Throughout the course of the 2011-2012 season, MVNU sophomore forward Caleb Williams will write a weekly blog about what is happening with the team.

"Thanksgiving Tribute with a Piece of MCC Pie" (posted on November 21, 2011)

Defeat is never a good feeling. Defeat is even worse when it comes against a rival opponent. Unfortunately, our team dealt with this feeling this week as we were defeated by Cedarville this past Tuesday. An offensive lull in the first half allowed them to build a cushion going into halftime. We played well in the second half but could not get the game back in reach and suffered our second loss of the young season.

Now, we enter the first slate of conference games. As many of you know, we are no longer members of the American Mideast Conference (AMC). We are now in our inaugural year as the newest member of the Mid-Central Conference (MCC). The conference consists of 10 teams from Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan:

· Bethel College—Mishawaka, IN
· Goshen College—Goshen, IN
· Grace College—Winona Lake, IN
· Huntington University—Huntington, IN
· Indiana Wesleyan University—Marion, IN
· Marian University—Indianapolis, IN
· Spring Arbor University—Spring Arbor, MI
· Taylor University—Upland, IN
· University of Saint Francis—Fort Wayne, IN
· Mount Vernon Nazarene University—Mount Vernon, OH

When it comes to basketball at the NAIA level, the MCC is the most competitive conference in the entire nation. Currently, three teams in the conference are ranked in the Top 25 and two other teams are receiving votes, meaning they are very near the Top 25 teams in the country. Three teams from the MCC made the national tournament last year - more than any other conference. (Only 32 teams make the national tournament at our level.) Being in this conference will be great for our athletic department. The University of St. Francis just came off back-to-back appearances in the national championship game where they won two years ago and were runners-up last year. Being a part of this conference will be a great opportunity to grow our basketball program as we go against tough competition night after night.

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. A wonderful time of family, friends, football and FOOD. Lots and lots of food. I love to eat and because of that I love Thanksgiving. However, the main reason we celebrate is to give thanks. So, in the spirit of the season, I want to give thanks from the MVNU basketball programs.

· I want to give thanks to the Administration for everything they do for our program and all the support they give us.

· I want to give thanks to the Athletic Department for their continued support and making our program go. They do so much behind the scenes work that we never see, but that is instrumental in making our season and our program what it is.

· I want to thank the faculty for all their help with our classes and working with us and our busy schedules.

· I want to thank the great students of MVNU and all the support they give us. The Cougar Crazies have been awesome and I know they will continue to be great.

· I want to thank all the families of our guys. They give us so much support and we cannot thank them enough for everything they do.

· I want to thank Mikey Albertson for all his love and support.

· I want to thank Pat Cox and Sam & Dawn Rupp for all their love and support.

· I want to thank the Coaching Staff for their work in making us the best basketball players and best young men we can be.

· I want to thank the set-up crew who sets up the gym and gets it ready for our games.

· I want to thank Brain Humphrey, our athletic trainer, for all the work he does with us, keeping us healthy and keeping us out on the court.

· I want to thank WNZR for the great work they do broadcasting our games, and the live feed they provide over the Internet.

· I want to thank Joe Noonen for his love and support and his involvement with us and developing us into young men who desire to serve the Lord.

The Week Ahead:

Like I mentioned earlier, we are now to the point of our schedule where conference play starts. We open our conference schedule with No. 9 Grace College at 7 p.m. Tuesday night in the Physical Education Center. It will be an important game for us to get to 1-0 in the MCC. After having Wednesday and Thursday off for Thanksgiving, we come back Friday to prepare for our game on Saturday. Saturday afternoon we play Madonna University at 3 p.m. in the Physical Education Center.

Continue to check out the MVNU Cougar Hoops YouTube Page for new uploads!

Peace be the Journey,
Caleb Williams #5

Feedback is always welcomed, so feel free to email me at cwilli10@mail.mvnu.edu or follow me on Twitter: @5CWill.

"Inside the Huddle" Complete Archives