Playoff berth on the line in "UMAC Game of the Week"
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Photo Credits - Bethany Lutheran and Northland Sports Information
*Article Credit - Sara Eisenhauer; UMAC Assistant Commissioner
Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 - Men's Basketball: Bethany Lutheran at Northland
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Last weekend, the
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) men's basketball season saw the top of the standings and the race for the postseason get even closer as Northland College defeated the University of Northwestern Friday by one point. Now, the Eagles still have four games left on the schedule and just a one game lead over the three teams behind them.
Among those three teams are none other than Northland College and Bethany Lutheran College – both teams hungry for a spot in the playoffs after a significant amount of time outside looking in over recent years. A lot will need to be decided in the final weekend of the season, but Friday's matchup between the two squads will have a huge impact on the final outcome with the winner guaranteed a postseason spot – making it an easy choice for the "UMAC Game of the Week".
Northwestern clinched a playoff spot based on other outcomes last weekend, but the conference crown is still up for grabs. Both Northland and Bethany Lutheran would have a shot at the title, but more clarity will come in this – with a win either Friday or Saturday Northland would secure a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2004-05 and Bethany Lutheran would be in with a win Friday.
Should the Lumberjacks win both games this weekend – they're set to face Martin Luther College on Saturday – they would finish the conference slate 11-5. That outcome would then make the Vikings' best possible record 11-5 in conference play – they have just Friday's game this week and dates with North Central University and Northwestern next weekend. The two would be tied at 11-5 records and would need additional tiebreakers that are yet to be determined.
With Bethany Lutheran playing just Northland this weekend, they will have to wait until the conclusion of Saturday's games to see if they get in – which would be a first since 2012-13. Sitting at 5-7 currently, Crown College still has a chance of getting in but they're set to face North Central and Northwestern this weekend. A loss by Crown would lock up postseason spots for Bethany Lutheran, Northland and the College of St. Scholastica as none of the squads could finish with less than nine wins and Crown would be able to reach just eight. The University of Wisconsin-Superior would also only be able to reach eight wins.
Simply put, the team that takes Friday's game can have a direct impact on determining playoff berths and will be better positioned for a higher seed in the tournament going into the final slate of games next weekend.
Heading into the weekend, Northland rides a three-game winning streak thanks to a thrilling upset of Northwestern on the road last Friday, while Bethany Lutheran has won five of its last six games with the lone loss coming to the University of Minnesota Morris – another squad that could see the impact of Friday's game on its postseason fate. The Vikings also scored a much-needed upset of St.Scholastica Saturday to remain in a position to challenge for the postseason title.
Though both teams have been playing well, it's hard to overlook the decisive 93-74 decision the Vikings had over the Lumberjacks in their first meeting this season. Up just five points at the half, the Vikings opened up the game around the mid-point of the second half and rode the hot hand of reigning UMAC Player of the Week
Brandyn Frelix who poured in 20 points.
On home court, though, Northland stands a good chance of taking the game as it has won four of its six UMAC games in Ashland, Wisconsin, this season. Additionally, the two squads return a majority of their top players from last season, which ended in a series split. Northland won 75-54 in the first game, while Bethany Lutheran took the second game 73-59.
Some of those top players for the Vikings who have contributed greatly this season include All-UMAC pick
Frelix, as well as
Neil Eichten and
Brady Rose – both who have been key to the success of the Vikings this season. Additionally, the Vikings returned 86 percent of their scoring from a year ago which has helped them in their climb up the UMAC ladder.
The Jacks lost just Honorable Mention pick Bryshaun Brown from last year's roster, but have seen the return of Honorable Mention
Dan Campion prove to be extremely important to the success in 2016-17.
Rijo Jackson and
Maverick Harris also returned and have been key contributors throughout the year.
Heading into the season, the UMAC coaches did slate the Vikings in the final playoff spot in fifth with 32 points in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, while Northland was placed just outside the UMAC field in sixth with 31 points.
The Match Up
Friday's game can be looked at like this – win and you're in. With a UMAC playoff berth on the line and a glimmer of hope still for the conference title, the game between the Lumber Jacks and the Vikings has everything a UMAC fan could want in a late season matchup.
Northland began the year with five-straight non-conference road games losing four in a row before taking the first three games against UMAC teams. They went on to earn season sweeps of Minnesota Morris, North Central and Wisconsin-Superior. Since losing to Northwestern in December, the Lumber Jacks did not win back-to-back conference games until their two victories last weekend. St. Scholastica is the only team in the UMAC so far this season to defeat the Lumber Jacks in both matchups – Bethany Lutheran is the only team left with a shot at that same feat.
Bethany Lutheran had a slow non-conference start going 1-3, but started off the UMAC slate with a win over Martin Luther. The following weekend proved disappointing for the Vikings in losing to Crown and Minnesota Morris on the road. They rebounded with wins the following weekend over St. Scholastica and Wisconsin-Superior at home and later went on to sweep both teams – those two wins over the Saints will prove critical in seeding for the tournament. Minnesota Morris is the only team so far in UMAC play to take two games from the Vikings, which could also impact postseason seeds should the Cougars find themselves in the postseason.
Statistically speaking, the two squads have different strengths and weaknesses that could be difference makers in the game. Bethany Lutheran leads the league in scoring with 87.5 ppg but gives up 81.5 ppg, while Northland scores just 79.6 ppg but holds teams to the third-fewest points in the league (77.4 ppg). The two teams are both sharp shooting beyond the arc tying for third in percentage (38.5). Northland leads the league in 3-point shots made, though, with 10.6 per game. The Vikings dominate on the glass with a league-best 43.0 rebounds per game and 6.5 margin, while Northland lags behind in seventh (35.0 per game). Where they lack in rebounds pulled in, Northland allows the second-fewest rebounds per game (36.0). Northland also shows strong ball control with the second-best assist/turnover ratio (1.42).
Need to Know – Northland
- The Lumber Jacks returned over 80 percent of their total points, rebounds, assists and minutes played from last season.
- Four of the Jacks' five UMAC losses this season have been by nine points or less.
- Six of the Jacks' nine UMAC wins have been by eight points or less.
Need to Know – Bethany Lutheran
- Seven of the Vikings' UMAC contests – win or lose – have been decided by nine points or less.
- The Vikings have scored 90 points or more in six of their nine UMAC wins including 102 points in a season-opening win over Martin Luther.
- Bethany Lutheran returned 86 percent of its scoring from last season.
Who to Watch – Northland
Campion and
Jackson continue to lead the Lumber Jacks with Campion averaging 16.4 and Jackson at 14.6 ppg. Jackson has been the team's leading scorer in four of its last five games including a 27-point outing against North Central. Campion leads the UMAC in 3-point percentage (44.7) and made 3-pointers (3.3 per game), while Jackson is shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Thomas Whiting has played a significant role scoring 11.6 ppg in UMAC play, and adds 5.8 rpg.
Tyler Peterson led the Jacks with 13 points against Northwestern and also adds 5.4 rpg.
Who to Watch – Bethany Lutheran
Senior
Frelix has had a monster senior year averaging 17.6 ppg in league play and 8.2 rpg – second in rebounding. He also shoots 49.4 percent from the field and dishes out 3.8 assists per game in just over 26 minutes of time per game. He also scored 32 points in the Vikings' win over Wisconsin-Superior Saturday. Frelix's supporting cast includes
Eichten who is averaging 11.6 ppg and 3.4 assists, and
Rose who tallies 11.5 ppg and 4.8 rpg.
Austin Bauer has played a strong role with 9.9 ppg, while
Jarred Merchant and
Kyle Kubesh have helped on the glass with 5.5 rpg and 4.9 rpg, respectively.
The Basics
The conference matchup between Northland and Bethany Lutheran is set for this Friday, Feb. 10 with tip off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The contest will take place on the campus of the Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin.
The "Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Game of the Week" is a feature that takes place each week throughout the conference portion of the season with one contest being selected and highlighted as the "UMAC Game of the Week".
2016-17 Game of the Week Archives
