2 more BIG Wins

Lately all Briar Cliff does is win. Wednesday night the Chargers swept Northwestern again flexing their muscles against one of the best programs in the conference. Although coaches like to "concentrate on one game at a time" I think that we should start to look at the big picture and the body of work that both teams have put together this season.

The 5th ranked BCU men are amazing to me because they have showed us that they can win in so many ways. Rarely to college teams score 100 points and BC has done it twice in the last five game to go along with scores of 97 and 88. The other game? A 52-48 win. No matter what challenges they face this team finds a way to step up and win and it all leads back to coaching. Todd Barry and Nic Nelson have assembled a teams that cares about each other and wants to be a good unit far before they shine as individuals. Chase Vander Feen scored 23 points in the Northwestern win and after the game in our post game interview he talked about how good Matt Geelan played and how Kyle Semprini hit big shots. Each win this season has been a team effort from the word go. Saturday the men hit the road to take on Concordia in what will be a tough challenge. Concordia is playing well having won 6 games in a row and are 9-2 in the GPAC keeping pace with BCU as the two are in a virtual tie. Briar Cliff is still the lone team in the conference with one loss but something will have to give Saturday. Both teams hold a six game winning streak. I say BCU 79 Concordia 76.

I think at the beginning of the season expectations were extremely high for the mens team and the jury was still out on just how good Mike Powers' team could be. As we would all come to find out - they are awesome. Liz Grider is playing her way to the national player of the year award and helping this Charger team get closer and closer to their goal of playing at the Tyson Events Center come mid March in the NAIA national tournament. Beating Morningside started a string of wins that includes wins over the cross town rival and national ranked Mustangs, snapping a 15 game losing streak to M'side; a win over #7 Mount Marty and Wednesday night BCU avenged an earlier loss to #3 Northwestern winning 85-75. The win Wednesday night was especially sweet because this game, unlike the last, counted in conference play. Saturday's game at Concordia will be yet another test for the Chargers as they bring a 7-2 conference record against a team with a 7-4 conference record. Concordia is not an easy place to play so it should be a fun match up but I see BCU winning 87-72 going away.

We're officially into the second half of the GPAC and winning on the road is quickly going to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Briar Cliff plays five of the final nine games are on the road but they have proved to themselves that they can win anywhere against anyone. It will be fun calling the games on the radio and if you cannot make it to the games root from your recliner and get behind these teams.

GO Chargers!