SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–A measure of strength of a particular division, or the overall conference is how well it does against opponents that play in other conferences. This is particularly important in state tournaments where teams can play a variety of styles. So far this season, the Greater Middlesex Conference has been up and down against non-conference opponents.
Through 67 games played through Friday night against non-conference competition, the GMC is a combined 33-34. The conference has lost 14 of the last 21 non-conference match ups after a 26-20 start. This includes the two victories by Colonia (over Phillipsburg) and Old Bridge (over Ocean Township) on Friday night. Speaking of Colonia and Old Bridge, the GMC Red is performing the best against non-conference competition. The eight teams in the Red Division have played a combined 18 games, and have a record of 11-7 against foes outside the conference. The GMC Gold is the next best with a mark of 11-9 against non-conference opponents through 20 games.
The Blue Division is a combined 7-6 in 13 contests against opponents outside Middlesex County, but the GMC White is really struggling at 4-12 through 16 games. Conferences that have particularly given the GMC fits are the Shore Conference and Union County Conference. The Shore is 11-6 against GMC foes while the UCC is a combined 6-2. The Skyland Conference is 6-6 versus teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference while the Patriot Conference is 3-1. All three wins have come from Rutgers Prep, which defeated Bishop Ahr (63-62), Monroe (74-60), and Piscataway Tech (75-48). The GMC is doing best against Independent teams with a mark of 9-1.
GMC teams that are doing well against non-conference opponents are: St. Joseph’s (4-0), Cardinal McCarrick (3-0), Perth Amboy Tech (2-0), J.F. Kennedy (2-0), Piscataway (3-2), Spotswood (2-1), Wardlaw (2-1), and Colonia (2-1). Among the teams that are struggling are: Bishop Ahr (1-3), South Amboy (0-2), New Brunswick (0-2), Woodbridge (0-2), Sayreville (0-2), and Monroe (0-4).