When John Carroll entered the North Coast Athletic Conference, a new addition for its men’s and women’s basketball teams was doubleheaders. It happens on a regular basis, and it will happen again when JCU’s men and women travel to play at Denison Feb. 15. The women tip off at 1 p.m. with the m en to follow at 3 p.m. Each game is hugely important for the Blue Streaks and for the race to win the NCAC regular-season titles. “It’s one of the biggest weekends of college basketball (in Division III),” said JCU women’s coach Beth Andrews. “It’s a big test.” Indeed, it is for both JCU programs. For the women, it’s a matchup of No. 9 (the Blue Streaks) vs. No. 10 (Denison) in the NCAA Power Index, the tool used by the NCAA to determine its tournament field. On the men’s side, it’s a first-place showdown between the Blue Streaks and the Big Red. On Feb. 11, the JCU men improved to 18-5 and 10-4 in the conference with an 89-76 win at Oberlin. They also got a big result other than their own when Denison lost to DePauw on Feb. 11. John Carroll's Luke Chicone of Mentor is averaging 23.4 points and 6.6 assists this season as a graduate student. (Tim Phillis - For The News-Herald) That means JCU owns a half-game lead in first place ahead of Wittenberg (16-6, 9-4) and Denison (14-8, 9-4) with a week-and-a-half to play. “They know the standings, and what’s at stake,” said Coach Pete Moran. The first time the JCU men played Denison, it desperately needed a victory to stay in contention for the conference title and it delivered a convincing 89-75 win at home. On the women’s side, the Big Red dominated the Blue Streaks, 58-41, on Jan. 17. It was the most-lopsided loss of the season for Andrews’ team. This time, there is a clear to-do list from the coach for her players. “Compsure, (limiting Denison’s) offensive rebounding, and transition (defense),” said Andrews. “It’s not overly complicated. “… We’re right where we want to be. We’re 8-0 on road, and want to get a championship again, and put JCU back on the map. We’re satisfied right now, but we’re not done.” As a women’s college basketball conference, the NCAC is the only one in D-III nationally with three teams ranked in the top 10 of the NPI. “It’s awesome,” said Andrews of the NCAC’s national prominence. “But it’s very competitive.” The Blue Streaks have a balanced attack on offense, led by Ava Ryncarz (14.7 points per game) and Graci Semptimphelter, who isn’t far behind at 14 points per game. Carly Perusek is averaging 9.9 points. Denison counters with a similar trio for his scoring. Abby Cooch leads with a 13.3-point scoring average, followed by Ada Taute (13.2 points) and Adelyn Moore (9.0). The Big Red’s only loss this season is to Ohio Wesleyan. Those two teams play again in the regular-season finale Feb. 21. The JCU men’s regular-season NCAC title hopes will improve greatly with a win at Denison. That’s a testament to the way the team’s young core has developed after a 1-3 start in the conference, and of course the leadership of  All-America point guard Luke Chicone, who will need to deliver Feb. 14. He’s been doing that all season with a 23.4-scoring clip while averaging 6.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals. “We know we will always get his maximum effort,” said Moran about what he expects from Chicone against Denison. “I have never not seen him not play hard, and that reflects on his time here. He has that constant motor, which I think is his best attribute beyond his ability to see the floor, score and get the crowd going. He does so much for us beyond what the stats show.” Chicone can’t do it alone, and there are signs others are capable of emerging. In JCU’s last game, backup point guard Jack Zapolnik scored a career-high 24 points. The game before that vs. Kenyon, reserve guard Brandon Rose of Gilmour had a career-high 23 points. “The development of the young guys, it’s exceeded our expectations,” said Moran. “Guys like Jack, Kyle Irwin (of Mayfield), they’ve elevated their games.” John Carroll at Denison What: Men’s, women’s doubleheader When: 1 p.m. (women) and 3 p.m. (men), Feb. 14 Where: Livingston Gymnasium, Granville Records: Women – JCU 20-2, Denison 21-1; Men – JCU 18-5, Dension (14-8) ...read more read less