MBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[WLCALUM83]

Benedictine 41, Calvin 39  2 secs left 1st half

[WLCALUM83]

Benedictine 60, Calvin 55  10 1/2 min left  2nd half

[WLCALUM83]

Benedictine 82, Calvin 79  final

     (potential game -tying 3 bounced off front of rim)

IL Eagles:  Green 23 and Snelling 22 pts, respectively.

[coebball70]

Congratulations to the Benedictine Eagles for winning the Elmhurst College Holiday Tourney.  The win over Calvin was impressive because the Eagles refused to buckle under to some intense defensive pressure over the last ten minutes of the game.  Calvin is a good team that will be most likely make the NCAA D3 tourney.  Thursday night's win over Elmhurst was a game that would drive a coach to drink.  The Eagles could not find the basket early and seemed to be in 'sleep' mode with many sloppy turnovers.  The second half was 180 degrees different with Benedictine clearly dominating the action at both ends of the floor.  I read somewhere, not sure where, that Massey's rating of the Eagles had them at 38th in the country.  The way they played against Calvin, I want to believe in the team's potential.  The way they played against North Central and Elmhurst (first half scoring 23 points), they would be lucky to be 138th nationally.  The Eagles have decent depth, speed and maturity.
Cameron Snelling, AJ Brown, Terry Licht and Jerrell Tribble should as seniors wake up their teammates and understand 2011 is a 'now or never' situation.  Good Luck Eagles, play defense like you did against Calvin and run more and you will finish much better than last year's 7 and 9 for fifth place in the NAC!

[WLCALUM83]

Joining CUW/LaVerne in progress:

LaVerne 13, CUW 12  Just less than 11 min left  1st half

[WLCALUM83]

CUW 33, LaVerne 29  Half

[WLCALUM83]

CUW 47, LaVerne 38  9:55 left 2nd half

[WLCALUM83]

CUW 66, LaVerne 59  Final

Despite being outshot and out-rebounded by LaVerne, CUW wins because the Falcons went to the line 18 times, making 14, (Leopards had only 4 FTs all game)-- Turnovers-- LaVerne had 26, CUW had 10

LaVerne had it within 2 on a couple of occasions, but Starks and Doedens got key baskets and then CUW hit late FT's to seal it- per LaVerne stats.

[BadgerFan42]

New to the site, at this point CUW sounds and looks like the eventual conference champion, thoughts?

[Just Bill]

New to the site, at this point CUW sounds and looks like the eventual conference champion, thoughts?

Still too many games yet to be played, but they do seem to be playing well. Newton-Kemp is staying healthy and out of foul trouble so he's able to contribute more. A D-II transfer never hurts either. Jan. 15 at MSOE and Jan. 20 against Edgewood will be key. They get through those two games unscathed and not much will stand in their way until the NAC Tournament.

[WLCALUM83]

Edgewood 62, MSOE 60  Final  OT

WI Eagles' Cates hit the go-ahead FT's with 3 secs left in the extra session-Edgewood stats.

[BadgerFan42]

Big games this week:

MSOE@CUC
Aurora@Dominican
Rockford@Benidictine
CUW@Maranatha
CUW@MSOE
Edgewood@Rockford

Thoughts on who comes out on top this week?

[WLCALUM83]

MSOE's going to be wanting to wanting to make amends --after having Edgewood on the ropes on 2 occastions late before losing last Saturday. The Raiders may take CUC in a close one, but something tells me this is CUW's year. Edgewood and Benedictine both have a height advantage on Rockford, but if the Regents create enough turnovers and are allowed to run the break, ---  I think CUW will take Maranatha, Aurora/Dominican--will go with the Stars at home on that one.

I'm going with:

MSOE
Dominican
Benedictine
CUW
CUW
Edgewood
                     (a Rockford split wouldn't surprise me).

[BadgerFan42]

Remember CUW did lose at Maranatha last year and they always have a tough time playing at MSOE, I think you're right though, CUW seems to be the top team in the conference. 

I do think CUC will beat MSOE in Chicago, should be a good one

CUC
Aurora
Benedictine-has been tough all year long
CUW
CUW
Edgewood-too disciplined for Rockford

[Just Bill]

Wednesday's wrapup:

Aurora   82   Dominican   80
Benedictine   82  Rockford   65
Edgewood   83  Wisconsin Lutheran   60   
MSOE   82   Concordia (Ill.)   71
Lakeland   71  Marian   66