I was at the game last night and UD is far improved from last year, despite losing Daugherty... Just think how dangerous they would be if he had a year left.

Okpalaeze was a beast inside and it was evident by his two throw downs throughout the game. He's very athletic and versatile and he and the other two transfers from Clarke, Bellaire and Russell, all have the ability to pass the ball.

I was impressed by the balance that UD showed. It had been absent in previous years. The one downside I noticed was their inability to protect the ball late in the game when Edgewood pressed. Lots of turnovers... Without that 17-1 Edgewood run it would have been a 30+ point blowout.

I was at the game last night and UD is far improved from last year, despite losing Daugherty... Just think how dangerous they would be if he had a year left.

Okpalaeze was a beast inside and it was evident by his two throw downs throughout the game. He's very athletic and versatile and he and the other two transfers from Clarke, Bellaire and Russell, all have the ability to pass the ball.

I was impressed by the balance that UD showed. It had been absent in previous years. The one downside I noticed was their inability to protect the ball late in the game when Edgewood pressed. Lots of turnovers... Without that 17-1 Edgewood run it would have been a 30+ point blowout.

I like the format of two divisions with the NAC being 12 teams in men's and 13 in women's, but the way the postseason is set up with the NAC Challenge games determining NAC Tournament seeds is a little awkward and doesn't make much sense to me.

Quote from: Hiker Jim on March 08, 2008, 11:05:40 AM
Wheaton and Loras also met earlier this year in the second round of NCAA post-season play - in men's soccer.  As with tonight, it was also the second meeting of these two teams.  Loras won that meeting and advanced to the final four.  I'm trusting that Raymond and Company will avenge that loss and make their way to the final four.

Actually, that meeting between the two in the National Tourney was in the first round and it went into overtime (Mike Richter goal in the 96th minute). I don't know about that game being any indication of the winner advancing to the final four in this situation, but you never know. I do know this...this game does have a good chance of going into overtime...and as a Loras fan I hope it doesn't after seeing what Kent Raymond did to Lawrence last night. Looking forward to another great game tonight!!!

Quote from: PointSpecial on March 05, 2008, 12:16:57 PM
Mr DT, I agree.  Whitewater's athleticism negates great shooting nights.  Look at Saturday night.  Point shot 68% in the first half, and Whitewater led by 3.  They shot 58% for the game, had just 11 TO's, and still lost.

And what Sager says has credence re: the quality of competition.  Historically, the WIAC has decimated non-conference opponents.  During my 4 years playing for Point, we lost one non-conference game, in the NCAA tournament.  Speaking of... look at the WIAC's winning percentage in the NCAA tournament.  It is the highest in D3.  This is due, in large part, to the quality of games played between WIAC foes.  And if you want to check my credibility, I've got two National Championships.

You can look at numbers all you want, but what you really need to look at is the numbers against which the teams are playing.  Loras's three point shooting defense is better than WW's by about half a percentage point.  But WIAC foes shoot the three better than IIAC foes on average.  The IIAC is taking more, but not making them as often.  Whitewater's TO margin is plus one, to Loras's -1.59.  And the WIAC takes care of the basketball... The WIAC has 4 teams in the top 8 in the country in fewest TO's per game, the IIAC has just two in the top 61, and one of those is Loras.  So, Whitewater is causing more TO's than they have, and they're causing teams that normally DO take care of the ball well to turn it over.  Whitewater has a better FT shooting percentage, and they've shot 129 MORE free throws, making 96 of them.  That's an extra three point's per game, just from the free throw line.  Loras has a better field goal percentage defense than WW, but again, the WIAC shoots better than the IIAC.  Four WIAC teams shoot 50% or better.  No IIAC teams do. 

And finally, let's look at WW's games vs. teams who made the tournament.  They're 2-1 over Point, current #9 team in the country, and WW is ranked #2.  Loras is 0-1 against RV's Wheaton, 1-0 over #22 Chicago, 1-2 against Buena Vista.  No IIAC team has rec'd a top 25 vote all season.

Loras is 0-1 all time in the NCAA tournament.  They dropped their first game last year.  Whitewater made the tourney 2 years ago and at least won a game.  WW's 22-12 all time in the tourney.  The IIAC has been underwhelming in the tournament... Buena Vista is 3-7 all time.  If they win, they, too, could meet a WIAC foe in Stevens Point, which is 17-4 all time in the tourney.

Speaking of Point...  UWSP has always gotten to at least the 2nd round of the playoffs in their 6 NCAA tournament berths, with 5 Sweet 16s, 4 Elite 8's and 2 National Championships.

Very impressive, the time you took to look that stuff up is appreciated. However, that is why they play the games. Loras also prides themselves of getting to the free throw line, and they may not cause that many turnovers, but they are experienced as a squad (all five starters together for the second straight year) and last season first round loss is still fresh in their minds. Not to mention 2 highly contested battles on the road against conference foe Buena Vista which sports a very hostile crowd and withstood some highly questionable officiating in the first of those two.

The two losses to the BVU were by a combined three points. Their three conference losses by a combined five points, and they lost to Wheaton by only 7 points in the second game of the season. This Loras squad is ready and we'll just have to wait and see how well these two teams match up before we, or should I say you as WIAC/ Whitewater fans, begin looking ahead to the second round.

Yeah, he is Athlete of the Week and Player of the Year. It's unofficial, but he found out after receiving a phone call today.

It was well deserved and shouldn't take away anything Andre Wagner did this year...White simply improved from last season and filled the stat sheet more.
Congratulations to Kyle and the Duhawks!

The Whitewater/Loras matchup marks the first time the IIAC and WIAC have hooked up in the D3 tournament since Eau-Claire beat Buena Vista 82-75 in OT back in 99-2000 on their way to a near championship season.

Duhawks have four players that average in double figures and both teams match up relatively well in size, while Whitewater seems like the much quicker team.

Looks like Whitewater had a pretty weak non-conference schedule. Then again no need to really play tough teams outside the WIAC. Duhawks have wins over Chicago, North Park, and LaCrosse. Suffered a close loss on home to Wheaton, but that was the second game of the season.

The Whitewater/Loras matchup marks the first time the IIAC and WIAC have hooked up in the D3 tournament since Eau-Claire beat Buena Vista 82-75 in OT back in 99-2000 on their way to a near championship season.

Duhawks have four players that average in double figures and both teams match up relatively well in size, while Whitewater seems like the much quicker team.

Looks like Whitewater had a pretty weak non-conference schedule. Then again no need to really play tough teams outside the WIAC. Duhawks have wins over Chicago, North Park, and LaCrosse. Suffered a close loss on home to Wheaton, but that was the second game of the season.

Damn, that Augie region is brutal! 3 top 10 teams and BV would have to face the winner of Chicago and Point, then most likely Augie or Wash U...

Loras at #4 Whitewater then would face either #16 Lawrence or once ranked Wheaton, which would be a rematch from the second game in the year.

Good luck to the IIAC...I think these last two games between Loras and BVU has really battle tested them...Both are ready!

Quote from: SLP-O-8 on March 02, 2008, 05:57:02 AM

Quote from: Rock Chalk DuHawk on March 02, 2008, 01:57:59 AM
Congrats to the duhawks.....I knew they would pull this one off finally.  It doesnt get much sweeter than winning on the road at BV.........Kyle White MOP for sure this year......congrats to my man Jake Oeth on a stellar game......he deserves it.  As for BV great season this year and thanks for pushing Loras to the limit......hopefully we can get two teams into the tourny, we will just have to see come tomorrow night!

As for the DuHawks lets get errrr done this year. 

Wagner had 23 points in the game and seemed to make a shot whenever BV needed it.  I wouldn't say White is a for sure MVP winner but it will be between these 2 great players.  In their 2 games points wise, Wagner 23-19, Wagner 21-19, Wagner 22-17.  He played his big games when they matter most.  Both are great player and white is a all round great player with blocks, rebounding, and points but Wagner put up some great numbers against the biggest competition when he needed to.  He is a big game player and played another great game.  They both are amazing players at their positions but hard to compare a guard against a forward but either one is very deserving of the award.

Wagner hit some incredible shots...some that looked like his body was parallel with the floor when he let it fly, but points aren't everything. White's been a double-double (9 in all) machine this year and has the same capabilities of taking over a game as Wagner. In IIAC games, White leads the league in points (17.9) and is just one rebound shy of leading in rebounds (8.5). By the way, White has just 10 blocks on the year  .

Traditionally, the POY award goes to the IIAC winner, but since BVU won the reg. season title and the Duhawks won the IIAC Tourney, I'm not sure which one they weigh the most. It'll be interesting to see how this whole campaign for POY will unfold.

One word describes Loras' win tonight...determination. It was a battle till the bitter end with both teams exchanging blows throughout. Loras just happened to make its last run when it counted. I believe it was a 13-1 run to close it out.

Jake Oeth carried the load for the Duhawks with 21 points and really pushed them down the stretched, especially with his little floater in the lane to put the Duhawks up 5 with about 30 seconds left.

White had a quiet 19 points and 11 boards believe it or not. He played the last 5 minutes with four fouls and did so as aggressively as one possibly can.

Bottom line, Van Haaften and the Beavers came out with a "in your face" Defense that gave Loras fits and the Duhawks simply outlasted the heavyweight bout!

Congrats to the Duhawks on their second consecutive IIAC Tourney Title!

Quote from: doolittledog on February 29, 2008, 11:45:26 AM
I think MOP should go to the BV guy doing the cartwheels during timeouts!!!

That's what I'm looking forward to most tomorrow night!!!

That, and Duhawk 'W'...Fooo Shoooo!

Quote from: LCfan on February 27, 2008, 01:09:02 AM
As a former CCIW football player and brother of a current Duhawk.....I wanted to inform the other CCIW posters that in fact not one time in the examples provided was a team 2-0 going into the third game.  And I am also tired of all the cliches in sports.  That being said, I would agree that with both the games being within 2 points it is not a forgone conclusion on who is the better team for reasons stated by Dr. Sager.  Should be a good game if they meet again.

How isnt White the player of the year again.  I know it typically goes to the conference winner but when BV does line changes, that affects any guy from their team from putting up the numbers needed to win MOP.  Leading the conference in points and second in rebounds by one or two rebounds.  Ha you might be able to tell whos brother I am....lol. 

Go Duhawks

He's got my vote!

Quote from: Klopenhiemer on February 26, 2008, 10:42:26 PM
Greg,

So I went back and took a look at recent BV basketball history.  I took at the last 5 years worth of games that BV has played. 

2006/2007
BV and Loras Played (3) times
-Loras won 2 out of 3

2005/2006
BV played Wartburg and Coe (3) times
-BV won 2 out of 3 against Coe
-BV won 2 out of 3 against Wartburg

2004/2005
BV and Wartburg played (3) times
-BV won 2 out of 3

2003/2004
BV played Coe (3) times
-BV won 2 out of 3

2002/2003
BV played Wartburg (3) times
-BV won 2 out of 3 times

In this same 5 year span BV did beat Coe 3 times in one year, and they did beat Loras 3 times in one year.  So this can be done.  The only point that I was trying to make was that this is a difficult feat, and if I was a player, I would not want to face the same team 3 years in a row. 

I think your ideas in theory are very good.  I am looking for evidence to support a theory, and thus make it a law.  BV's results can not make this theory a law.  Other schools might, and I would welcome the review of their results. 

I know for a fact that Loras beat BV 3 times last year...They went 15-1 in the regular season (only loss to Wartburg) and third time came in the IIAC Championship game by 15 points. I just looked at this briefly so I can't comment on the other 3 game series you mentioned that BV played in.