Game Notes: University of Chicago @ North Central College (11/22/15)

Final Score
Chicago 74, NCC 61

Game Summary
The Maroons (2-1) came out guns blazing, staying hot from outside as the Cardinals (1-1) struggled to get anything going offensively. Chicago was able to use its outside presence to open up the inside a little bit, and the Cardinals had trouble at the line, unable to take advantage of Maroon foul trouble, going into the half down 38-21. The Cardinals came out of the locker room strong, but Chicago kept hitting its jump shots to keep the pace. The Cardinals were able to cut the lead to eight, but momentum swung back Chicago's way and they pulled away to seal the win.

Key Stats

• Chicago: 9-26 3PT (34.6%). This number went down thanks to a cold second half, but the Maroons hit seven of their 15 in the first half to make this one theirs from the start.
• Waller Perez (CHI): 6-7 FG (1-2 3PT), 3-4 FT; 16 pts, 6 reb (3 off), 5 ast. Perez was probably their best all around player today, filling the stat sheet all around. He also had a killer and-1 to serve as the dagger.
• Connor Raridon (NCC): 6-10 FG (0-2 3PT), 2-3 FT; 14 pts, 9 reb (5 off), 3 ast, 1 blk. With his first game jitters gone, Connor stepped up and played well. He scored more than he did in the opener, but also got more involved elsewhere. It's a good start and hopefully a good building block.

Tip Off Tournament Watch
Mount Union 74, Chicago 58
This was a very good game that went back and forth in the first half, but the Purple Raiders pulled away in the second half as the Maroons missed 16 second half free throws. JJ Kukura paced the Raiders with 19 points and six rebounds, while Jake Jacubec added 17 points and six boards. Jordan Smith led the Maroons with 21 points while Alex Voss had 16 points and 16 rebounds.

All Tournament Team
Jake Jacubec, Mount Union
JJ Kukura, Mount Union
Jordan Smith, Chicago
Alex Sorenson, NCC
Connor Raridon, NCC

Tournament MVP
Alex Voss, Chicago

Final Thoughts
I'm just going to come right out and say it: the Cardinals did not play well today. It's possible they underestimated Chicago given their game yesterday, it's possible that playing a matinee threw them off... I don't know. Whatever the case, Chicago outplayed and out hustled them pretty much all game. It meant a rock-paper-scissors tie, with point differential apparently going to Mount Union.

The Cardinals go on a three game road trip now, and will return home on December 9th for a date with the defending national champions in Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

2015 North Central College Tip Off Tournament Preview

We have an unusual situation this year. Normally, the weekend before Thanksgiving officially kicks off the Division III basketball season, at least for North Central. The women, however, got an early start in their game against Calvin last Friday. The men's season officially begins today.

I've already previewed the upcoming year for both the men and the women, but I'm doing what I did last year and giving the Tip Off Tournament its own preview. Given the format changes again this year, I think it's needed.

Photo from NCC Athletics Department

The women's tournament is returning to its format from prior years, with North Central playing the 5:00 game on Friday, the Friday losers playing at noon on Saturday while the Friday winners play at 5:00. Last year, NCC played both 5:00 games in an effort to deliver a "championship" game, and it succeeded with a double overtime thriller that saw a couple school records fall. Meanwhile, the men's tournament is changing formats again, but out of necessity this time. The school was unable to secure a fourth team to the tournament, so they and their two guest teams will play a round robin with one game apiece on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Obviously, this could complicate the championship, but last year saw a split championship between North Central and Wisconsin-Whitewater after both teams went 2-0 over the weekend.

The tournament's first day will proceed almost like normal, just with no noon games; the women play back to back this afternoon. There will be a neutral men's game on Saturday in between the two women's games, and the North Central men will play their second game on Sunday to spread things out. Here's a look at the five teams coming to Naperville this weekend.