Playing the Odds
By: Eric Jenkins
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Sports
Last weekend was a big time for sports. I had a tough time watching the end of the USA-Canada gold medal hockey game. As I've said in this column before, I'm a Detroit sports fan. But, that also makes me a Red Wings fan. So, trust me, I've seen Sidney Crosby pull those stunts before. While I'm impressed, I'm still not happy about it. I am happy, however, that all of my roommates from Indiana now know a little something about hockey. Like that it isn't only played by Russians and Canadians.
Not all was lost however. The DePauw women's basketball team ran through the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. I picked the Tigers to win a close championship game. Instead, they beat Centre College by 26 points. Now, the Tigers are off to the NCAA Div. III tournament this weekend in Holland, Mich., to take on Lakeland College.
The men's basketball team went farther than I or anyone really expected, losing to Centre in the SCAC championship game. Unfortunately, the team's season has ended. However, this weekend, spring sports kick off. The softball team heads out for its first game in a long series of road games, and the baseball team returns home to play on Walker Field. But, let's start with basketball.
Women's Basketball
This team has not lost a game since Dec. 6. The last time the Tigers notched a loss, it was still 2009. Think about that for a second. After 21 straight wins, the Tigers are back in the national tournament. Lakeland is a talented team, winning 26 games this season. But, here is the kicker - Lakeland doesn't have the depth or the rebounding to match the Tigers. DePauw has nine players who average at least 14 minutes per game, and seven players who average at least six points per game. Lakeland tends to rely a lot on K.C. Blahnik and Mary Dennewitz. Both girls play around 30 minutes a game. Also, DePauw leads NCAA Div. III with a rebound margin of plus 17.1. Lakeland is nowhere near as good on the boards. DePauw should win this one, but will run into a tough Hope College team the next round. Hope has only lost one game all season. DePauw may not be able to slip by in this game.
Predictions:
DePauw 75, Lakeland 65
Hope 63, DePauw 58
Baseball
DePauw finally gets a home game this weekend. At 3-3, the Tigers have looked great at times. Look no further than the team's 10-4 victory against Transylvania College last weekend. Other times, the Tigers have struggled. The beginning of the baseball season is always tough. Indiana's weather has more ups and downs than a high school student, so the team didn't see any action outside until traveling to Maryville, Tenn., for the opening series of the season. Now, the Tigers will play at home, which should get players pumped up. Last season, DePauw faced Illinois Wesleyan University three times. DePauw won the first game 8-2 behind senior Brad Gerlach. Then, the Tigers collapsed. In the next two games DePauw was outscored 45-15. Avoiding a repeat would put a lot of questions to rest about this young team. Illinois Wesleyan brings a strong pitching rotation to the table. DePauw has to string together runs and make the most out of scoring opportunities. They have four games and I think they should win at least three of them.
Predictions
DePauw 6, Illinois Wesleyan 2
DePauw 7, Illinois Wesleyan 4
Illinois Wesleyan 6, DePauw 1
DePauw 3, Illinois Wesleyan 2
Softball
The softball team hits the road for the first four games of the season this weekend. They will play at Maryville College in two games against Maryville and two against Transylvania University. Last season the Tigers went 32-19, including a 14-0 record against SCAC opponents. Senior starting pitcher Megan Soultz has returned, which means the Tigers will again be dominant on the mound. That being said, DePauw faces a Maryville team that has struggled so far this season. At 0-4, Maryville shouldn't be a problem for DePauw. As for Transylvania, this week's action will be the team's first. However, the perennial powerhouse of DePauw should take care of business. The Tigers will sweep their first four games of the season.
Predictions
DePauw 8, Maryville 1
DePauw 5, Transylvania 3
DePauw 10, Maryville 2
DePauw 3, Transylvania 1
- Eric Jenkins is a senior from Terre Haute, Ind. majoring in English writing. He is a former sports editor for The DePauw.
sports@thedepauw.com
Not all was lost however. The DePauw women's basketball team ran through the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. I picked the Tigers to win a close championship game. Instead, they beat Centre College by 26 points. Now, the Tigers are off to the NCAA Div. III tournament this weekend in Holland, Mich., to take on Lakeland College.
The men's basketball team went farther than I or anyone really expected, losing to Centre in the SCAC championship game. Unfortunately, the team's season has ended. However, this weekend, spring sports kick off. The softball team heads out for its first game in a long series of road games, and the baseball team returns home to play on Walker Field. But, let's start with basketball.
Women's Basketball
This team has not lost a game since Dec. 6. The last time the Tigers notched a loss, it was still 2009. Think about that for a second. After 21 straight wins, the Tigers are back in the national tournament. Lakeland is a talented team, winning 26 games this season. But, here is the kicker - Lakeland doesn't have the depth or the rebounding to match the Tigers. DePauw has nine players who average at least 14 minutes per game, and seven players who average at least six points per game. Lakeland tends to rely a lot on K.C. Blahnik and Mary Dennewitz. Both girls play around 30 minutes a game. Also, DePauw leads NCAA Div. III with a rebound margin of plus 17.1. Lakeland is nowhere near as good on the boards. DePauw should win this one, but will run into a tough Hope College team the next round. Hope has only lost one game all season. DePauw may not be able to slip by in this game.
Predictions:
DePauw 75, Lakeland 65
Hope 63, DePauw 58
Baseball
DePauw finally gets a home game this weekend. At 3-3, the Tigers have looked great at times. Look no further than the team's 10-4 victory against Transylvania College last weekend. Other times, the Tigers have struggled. The beginning of the baseball season is always tough. Indiana's weather has more ups and downs than a high school student, so the team didn't see any action outside until traveling to Maryville, Tenn., for the opening series of the season. Now, the Tigers will play at home, which should get players pumped up. Last season, DePauw faced Illinois Wesleyan University three times. DePauw won the first game 8-2 behind senior Brad Gerlach. Then, the Tigers collapsed. In the next two games DePauw was outscored 45-15. Avoiding a repeat would put a lot of questions to rest about this young team. Illinois Wesleyan brings a strong pitching rotation to the table. DePauw has to string together runs and make the most out of scoring opportunities. They have four games and I think they should win at least three of them.
Predictions
DePauw 6, Illinois Wesleyan 2
DePauw 7, Illinois Wesleyan 4
Illinois Wesleyan 6, DePauw 1
DePauw 3, Illinois Wesleyan 2
Softball
The softball team hits the road for the first four games of the season this weekend. They will play at Maryville College in two games against Maryville and two against Transylvania University. Last season the Tigers went 32-19, including a 14-0 record against SCAC opponents. Senior starting pitcher Megan Soultz has returned, which means the Tigers will again be dominant on the mound. That being said, DePauw faces a Maryville team that has struggled so far this season. At 0-4, Maryville shouldn't be a problem for DePauw. As for Transylvania, this week's action will be the team's first. However, the perennial powerhouse of DePauw should take care of business. The Tigers will sweep their first four games of the season.
Predictions
DePauw 8, Maryville 1
DePauw 5, Transylvania 3
DePauw 10, Maryville 2
DePauw 3, Transylvania 1
- Eric Jenkins is a senior from Terre Haute, Ind. majoring in English writing. He is a former sports editor for The DePauw.
sports@thedepauw.com
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