The Undefeated and the Winless

[Mr. Ypsi]

Some interesting(?) followup on Alma/Finlandia:

This will be Finlandia's ONLY game against a Great Lakes region opponent (their two games against Northland are also in-region by the 200-mile rule).  While the 2-8 Lions (a perennial candidate for the winless list themselves) show little likelihood of needing to worry about their pool C chances any time soon, they will NEVER have a decent in-region record unless and until the NCAA moves them to the West.  (Alma is their closest GL 'neighbor' at nearly 500 miles, including traversing the 'Big Mac' which can be dicey during bball season.  For in-region d3 games, Finlandia is at least as much an 'orphan' as UMPI or Colorado College.)

Last year Grace Bible was Alma's designated non-conference win (they didn't play Finlandia).  Since GB is not on the schedule this year, I assume Finlandia returned to the schedule to fulfill that role.  Since one of the Lions' two wins was by 15 points over d2 Northern Michigan, I wonder if they will fulfill their 'destiny'.  If not, Alma may be favored over Kzoo or Tri-State at home, but are otherwise likely to be underdogs in every game this season.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

And it's probably good that Alma is not playing Grace Bible, as the Tigers are looking much improved this year (10-9), with a 7 point loss to ONU, and a 2 point win over NAIA Cornerstone.

I hope that Finlandia made the drive down to Alma last night or early this morning, as it's been snowing heavily here since noon, and I suspect it's worse further north.

[smedindy]

Northern Michigan is 1-9, though, with the only win a home win against Michigan Tech (which may be their arch rival, both being UPers...)

So I think Finlandia's win over Northern Michigan tells us more about NMU than Finlandia.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Northern Michigan is 1-9, though, with the only win a home win against Michigan Tech (which may be their arch rival, both being UPers...)

So I think Finlandia's win over Northern Michigan tells us more about NMU than Finlandia.

True, but Michigan Tech doubled up Finlandia 73-37!  About those comparative scores ...

Not sure how those results reflect on Finlandia, NMU, or MT, but probably not well for any of them.

[sac]

Today is a "light flurries" day for the Yoopers.

Come on Mr Y all those games with teams from Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama count as in-region for Finlandia. 

Alma will be a decided underdog against every MIAA opponent at any location.    If they don't get a W this weekend, the odds of an O'fer season jump dramaticaly.  In fact they may be pretty solid underdogs in their own tournament with Finlandia, Purdue-Calumet and Davenport.  I thought this was  certain win kind of weekend for them, untill I saw their game with Oberlin.

I'd love to say I was wrong at the end of the season, but they will find competeing in the MIAA tough.  They play hard enough and with enough enthusiasm that they deserve a win somewhere along the way.

[smedindy]

I guess you can never count on anything when teams from the UP play each other! It's chaos! (Or something!)

[sac]

I guess you can never count on anything when teams from the UP play each other! It's chaos! (Or something!)

pasties, I think you can count on pasties.

[Greek Tragedy]

Despite Finlandia's poor record, they have had some good games against the WIAC.  I'll try to find the post, but a poster had some good things to say about Finlandia.

3-7 record

L at Eau Claire 81-60
L vs Eau Claire 78-76 (up 12 at half)
L vs Oshkosh 91-70 (in Baraboo) (down 3 at half)
W at River Falls 84-79
L at Stout 93-89 OT (up 11 at half)
W vs Stout 99-84
L at Superior 101-79

Granted those teams aren't the cream of the WIAC crop, but they were only down 3 vs. Oshkosh and Eau Claire is 2-1 in the conference.  Stout may be the worst team in the WIAC this year.  They are athletic but don't play as a team at all.

 

[Mr. Ypsi]

sac,

Has Alma fallen so low they will be a solid underdog to every MIAA team even at home?  Yikes!

BTW, you twisted my arm into making my version of pasties for dinner tonite.  Since mine are the lazy version of the real thing (no pastry), I'm eager for summer and the real deal!

Tom, is it legal for Stout to steal Superior's rightful spot?

[sac]

sac,

Has Alma fallen so low they will be a solid underdog to every MIAA team even at home?  Yikes!

Yes and no, I haven't seen all the MIAA teams, but I think I have a good idea of who has what returning.  It wouldn't shock me at all if they won a game or two at home, I just feel those odds are pretty low.

Isaac Smith was their best overall player by far last season, and he's in a suit on the bench now and can't help them.  Kzoo is much better than their record shows, Olivet has better players returning.  Despite TSU's record, I like TSU's personel over Alma's.  Alma did win at home vs TSU and Kzoo last season, but it would be a big surprise to me if that happened this year.

We'll see, like I said I hope they win because they play hard and have a lot more enthusiasm than past Alma teams.

[sac]

Finlandia 86, Alma 73

[hopefan]

As expected, each of our 3 players last night stay perfect:

Sac reports that Alma fell to Finlandia, 86 - 73, to stay winless

Beloit stays winless losing to Simpson 74 - 59

Puget sound stays undefeated, beating Edgewood  93 - 80


Many games up tonight, Saturday Dec 29

Winless Alma hosts 1-11 Purdue Calumet  - the record speaks for itself - Alma has a chance...

Winless Denison plays NYU  -  NYU is down a little, but Denison has little chance here

Winless Colorado College plays D2 Ft Lewis State  -  this should be ugly

Winless Beloit plays Presentation from the UMAC  Presentation is 1-6, and been competitive in few games  - Beloit should win and leave our list

Winless Alfred plays Cazenovia  -  Caz has a 1 point win over Hobart, while alfred lost to Hobart by 9 - Still, this game should be close on a neutral court.

Winless Rockford play St. Norb's  -  St Norbs played Auggie tight - a tough night for Rockford.

Winless St Mary's Minn plays D1 Loyola Chicago...   why?

So of our 13 winless, 7 play tonight, with Alfred, Alma, and Beloit having good shots at getting their first win.


3 undefeateds play tonight

Undefeated Puget Sound plays NAIA Westmont  -  Westmont only beat CUNY team Baruch by 2 last night, Puget should roll

Undefeated Immaculata plays at Randolph Macon  -  Randy has only lost twice, both 2 point losses and has some solid wins - I'm afraid this may end the Mac's streak

Undefeated Williams plays Lehman - should have no trouble.

[sac]

Purdue Calumet 58 Alma 47

[smedindy]

Well so much for that...

Purdue Cal has gone through some tough times, but they're NAIA and can offer some aid. They used to be a clearinghouse for former D-1 athletes who crawl back to Indiana after having some issues, but that's probably what got them in trouble when those guys stopped going to class.

[Jacketfan2011]

Wow.  Alfred beats Cazenovia 78-72 after being down 45-28 at the half.