MBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

Just Bill · February 13, 2010, 07:58:00 PM

EC beats Rockford and MBBC stuns CUW setting up a winner-take-all for first showdown in the North next Tuesday.

RFMichigan · February 15, 2010, 12:23:36 PM

Following the weekend's games:

- In the North, Edgewood plays at CUW (following their shocking loss to MBBC on Saturday) on Tuesday for the division crown.

- Lakeland @ Rockford play for tournament seeding as they have both clinched a playoff berth. (Rockford owns the head to head over Marian if they lose to Lakeland and tie Marian for fourth.)

In the South:

- Aurora wins, clinches a tie for first, and locks up a tournament spot for themselves and MSOE and CUC. I believe they own the tiebreaker with MSOE if only those two tie for first.

- MSOE continues its mastery over CUC, with both getting a spot in the tournament with Domincan's loss to Aurora. Both could still end up in a tie for first with Aurora. If that happens . . . tie breaker city, although I don't think CUC would be in the picture based on division records of the three.

- Benedictine wins and keeps their tournament hopes alive. There could be a three way tie for the last playoff spot . . . more tie-breaker city.

- WLC and to some extent CUC are struggling to the finish line. WLC has two games left and I believe could even lose one of the two and still make the tournament (although WLCALUM83 probably knows the exact tiebreaker situation).

- Then there's Domincan. They could end up playing WLC in the last game on Thursday with the last playoff spot on the line.

2/16 PICKS: How's this for a gutless set of picks: Every home team wins. (And not just because they're home teams. I think the home teams are either better, are playing for more, or in the case of CUW, get a large boost from playing at home. Also, I think bus legs comes into effect this late in the season on a Tuesday night.)

Enjoy the last week!

WLCALUM83 · February 15, 2010, 09:49:25 PM

If Benedictine and WLC finished in a 2 way tie, the IL Eagles would hold the advantage (having beaten MSOE once, whereas the Warriors were swept by the Raiders)

Should the Warriors split their last 2 and Dominican and Benedictine lose out, WLC would get in. If Benedictine beats Aurora, WLC would have to win out to get in.

WLCALUM83 · February 16, 2010, 11:16:50 PM

2/16 finals:

CUW 67, Edgewood 65 (A late rally at home gave the Falcons the North title, per Concordia-WI release)

CUC 95, WLC 88

Rockford 76, Lakeland 68 (A 21-7 early 2nd-half Regent scoring run was the difference here, Rockford outshot Lakeland from floor 55% to 36% for game, per IL squad box score/PBP acct)

WLCALUM83 · February 16, 2010, 11:38:30 PM

This just in--Updated NAthCon standings indicate Aurora has beaten Benedictine and MSOE beat Dominican

WLC has been given another chance--if the Warriors beat Domincan, they get the last spot, if they lose, they fall into a 3-way tie with the Stars and IL Eagles)

Just Bill · February 17, 2010, 10:22:21 AM

Quote from: WLCALUM83 on February 16, 2010, 11:38:30 PM
This just in--Updated NAthCon standings indicate Aurora has beaten Benedictine and MSOE beat Dominican

WLC has been given another chance--if the Warriors beat Domincan, they get the last spot, if they lose, they fall into a 3-way tie with the Stars and IL Eagles)

The winner of WLC-Dominican will get the #4 spot in the South. The loser will be #6. Benedictine has been eliminated and will be #5 no matter what happens.

RFMichigan · February 18, 2010, 10:18:53 PM

Dominican wraps up the last tournament conference spot with a 70-59 win at home against WLC. WLC just ran out of gas the last two weeks of the season.

The bottom half of the tournament teams (seeds #5-8) are set before the "crossover" games this Saturday are played. None of the coaches of these teams would rest some of their key players a bit for these games, would they? I can't see it, but what do you think?

RFMichigan · February 21, 2010, 03:31:04 PM

NAC Crossover (Challenge Results (w/o scores)

CUW over Aurora by 1 to gain the top seed in the tournament. This is pretty big for them as they have played only one game away from home in their last nine.)
MSOE over Edgewood
Rockford over CUC
Lakeland over Dominican
Benedictine over Marian
WLC over Maranatha

For the Feb. 23 games:
#8 Dominican @ #1 CUW - Dominican has some nice wins this year, but CUW is on a roll, winning their last 7 of 9. Plus, they play well at home having only lost two there all season. CUW - for this game.

#7 Lakeland @ #2 Aurora - Too much firepower for the Muskies. Aurora had won eight in a row before their one point loss to CUW in the cross-over. Aurora

#6 Rockford @ #3 MSOE - Another team on a roll (Rockford's won 5 of their last 6) against MSOE, who's won their last four. I really like MSOE, except I think Rockford's playing loose and with confidence. Crazy pick - Rockford.

#5 CUC @ #4 Edgewood - The only game where at least one of the teams isn't playing well late in the season. Edgewood's lost 4 out of their last 6, while CUC has lost 3 out of 4. CUC - but Morgan's going to have to take more than three shots as was the case vs. Rockford. CUC gets another shot at CUW. CUC

Truthfully, I don't think that there is all that much separating these eight teams. No "upset" would surprise me.

WLCALUM83 · February 21, 2010, 11:24:58 PM

Quote from: RFMichigan on February 21, 2010, 03:31:04 PM
NAC Crossover (Challenge Results (w/o scores)

CUW over Aurora by 1 to gain the top seed in the tournament. This is pretty big for them as they have played only one game away from home in their last nine.)
MSOE over Edgewood
Rockford over CUC
Lakeland over Dominican
Benedictine over Marian
WLC over Maranatha

For the Feb. 23 games:
#8 Dominican @ #1 CUW - Dominican has some nice wins this year, but CUW is on a roll, winning their last 7 of 9. Plus, they play well at home having only lost two there all season. CUW - for this game.

#7 Lakeland @ #2 Aurora - Too much firepower for the Muskies. Aurora had won eight in a row before their one point loss to CUW in the cross-over. Aurora

#6 Rockford @ #3 MSOE - Another team on a roll (Rockford's won 5 of their last 6) against MSOE, who's won their last four. I really like MSOE, except I think Rockford's playing loose and with confidence. Crazy pick - Rockford.

#5 CUC @ #4 Edgewood - The only game where at least one of the teams isn't playing well late in the season. Edgewood's lost 4 out of their last 6, while CUC has lost 3 out of 4. CUC - but Morgan's going to have to take more than three shots as was the case vs. Rockford. CUC gets another shot at CUW. CUC

Truthfully, I don't think that there is all that much separating these eight teams. No "upset" would surprise me.

No argument with any of your picks--possible "X" factors, though.

Dominican's Turley's didn't start in the Challange game. Don't know how much of a difference that'll
make.

Will Lakeland's Schwarz be avalilable to play? He's missed the last several games.

CUC game-yeah, the Cougars should just keep pounding it inside, since they don't rely on the 3 that much anyway.

WLCALUM83 · February 23, 2010, 08:46:11 PM

NAthCon Playoff Updates:

Rockford 29, MSOE 29 --half

Aurora 36, Lakeland 22 --half

Concordia-Chicago 32, Edgewood 30 --half

WLCALUM83 · February 23, 2010, 09:47:20 PM

Finals:

MSOE 68, Rockford 63 (Off & Meier had double-doubles, Deacon poured in 14 pts, a late Raider scoring run sealed this win at home-per MSOE stats)

Aurora 86, Lakeland 56

Concordia-Chicago 71, Edgewood 60 (Cougars got off to a slow start early, but came back late in 1st half, and maintained a lead in the 2nd-Edgewood stats)

Semi-Final matchups:

MSOE at Aurora

Concordia-Chicago vs. Dominican-CUW winner

Just Bill · February 23, 2010, 11:22:24 PM

#8 Dominican scores 65 second half points and stuns #1 CUW 88-76.

Gregory Sager · February 24, 2010, 12:54:55 PM

All four teams in the NAthCon final four are South Division teams. Interesting.

RFMichigan · February 24, 2010, 04:06:31 PM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 24, 2010, 12:54:55 PM
All four teams in the NAthCon final four are South Division teams. Interesting.

Although the North split the "Challenge" (crossover) games last weekend, I'm not too terribly surprised by the South's sweep in the quarterfinals (although anytime you get a #8 over a #1 it makes your raise your eyebrows)as I thought the South was stronger overall than the North. I think what this all means, especially Domincan's win over CUW, is that there's just not much separating the teams in this league - there are no dominating teams. (But still -the Stars scoring 65

in the second half? Yeouch.)
With that being said:

Semi-finals:
MSOE @ Aurora - I just don't know what to think about this game. I've liked MSOE all year (even though I picked them to be upset in the quarters), but Aurora is really hitting their stride right now. Aurora

Dominican @ CUC - Domincan takes the 3 minute drive down Division to visit the Cougars. I wish I could have seen their 2nd half vs. CUW. 65 points? 38 free throws? M. Turley goes for 25? When a team is hot, they're just hot. Then CUC catches a break when Edgewood's starting center and 6th man can't play, survive getting down 11-0 to start the game, but come back and take out EC. I have a funny feeling that CUC's guards match up well with Dominican's and Morgan continues where he left off vs. Edgewood. (20pts./14 rbs.) CUC

But if the championship is Domincan vs. MSOE, who's surprised?

WLCALUM83 · February 24, 2010, 08:33:08 PM

This posters' semi-final projections:

I'll agree on Aurora. (Off and Meier must continue their offensive production for the Raiders to have a chance)

I'm going with CUC in a tight one in the other one though, (in both of the earlier matchups, the Cougars had a big rebounding edge on the Stars, although if Dominican is hitting on the 3s. . . . and Turley has another huge game scoring. . . )