2014 Season in Review: Albion

(For some reason this didn't post so this will appear out of order.  I didn't intentionally skip the Britons)


2014:  14-12, 8-6  3rd place tie
2013:  6-19, 2-12  8th place
2012:  11-15, 7-7  5th place


Best Win of the year:  Albion 67 Hope 49,  hon. men.  83-76 No. Michigan
Worst Loss of the year:  vs Alma 71 Albion 69

Senior:  Lawrence Ridgell

I Put This Here For No Reason

Albion bounced back from a 2013 that could be politely described as a disaster.  The young Britons of 2013 who took their lumps and racked up more losses than any previous year since the early seventies matured into a better representation of what Albion has been for the better part of the last 3 decades.  This past season began with a win over admittedly struggling D2 program Northern Michigan, but it potentially served notice this season would be different.  However this years Britons were still young and did what young teams do and lost a number of close games early in the season.

In the MIAA the Britons were part of the story early as they jumped out to a 5-1 record behind a dominating 18 point win at Kresge over Hope.  After losing what amounted to a first place showdown to Calvin by 19 the Britons lost their next 3 and fell off the title pace but rebounded to comfortably finish 3rd and qualify for the MIAA Tournament after a 2 year absence.


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Statistics Corner

Nationally the Britons stood out in 3 key categories  #40 in scoring defense, #44 in FG% defense and #30 in rebounding margin.  These are all strong characteristics of Albion's past good teams and all big improvements on 2013.  The offense falls short with scoring ranking at #296 and FG%  at just #262.   Usually you'd write off the scoring rankings to pace of play, but this year Albion was a pretty average 66 possessions per game, not slow, not fast. They were actually a pretty good defensive team at times, and a pretty mediocre offensive team at times.
Efficiency 

Offense:   104.04       Defense:   97.02        Total Eff Rating:   207.02

Team rank out of the last 10 years:   #4
League rank out of the last 10 years:  #23

You might want to cock an eyebrow at those team and league rankings.  Only Albion's excellent 2005, 06 and 08 teams ranked ahead of this one and that should confuse and confound you somewhat until you think about some of the other teams Albion's been putting on the floor since then, but more importantly it should make you take note of how close they are to being "Albion".  In short, these are good numbers and good numbers for a pretty young team, and likely to be better next year.


2014-2015

Key returnees:  Jordan Herron, Trevell Oakes, Carter Elliot, Eric Evans, Zach Hurth, Dakota Kazen, Ryan Watson, Vince Hill

Every Albion Senior receives an action photo like this upon graduation

For the first time in a couple years, Albion will start (and hopefully finish) a season with more Jr's and Sr's than Fr. and So's.   This is not insignificant and one of the reasons I think the Brits might be poised for a big year in 2015.  Lawrence Ridgell is a loss and not easily replaced but if there is a "plug-and-play" system in the MIAA that thrives when everyone isn't Freshmen, its Albion.

The front-line is thin with Jordan Herron (6-4) and Carter Elliot (6-7) their only true posts and overall its a lineup that is fairly short even by MIAA standards.  The Brits have been working around this sort of thing for years so it isn't foreign to them.  Any added depth along the front or even back courts would be a plus.  If my eyes didn't deceive me Albion became a little more of a dribble drive/penetration team this past year.  With so many guards and guard like players that won't change much next year.

If Albion does fall short of my expectations it will be because they are so good at being "Albion".  Close games (2 possessions or less) has always been the m.o. and Albion had 10 of those in 2013-14 and they only won 3.  If they can flip that around they'll be right in the hunt for the MIAA.

Range of Finish:  This is still going to be a tightly bunched league in talent from 3 thru 8 and a questionable gap between 1/2 and the rest.  Albion did just fine against everyone else not named Calvin or Alma last year and pulled their annual Kresge upset with flair.  Similar results next year should get them similar placing.  The number of veteran, core, returning players should be more than enough to keep Albion in the top 4 with an outside chance at capitalizing on Calvin graduations and Hope coaching kerfluffles.  Any other of the untimely slip-ups could see them just as easily fighting for 5th or 6th.   3rd with a decent chance at 2nd or even 1st.  A disappointment would be 5th or lower.