BB: NACC: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Just Bill]

This has got to be one of the crappiest conferences in D3.  The combined overall winning percentages of all teams (except for Concordia Chicago) is under .400.  Only four teams have winning records.

Definitely a down year for the NathCon, but not really a crappy conference at all on a national scale. For closer to the middle really. They're not even the worst conference in their region. The UMAC, outside of St. Scholastica, is worse.

The league lost a lot of really good seniors last year. 25 of the 35 first team or honrable mention all-conference players last year were seniors, so there's kind of a lack of experience this year. Last year, Rockford, CUC, Edgewood and Aurora all had significant regional records. EC and RC were regionally ranked, AU won the NAC Tournament and CUC won 31 games and didn't even make the NAC Tournament. Historically, NathCon members have a some really good NCAA Tournament performances and a few World Series trips, which is a lot more than most conferences can say.

[Just Bill]

NAC Standings through April 18

Concordia Chicago   10-0 1.000  20-4
Aurora               8-2  .800  16-8
Rockford             5-3  .625   9-10
Marian               6-4  .600   9-11
Concordia Wisconsin  5-4  .556   9-13
Edgewood             6-6  .500  11-15
Benedictine          5-5  .500  13-12
Wisconsin Lutheran   5-5  .500  14-13
Dominican            4-7  .364   7-20
Lakeland             3-7  .300   8-14
MSOE                 2-8  .200   6-17
Maranatha            0-8  .000   1-9

[scrapper]

Hold on there Just Bill.  You state that besides St Scholastica the UMAC is terrible.  I would have to argue that point since Bethany Lutheran easily handled Aurora this year 6-1 and it looks like they are the 2nd place team in conference.  Bethany would probably be top 1,2,or three in this conference.

[scrapper]

Aurora also threw their top pitcher[Gay] against Bethany and Bethany threw probably their #4 or #5 pitcher.

[Just Bill]

That's fine, but it doesn't change the bottom line. Throw BLC into the mix and the NathCon is still a better league than the UMAC.

[biggio34]

That's fine, but it doesn't change the bottom line. Throw BLC into the mix and the NathCon is still a better league than the UMAC.

I agree.  CSS and BLC are good teams, but the rest of the UMAC is so bad that it doesn't even come close to being better than the NATHC.

[Just Bill]

As linked on the front page of D3Baseball.com, Marian has some big plans for their baseball and softball teams...

http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20110417/FON0101/104170432/1985/Art-Off-Main-Gallery-open-Gallery-Walk/Marian-plans-new-athletic-facility?odyssey=nav%7Chead

[Just Bill]

Race for the NAC Tournament (Top 4 teams)

Concordia Chicago^  16-2 (@ WLC, vs. MSOE)
Aurora^             15-3 (@ DU, @ CUW)
Edgewood            12-8 (@ LC)
Rockford            12-8 (vs. BU)
Concordia Wisconsin 10-7 (vs. AU, vs. MU, vs. DU*)
Marian              10-8 (vs. BU, @ CUW)
Benedictine         10-8 (@ MU, @ RC)


^ - Clinched NAC Tournament berth

* - CUW and DU have a suspended game that they will only finish if necessary to determine a postseason berth. CUW and DU are tied 10-10 in the 8th of that suspended game.

Here's the remaining schedule for the contenders by date:
Tues. May 3 -
BU at MU

Thur. May 5 -
AU at DU

Fri. May 6 -
CUC at WLC
AU at CUW

Sat. May 7 -
BU at RC
MU at CUW
EC at LC

Sun. May 8 -
MSOE at CUC

[scrapper]

Who is DU ?

[BigPoppa]

Who is DU ?

Dominican University

[RFMichigan]

For Just Bill, BigPoppa, or anyone else who knows this better than I . . . Does the NAC have a shot at getting a pool C bid for either Aurora or CUC? I know it comes down to in-region games, but how much weight is put on SOS, and where can I find the relative SOS of other midwest teams?

Thanks in advance.

[Just Bill]

I don't think so. I thought CUC was on course to get one until they were swept by Aurora. I don't think Aurora has the resume now either.

As I talked about before this is a down year for the league. I'm not sure there's one team (besides Wisconsin Lutheran) that is significantly better than last year. Some are about the same, but most are worse. I think it's just it down year thing, though. With all these young players I suspect the teams will be better next year.

[BigPoppa]

For Just Bill, BigPoppa, or anyone else who knows this better than I . . . Does the NAC have a shot at getting a pool C bid for either Aurora or CUC? I know it comes down to in-region games, but how much weight is put on SOS, and where can I find the relative SOS of other midwest teams?

Thanks in advance.

I say no. SoS is weak for each, and Pool Cs bids are compared nationally. I see the NathCon as a one bid conference this year.

[Look It Up]

As I look at the standings right now (Saturday, 2:50 p.m.), Benedictine beat Rockford in game one and Edgewood lost to Lakeland in game one. That makes BU, RC and EC all 12-9 in conference. If Marian beat CUW in game one, we will have five teams at 12-9 fighting for the remaining two spots in the conference tournament next weekend. 'Twill be interesting to see the tiebreakers applied for this one!

[Look It Up]

And just as I posted the above, CUW survives a shaky ninth and beats Marian 10-9 in game one. A big victory for the Falcons, but all of these game twos will bear watching.