MBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Gregory Sager]

Thanks Greg. I think you are spot on with your observation..I think their bench gives them a bit of a luxury as well, with Magee and Liggett providing a spark against other teams second string.
Dominican killed them with the high low all day..I'm not sure if Dominican has shooters, but it seemed like AU was paying close attention to them..help side was an issue I think.
As for the NCAA's, I think its a match up issue..if AU hosts, and gets a second tier CCIW school (assuming more than 1 CCIW team gets in) or a team without a dominant big man, they can make a run). If they run into a strong big man, it comes down to the 2's vs the 3's....

Yeah, Dominican's high-low is a thing of beauty, isn't it? Erin McMillan is particularly well-suited to play the high post, and like everyone else on the team he's always looking to feed Haiduc. Jose Garcia is supposed to be a big-time shooter (.441 from downtown for the year), but I didn't see much evidence of that on Saturday. The only Star who seemed like an effortless shooter was Troy Tonsil, and he only got a cameo off of the bench.

My suspicion is that the CCIW will only get in two teams this year, since I think that either Augie or Elmhurst is going to win the conference tourney, and those two teams will most likely be Pool C shoo-ins as well. Aurora would give either one a good game, but I'd bet against the Spartans if they had to play either CCIW team. I'd take Wash U over the Spartans as well -- Bears center Troy Ruths is Mike Haiduc, only better.

The ideal first-round matchup for Aurora would be Chicago, a team that is a bit weak underneath the basket. Like Aurora, even Chicago's best big man (forward Matt Hainje) loves to go outside and stroke the trey. Twenty-footers would be flying left and right if the Spartans and Maroons tangled in the big dance!

[WLCALUM83]

WLC what does it look like now for playoff imp. before these last two games and what could happen after?

Marian:  Needs to beat Benedictine to stay alive.

Aurora:  2 more wins or at least one Edgewood loss and the Spartans clinch the title outright. (Only Rockford and CU-Chicago stand in their way now.)

Edgewood:   Probably will stay in the top 6 even if they lose their last 3 games (should go at least 2-1, with CU-WI, Rockford and Benedictine to play yet.

WLC:  Warriors have Maranatha at home yet. WLC's announcers were saying the Warriors could garner a #3 seed if things broke right for them. In terms of tie-breakers, WLC would lose ties with Edgewood or Marian. Everyone else they at least split with.

Benedictine:  A win on Thursday knocks Marian out of contention. Have to play Edgewood in their other game, however.

Dominican:  2 winnable games left for this squad. (Concordia-Chicago and Rockford).

Lakeland:  Has 2 winnable games yet (Maranatha and Marian).


(In an earlier post, I mentioned that Lakeland, WLC, Dominican, Marian and Benedictine could all finish with 7 in-conference losses. In order for that to happen, Marian would have to win out, Maranatha would have to beat WLC, and Dominican, Lakeland and Benedictine would have to split their remaining games.)

We wanted a dogfight, we're getting one!

[keith45]

My suspicion is that the CCIW will only get in two teams this year, since I think that either Augie or Elmhurst is going to win the conference tourney, and those two teams will most likely be Pool C shoo-ins as well. Aurora would give either one a good game, but I'd bet against the Spartans if they had to play either CCIW team. I'd take Wash U over the Spartans as well -- Bears center Troy Ruths is Mike Haiduc, only better.

The ideal first-round matchup for Aurora would be Chicago, a team that is a bit weak underneath the basket. Like Aurora, even Chicago's best big man (forward Matt Hainje) loves to go outside and stroke the trey. Twenty-footers would be flying left and right if the Spartans and Maroons tangled in the big dance!
[/quote]

BUT, if AU hosted one of those CCIW schools (I don't remember if AU was regionally ranked higher) it might swing their way. I think AU has a better 4 guard combo than both of those schools you listed (Magee, Trudo, Leonard and Lambert, 45 points per game, 13 reb and they all shoot over 40% from 3land, with Lambert and Trudo at 45%). I agree with you though, I'd prefer to see a CCIW school in a later round. Any other possibilities for AU?

[libero]

Don't mean to change the subject, but the 'Saders almost pulled out a NAC win last night.

The crowd was loud the whole game and MBBC led for almost the whole thing. They were tied with 4 minutes to go. Mike Knepp had a huge dunk off a turnover and almost had a second one, but was fouled in the first half.

The difference in the game was outside shooting. Travis Wilson and Dan Klecan started shooting the lights out from beyond the arc late in the second half. However, Wilson was also the reason that Ben almost lost the game early. I have seen very few point guards in this league look as lost as he did. BU's coach stayed with him though. . . They must have no one else to bring the ball up. BU also did some interesting things with their high post. Their high post would often get the ball at the top of the lane with no one on him, but he would never penetrate or shoot just kept throwing the ball back out like he wasn't allowed to do anything but pass. Does their offense always look like everyone is stuck to the floor?

If MBBC could ever get a PG, they might win a few games. Right now their best offense is to give Knepp the ball at half court and let him do his thing.

[The Lone Sader]

Libero, you are so right. The Saders could have pulled the game out. Props to Dan Klecan. He had three points in the first half and finished with 28 on the game!! A fine shooting performance for Klecan. MBBC's Rob Dupre had a solid game 10 points 10 rebounds and 5 steals. He has become an X-factor for Cronin.

I feel the close loss gave the Saders a bright spot for next year. They are only graduating two guys (both of which will not hurt the team that much). With a few key additions that are coming next year, and hopefully a PG; I think that Cronin will not only get the monkey off his back with a conference win, but three to five conference wins could easily happen. 

[WLCALUM83]

Don't mean to change the subject, but the 'Saders almost pulled out a NAC win last night.

The crowd was loud the whole game and MBBC led for almost the whole thing. They were tied with 4 minutes to go. Mike Knepp had a huge dunk off a turnover and almost had a second one, but was fouled in the first half.

The difference in the game was outside shooting. Travis Wilson and Dan Klecan started shooting the lights out from beyond the arc late in the second half. However, Wilson was also the reason that Ben almost lost the game early. I have seen very few point guards in this league look as lost as he did. BU's coach stayed with him though. . . They must have no one else to bring the ball up. BU also did some interesting things with their high post. Their high post would often get the ball at the top of the lane with no one on him, but he would never penetrate or shoot just kept throwing the ball back out like he wasn't allowed to do anything but pass. Does their offense always look like everyone is stuck to the floor?

If MBBC could ever get a PG, they might win a few games. Right now their best offense is to give Knepp the ball at half court and let him do his thing.

When Benedictine played WLC in Milwaukee, Klecan hit several 3's as well. Wouldn't you know, Wilson was the Eagle player who got the offensive rebound and put-back that turned out to be the game winner that night with 2.4 seconds to go. The Warriors were smarting for a while after that loss.

[Gregory Sager]

BUT, if AU hosted one of those CCIW schools (I don't remember if AU was regionally ranked higher)

This week's Midwest Region rankings are thus:

1. Augustana
2. Washington MO
3. Chicago
4. Aurora
5. Elmhurst
6. Wheaton
7. Carthage
8. Grinnell

Elmhurst lost tonight, so the 'jays are likely to drop at least a spot in the next ranking. And Wash U and Chicago still have another game remaining with one another. So it's possible that Aurora could finagle a Friday/Saturday hosting gig if the Spartans win out, but it's by no means a foregone conclusion.

it might swing their way.

Sure. Home-court advantage is big. It could prove to be the tipping point in Aurora's favor if the game is played on the Spartans' floor.

I think AU has a better 4 guard combo than both of those schools you listed (Magee, Trudo, Leonard and Lambert, 45 points per game, 13 reb and they all shoot over 40% from 3land, with Lambert and Trudo at 45%).

I agree, although I think Augustana and Elmhurst each have better three-guard combos (Wessels/Delp/Brusveen and Lee/Burks/Bacon) than any three of those four Spartans guards, and while Wash U doesn't have a deep backcourt and is somewhat weak at off-guard, PG Sean Wallis (14.0 ppg, 7.2 apg, over 45% from downtown) is a serious handful to try and contain, especially in the open floor.

I agree with you though, I'd prefer to see a CCIW school in a later round. Any other possibilities for AU?

Sure, lots. Because of its strategic location in Chicagoland, Aurora could get moved in a lot of different directions by the selection committee. The Spartans could find themselves playing a WIAC team such as UWSP or UWO; they could, like North Central last season, find themselves locked up with a MIAC team (St. Thomas or St. John's); or they could even end up playing a team from the east such as DePauw or Hope.

If the Spartans manage to climb high enough in the regional ranking, they could even catch a break and play one of the more lightly-regarded teams, such as the MWC representative (without a Braier-laden Lawrence, the MWC doesn't have a team that presents nearly as formidable a challenge as they have the past two postseasons), the IIAC representative (Loras ran away with the IIAC regular season title and is the class of that league this year, but Aurora's clearly better than the Duhawks), or -- if the Spartans really have fortune on their side -- the SLIAC rep.

[keith45]

I agree with you though, I'd prefer to see a CCIW school in a later round. Any other possibilities for AU?

Sure, lots. Because of its strategic location in Chicagoland, Aurora could get moved in a lot of different directions by the selection committee. The Spartans could find themselves playing a WIAC team such as UWSP or UWO; they could, like North Central last season, find themselves locked up with a MIAC team (St. Thomas or St. John's); or they could even end up playing a team from the east such as DePauw or Hope.

If the Spartans manage to climb high enough in the regional ranking, they could even catch a break and play one of the more lightly-regarded teams, such as the MWC representative (without a Braier-laden Lawrence, the MWC doesn't have a team that presents nearly as formidable a challenge as they have the past two postseasons), the IIAC representative (Loras ran away with the IIAC regular season title and is the class of that league this year, but Aurora's clearly better than the Duhawks), or -- if the Spartans really have fortune on their side -- the SLIAC rep.
[/quote]

Let's hope for Loras (I'm a graduate of UD) and AU beat Loras pretty easily this year...I can't see AU getting enough love to get the SLIAC rep, but I don't see AU getting slammed and getting a WIAC school..I don't know enough about the MIAC schools to comment..
Thanks Greg!

[WLCALUM83]

28 seconds left:  Lakeland 85, Maranatha 56. (Crusaders' DuPree in foul trouble most of the game. Muskies hit 9 threes and out-rebounded the Crusaders big time.)

[WLCALUM83]

Final:  Edgewood 83, Concordia-WI 55. (Cichy did return to the game, DeMarco wasn't needed after he left this one.)

[WLCALUM83]

Other 2/15/07 Finals:

Dominican 92, Rockford College 65. (Stars shot 61% from the field for the game--Dominican box score.)

Aurora 109, Concordia-Chicago 86. (Cougars' season ends with either a track-meet like paced game or a ton of connections on 3-point shots.)

Marian 68, Benedictine, 60. (Sabers stay alive.) (Benedictine outshot from the floor-per Marian box score.)

[WLCALUM83]

2/17/07 NAthCon Projections:

Aurora over Rockford:  (Spartans figure to keep momentum going).

Edgewood over Benedictine:  (Home game for WI Eagles--assuming DeMarco's well enough to play. Close one here.)

Dominican over Concordia-WI:

Lakeland over Marian:

WLC over Maranatha: 

[WLCALUM83]

First-thought scenarios after tonight's men's results:

(If anyone needs to make corrections--go ahead:)

1--  One more Edgewood loss and Aurora clinches the top seed for the post-season tournament.

2--  If my projections hold true, there would be a 3-way tie for third place between Dominican, Lakeland, and WLC. Benedictine and Marian would tie for the final spot.

[WLCALUM83]

WLC defeats Maranatha 89-60..

Warriors broke out to an 8-0 lead, and the Crusaders crawled back into it and it stayed tight until about the 5-minute mark in the 1st half. WLC had a 48-32 half-time lead, resulting either from steals which lead to several easy baskets, or the 3-point marksmen were on their game. C Lindberg had a couple of dunks that brought the house down.

[WLCALUM83]

Other 2/17 NAthCon Finals:

Aurora 97, Rockford College 77. (Regents shot 22% from the field in the 1st half, and never recovered--per Regents box score.)

Dominican 94, Concordia-WI 90.

Lakeland 80, Marian 64. (Sabers were outshot from the ffield and out-rebounded by the Muskies. Rogers held to 4 points, but Hoerres scored 14--per Lakeland box score.)

Edgewood 64, Benedictine 58. (Averkamp 28 pts. Scott also in double figures. WI Eagles rallied from a 9-pt half-time deficit in part by creating points off turnovers. DeMarco didn't play.)