MBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[WLCALUM83]

Thanks, AndOne:

That account is more proof (as well-travelled major league baseball manager Billy Martin once said) that sports isn't all statistics alone. 

[MarsBlackmon]

I was able to attend the WLC @ Marian game tonight.  Marian came away with an 88-81 victory over the warriors.  At the beginning of the game wlc moved the ball very well and jumped out to a quick lead, but Marian came back and it was tied at 39 going into the half.  The warriors got up by as many as eight in the second half but could never put it away.  Marian hit some big shots down the stretch every time it looked like wlc would pull away.  Then in the last few minutes Marian's guard wayne franklin made some great plays penetrating to the hoop and had 3 key layups in the last few minutes.  Marian had six players in double figures, led by Jordan Van Ess with 19.  WLC was led by Danny Behm with 25.  Lindberg and Sorum were the only others in double figures for the warriors.

[from downtown]

Other 12/15/07 NAthCon Men's Finals:

Aurora 70, MSOE 63. (Saw this one in person. MSOE had the lead for most of the first half, MSOE's Murphy got whacked either in one eye or just below one eye. He didn't even come out of the locker room for the second half. Aurora hit several threes after the break and lead by as much as 10 points late. Murphy's quickness on both ends of the floor was missed big time in the second half. Don't know how serious the injury is.) 

It was a frustrating loss, no doubt. Murphy was very effective when in there. The opportunity was there for MSOE to take advantage (without Leonard in the post) to get a big W and right back in the conference race. Without Murphy in the second half, MSOE almost abandoned the post and shot too many threes which just werent falling. Aurora's 10-0 run when the game was tied at 54 (~7:30 to go), killed MSOE. Just looking at the box score of MSOE possessions during that run: (missed three pointer, turnover, missed three pointer, turnover, couple of missed free throws, missed three pointer) {sigh}, you have to believe with a healthy Murphy, the possessions would have been different.

[libero]

Here I am!

Cronin is getting this 'Sader program going in the right direction. I am happy for the win and hope more are on the way.

This was their first NAC win ever and their first conference win since the the days of Eddie "Cable Guy" Washetas!

[rusty shackleford]

Other 12/15/07 NAthCon Men's Finals:

Aurora 70, MSOE 63. (Saw this one in person. MSOE had the lead for most of the first half, MSOE's Murphy got whacked either in one eye or just below one eye. He didn't even come out of the locker room for the second half. Aurora hit several threes after the break and lead by as much as 10 points late. Murphy's quickness on both ends of the floor was missed big time in the second half. Don't know how serious the injury is.) 

It was a frustrating loss, no doubt. Murphy was very effective when in there. The opportunity was there for MSOE to take advantage (without Leonard in the post) to get a big W and right back in the conference race. Without Murphy in the second half, MSOE almost abandoned the post and shot too many threes which just werent falling. Aurora's 10-0 run when the game was tied at 54 (~7:30 to go), killed MSOE. Just looking at the box score of MSOE possessions during that run: (missed three pointer, turnover, missed three pointer, turnover, couple of missed free throws, missed three pointer) {sigh}, you have to believe with a healthy Murphy, the possessions would have been different.

So AU did not miss Starwood or Magee... IF, IF, IF.... with either of those two the possesions would be a lil different also.

[AndOne]

Dominican fans or any other NAC fans------

After watching Dominican all summer in the Deerfield league, I'm frankly surprised at their record to date. This summer I thought they looked like they could challenge for the conference championship. They beat some good teams and lost only one regular game on a last second 3 pointer. They seemed very athletic---able to run fast, jump high, and shoot straight.

Sooooo----my question is, whats missing? Is it the inability to mold their individual talent into a team style of play, poor defense, poor shooting, all of the above, some  of the above, or none of the above/something else?

Just curious. Thanks in advance to anyone that can offer an explanation.

 

[from downtown]

Other 12/15/07 NAthCon Men's Finals:

Aurora 70, MSOE 63. (Saw this one in person. MSOE had the lead for most of the first half, MSOE's Murphy got whacked either in one eye or just below one eye. He didn't even come out of the locker room for the second half. Aurora hit several threes after the break and lead by as much as 10 points late. Murphy's quickness on both ends of the floor was missed big time in the second half. Don't know how serious the injury is.) 

It was a frustrating loss, no doubt. Murphy was very effective when in there. The opportunity was there for MSOE to take advantage (without Leonard in the post) to get a big W and right back in the conference race. Without Murphy in the second half, MSOE almost abandoned the post and shot too many threes which just werent falling. Aurora's 10-0 run when the game was tied at 54 (~7:30 to go), killed MSOE. Just looking at the box score of MSOE possessions during that run: (missed three pointer, turnover, missed three pointer, turnover, couple of missed free throws, missed three pointer) {sigh}, you have to believe with a healthy Murphy, the possessions would have been different.

So AU did not miss Starwood or Magee... IF, IF, IF.... with either of those two the possesions would be a lil different also.

No doubt, but MSOE is not going to get a  better opportunity to beat Aurora with Leanard still out (and those two) and at home. It was just frustrating to see MSOE abandon the post so easily where they might have had a slight advantage. And watching your offense struggle to create anything with the team's leading scorer 2 of the last 3 seasons out over a fluke eye injury. Credit Aurora, the zone in the post confused MSOE enough to knock them out of their comfort zone. And they made some big shots to pull away down the strech.

MSOE cruises to an easy win over the Gorlocks of Webster (SLIAC) today. MSOE led by double digits at half and extended it to 20 early in the second and played the bench the last ten minutes and ended up winning by 22.

[from downtown]

Also Murphy played today and played real well. The eye definitely wasnt bothering him tonight.

[WLCALUM83]

Other Men's NAthCon 12/16-18/07 Finals:

12/16:  Chicago 78, Concordia-Chicago 65  (Maroons jumped out to a 21-pt halftime lead, which the Cougars cut to 5 with less than 11 minutes left. Chicago hit a couple of threes to widen the lead and held on after that--per CUC press release).

12/18:  Lakeland 56, MacMurray 52. (Muskies hit their FT's late to seal this win--per Lakeland press release.)

[WLCALUM83]

Dominican fans or any other NAC fans------

After watching Dominican all summer in the Deerfield league, I'm frankly surprised at their record to date. This summer I thought they looked like they could challenge for the conference championship. They beat some good teams and lost only one regular game on a last second 3 pointer. They seemed very athletic---able to run fast, jump high, and shoot straight.

Sooooo----my question is, whats missing? Is it the inability to mold their individual talent into a team style of play, poor defense, poor shooting, all of the above, some  of the above, or none of the above/something else?

Just curious. Thanks in advance to anyone that can offer an explanation.

 

In 2 of the Stars' last 3 losses, Dominican's been out-rebounded. They've also had fewer FTA's than their opponents in several losses. Against Edgewood, the Stars went into a cold-shooting spell for approx. 3 minutes early in the second half and didn't recover. Against Lake Forest, the Stars had an off-day shooting. Just judging from the box scores this poster has checked, its' a matter of not hitting on most cylinders consistently.  (Correct me anywhere I'm wrong here.)

[MarsBlackmon]

I had the opportunity to watch Dominican play once this year.  I would agree that they are very athletic.  If I could pick out one problem from the game I saw, I don't think they look inside to Haiduc enough.  He is arguably the best true post player in the conference, and is great at finishing around the basket.  At times Dominican's guards even think about going inside to him even when he had some mismatches.  If they start to look inside more I think it will open up everything from creating open 3 point opportunities to opening up lanes for their athletic guards to cut through. 

[ausid]

For those NATHCON fans interested, Aurora now has live stats available for all home contests at http://www.aurora.edu/athletics/bball-m/index.htm

At the half (12-19-07)
Aurora  35
Clarke  27

[LogShow]

Any Edgewood posters on this thread?  Puget Sound matches up against them in Dec. 28th in Santa Barbara CA.  Was interested in hearing any input about the team

[WLCALUM83]

Edgewood's top players are Charlie Averkamp, Chris DeMarco and Jon Ciche. Averkamp and DeMarco are known primarily for scoring and rebounding. Brian Donais is a good shooter from beyond the arc:

Edgewood's 07-08 stats so far:

http://www.edgewoodcollegeeagles.com/sports/mbball/stats

Click on either "Game-by-game" or "Season" link.

[LogShow]

Thanks for the info! What kind of style of play does Edgewood have?  Puget Sound is real run and gun fast tempo