Looking back: Although most of its membership calls Pennsylvania home, one program from Kentucky has ruled the roost in the PAC over the last three years, as Thomas More has won three straight league titles, as well as three straight trips to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Saints have also compiled a record of 30-5 overall during that span, including a 20-game regular season winning streak along the way.
Looking ahead: TMC will enter the 2011 season looking for an unprecedented fourth straight PAC title.
Website: http://www.pacathletics.org/
Predicted order of finish (2010 overall record in parentheses)
1. Thomas More (11-1): Until another team knocks them off, the Saints are the team to beat. The big question TMC fans should have is this: Can they get past round two of the D-III playoffs?
2. Washington & Jefferson (9-2): Should the Saints fall short of winning a fourth straight conference title, the Presidents are more than ready and willing to step up to the top in this "PAC". A challenging non-conference game against D-III playoff participant Delaware Valley on September 10 could give W&J the measuring stick it needs to be a serious contender down the stretch. Oh, and the Presidents play host to TMC two weeks after the game vs. Del Val.
3. Bethany (W.Va.)--(5-5): The Bison had a better season than even the most casual fan anticipated, finishing a respectable 4-3 in PAC play. They had a two-win improvement from 2009, when they finished 3-7 overall.
4. Waynesburg (6-4): The Yellow Jackets also made a slight improvement in the win column, while also finishing 4-3 in PAC action.
5. Grove City (5-5): Winning the 27th annual Mercer County (Pa.) Cup over Thiel was the big highlight of an otherwise so-so season for the Wolverines, whose last season of least eight wins or more came in 1997. They finished 9-2 that year.
6. St. Vincent (3-7): The Bearcat faithful actually had something to cheer about in 2010, as they not only snapped a 20-game losing streak that spanned portions of the last three seasons, but also won two more games after that. Still, they struggled in close games, losing five of them by seven points or less.
7. Geneva (5-5): The Golden Tornadoes are finally eligible to compete for the PAC title, as well as the automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs that goes with it. However, they must pay a visit to both Thomas More and Washington & Jefferson during their first full season in the conference.
8. Westminster (Pa.)--(2-8): If the Titans hope to move up in the standings in 2011, they must learn to win the close games that slipped away from them in 2010. Four of those losses came by eight points or less.
9. Thiel (0-10): The Tomcats enter 2011 trying to snap a 12-game losing streak. Their last win came against St. Vincent, on October 31, 2009.
4 years ago
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