MBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[WLCALUM83]

In-Conference Stats Notes and Other Things:  (prior to NAthCon Challenge games).

Top-Scoring O:  WLC        Least Scoring O:  Marian
Best D:  Benedictine
Best FT%  Aurora             Worst FT%:  Marian
Best 3 FG%  Edgewood    Worst:  Marian
Best Rebounding D & O    Benedictine

Most 3's made per conference game:  WLC (avg approx 10/game)

Aurora, Edgewood and WLC would all be coming in off losses if the Tournament started today.

[ILbornNraised]

Rockford's Coach has to be up there for consideration. Going from 1-24 to finishing 2nd in the north. Agree with the other picks though. Bailey has been playing the best, especially of late. Going to be an interesting tournament.

[wcbsas]

I agree with the Freshmen from Edgewood getting ROY. The POY candidates might also include Taylor from RC and Plath from WLC.

I think you have to consider Austin Meier from MSOE in the POY discussion.  On his team he's first in assists, blocks, steals and rebounds ... second in scoring.

He's among the conference leaders in FG%, assists, steals (1st), rebounding, blocks and scoring.

He's about as complete a player as there is in the conference AND he's help MSOE overacheive and improve upon last year's results.

[Just Bill]

Bracket is set.

2009 Men's Basketball Tournament

Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7:00pm
#8 Marian vs. #1 Benedictine
    7:00pm at Benedictine University, Lisle, Ill.

#7 Wisconsin Lutheran vs. #2 Edgewood
    7:00pm at Edgewood College, Madison, Wis.

#6 Concordia Wisconsin @ #3 Rockford
    7:00pm at Rockford College, Rockford, Ill.

#5 Aurora @ #4 MSOE
    7:00pm at MSOE, Milwaukee, Wis.

Semifinals
Friday, Feb. 27, 7:00pm
#1/8 vs. #4/5
#2/7 vs. #3/6

Final
Saturday, Feb. 28, 7:00pm

http://www.northernac.org/sports/basketball_men/tournament/

[whiteowls]

Wow, if my prediction was true two months ago that benedictine would win it all, i have to give myself some credit.  I know Coach bunkenberg personally and i know how much we wants this.  Eagles all the way

[Just Bill]

Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Feb. 25
#1 Benedictine 71, #8 Marian 64
#7 Wisconsin Lutheran 87, #2 Edgewood College 74
#3 Rockford 68, #6 Concordia Wisconsin 55
#5 Aurora 85, #4 MSOE 80

Semifinals
Friday, Feb. 27
#5 Aurora at #1 Benedictine, 7:00 p.m. (Lisle, Ill.)
#7 Wisconsin Lutheran at #3 Rockford, 7:00 p.m. (Rockford, Ill.)

BU game closer than I expected.  Not really surprised at either "upset".  WLC's Behm had a triple-double.

[psquonk]

The Benedictine game wasn't as close as the score would indicate. Although it was a two point game at half, Benedictine opened up a 19 point lead about mid-way through the second half and it was a 15 point game with about 3 minutes to play. I hit the road at that point because the game was in hand, but my son said Marian hit a bunch of three's in the final minutes to close the gap.

Benedictine's pattern has been to struggle a bit in the first half and then turn it on in the second, but they can't afford to get down against Aurora if they want to advance to the championship game. It's going to be a helluva game Friday night. The Rice Center will be hopping!

[diego]

Rockford College will also be hopping on Friday.  The Regents didn't play that well against Concordia (Wisc.) on Wed., but still got the W.  If the Regents keep the tempo up, they could be the last team standing.  I dont know too much about Wisco Lutheran, but if RC gets hot....WATCH OUT!  Would love to see AU coming to RC!

Coach Rebsom has really turned things around at Rockford College. 

[wizbegs1304]

Rockford has been an interesting team this season.  For a team that has had a few down years, they sure have picked things up.

I am going to take Benedictine in winning this whole thing, although Wisconsin Lutheran could give some fits.

With Plath and Behm hitting shots you have to watch out.

[maxxiepad]

AU is coming together at the right time....Hoping to see them win this conference tourney

[WLCALUM83]

Besides all the 3-pt marksmen, WLC has enough quickness to create a lot of points off turnovers from time to time. In-conference, during the regular season, the Warriors were the highest scoring team in the league.

[Just Bill]

UPSET ALERTS!

#5 Aurora 74, #1 Benedictine 72
#7 WLC 76, #3 Rockford 66

Aurora host WLC for the NAC's automatic bid.  Who would have thought it?

[Gregory Sager]

UPSET ALERTS!

#5 Aurora 74, #1 Benedictine 72
#7 WLC 76, #3 Rockford 66

Aurora host WLC for the NAC's automatic bid.  Who would have thought it?

Not whiteowls, that's for sure.

[wizbegs1304]

Wisconsin Lutheran down at Aurora, should be an interesting matchup...if the Warriors are hitting watch out, they will be tourney bound for the second time in just a few years.

[Just Bill]

Irony.  We had a #5 seed Lakeland win the NAC Tourney at Aurora last year. This year the #5 seed Aurora could win the tourney at Aurora.  Clearly teams in this league are setting their regular season goals to high.