MBB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Buzz]

And while I am rambling. There is still work to do for DC's six-man senior class. But I just took a moment to reflect on the impact of this class during its time at Defiance.

Saturday will be the 100th game for this class.
It is 69-30 for a .697 clip.
A chance to be the winningest class since DC won 73 games from 1987-88 through 1991-92 and the winning % is much higher.
The W/L record is 40-18 in the HCAC (.690%) and 31-11 over the last three years (.738%).
15 or more wins in all four seasons, with a good shot at 17 or more W's in all four.

It isn't often that a group of seniors does what this one has at Defiance. With three-straight trips to the HCAC Semis, two trips to the HCAC Finals and one regular season HCAC Championship, there really is just one goal remaining and that is the elusive bid to the NCAA Tourney. DC hasn't gotten the invite since 2001 and it would be really nice to see a group like this gain that opportunity.

[cave2bens]

Just keep picking the winners like last night, Buzz, and the winning percentage will be assured. 

Buzz, you've got to be taking some heat like Cave said after picking against the hometown Jackets!!!! Ouch. I'm going to make my move in the pickem Saturday.

Wow - an uncalled (for) over-the-back at the offensive end by Jackets Backer in the "third half?"  Great lunchtime entertainment!   

[altor]

I'd like to know if Coach Slyder is still complaining about the technical foul that wasn't called in the first half.  He was chewing on the officials' ears for a good five minutes on that one.  Let it go, man.

[zander]

It looks like the Hanover vs Defiance game should be a battle. Hanover won back in December against Defiance, and now they will have to  prove they can win a conference game on the road against the team that finally ended Anderson's winning streak. It should be a great game to claim second place in the HCAC standings- I take Hanover to win...it will be a defining moment for this young Panther team.

[Jackets Backer]

I'd like to know if Coach Slyder is still complaining about the technical foul that wasn't called in the first half.  He was chewing on the officials' ears for a good five minutes on that one.  Let it go, man.

Nah, he had enough, he lit out of the Weaner Center with a good 10-15 seconds still on the clock at the end of the game.

[Buzz]

Alright, time for my Saturday picks and I gotta admit, outside of the DC/HC matchup, these seem pretty cut and dry. Home teams are posting a .659 winning % this year in the HCAC and all four home teams would be favored anyway, so I look for four more home victories on Saturday. If that happens, it will pretty much seal the six-team tourney field....Saturday should be a day of separation.

Rose-Hulman (6-13, 2-8) at Transylvania (10-9, 6-4)
RH topped Transy in double OT last time around, but this time it is at TU and the Pioneers know its a must have for them and their bid for the No. 2 seed. Gimme Transylvania here, they'll shoot better than 39% this time.

Bluffton (2-17, 2-8) at Franklin (7-11, 5-4)
Bluffton is playing so much better now and if this were in Founders, I'd be tempted... but now they head on the road, where they haven't really shown much. Grizzlies won't take them lightly anymore regardless, so I'll take FC. But what if Bluffton could snag another W? Could the Beavers make a run at the 6 seed??

MSJ (8-10, 3-7) at Manchester (11-7, 5-4)
Manchester would be favored anyway but especially with the questions surrounding the health of Romes. I think the Spartans easily snap their 2-game skid on Saturday.

Hanover (9-9, 6-4) at Defiance (15-4, 6-4)
Nobody has been more impressive over the last three games than Hanover. Not allowing over 65 points and really hitting its stride. BUT, DC almost beat the Panthers on the road and managed to put 73 on the board while shooting a woeful 31% and 3-25 from deep. Hard to see DC shooting that poorly again, so the Jackets should be able to push the score into the upper 70's at least, where Hanover is only 2-7 when giving up more than 70. If that happens, its a huge edge to Defiance. DC should be able to push the tempo just enough to pull this one out and a fast start will be crucial.

[zander]

Transy
Franklin
Manchester
Hanover

[Jackets Backer]

home gyms prevail today.

[Darryl Nester]

Bluffton/Franklin just went final with FC coming out on top, 62-59.  Beavers were playing without Josh Fisher (I don't know why).

Transy/RHIT also just finished, with the Pioneers winning 60-49.

Defiance/Hanover still has about 4 minutes left; the Panthers currently hold a 3 point lead.  You can follow the action here.

[zander]

Great game Hanover Panthers!

[cave2bens]

If a Jackets fan, one can only say "Stinkeroo"

38.5% from charity 

Hanover shot 71% in the final stanza, 61% for the game, made free throws at nearly 79%, and executed a downright disciplined strategy.  Well done, Panthers.   

On positive note, Jackets did win the assist battle 16-15, but that's about it.  Back to the drawing board, and 50 FTs each after sprints as cool downs.    Sheez.

[Buzz]

If anyone can figure this DC squad out....play 40 great minutes against Anderson and then appear flat and disinterested against Hanover with a chance to take control of the very important No. 2 seed. But big props to Hanover for never letting DC get going and scoring a very big road victory. Jon Miller has these Panthers on a roll with 4-straight W's.

Looks like Franklin, Manchester and Transy all took care of business at home, although Bluffton and MSJ put up pretty good fights.

Updated HCAC Standings
*Anderson 9-1
Hanover 7-4
Transylvania 7-4
Manchester 6-4
Franklin 6-4
Defiance 6-5
----------------
Mt St Joseph 3-8
Rose-Hulman 2-9
Bluffton 2-9

* Denotes team has clinched spot in HCAC Tourney

and updated pick standings after Zander went 4-0 and Buzz/Backer went 3-1.

Buzz 21-7
Zander 6-2
DC Backer 19-9
WC 8-5
Has Been 3-2
Indy 5-4

[dc_has_been]

Well, Hanover has DC's number this year.  That game puts DC currently in the sixth spot for the HCAC tournament.  If anyone has any insight in what happened in that game fill me in please.

[Darryl Nester]

To follow up on Buzz's comment that Anderson has clinched a spot in the tournament ... below is a table summarizing the remaining games, followed by a table showing the percent of remaining scenarios in which each team makes the top 6.  (These percents are not the same as probabilities, unless each game is decided by a coin flip.)

Team	Overall	Home	Away	Remaining Games
Anderson	9-1	4-0	5-1	vs. BU, @ FC, vs. RHIT, vs. TU, vs. MC, @ HC
Hanover	7-4	5-0	2-4	@ MSJ, vs. BU, vs. FC, @ RHIT, vs. AU
Transylvania	7-4	5-1	2-3	vs. FC, @ DC, @ MSJ, @ AU, vs. MC
Manchester	6-4	5-1	1-3	vs. DC, @ RHIT, @ BU, vs. FC, @ AU, @ TU
Franklin	6-4	3-2	3-2	@ TU, vs. AU, @ HC, @ MC, vs. MSJ, vs. DC
Defiance	6-5	4-1	2-4	@ MC, vs. TU, vs. MSJ, vs. BU, @ FC
Mount St. Joseph	3-8	2-3	1-5	vs. HC, vs. TU, @ DC, @ FC, vs. RHIT
Rose-Hulman	2-9	2-4	0-5	vs. MC, @ AU, @ BU, vs. HC, @ MSJ
Bluffton	2-9	2-4	0-5	@ AU, @ HC, vs. MC, vs. RHIT, @ DC

Team	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	Tournament?
Anderson	80.96%	12.73%	4.70%	1.32%	0.27%	0.02%	100.00%
Hanover	5.60%	24.38%	24.76%	21.02%	16.10%	7.50%	99.36%
Transylvania	5.67%	23.82%	22.84%	20.20%	15.79%	10.89%	99.22%
Franklin	2.93%	13.58%	16.21%	17.62%	20.24%	26.23%	96.81%
Manchester	4.15%	17.95%	18.54%	19.06%	19.17%	19.06%	97.93%
Defiance	0.68%	7.53%	12.94%	20.43%	26.76%	28.21%	96.55%
Mount St. Joseph	--	--	0.02%	0.34%	1.44%	5.45%	7.26%
Rose-Hulman	--	--	--	0.00%	0.05%	0.86%	0.91%
Bluffton	--	--	--	0.01%	0.18%	1.77%	1.96%

[Jackets Backer]

Well, Hanover has DC's number this year.  That game puts DC currently in the sixth spot for the HCAC tournament.  If anyone has any insight in what happened in that game fill me in please.

Hanover plays defense and Defiance doesn't. I don't know that DC was flat, Hanover was just better. DC has had some really poor defensive efforts this year where teams really stuck right in their eye. Anderson's 80 percent half comes to mind, Hanover shoots it 70 percent in second half and 60 for game. DC's fine when they're making shots, but if they have a day where they're shooting even 45 percent, it can be a struggle because the lack of defense and the other team is shooting over 50 percent or even 60.

Mitchell Meyer and Mike Case were unstoppable for Hanover, they scored 35 points on only 15 shots combined.

DC also missed plenty of bunnies and shot poorly at the charity line 5-13.

Plus Coach Miller made DC guard for 20-30 seconds every time down the court until they got a good look. When they did, they buried em. They run their stuff and really make you focus on defense. Even going back to the last two games DC won against Hanover last year, they were nail-biters and DC was fortunate to win both. This year, Hanover has outplayed them both times and really controlled the action in both. It's amazing how a 2-point or 4-point lead for Hanover is more like a 10-point lead. They're so dang good when they get just a couple point lead. They've won four straight and everyone in this league better keep an eye on them with a player like Mitchell Meyer. They can beat anyone, anywhere.

The scary thing is Hanover is very young with only one senior and like 11 rookies. Coach Miller has really turned that program into a league contender in a very short two years there when many thought it make take longer to get that program back up. I'm not surprised, I saw first hand what he did at Defiance. He can coach and always has a great gameplan. And the Panthers have a toughness about them, something that's a staple of his teams.

DC is at a crossroad, 2-2 in its last 4 with losses to Bluffton and Hanover. Right now the 6th seed and have a pair of very loseable games this week if they don't bring it. At Manchester Wed. and home with Transy, who they've really struggled with over the years.