Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Midconfans News 2/28/2007


Campus notes--deseretnews.com

Southern Utah

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Southern Utah will enter the Mid-Con tournament as the seventh seed after a regular-season ending 65-47 loss to the Valparaiso Crusaders on Monday. The loss leaves the Thunderbirds with a 5-9 record in the conference and a 9-19 record overall. Valparaiso finishes the year with a 19-10 overall mark and an 11-3 conference total and a second seed in the tournament. The two teams will meet on Sunday in the first round of the tournament. Tipoff is at 2:30 p.m.


Oakland seeded No. 1 in Mid-Con--The Detroit News
--The Oakland Press

Rietema wins national All-Academic honors--The Post-Tribune

Comments spur action by Mid-Con--The Tulsa World

Mid-Continent Notebook: The big con--The Tulsa World
Mid-Continent: Power Rankings--The Tulsa World
Mid-Continent: Standings--The Tulsa World
Mid-Continent: Tournaments Schedule--The Tulsa World
Valparaiso's Betsy Rietema Named Academic All-American--www.mid-con.com
IUPUI's Whitted, Western Illinois' Hugelier Named co-Players of the Week--www.mid-con.com
Turek Named Player of the Year, Francis, Morris, Cann, Hochstetler Take Home Yearly Awards--www.mid-con.com

Monday, February 26, 2007

Midconfans News 2/27/2007


T-Bird women lose sixth straight--The Spectrum
SUU WILL ENTER TOURNAMENT AS SEVENTH SEED WITH LOSS--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

COLLEGE HOOPS--The Detroit Free Press

Oakland U. 73, Centenary 53: Nicole Piggott had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead host Oakland in its regular-season finale. The Golden Grizzlies (17-11, 12-2) already had locked up the top seed in the Mid-Continent Conference tournament and will play the eighth-seeded Ladies (5-24, 1-13) again in the first round this weekend in Tulsa, Okla.

Oakland pummels Centenary in regular-season finale--The Oakland Press
Oakland Claims Regular Season Title Outright with Win Over Centenary--OUGrizzlies.com

IUPUI’S PATTERSON TABBED MID-CON PLAYER OF THE WEEK--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS
JAGS TO FACE SOUTHERN UTAH IN OPENING ROUND OF MID-CON TOURNEY--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS

IUPUI PICKS UP SENIOR NIGHT WIN; DOWNS ORU, 60-56--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS
WHITTED NAMED MID-CONTINENT CONFERENCE CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS

UMKC Women Topple Western Illinois In OT, 64-61--UMKC Kangaroos

Leathernecks edge Thunderbirds--The Macomb Journal

Hugelier tallied a career-high 28 points, despite a 64-61 overtime loss to UMKC--Western Illinois Athletics
Westerwinds draw IUPUI in first round of Mid-Con Tournament--Western Illinois Athletics
Hugelier named Mid-Con co-Player of the Week--Western Illinois Athletics

Valpo women wallop T-Birds--The Post-Tribune
Valparaiso University women's basketball summary--The NWI Times
VU takes Round 1--The NWI Times
Valpo Wins Fifth Straight to Close Regular Season--www.valpo.edu
Betsy Rietema Named First Team Academic All-American--www.valpo.edu
Valpo to Face Southern Utah in Mid-Con Quarterfinals--www.valpo.edu

Mid-Con Tournament Pairings Announced; Valpo to Face UMKC--www.valpo.edu

Women’s Basketball Falls to Oakland--GoCentenary.Com

ORU fans play friend to their foe--The Tulsa World

Oral Roberts streak halted--The Tulsa World
ORU Falls to IUPUI, 60-56--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

IUPUI's Patterson Named Player of the Week--www.mid-con.com
Feb. 26 Men's Basketball Weekly Release--www.mid-con.com
Pairings Announced for 2007 Mid-Con Women’s Basketball Championship--www.mid-con.com

Midcon Tournaments Quarterfinal Schedule

Women's Bracket:

Saturday, March 3
#8 Ladies at #1 Lady Golden Grizzlies, 12:00 pm CST
#7 Lady T-Birds at #2 Lady Crusaders, 2:30 pm CST

Sunday, March 4
#5 Westerwinds at #4 Lady Jaguars, 12:00 pm CST
#6 Lady Roos at #3 Lady Golden Eagles, 2:30pm CST

Men's Sagarin Ratings


17 MID-CONTINENT = 70.00 69.76 ( 18) TEAMS= 8
College Basketball 2006-2007
Div I games only through 2007 February 25 Sunday
HOME ADVANTAGE= 4.07 RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK)
106 Oral Roberts = 76.71 19 10 72.31( 160)
135 Oakland-Mich. = 74.34 16 13 74.02( 119)
139 Valparaiso = 73.81 15 14 72.90( 149)
177 Southern Utah = 70.82 14 13 70.47( 216)
197 IUPUI = 69.41 12 14 70.50( 215)
232 UMKC = 66.96 10 18 71.76( 173)
258 Centenary = 65.36 10 20 71.14( 193)
305 Western Illinois = 60.64 5 22 69.52( 251)

17 MID-CONTINENT = 70.00 69.76 ( 18) TEAMS= 8
College Basketball 2006-2007
Div I games only through 2007 February 25 Sunday
VS top 25 | VS top 50 | PREDICTOR
106 Oral Roberts 1 1 | 1 2 | 76.70 100
135 Oakland-Mich. 0 3 | 0 4 | 73.79 136
139 Valparaiso 0 2 | 0 4 | 74.42 129
177 Southern Utah 0 0 | 0 1 | 70.64 174
197 IUPUI 0 0 | 0 2 | 69.81 182
232 UMKC 0 1 | 0 1 | 66.84 229
258 Centenary 0 1 | 0 2 | 64.97 260
305 Western Illinois 0 0 | 0 1 | 61.77 298


Men's Bracket:

Saturday, March 3

#8 Gents at #1 Golden Eagles, 6:00 pm CST
#7 Leathernecks at #2 Golden Grizzlies, 8:30 PM CST

Sunday, March 4

#5 T-Birds at #4 Jaguars, 6:00 PM CST
#6 Roos at #3 Crusaders, 8:30 PM CST

Midconfans News 2/26/2007


T-Birds to face IUPUI in tourney--The Spectrum

OU women vs. Centenary--The Oakland Press

Arden Skoglund is a music virtuoso trying to become a basketball master--The Post-Tribune

Fade to Brown and Gold--The NWI Times

Keeping the faith--The Tulsa World
ORU Breakdown--The Tulsa World
Three questions with Adam Liberty--The Tulsa World

ORU Women--The Tulsa World

Pairings Announced for 2007 Mid-Con Men’s Basketball Championship--www.mid-con.com

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Midconfans 2/25/2007


Thunderbirds off the mark in road loss--deseretnews.com
THUNDERBIRDS FALL IN DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

Late 3-pointer lifts W. Illinois over SUU--deseretnews.com
Thunderbirds fall at W. Illinois--The Spectrum
Okeson Lifts Leathernecks Past T-Birds--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

Time stands still as Oakland rallies--The Detroit Free Press
Kangas lifts Oakland to OT win--The Detroit News
Win means nothing and everything--The Oakland Press
It’s OU in OT--The Oakland Press
Kangas’ Free Throws in Final Second Down Oral Robert in OT, 85-84--OUGrizzlies.com

Solid offense vanishes for OU women in loss--The Oakland Press
Oakland Falls to Oral Roberts 60-57--OUGrizzlies.com
Oakland Hosts Centenary in Final Tune-Up Before Mid-Con Tournament--OUGrizzlies.com

Smith leads IUPUI with double-double--The Indy Star
SENIORS GO OUT IN STYLE AS JAGS COAST PAST CENTENARY, 87-62--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS

WHITTED'S CAREER DAY HELPS IUPUI OVERPOWER CENTENARY, 73-55--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS

Valparaiso rips UMKC--The Kansas City Star
Kangaroos Drop Regular Season Finale At Valparaiso--UMKC Kangaroos
UMKC To Face Valparaiso At Mid-Con Tournament--UMKC Kangaroos

Three-Point Woes Cost UMKC In 66-48 Loss To Valparaiso--UMKC Kangaroos
UMKC Women Visit Western Illinois To Close Out Regular Season Slate--UMKC Kangaroos

Hugelier tallies first career double-double in Western’s 46-34 victory over Southern Utah--Western Illinois Athletics
Westerwinds to finish 2006-07 season against UMKC for second-straight year--Western Illinois Athletics
Western Illinois--The Peoria Journal Star

MACOMB - Junior guard Gina Hugelier scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for her first career double-double in leading the host Westerwinds to a 46-34 Mid-Continent women's basketball win over Southern Utah.

The victory was also the 150th for ninth-year coach Leslie Crane, who is 150-105 in Macomb. Western (10-17, 6-7) limited SU to 15 first-half points.

The Leathernecks men's team completed the sweep with a 51-48 victory. Jerryck Owens-Murrey led WIU (7-22, 3-11) with 17 points, Troy Okeson had 12 and David Jackson 10.

Okeson and Hunter connect for game-winning three in final game at Western Hall--Western Illinois Athletics
Leathernecks to face two-seed Oakland in opening round of Mid-Con Tournament--Western Illinois Athletics

Valpo 77, UMKC 61--The Chicago Tribune
Halfsies still works for VU men--The Post-Tribune
VU caps regular season with win against UMKC--The NWI Times
VU ends Mid-Con era with a win--The NWI Times
Crusaders Close Out Regular Season With Win--www.valpo.edu

UMKC makes for a satisfying Senior Day for Crusader women
Crusaders survive sloppy second half--The NWI Times
Valparaiso Women's Basketball--The NWI Times
Valpo Rolls Past UMKC for Senior Day Victory--www.valpo.edu
Valpo Closes Regular Season Play Monday Hosting Southern Utah--www.valpo.edu

IUPUI 87, Centenary 62--The Shreveport Times

At Indianapolis, Angelo Smith scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Jaguars over the Gents in the season finale for both teams.

Smith was 6-of-10 shooting from the floor and 8-of-11 from the free throw line for the Jaguars (14-14, 7-7 Mid-Continent Conference). Gary Patterson scored 19 points and Austin Montgomery added 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench for IUPUI.

IUPUI led 46-22 at halftime and built its lead to 25 points with 7:42 left in the game.

Alexander Starr led the Gentlemen (10-20, 3-11) with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting.

Centenary was outrebounded 50-38 and outscored in second-chance points 28-10.

Gents Fall to IUPUI, Earn Eighth Seed in Tourney--GoCentenary.Com

IUPUI 75, CENTENARY 53

At Indianapolis, Alicia Booyer scored 21 points to led IUPUI (12-15, 6-7) to the Mid-Con victory.

Cierra Bush scored 11 points to lead Centenary (5-23, 1-12).

Ladies Fall 73-55 to IUPUI--GoCentenary.Com

Late Camargo basket seals game for Eagles--The Tulsa World
Camargo Scores Game-Winner as ORU Rallies to Stun Oakland, 60-57--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Oakland tops Eagles in OT--The Tulsa World
Late Free Throws Sink ORU in Overtime, 85-84--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Mid-continent Basketball: Top-seeded ORU will face Centenary--The Tulsa World

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Midconfans News 2/24/2007


College basketball game day--deseretnews.com

MEN'S BASKETBALL

SUU (16-12, 6-7) at W. ILLINOIS (6-22, 2-11)
WESTERN HALL
TODAY, 6 p.m.
Radio: 91.1 FM; 590 AM
GAME NOTES: This is the regular-season finale for the Thunderbirds. The Mid-Con tourney will begin a week from today ... SUU is currently tied for fourth in the eight-team conference. The Leathernecks are in last place. ... The T-Birds lost at Valparaiso on Thursday night, 79-48. SUU actually led by a bucket at the half, but got outscored 49-20 in the second half. ... Southern Utah is led by Steve Barnes, who is averaging 13.6 points ... SUU beat Western Illinois, 68-65, last month in Cedar City.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

SUU (9-17, 5-7) at W. ILLINOIS (9-17, 5-7)
WESTERN HALL
TODAY, 7 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Both teams have the exact same record in both league play and overall ... The winner of this game could take a big step toward getting a better seed in the Mid-Con confrence tournament. Currently there are four teams tied four fifth in the league with 5-7 records. ... Southern Utah earned a 60-56 victory over the Westernwinds on Jan. 29 in Cedar City.


Hoops weekend--The Detroit Free Press

Oral Roberts at Oakland, 6:00

What's at stake: It's the final home game for Oakland seniors Rick Billings, Shawn Hopes and Vova Severovas. And it could be a preview of the Mid-Continent tournament final March 6 -- Oakland has secured the No. 2 seed while Oral Roberts has clinched the regular-season title.

Respect, NCAA tourney hopes motivate Oakland--The Detroit Free Press
Today's game--The Detroit Free Press

ORAL ROBERTS AT OAKLAND

Matchup: Oakland University 16-13, 9-4 Mid-Continent; Oral Roberts 20-9, 12-1.

Tip-off: 6 p.m., Athletics Center, Rochester.

TV/radio: None.

Overview: Oral Roberts leads the all-time series, 12-6. Oakland has lost seven of its past eight meetings. The Grizzlies' win was the 61-60 upset in the championship game of the 2005 Mid-Con tournament, which earned them their only NCAA tournament berth to date.

Oakland relaxes--The Detroit News
Oral Roberts at OU women--The Oakland Press

Oral Roberts at OU men--The Oakland Press

UMKC at Valparaiso today’s games--The Kansas City Star

Loss of Miles has allowed VU to get head start on team's future--The Post-Tribune
VU's Mbaye has grown his game--The NWI Times
Even in victory, Crusaders can be confounding--The NWI Times

Crusader, Kangaroo women know each other well--The NWI Times

CENTENARY--The Shreveport Times

The Gents travel to Indianapolis tonight for their regular-season finale.

Centenary (10-19, 3-10 Mid-Continent Conference) will face IUPUI at 7. The Gents lost their last game, falling to Oakland 70-63 on Thursday night despite 29 points from Alexander Starr.

A Gents win would clinch the No. 7 seed in the Mid-Con Tournament, while a loss could drop the Gents into a tie for last place in the Mid-Con.


CENTENARY--The Shreveport Times

The Ladies continue their season-ending three-game road trip with a 4:30 p.m. tip at IUPUI.

The Ladies (5-22, 1-11 Mid-Continent Conference) are winless on the road in Mid-Con play with two games remaining. Following today's game, Centenary ends its regular season on Monday at Oakland.


Women: Oral Roberts at Oakland--The Tulsa World

Near misses hampering Oakland--The Tulsa World

Friday, February 23, 2007

Midconfans News 2/23/2007


Thunderbirds thumped in road loss at Valpo--deseretnews.com
T-Birds crumble after halftime--The Spectrum
Crusaders Heat Up In Second Half, Top T-Birds--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

Thunderbirds Looking to Build Momentum Heading Into Conference Tournament--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

Nelson lifts Oakland U--The Detroit Free Press
Grizzlies recover, clinch second--The Detroit News
Grizzlies rebound, clinch Mid-Con’s No. 2 seed--The Oakland Press
Oakland Fights Its Way Past Centenary, 70-63--OUGrizzlies.com
Oakland to Hold Greg Kampe Bobblehead Day--OUGrizzlies.com

Golden Grizzlies Tangle with Conference Foe Oral Roberts--OUGrizzlies.com

Jaguars can't keep up with Golden Eagles--The Indy Star
PATTERSON TIES IUPUI DIVISION I RECORD, BUT JAGS FALL TO ORU 83-73--IUPUI JAGUAR ATHLETICS

UMKC picks up road win--The Kansas City Star
Kangaroos Win First Road Game Of Season; Smash WIU, 89-54--UMKC Kangaroos
Kangaroos Look For Fourth Straight Win In Regular Season Finale At Valparaiso--UMKC Kangaroos

UMKC Hits Road For Final Pair Of Games, Looking To Avenge Earlier Loss To Valparaiso--UMKC Kangaroos

No excuses, only embarrassment--The Macomb Journal
Kangaroos leap over Leathernecks--The Peoria Journal Star
David Jackson scores 1,000th career point in Leatherneck loss to UMKC--Western Illinois Athletics

Valpo 75, S. Utah 48--The Chicago Tribune
Urule Igbavboa's double-double leads Valparaiso--The Post-Tribune
Inside, Igbavboa does some damage--The NWI Times
Strong second half powers VU past Southern Utah--The NWI Times
Crusaders Run Away With Victory; Clinch Three Seed--www.valpo.edu
Crusaders to Play Regular Season Finale Saturday--www.valpo.edu

Men's college basketball roundup--The Shreveport Times

OAKLAND 70, CENTENARY 63: At Rochester, Mich., Derick Nelson had 12 points and 13 rebounds for his seventh career double-double in Oakland's 70-63 win over Centenary on Thursday night.

Nelson grabbed nine of his rebounds on the offensive end — one more than the team-leading eight recorded by the Gents' Alexander Starr — for the Golden Grizzlies (16-13, 9-4 Mid-Continent).

Shawn Hopes had 19 points to lead Oakland, which secured the No.2 seed for next month's conference tournament. Vova Severovas and Johnathon Jones added 12 points each.

Starr scored a game-high 29 points for Centenary (10-19, 3-10) and Tyrone Hamilton had 15.

A Nelson jumper put Oakland ahead for good, 43-42, with 10:12 left to play. Starr grabbed a steal and then sank a pair of free throws to pull Centenary within 63-59 with 1:20 left, but that was the closest the Gents came to picking up their first conference road win.

The teams combined to shoot 4-for-32 from 3-point range.

Oakland Outlasts Gents 70-63--GoCentenary.Com

Ladies Basketball Travels to IUPUI Saturday--GoCentenary.Com

Green's 25 powers ORU past IUPUI--The Tulsa World
ORU Reaches 20-win Plateau with 83-73 Victory at IUPUI--Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Women's tiebreaker update

Oakland clinched the #1 seed with a win over the Lady Roos last Monday. The best VU can do is tie at 11-3, and Oakland wins the tiebreaker because they swept the Lady Crusaders.

Valpo has clinched the #2 seed as well, since the only team that can even tie them is ORU and Valpo swept ORU. So, Oakland and Valpo will be playing on Saturday night in the first round of the tournament.

ORU needs one more win to secure the #3 seed, thanks to IUPUI's victory over SUU at the Centrum last Monday. They could also end up tied at 7-7 with a few teams, though not all 4 teams that are currently 5-7 (SUU, UMKC, WIU, IUPUI). SUU and UMKC both play WIU, so ORU can be tied with UMKC, SUU, and IUPUI, but WIU would then be 5-9. Or, ORU could be tied with WIU and IUPUI, but both SUU and UMKC would be 6-8 or 5-9.

So, if ORU loses to both IUPUI and Oakland, then IUPUI just needs to also beat Centenary to tie with ORU. Meanwhile, if WIU can sweep UMKC and SUU, then it will also tie at 7-7. If SUU sweeps VU and WIU, they instead would tie at 7-7. The same goes for UMKC.

Case 1: Two-way tie with IUPUI
Case 2: Two-way tie with WIU
Case 3: Two-way tie with SUU
Case 4: Two-way tie with UMKC
Case 5: Three-way tie with IUPUI and WIU
Case 6: Three-way tie with IUPUI and SUU
Case 7: Three-way tie with IUPUI and UMKC
Case 8: Four-way tie with IUPUI, SUU, and UMKC

Case 1: ORU will have split with IUPUI. ORU will have been swept by ORU while IUPUI split with them, hence IUPUI would win the tiebreaker.

Case 2: ORU split with WIU. Both will have been swept by Oakland and Valpo. Both will have swept UMKC and Centenary. Both will have split with SUU and IUPUI, so it would come down to RPI. ORU is currently at 213, WIU is currently at 304.

Case 3: ORU split with SUU. Both will have been swept by Oakland, but while ORU was swept by Valpo, SUU will have swept Valpo, so SUU wins the tiebreaker.

Case 4: ORU swept UMKC, so ORU wins the tiebreaker.

Case 5: ORU's 3-way record would be 2-2, IUPUI's would be 2-2, and WIU's would be 2-2. ORU and WIU were both swept by Oakland, but IUPUI split with Oakland, so they win the tiebreaker, leaving a 2-way tie between ORU and WIU, which is covered by Case 2.

Case 6: ORU's 3-way record would be 2-2, IUPUI's would be 3-1, and SUU's would be 1-3, so IUPUI wins the tiebreaker, ORU gets the #4 seed, and SUU gets the #5 seed.

Case 7: ORU's 3-way record would be 3-1, IUPUI's would be 1-3, and UMKC's would be 2-2, so ORU would win the tiebreaker, UMKC would be #4, and IUPUI would be #5.

Case 8: ORU's 4-way record would be 4-2, IUPUI's would be 3-3, UMKC's would be 3-3, and SUU's would be 2-4, so ORU would win the tiebreaker and SUU would have the #6 seed. IUPUI would play UMKC in the 4-5 game, and who cares which one is which?

If ORU wins a game and locks up the 3 seed, then we can have 1, 2, 3, or 4 teams tied at 6-8 or as many as 3 teams tied at 7-7. If ORU beats IUPUI, then the Lady Jags could only reach 6-8. If the tied record is 7-7, then as before, either WIU or both UMKC and SUU can be involved, but not all 3.

If only 2 are tied at 7-7, then they play each other in the 4-5 game and who cares which one is which.

If IUPUI, UMKC, and SUU are in 3-way tie at 7-7, the head-to-head goes like this: IUPUI 2-2, UMKC 3-1, SUU 1-3, so UMKC (4) plays IUPUI (5) and SUU gets the 6 seed.

If 2 teams tie at 7-7 and the other 2 tie at 6-8, then the 2 7-7 teams play each other. One of the 7-7 teams in this dual scenario would have to be IUPUI because WIU plays both UMKC and SUU, and if SUU and UMKC end up tied at 7-7, IUPUI is either alone at 6-8 or else tied with WIU at 5-9.

Case 1: UMKC and WIU are tied at 6-8. If UMKC beats Valpo, then WIU wins the tiebreaker by sweeping UMKC. If UMKC loses to Valpo, then we look at Oakland: UMKC 0-2, WIU 0-2. Valpo: UMKC will be 0-2, WIU 0-2. ORU: UMKC 0-2, WIU 1-1. So once again WIU wins the tiebreaker.

Case 2: SUU and WIU are tied at 6-8. If SUU loses to Valpo, then they'd win the tiebreaker by sweeping WIU. If they beat Valpo, then they'd split with WIU, so we'd look at Oakland: SUU 0-2 WIU 0-2. Valpo SUU 2-0, WIU 0-2, so SUU wins the tiebreaker. Either way, SUU gets the 6 seed and WIU gets the 7 seed.

Case 3: SUU and UMKC are tied at 6-8. This means they each beat Valpo and lose to WIU. They split with each other, they were both swept by Oakland. SUU will have swept Valpo while UMKC will have split, so SUU wins the tiebreaker.

If 3 teams are tied at 6-8, it could be any 3 of the 4 teams.

Case 1: IUPUI, WIU, and UMKC tied at 6-8 (SUU either 7-7 or 5-9). Head-to-head: IUPUI 1-3, WIU 3-1 or 2-2, UMKC 3-1 or 2-2. The winner of the WIU-UMKC game wins the tiebreaker. The loser is seeded directly between the winner and IUPUI. SUU would have either the 4 or the 7 seed.

Case 2: IUPUI, WIU, and SUU tied at 6-8 (UMKC either 7-7 or 5-9). Head-to-head: IUPUI 3-1, WIU 1-3 or 2-2, SUU 1-3 or 2-2. IUPUI wins the tiebreaker. The winner of the WIU-SUU game gets the next seed, and the loser gets the remaining seed, with UMKC getting either the 4 or the 7 seed.

Case 3: IUPUI, UMKC, and SUU tied at 6-8 (WIU either 7-7 or 5-9). Head-to-head: IUPUI 2-2, UMKC 3-1, SUU 1-3, so UMKC wins the tiebreaker, followed by IUPUI, then SUU. WIU gets either the 4 or the 7 seed.

Case 4: UMKC, SUU, and WIU tied at 6-8 (IUPUI either 7-7 or 5-9). Head-to-head: UMKC 2-2 or 1-3, SUU 2-2 or 3-1, WIU 2-2. If SUU beats WIU, they win the tiebreaker, WIU is next, and UMKC brings up the rear. If UMKC beats WIU, then we have to look at common opponents. Oakland: All 3 at 0-2. Valpo: UMKC and WIU wlll be 0-2, and SUU will be 2-0, so SUU wins the tiebreaker. UMKC and WIU remain tied, so we start all over with them. They will have split, they both were swept by Oakland and by Valpo, but while UMKC was swept by ORU, SUU split with ORU, so SUU wins that tiebreaker and UMKC brings up the rear.

It is even possible for all 4 teams (UMKC, SUU, WIU, and IUPUI) to be tied at 6-8, if WIU splits with UMKC and SUU, one of those two teams beats Valpo, and IUPUI splits with Centenary and ORU. Head-to-head: UMKC 3-3 or 4-2, SUU 2-4 or 3-3, WIU 3-3, IUPUI 3-3. If UMKC beats WIU, they win the tiebreaker, SUU brings up the rear, and WIU and IUPUI are tied at 3-3. They split with each other, but while WIU was swept by Oakland, IUPUI split with Oakland, so IUPUI falls in behind UMKC, then WIU, and finally SUU. If on the other hand SUU beats WIU, then all 4 teams are 3-3 in head to head, so we move on to Oakland: IUPUI 1-1, the other 3 are 0-2, so IUPUI wins the tiebreaker, and we look at the remaining 3. UMKC will 2-2, SUU 2-2, and WIU 2-2. Oakland: All 3 are 0-2. Valpo: UMKC 1-1, SUU 1-1, WIU 0-2, so WIU brings up the rear and SUU and UMKC remain tied. They split, they both were swept by Oakland, they both will have split with Valpo, but while SUU split with ORU, UMKC was swept by ORU, so SUU wins that tiebreaker.

Centenary has obviously locked up the #8 seed.

Men's tiebreaker update

Tonight's results:

ORU beat IUPUI
Oakland beat Centenary
Valpo beat Southern Utah
UMKC beat Western Illinois

So, Oakland clinched the #2 seed because the only team that can tie them is Valpo, and Oakland wins that tiebreaker by sweeping Valpo.

Valpo has clinched the #3 seed because they have a 2 game lead over the rest of the pack.

IUPUI, UMKC, and Southern Utah are all tied at 6-7. UMKC plays Valpo, IUPUI plays Centenary, and Southern Utah plays Western Illinois on Saturday. In head-to-head action, each has split with each of the other two, so it doesn't matter whether there's a 2-way tie or a 3-way tie. Either way, the tiebreaker will come from records against common opponents.

In a 3-way tie, we start with ORU: IUPUI 0-2, UMKC 0-2, SUU 0-2. Oakland: IUPUI 0-2, UMKC 1-1, SUU 1-1, so IUPUI would end up with the #6 seed and UMKC and SUU fight it out for the #4-5 game - again, who cares.

In a 2-way tie involving IUPUI and UMKC or IUPUI and SUU, the above paragraph awards the lower seed to IUPUI and the remaining seed of the 3 to the 3rd team.

In a 2-way tie involving UMKC and SUU where IUPUI is the only team to win - and therefore has the #4 seed - we start with #3 Valpo: UMKC will be 0-2 while SUU is 1-1, so SUU gets the #5 seed and plays IUPUI, and UMKC ends up with the #6 seed.

If Western Illinois wins and Centenary loses, both end up 3-11. They split head-to-head, both were swept by ORU, but Western Illinois split with Oakland while Centenary was swept by them, so Western Illinois would actually get the #7 seed. Otherwise, Centenary is #7 and WIU is #8.

Midconfans News 2/22/2007


Men's basketball game day--deseretnews.com
Thunderbirds seek breakthrough win at Valpo--The Spectrum

Oakland sets sights on 2nd place in Mid-Con--The Detroit Free Press
Tonight's game--The Detroit Free Press

CENTENARY AT OAKLAND U.

Matchup: Oakland University 15-13, 8-4 Mid-Continent; Centenary 10-18, 3-9.

Tip-off: 7, Athletics Center, Rochester.

Overview: Oakland has featured only two starting lineups -- none of the starters has missed games to injury. Four players -- leading scorer Vova Severovas, Erik Kangas, Shawn Hopes and Johnathon Jones -- have started all 28 games.

Still chance for Grizzlies to finish off banner year--The Oakland Press
Centenary at OU men--The Oakland Press
Men’s Basketball Begins Final Weekend of Regular Season Hosting Centenary--OUGrizzlies.com

UMKC at Western Illinois--The Kansas City Star
Kangaroos have newfound confidence--The Kansas City Star

Westerwinds hit final stretch of Mid-Con schedule with home match-up against Southern Utah--Western Illinois Athletics

Working harder in practice has led to more playing time--The Post-Tribune
Valpo Hosts UMKC Saturday on Senior Day at the ARC--www.valpo.edu

VU men start crucial home stretch tonight--The Post-Tribune
Crusaders still eyeing third-place finish--The NWI Times

CENTENARY--The Shreveport Times

The Gents hold a one-game lead over Western Illinois for the seventh seed in the upcoming Mid-Continent Conference Tournament in Tulsa. The Gents look to secure the seventh spot with a victory over either Oakland or IUPUI on the road in the final week of the regular season.

Centenary (10-18, 3-9 Mid-Con) will take on Oakland (15-13, 8-4 Mid-Con) tonight at 7 in Rochester, Mich. The Golden Grizzlies are 8-2 at home this season and are second in the league standings. The Gents lost to Oakland 82-74 in the Gold Dome on Jan. 27th.

Centenary will wrap up its regular season at IUPUI (13-13, 6-6 Mid-Con) with a 7 p.m. contest Saturday in Indianapolis.

Gents Look to Secure Seventh Seed on Road Trip--GoCentenary.Com

Eagles not on cruise control--The Tulsa World

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Midconfans News 2/21/2007


Thunderbird women fall to IUPUI--deseretnews.com
T-Birds can't control boards in Mid-Con loss to Jaguars--The Spectrum
Thunderbirds Close Regular Season at Valparaiso, Western Illinois--SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

State women: Notebook--The Detroit News

Nicole Piggott had 28 points and 10 rebounds Monday as Oakland won its 12th straight, 82-55 over Missouri-Kansas City.

Oakland, the first team in the Mid-Continent Conference since Western Illinois in 1993-94 to go 7-0 on the road in conference, plays at home against Oral Roberts on Saturday.

Grizzlies wrap up Mid-Con regular season title--The Oakland Press
Piggott Named Player of the Week--OUGrizzlies.com

Kangaroos Open Final Road Swing Of The Season In Macomb On Thursday Night--UMKC Kangaroos

http://www.wiuathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=49946&SPID=4947&DB_OEM_ID=12000&ATCLID=801984--Western Illinois Athletics

Key Conference Weekend Begins Thursday at the ARC for Crusaders--www.valpo.edu

Mid-Continent: Power Rankings--The Tulsa World
Mid-Continent: Notebook: Prodigal son--The Tulsa World
Mid-Continent: Game of the Week: Southern Utah at Valparaiso--The Tulsa World
Women's Basketball Weekly Release - Feb. 20--www.mid-con.com
Oakland's Nicole Piggott Tabbed Women's Basketball Player of the Week--www.mid-con.com