The best team did not win

Saturday Todd Barry's Charger team lost to Concordia 64-62 on the road in Seward. Losing is a fact of life in college basketball but it's hard to swallow when Briar Cliff was clearly the better team. First place in the GPAC was on the line as the Bulldogs welcomed BCU. The Chargers got 10 first half points from Kyle Semprini, 7 from Chase Vander Feen, and 6 from Eric Rohe in route to a 41-27 half time lead. Briar Cliff looked like the #5 team in the country as they controlled the tempo, scored at will and played tremendous defense.

At halftime I said to my dad who traveled with me that this game reminded me of the Briar Cliff vs. Grand View game back in December when BCU lead 34 to 23 at half and didn't bring the same intensity out of the locker room in the 2nd half.

Concordia ripped off a huge run to start the half outscoring BCU 18-4 at one point to put themselves back in the game. They also stepped up their defense. Briar Cliff scored just 21 points in the 2nd half and struggled shooting from the field and from the free throw line. More than a handful of calls went against the Chargers including a phantom charge call on Chase Vander Feen late in the game, and a technical foul that should have been called on Concordia head coach Grant Schmidt. When a call didn't go their way he jumped up and down like a small child shouting at the referee's and somehow got away with it.

The tantrum, one of a few for Schmidt, was embarrassing for a coach who has accomplished so much. Maybe I am used to Todd Barry who always seems to argue with respect and unless the situation calls for it rarely loses his temper. Anyway I thought it was ridiculous.

The Chargers fell three spots to #8 in this weeks poll but one thing is clear to me. The Chargers can beat anyone in the country and at times this season have looked unbeatable. Coach Barry always talks about getting better every game and learning from past experiences and with eight games to go in the regular season the Chargers have a chance to win the GPAC and play multiple games at home in the conference tournament. The next step towards a conference title is Wednesday at home against nationally ranked Dakota Wesleyan, the preseason favorite to win the GPAC. I hope the NFC is full of rowdy Charger fans and the Blue Crew is loud and proud.

Good luck to Coach Barry and the Chargers!