Quote from: AndOne on February 14, 2016, 04:30:06 PM

Quote from: Titan Q on February 14, 2016, 09:28:56 AM
Regarding NCC and Pool C, the Cardinals are 17-6 in D3 games.  A loss at NPU would make NCC 17-7 and then Pool C records (NCC won't need Pool C if they win the tourney) coming out of the conference tournament are either:
  * 18-8 (.692)
  * 17-8 (.680) 

Even at .680, I think NCC's SOS and RRO get them in - I consider NCC to be a great shape right now.  But at .680 or .692, the Cards would still have to dodge upsets - especially ahead of them in the region.  For example, if Benedictine falls in the NACC tourney...or Augie in the CCIW (to, say, Elmhurst)...or if St. Norbert loses in the MWC tourney.

If North Central is the highest Central Region Pool C on the board on Selection Sunday (meaning Augie, Benedictine, and St. Norbert are all Pool A), NCC is an absolute lock in my opinion...even at .680.  There is no way the Central Region gets shut out of Pool C.

The Cardinals 6 losses have been to:

* #17 Chicago by 13
* #30 Aurora by 3
* #13 Alma by 1
* #2 Benedictine by 2
* #1 Augie by 27
* #1 Augie by 8

The "worst" team NCC has lost to is currently 30th in the country. They have lost to current #2, and to current #1 twice. Three of their six losses are by a combined SIX points. HALF of their losses have come to the current #1 and #2 ranked teams in the country!

They have also beaten #7, #9, #2, and another #9.

They play in the #1 ranked toughest conference in the country, and they play the #1 ranked toughest overall schedule in the country.

Whether they get into the national tournament or not, there is absolutely no doubt that they are one of the top 25 teams in the country. Can there be any question of the fact? Yet, there is at least one Top 25 voter who left the Cardinals off his ballot entirely in last week's poll when they came in at #18 (after losing to #1 Augie by 8), AND in the previous week's poll when they garnered enough votes to rank #13. Maybe after beating #9 Elmhurst yesterday (after also previously beating them when they were #2), the Cardinals will appear on every Top 25 ballot, and finish in a spot that accurately reflects their true current strength, the abhorrent total of SIX losses notwithstanding. 

AO - Have to correct you on this one.  In the most current poll, Chicago is not ranked and is not receiving any votes.  So the Cards lost by 13 to a team who is currently unranked and not receiving votes.  I think most CCIW posters would agree that NCC is clearly one of the best 25 teams in the country.  When you look at the rankings, NCC has the most losses out of anyone in the top 25.  Much like Augie, a couple of the early season wins NCC had against highly ranked teams (Wis Stevens Point and Mt. Union) don't have the luster now that they did then, based on how those teams have performed this season.  So it's hard to argue too much with the voting based on the totality of the season.  I think if NCC continues to play how they have been over the past few weeks, they likely make the tournament and will have the opportunity to show people just how good they are.  I'm hoping that 3 teams from the CCIW make the tournament this year.  It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out. 

AO, I think you are starting to lose it.

Relax my friend, your team is playing well and is well-recognized on this board.  The Mighty Q says your chances of getting in the Dance are pretty good, so just relax.  Let you boys play it out, keep winning, or at least go 2-1 in coming days, and all will be well.  If your guys get left out, it would be an injustice, but we all know the selection process has its vagaries and idiosyncratic elements. Even idiotic elements.  Your team is surely one of the best 25 in the country, but that doesn't guarantee they get in. Hope for very few upsets in Conference tournaments.  Stay calm and carry on. 

Good luck guarding Juwan Henry.  He's truly amazingly quick, talented. 

IWU'70

A6-

I was referring to Chicago's ranking at the time, but you certainly do make a valid point.
One thing worth remembering is that to begin the season, NCC was both a very new and very young team. To some degree, that is still the case. Of the 5 starters, only 2, a senior and a soph., started last year. Transfers start at both the PG and C positions, and a freshman on the wing. The senior 6th man held the same position last year, but the 7th and 8th men are also both freshmen. It naturally took some time before this collection of returnees, transfers, and freshmen began to know each other, and to jell as a unit, on both ends of the floor.

Iwu70-

Many would say I lost it long ago. Just trying to get my team a little respect-there are Top 25 voters who don't haven't even had the Cards on their ballot, if you can believe that!
And I of course recognize there are "idiotic elements," as you put it, involved in the selection process.

Also, I do hear you with regard to Mr. Henry and NPU. As I said earlier in the season, and I think G. Sager will remember, I think NPU can win any game it plays. In my opinion they have two first team all conference players no matter where they finish, including the CCIW POY.

AO, your team has my respect.  Hope the CCIW gets three teams in this year.  All would be deserving. 

On Juwan Henry, agree he is the POY -- most outstanding player.  No one can stay with him.  However, I doubt NPU will be able to match your guys this week.  IWU may be in at the fourth spot, but a pretty rough, disappointing season overall, even at 13-12 and it may be 12-13.  Lots of seniors departing, so Ron Rose will have some serious recruiting to do even with a good core -- Seibring, Bausch, Rose, Bonnet, Falitico, Beasley -- coming back.  I think Streety and some others from the JV squad may contribute, have their time next season as well. 

IWU'70

Quote from: AndOne on February 14, 2016, 10:01:53 PMAlso, I do hear you with regard to Mr. Henry and NPU. As I said earlier in the season, and I think G. Sager will remember, I think NPU can win any game it plays.

Unfortunately, as the last week and a half has proved, NPU can lose any game it plays, too. Over the past two Saturdays the Vikings have lost a pair of games to teams below them in the standings, one of whom the Vikings had beaten earlier in that team's building and the other a team that the Vikings had previously handled with ease in Chicago.

I've said since before the season started that the Park would spend this entire season living on the razor's edge. Yes, the Vikings have two phenomenal All-American-caliber players, but they are also a team that is: a) extraordinarily small and thus very vulnerable both in the low post and on the boards; b) limited offensively, aside from the two superstars; and c) deficient in senior leadership, as Michael Hutchinson is the only senior on the roster. When the Vikings don't play with full-tilt effort to maximize their quickness advantage, they falter badly -- and sometimes even full-tilt effort isn't enough to get the job done against a really good team (e.g., the loss to Elmhurst last Wednesday). After 24 games, the Vikings have only scored eight more points for the season than they've given up. Granted, they've played a very tough schedule (third-toughest in the nation, according to Massey), but, nevertheless, a bare +8 for the entire season is truly living on the razor's edge, indeed.

Massey's got North Central as an eight-point favorite for the final regular-season game, with the Cards given a 78% chance of winning, and both items of computer conjecture sound about right. It's going to take a major upset next Saturday in order for the Vikings to keep their season alive.

New poll out.

Angie remains #1.
North Central gains 6 spots to #12.
Elmhurst falls 4 places to #13.

Complete poll:

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2015-16/week10

Congrats to North Central sophomore Erwin Henry who today was named CCIW Player Of The Week for Feb. 8-14. Erwin scored 19 points (7/10, 5/5) at Carthage last Wed night, and followed that up with 28 (8/11, 10/11) at then #9 Elmhurst on Sat afternoon as NCC chalked up two road victories.

http://www.northcentralcardinals.com/news/2016/2/15/MBB_0215161451.aspx?path=mbball

Quote from: iwu70 on February 15, 2016, 02:16:36 AM
Lots of seniors departing, so Ron Rose will have some serious recruiting to do even with a good core -- Seibring, Bausch, Rose, Bonnet, Falitico, Beasley -- coming back. 

Junior Andy Stempel returns and will be a big part of IWU's 2016-17 team as well.

The phrase "20 and 10" is commonly used in basketball to describe a dominant performance (usually by a forward or center, of course), as garnering 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game is a pretty hard statistical feat to achieve.

There are currently four players in all of D3 who are averaging 20 and 10 for the season:

Egzon Gjonbalaj, Brooklyn	23.8 ppg, 12.0 rpg
Andre Norris, Dubuque	23.5 ppg, 12.1 rpg
Mitch Ford, Nazareth	22.8 ppg, 11.7 rpg
Jordan Robinson, North Park	21.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg

Gjonbalaj, Norris, and Ford are all seniors. Robinson is a sophomore.

Quote from: AndOne on February 15, 2016, 06:57:09 PM
New poll out.

Angie remains #1.
North Central gains 6 spots to #12.
Elmhurst falls 4 places to #13.

Complete poll:

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2015-16/week10

NCC up 6 spots?  Does anyone know if they've played a tough schedule at all . . . .?     

Thanks Q, I knew I forgot someone.  Yes, Stempel will likely be a starter again next season.  Pretty strong group coming back.  Let's hope the recruiting turns up the next Sikma, Crabtree or Keelan too. 

'70

Robinson is totally impressive.  The numbers don't lie.  I hope he gets first team CCIW too, along with Juwan Henry.

AO, is your team getting enough respect in the poll now?   

'70

Quote from: GoPerry on February 15, 2016, 08:00:47 PM

Quote from: AndOne on February 15, 2016, 06:57:09 PM
New poll out.

Angie remains #1.
North Central gains 6 spots to #12.
Elmhurst falls 4 places to #13.

Complete poll:

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2015-16/week10

NCC up 6 spots?  Does anyone know if they've played a tough schedule at all . . . .?     

NAH, a steady diet of cream puffs and marshmallows - I'm surprised the whole team doesn't have diabetes by now!

Quote from: Mr. Ypsi on February 15, 2016, 08:23:22 PM

Quote from: GoPerry on February 15, 2016, 08:00:47 PM

Quote from: AndOne on February 15, 2016, 06:57:09 PM
New poll out.

Angie remains #1.
North Central gains 6 spots to #12.
Elmhurst falls 4 places to #13.

Complete poll:

http://www.d3hoops.com/top25/men/2015-16/week10

NCC up 6 spots?  Does anyone know if they've played a tough schedule at all . . . .?     

NAH, a steady diet of cream puffs and marshmallows - I'm surprised the whole team doesn't have diabetes by now!

🍧 🍪 🍩

😎 FABULOUS, YPSI!!! +1 

Quote from: iwu70 on February 15, 2016, 08:21:39 PM
Robinson is totally impressive.  The numbers don't lie.  I hope he gets first team CCIW too, along with Juwan Henry.

AO, is your team getting enough respect in the poll now?   

'70

Iwu,
Both players are obvious CCIW first team talents and possibly worthy. However, I don't recall a CCIW team finishing .500 or worst in conference and placing two players on the 1st team. Sager may have more information on this tidbit of history but I sincerely doubt it's ever happened.