Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 21, 2011, 05:22:41 PM

Quote from: BleedBlue4Life on February 20, 2011, 11:39:16 AM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 19, 2011, 09:12:45 PM
You're probably the only one, then, as there's no big secret as to why Millikin is 1-22 and one loss away from finishing with the worst overall record in the 65-year history of the CCIW. It's a terrible team. Carthage must've absolutely stunk up the joint this afternoon. On Wednesday I told Bosko, Twan, and Cory, "You three plus Roehl and President Campbell could probably suit up and beat Millikin on Saturday." And none of them disagreed with me.

I would say from your post that you did not watch the game yesterday.  Yes, Millikin has had a very disappointing season to say the least, and it would have been very easy for them to mail it in.  However, these young men suited up and played their hearts out yesterday, and it very easily could have gone the other way.  They should be commended for the way they fought.

No, I didn't see the game, but my point still stands. I don't have the slightest doubt that the Big Blue played their hearts out, as you said, and that it very easily could've gone the other way. The final score indicates as much, and the Carthage people have admitted it as well. I not only commend the Big Blue for playing so hard, but if I was aware that the score was so close while the game was in progress I would've gone online and watched it and rooted for Millikin. Why? Because I'm an old softy, and I love a good underdog story as much as the next guy.

Nevertheless, everything I've said is true. The Millikin program is in shambles. The Big Blue are down to, what, seven players now? They're on the threshold of posting the all-time-worst record of any CCIW team in the 65-year history of the league. I've watched them play three times this year, and I have no qualms about calling them terrible.

I'll be rooting for them against Elmhurst tomorrow night. There's no way in the world that I'd wish that kind of ignominious record on anybody, so I sincerely hope that the remnants of the Millikin team, however many players are left, can muster up a win and finish with a 2-22, 1-13 record that is merely forgettable rather than infamous. Nevertheless, let's not avoid the obvious, BleedBlue4Life. Things are a mess in Decatur.

My issue is not with your opinion of Millikin's performance because, as you have noted, the redord speaks for itself.  My issue is that you didn't watch the game, yet you assumed that it must have been Carthage that played poorly rather than Millikin stepping up and playing arguably their best game of the season.  If that was the only game you saw MU play this season, like the previous person had mentioned, you would have thought MU should have won a few more games.

On top of that, you had to insult the players by saying a rag-tag group of individuals could have beat them.  I think that was uncalled for.  Certainly, you are entitlted to your opinion, but please think of the ten young men you are writing about who go out and work hard every day before you poke fun at them.

Quote from: Gregory Sager on February 19, 2011, 09:12:45 PM
You're probably the only one, then, as there's no big secret as to why Millikin is 1-22 and one loss away from finishing with the worst overall record in the 65-year history of the CCIW. It's a terrible team. Carthage must've absolutely stunk up the joint this afternoon. On Wednesday I told Bosko, Twan, and Cory, "You three plus Roehl and President Campbell could probably suit up and beat Millikin on Saturday." And none of them disagreed with me.

I would say from your post that you did not watch the game yesterday.  Yes, Millikin has had a very disappointing season to say the least, and it would have been very easy for them to mail it in.  However, these young men suited up and played their hearts out yesterday, and it very easily could have gone the other way.  They should be commended for the way they fought.

Quite an entertaining game in Kenosha yesterday.  After a closely contested first half with neither team getting more than a five-point lead at any point, the second half was quite the roller coaster.  Carthage built an 11-point lead early in the half, then the Big Blue fought back to take a 60-52 lead with a little over five minutes to play.  Carthage then rattled off six straight points to cut it to two with just over three to play.  However, Millikin hit their free throws down the stretch, including six straight by Beth Wellbaum in the last thirty seconds, to take the game 73-70.  Congrats to Millikin on securing the third seed in the CCIW tournament.

Congrats to Julia Robert on breaking MU's school record for made 3 pt goals in a single season.  Wednesday night was an anomaly for MU in a lot of ways, but certainly Robert putting up 16 3's is not her typical game.  In fact, if you check the stats, you'll see she puts up just under 8 per game.

Unless I'm reading the tiebreaker rules incorrectly, Millikin just needs a win over Carthage to secure the #3 seed, not necessarily needing to finish 2-1 .  Even if MU went 1-2, a win over Carthage would put both teams at 8-6, but MU would hold a 2-0 record over Carthage.  However, a win over Carthage is definitely necessary.

In response to RogK's question about Wildman, it does appear teams are committed to double and triple teaming her and defending her very physically whenever possible.  With the recent struggles MU has had from the outside, I think teams are sagging their defense into the post even more.

In Decatur, it was a tale of two halves.  Millikin was up 23-17 at the break with MU's largest lead being 9 pts.  In the second half, Augie outscored MU 48-41.  Augustana caught fire from outside the arc.  They were 7-12 fron long distance in the second half and was 10-22 for the game. 

Also of note in the MU/IWU game, Cecily Aldridge played in her game for the Big Blue since having surgery on a brolen hand and wrist in the DePauw game on 12/8.  She could make a significant impact for the Big Blue as the season winds down.

One more quick note about the MU/NCC game...Jackie Errico for NCC scored 22 points, 16 in the second half.  It was an impressive performance and was a huge factor in NCC storming back from 11 down in the second half to take the lead late until Zeigler's free throws.  Kudos to Zeigler as well, stepping up and easily draining those two free throws.