An Early Look at NCC Basketball

I know, it's July, and basketball isn't really a factor for another few months, what with baseball still in full swing and football coming up very soon. But yesterday, the North Central Athletic Department released the schedules for both the men's and women's teams. You can view those schedules for yourself at the links provided, but I wanted to look over the key home dates on the schedule even though we're still four months out.

1. Saturday, November 15: WBK vs Albion. This one puzzles me. Thanksgiving is kind of late again this year, so the Tip Off Tournament isn't until the following weekend. It's not the first time they've played a game before the tourney (they opened with a loss at Dominican University in the 11-12 campaign), but it's not a usual thing either.
2. Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22: Chicago Marriott Naperville Tip Off Tournament. Two days. Eight games. Probably a good 10-11 hours a day and 8 bottles of Gatorade over both days to sustain my voice. I've had fond memories of the last two tournaments, between the epic Hope-College of Faith battle in 2012 and last year's epic opening game for the women against Ripon College. Like in prior years, the women's bracket is unknown (and probably won't be known until maybe October), but most of the men's field is known, since North Central has predetermined matchups. They get Trinity International University on Friday as a tuneup for the biggest game at Merner since the one that decided the fate of the universe a few years back: a date with defending national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater.
3. Tuesday, November 25: MBK vs Aurora. I like this rivalry. I'd like it more if my sister-in-law who goes to AU gave a crap about sports because then I could engage in unnecessary trash talk, but whatever. Always a fun date. Strangely, the women's team doesn't have Aurora on the docket this year. Then again, the men don't play Benedictine, so maybe it evens out (the women head to Lisle on November 26).
4. Saturday, January 3: WBK/MBK vs Illinois Wesleyan. Wesleyan is one of the bigger rivals in the CCIW for me, and I think for most who bleed Cardinal red. While I'm not sure what to make of the men's team going into this year, the women's game is going to be fun. The Titans lost just twice in CCIW last year, once at CCIW champ Carthage, and the other... at home to NCC! There's probably revenge in mind this year, while you have a prideful Cardinal team that matches up well with them. Great way to kick off the Gauntlet.
5. Wednesday, January 21: WBK vs Carthage. Welcoming the conference champ to your building makes for a big game. The fact that Carthage has (relatively) struggled here the last two years should make it a fun game. Also, I'm still mad about the push off by Stephanie Kuzmanic on what turned out to be the game-winning bucket last year.
6. Saturday, January 31: WBK/MBK vs Wheaton. It's not like I have an undying, seething hatred for every Wheaton Thunder team or anything. I missed out on the Wheaton games last year. I have no intent of missing them this time around. Beat Wheaton.
7. Saturday, February 21: WBK/MBK vs North Park. This marks the end of the regular season, which means this is Senior Night at Merner. This means bidding farewell to several seniors on the women's team who I've had the honor of announcing for for four years and watched unleash hell in the Murderous Press and from beyond the arc. It also means bidding farewell to a couple guys on the men's team I've gotten to watch in recent years. Always an emotional night.

It's too early to really do a preview, especially since I'm not 100 percent sure what Michelle Roof or Todd Raridon pulled off in the way of recruiting (though I do know Coach Roof seemed pretty pleased with the class she got to commit). As we get closer to the season, I'll do an actual preview and refer back to this guide.