A week or two ago the NYT had a lengthy article about Grinnell's system.  Discussed father and son, the philosophy, and the scoring records.  If I recall correctly, the article said Grinnell had not been to the tourney since 2004, but did not mention opponent or outcome.  I vaguely recalled IWU badly stuffed Grinnell and thought it was a tourney game.

In 2001, IWU pounded Grinnell 132-91 in the first round.  Did anyone witness that game?  Recollections?  Here is the box score: 
https://sun.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2001/030101m.htm  Oddly, Laban Cross netted only four points on three shots!

Tourney time!

North Park lost its last six games with five to a team that finished below .500 in conference play.  In those five losses, North Park's hyped defensive scheme gave up 102, 86, 90, 97, and 94 points or 94ppg!

NCC's offensive rotation led to many wide open shots.  Kudos to the Cardinals for finding the open man.  I cannot explain why the slow afoot Helwig was able to repeatedly shoot open-look treys.  He went 7-9 and missed his lone interior shot.

Having gone 6-3 when attending a Viking game this year, I saw one ref repeatedly favor the opposition during three games.  Others around me also commented about this.  Last night repeated...even a kid around 11 y/o commented about this.  During one game, when I sat behind the NP bench, Coach McGhee "chatted" with this ref. Last night, the flock of NCC fans who sat five feet from me did not even whimper about the refs...even when Moncrief obviously earned his fourth PF.  Regardless, not using the backboard on a layup represented a cardinal sin.  Leaving Helwig open perplexed me.  Even the NCC fan next to me questioned why Helwig, NCC's leading scorer for the game, was allowed to take the last shot.

Overall, this North Park team exceeded expectations.  Thank you, Vikings.

/s = sarcasm   So you learned something today.

Is the RESPECT Award comparable to tykes' 'everybody gets a trophy" award? /s  For example, what did DJ Wallace do to earn his award?

Pearson, a graduate student who earned an undergrad degree from Elmhurst, had scored more than 26 points only once in his collegiate career.  He scorched North Park for 40.  I don't think his shooting could have been diminished with only better communication between players. Then again, Elmhurst scored a whopping 97 points.  There has to something in addition to enhanced communication. And how many did talent-laden Wheaton score?  Triple digits.

While complacently sitting alone in third place, North Park has a winning record against the teams above and below them. 

Seeing as Richardson came from Northfield, MN, home of Carleton College, I wonder if the college employs either or both parents.

It is unfortunate, Greg, that your memory lasted less than two weeks.  When a poster commented about NP's next big game, he overlooked the immediate game at Augie and leapt to NPU at home v Carthage.  I remarked that NP's next big game was Augie.  Thus, I know the importance of every game and that upsets can occur.  Duh.  I mean, c'mon, we saw lowly Carthage upset npu in football this year, which denied npu's first post-1969 winning season.

I am surprised you don't know what it means to collapse on D.  Soren clearly likes to shoot on the court's side of his dominant hand.  When he dribbles low, rotate a second defender to trap him near the base line.  I don't care if he then passes to the open man...just get the ball out of SR's hands.

I am also surprised that you would minimize my visual acuity of NP's D scheme over the last three years, and you completely missed my point.  With no change in scheme, the one man who could beat us, beat us.

I dragged my wife to last night's defensive debacle at North Park to meet up with friends.  I suppose it was around the time at 9 minutes in the first half - when AA candidate Soren Richardson had scored 16 of Wheaton's 22 points (NP led by 5) - that my wife said NP should double team Richardson.  We all agreed.  With NP coughing up a large lead only to be reduced to a paltry 7 at half in a game that should have been a rout, I kept saying I was uncomfortable with the lead. Leading by 6, Richardson had 40/74 Wheaton points with 8:39 left.  Had NP collapsed on D or double teamed the ONE guy???  No.  At the 4:14 mark, with Wheaton up 88-80, Richardson had 45 points.  NP had been rotating defenders on Richardson to no avail, but never changed the scheme.  With 19 seconds remaining, Richardson continued to exceed 50% of Wheaton's point total with 53/102. North Park prides itself with defense, but last night left all four of us wondering aloud why the scheme never changed.

NP shot 47% and 43% from two and three, respectively, not 56/50% as previously reported.  NP had 15 more attempts than Wheaton.  There was a stretch when NP missed at least 9 trey attempts in a row or so it seemed...perhaps I just grew weary of the chucking when NP could have penetrated at will.  However, it also seemed like NP missed at least 10 shots within a couple feet from the hoop in the second half.  We just shook our heads in disbelief as did the couple behind us.

I did find it odd that Richardson played about 75% of the game with 2 fouls.  He clearly got away with numerous hooks and pushes and benefited from moving picks.  Had he picked up a third foul within the first 25 minutes, who knows, because he was THE GUY yet NP failed to appropriately counter.

Richardson scored at will, and often benefited from an interior pass, which those around me commented over and over that NP sorely lacked.

North Park displayed its "mettle" last night whereas three nights ago against an inferior team...mettle was MIA.

Stevie D was HOT when Williams picked up his second foul mid first half, and NP's Berry also sat after his second foul of the half. The Vikings had scoring balance from both the interior and trey land though they launched too many quick trey shots as NP extended its lead in the second half.

Bosko and a handful of players from championships #4 and #5 attended the game.  Kolden Vanlandingham and Marquis Jackson also attended the game.

Oddly, NPU did not have a Star Spangled Banner played or sung last night.  Maybe before my arrival during pregame with 9 minutes before tipoff?  Plenty of loud music throughout, which once again prompted another "old timer" to complain to me. I agree.

Kudos to Rico Powell!  I looked at his former institution of higher learning, a place called Post University (CT), and Rico appeared in only three games.  Huh?  I have witnessed his confidence grow and grow since Head Coach McGhee's first career victory.  While he (like so many others) falls in love with the trey, Rico has the strength and hops to penetrate the paint and create any time he wishes.

North Park's next big game occurs this Wednesday against Augustana in Rock Island.

I howled and chuckled with my companion when Roper, IWU's 6'8" (listed height) AA candidate, missed a breakaway slam dunk at Foster and Kedzie.

What a difference in one season!  I attended NPU's game at Elmhurst last year with a couple friends, and saw an absolute stinker of a game.  Elmhurst won by 30 - 96-66.  Last night, Elmhurst could not compete against the visiting Vikings.  I know Elmhurst lost a great player in Ittounas, which brings me to my next point.

After having seen a majority of the CCIW teams, is there even a single player who might be considered AA caliber?  Having said that, I believe the CCIW is down overall this year.  I am highly suspicious of IWU being ranked so high.

Did anyone see the Elmhurst commercial on CBS at 7pm on Saturday right after the NFL game?  That commercial must have cost a lot of money! What student and/or parent would be influenced?  Just seemed to be a very odd marketing choice to me with zero ROI.

NCC gave up more than 89 points in consecutive games - to CC and NPU.  I attended the latter.  NCC does not know defense.  NPU drove the lane all night long for easy buckets and shot wide open treys as well.