the African crud, 'Bash swept two conference foes in short order, and best of all, Defiance seems to have relieved herself of the curse of the visitor venues.    All needed now is for the mercury to rise above freezing, melt the road ice, and allow escape from the neighborhood.   

Great job, Jackets.

[Jackets Backer]

Let's see if the Jackets can reel off some league victories here before Anderson comes to town on Jan. 27. with Franklin, Bluffton and RHIT on the slate. The schedule is a lot more favorable now, but the losses  to Transy and Hanover I think is going to really ruin any hopes of catching Anderson. Have to win out to have a realistic chance of winning the regular season crown and that's going to be tough with AU up three games.

Would be nice for DC if Anderson would drop a couple of games between now and the game here at DC with three of its four games on the road till then. The Ravens 19-point W at TU was very impressive. Anderson has been unstoppable and shooting over 50 percent. I'd love to see the HCAC get a couple teams in the NCAA Tourney with AU likely having locked up an automatic berth the way it's playing. Thing is, someone will have to beat them in the HCAC Tournament to get another team in.

[Jackets Backer]

Good weekend - Z-pack has beaten down the African crud, 'Bash swept two conference foes in short order, and best of all, Defiance seems to have relieved herself of the curse of the visitor venues.    All needed now is for the mercury to rise above freezing, melt the road ice, and allow escape from the neighborhood.   

Great job, Jackets.

Hey now, you know this an HCAC board cave?        We can't have any Bash talk on here ... somebody might get grumpy because no one gives a whit about the Bash talk over here.   

Yep, big win for Jackets in Delhi on Saturday. Let's hope they get it rolling now.

[Jackets Backer]

Pick'em time again for whoever wants to join. DC SID took a one game edge on me with the Anderson win over Transy but I'll be top dog after this week's festivities.

Wednesday's slate

MSJ at Transy: Pioneers bounce back from rough second half against Anderson on Saturday.

Bluffton at Manchester: Spartans roll past the winless Beavers.

Anderson at RHIT: Engineers hang around for 20 minutes but the Ravens win 10th straight.

Hanover at Franklin: Should be a good one with Will Conoley back for the Grizz and this being a big rivalry in the Hoosier State: Jon Miller's Panthers claw their way to big road victory.

[Buzz]

I'll put my 2-1 record on the line...

I see two fun games on the slate for Wednesday with MSJ@TU and HC@FC being potential toss ups.

Bluffton at Manchester - I am on the Manchester bandwagon - especially after going to Franklin and winning - and I am not going against them here. Spartans roll at home over the winless Beavers.

Anderson at Rose-Hulman - Rose is coming off a nice win on Saturday but I can't see the Engineers beating this Anderson squad. I'll take the Ravens but it might not be as lopsided as you'd think, especially on the R-H planks.

Hanover at Franklin - This is could be a coin flip and I'd tend to go with the home squad....but, I think Meyer can win the battle with Conoley and I'll take Hanover's guards as well. Give me the Panthers with a nice, low-scoring road victory.

Mount St. Joseph at Transylvania - The Pioneers couldn't keep pace with Anderson on Saturday, but are 5-1 at home this season and always play well on their own hardwood. MSJ is much improved but only 2-5 in last 7 and 1-3 on the road. Pioneers stay in the hunt with a win.

[cave2bens]

Hey now, you know this an HCAC board cave?        We can't have any Bash talk on here ... somebody might get grumpy because no one gives a whit about the Bash talk over here.   

Yep, big win for Jackets in Delhi on Saturday. Let's hope they get it rolling now.

Brain flatulence reigns:  mistakenly thought this was a status update on Face Book. 

An old bear can't $h*t in the Great Black Swamp anymore, either? - so much for my antiquated, crate training.  No wonder being relegated to Africa...   

[zander]

Anxious to see the Hanover vs. Franklin game tonight---What type of student attendance does this rivalry usually bring?