Preview?

I've thought a little bit about whether I wanted to commit myself to doing previews and the answer is no I don't.  These will be somewhat scattered depending on my time commitments and my game interest as the season goes on....or I may end up doing one for every game.  Right now I'm tired of looking at schedule's, rosters and last years data.  I'd just like to see some games from this season so things can start to make some sense.

Hope's weekend involves a trip to beautiful Naperville, Illinois a place I've been once and wish I could be there Saturday.  However, its still football season and I still have 1 more Michigan game to attend, hoping miracles won't be necessary.  This is a combined "tournament" with 4 women's programs in a two day basketball pallooza.  On the women's side MIAA'ers Alma and Olivet will be there playing North Central and St. Mary's, Mn.  The other men's programs are North Central, College of Faith and Illinois Tech.

North Central Tournament Website

Friday:
Hope vs College of Faith, Ark or Tn.......but mostly cyber-space
3:30pm EST, 2:30 CST,  Gregory Arena at North Central College

There is a good chance that by 3:40 you can kick back with your victory cigar and favorite beverage of choice to celebrate a Hope victory.  A victory that may not be because this game shouldn't count.  College of Faith is a online school in Memphis with no roster and a schedule that doesn't meet the NCAA requirement for counting.  They played one game about 3 weeks ago against a JV squad from Victory University, results never reported and lost to history.  It likely didn't go well.

What to watch for
3 possible things could happen in this game.

1. CofF brings what amounts to a intramural team, Hope wins big
2. CofF brings a somewhat competitive squad, Hope wins
3. CofF brings a bunch of dudes who left Memphis and Arkansas D1 programs who all want to be ministers and enrolled in College of Faith, Hope loses big

I'd go with 1.  I've already written more about this game than should probably be previewed.  Hope should probably get lots of time for their first year players, which isn't really a bad thing.  I fully expect this won't be a contest, if it is than the review should be interesting.  But this is pretty much an exhibition game.


Saturday:
Hope @ North Central, Ill
8:30pm EST, 7:30 CST, Gregory Arena

The meat and potatoes game of the trip.  Both are favored to win their respective conferences by their coaches and both are two time defending champions of their conferences.  Both are ranked in the top 10 D3hoops.com poll, #6 for North Central, #7 for Hope.  Looking at the rosters both lost some significant contributors and return significant core's of last years teams.  Nearly mirror images of each other really.  Both teams have roughly half their squads as new faces.

What to Watch For:

1. Nate Snuggerud and NCC's Derek Raridon both received pre-season all-american accolades.  I would think they might match-up together a little bit.
2. Hope's 3 point shooting.   What's returning isn't much, Hope will need the younger guys to really hit some key shots in this one.  Could be a very long day if they have to rely on just 2 point baskets in close. 
3. North Central has struggled in the non-conference part of their last two seasons for various reasons, mostly injuries and illness. They appear to be healthy, but if there's an opening its this.

Neither team should be challenged much Friday so any advantage you might think Hope gets by playing a cupcake is nullified because Illinois Tech is only a slightly smaller less delicious cupcake.  Both should be rested and ready for some challenging basketball.  Hope is down at least one,  possibly two starters.  I think you have to make NCC a pretty solid favorite but something tells me Hope might stay in this one and be in a position to take it late.  If not they probably get beaten sort of handily.