So the CCIW is going to be just like the WIAC this year, is that it? It still seems likely that two teams will get in from this league, but less assured than it used to be. The CCIW is holding a men’s basketball tournament to award the automatic bid for the first time, which could help or hurt candidates, depending on what happens between now and then.
Even after Saturday night, there are still plenty of teams with decent regional records: Augustana at 12-0, North Central 7-1, Illinois Wesleyan 7-2, Elmhurst 7-4, Millikin 7-4.
Lawrence, the last men’s unbeaten. What are the odds?
What to make of the ODAC? Hampden-Sydney loses two in a row. Virginia Wesleyan has won 11 in a row, including at Randolph-Macon. After plummeting out of the Top 25 (they were preseason No. 11), the Marlins haven’t lost since November, though they’ve been to overtime in three games. Hampden-Sydney didn’t exactly redeem itself on Sunday, needing a last-second basket to win at 2-11 Washington and Lee.
Wilmington: Welcome to the OAC. Consider this a wake-up call. We told fans on Hoopsville on Tuesday night that the top seed in the league would have four league losses and Wilmington picked up losses two and three this week. Baldwin-Wallace is 7-1, Ohio Northern and Muskingum 6-2.
UW-Stevens Point is still atop the WIAC, though the Pointers are 6-0 at home and 5-4 on the road and have four consecutive road games coming up. Stout got an important win, beating UW-Whitewater after three losses in a row. UW-La Crosse is 12-3 in region, Stevens Point and Stout are 9-3, Whitewater 7-3 and Oshkosh 8-4.
In women’s ball, we’re close to pondering whether McMurry can run the table after its win at Howard Payne on Friday. Crosstown rival Hardin-Simmons looms as a road game on Jan. 30, which will be the biggest remaining test. I thought McMurry was pretty good when I saw it play last season, though things fell apart a bit down the stretch. Point guard Symbri Tuttle, while she won’t stack up to Megan Silva, is credited with 8.5 assists per game, while sophomore post player Tarra Richardson averages 18.9 points.
Nice to see NYU beat someone. I don’t think Brandeis was really the second-best team in Division III but Brandeis’ schedule is so backloaded (no NYU, Wash U. or Chicago in the first six weeks) that it was hard to tell. Brandeis did beat the early-season version of Bates, the one that started 4-5. Bates is a vastly better team now, with Matia Kostakis back as well as Jackie Powers. Anytime you can add two starters and 24.2 points per game like that it makes a difference, obviously. Bates also didn’t have Meg Coffin (17.1 points per game) against Brandeis either. Look out for Bates.
What are your thoughts on Mary Washington, which I believe is now the only unbeaten women’s team? Mary Washington beat Bridgewater, and Bridgewater beat Randolph-Macon. I know you can’t always put too much stock in those “trickle down” analogies. Still, have you seen Mary Washington, and what are your observations?
Check out “Around the Nation” later this week for one answer to that question.
Although perhaps not a seismic eruption, and no one confuses the Allegheny Mountain CC with the UAA, but a tremor nonetheless occurred this weekend when the Medaille women (10-1)won back to back road games against key conference rivals Pitt Greensburg and Frostburg, two solid programs; Medaille were down 20 in the second half against P-G before the rally. Medaille also beat St. John Fisher in December, for three quality wins over teams who collectively are now 29-8. If it is not be this season, with 7 sophomores and 7 freshman,this Medaille team will be a force to be reckoned with a year from now.
Oglethorpe/Trinity (tex.) women’s game Friday night was quite a game.
Oglethorpe scored 57 in the first half and held a 14 point lead at Trinity. Trinity comes back and scores 60 in the second half to win 103-92.
Physical, fast paced game and exciting to watch.
Here are my two-cents (plink, plink)…
Feeling good about:St. John Fisher and William Paterson. The Cardinals have Nick Bennett back this semester, which is a nice boost. Winning at Rochester is no easy feat. And Jose Rebimbas’ Pioneers are on a roll in the bruising NJAC, winning at Ramapo and handling NJCU. Viva Horace Jenkins.
Worried about:: WPI. I can’t shake the concerns from earlier narrow wins, like beating 6-5 Endicott by 1. They rise anew after Trinity (Conn.) smacks Clark – the same Clark that won in Worcester by 5 — by 27.
I C YouI’ve got my eyes on a couple C teams this week.
Carroll is 11-1 with a one-point loss to Oshkosh, which isn’t bad. They beat Carthage by 8 (comparable to other Top 25 teams) and Whitewater by 10. They play Lawrence on Wednesday.
Coe is 11-2 with loses to Augustana and UW-Lax. They need a signature win, though. Wartburg next Saturday would qualify if they can pull it off.
And it’s good to see Coach Spanbauer’s Red Dragons are rolling along at 12-1. Their lone loss came on a late four-point play.
Wow. I’m not so worried about WPI that I needed to bold that whole section. Sorry about that.
Or more appropriately, Sorry about that.
I also might like, actually will like, your comments on Mary Washington also. Seems they are an upcoming, if not already, contender for the #1 ranking.