Quote from: iwu70 on January 09, 2025, 01:14:45 PMStill looks like NCC, Carthage and IWU at the top of the league at the end.

I regard your prognosticative ability to be lacking in this matter. But at least you've got good company; the CCIW head coaches are not looking very prescient right now in the wake of one of their two preseason picks for a seventh-place tie, North Park, being 4-1 and tied for first, while their other pick for that seventh-place tie, Millikin, is tied for third at 3-1, a half-game behind the co-leaders.

Quote from: lmitzel on January 08, 2025, 09:49:29 PMNCC looked at Wheaton's results in conference so far, said "That's adorable," and proceeded to almost double monkey stomp the Thunder 86-48.

Wheaton's three point shooting had them in the game and only down 36-27 at half, but opened the second half on a 14-0 run to put it out of reach.

Ethan Helwig: 17 pts, 5 reb
James Bullock, Jr: 15 pts, 6 reb
Tyler Swierczek: 14 pts
Drew Gaston: 14 pts

Kyle Niebch: 19 pts
Noah Hedrick: 7 pts
Devin Martin: 5 pts, 6 ast

North Central actually opened the 2nd half with a 19-0 (not 14-0) run. Coupled with Ethan Helwig's three to end the 1st half, the Cardinals scored 22 points in a row.

While the Cardinals 86 points represent a nice offensive explosion, this victory was unquestionably primarily due to a superior defensive effort, particularly in the 2nd half. While the Thunder shot 53% in the opening stanza, they were held to just 28% in the second. Wheaton's Soren Richardson is the CCIW's leading scorer averaging 20.4 PPG. NCC really clamped down on him, holding him to 5 points and forcing him to commit 5 of Wheaton's 17 TOs, those TOs resulting in 24 of NCC's 86 points.

NCC's 38 point margin of victory is the most in the series since 1967.

Fridman is a frosh???  What impressed me the most was his decision to keep dribbling, patiently, instead of, e.g., chucking up a trey.  His actions led to numerous, easy 12-15' jumpers.  NPU did not exhibit this kid of decision making.  IWU at times had three players on the floor who were taller than any Viking.  The height created hesitancy for NP's O.

Quote from: GusD on January 09, 2025, 03:27:32 PM

Quote from: lmitzel on January 08, 2025, 09:49:29 PMNCC looked at Wheaton's results in conference so far, said "That's adorable," and proceeded to almost double monkey stomp the Thunder 86-48.

Wheaton's three point shooting had them in the game and only down 36-27 at half, but opened the second half on a 14-0 run to put it out of reach.

Ethan Helwig: 17 pts, 5 reb
James Bullock, Jr: 15 pts, 6 reb
Tyler Swierczek: 14 pts
Drew Gaston: 14 pts

Kyle Niebch: 19 pts
Noah Hedrick: 7 pts
Devin Martin: 5 pts, 6 ast

North Central actually opened the 2nd half with a 19-0 (not 14-0) run. Coupled with Ethan Helwig's three to end the 1st half, the Cardinals scored 22 points in a row.

While the Cardinals 86 points represent a nice offensive explosion, this victory was unquestionably primarily due to a superior defensive effort, particularly in the 2nd half. While the Thunder shot 53% in the opening stanza, they were held to just 28% in the second. Wheaton's Soren Richardson is the CCIW's leading scorer averaging 20.4 PPG. NCC really clamped down on him, holding him to 5 points and forcing him to commit 5 of Wheaton's 17 TOs, those TOs resulting in 24 of NCC's 86 points.

NCC's 38 point margin of victory is the most in the series since 1967.

Yes 17-9 on turnover margin for NCC.  That AND 13 offensive boards for the Cardinals vs well, goose egg, for the Thunder.  All that adds up to 61 shot attempts for the home team vs a mere 42 for Wheaton.  Wheaton could've shot 70% from the field and it would not have mattered. 

Quote from: Gregory Sager on January 09, 2025, 01:49:12 PM

Quote from: iwu70 on January 09, 2025, 01:14:45 PMStill looks like NCC, Carthage and IWU at the top of the league at the end.

I regard your prognosticative ability to be lacking in this matter. But at least you've got good company; the CCIW head coaches are not looking very prescient right now in the wake of one of their two preseason picks for a seventh-place tie, North Park, being 4-1 and tied for first, while their other pick for that seventh-place tie, Millikin, is tied for third at 3-1, a half-game behind the co-leaders.

Come on, Greg. You conveniently left out the previous sentence where he clearly stated, "NPU will hang in there and compete for a conference championship."

Greg, it's early.  All four teams mentioned have a good shot.  I'll stick with my estimations that NCC and Carthage are stronger than NPU.  IWU will have to work on its inconsistency.  Fridman coming into form is going to help.  Others on the starting group are wildly inconsistent, especially Funk.  Roper is putting together a pretty good season so far.  That size you mentioned surely won't hurt down the stretch -- with sometimes Wilmsen and Boldt on the floor together.  Hakim Williams solid and perhaps the most consistent, especially his defensive effort.

I'll stick with my Titans for now.  A good road win for them on Wednesday.  NCC coming to town this weekend, the 30th anniversary of the Shirk Center, a tremendous resource and venue for IWU and the Bloomington/Normal community. (And, the best health club any IWU alum could ever hope for . . . ).

'70

Quote from: iwu70 on January 10, 2025, 08:15:30 AMGreg, it's early.  All four teams mentioned have a good shot.  I'll stick with my estimations that NCC and Carthage are stronger than NPU.

Fine. That's your opinion. I'm simply saying that I disagree with you.

Greg, fine with me.  The games will all play out. 

IWU needs to protect home court this weekend.

My prediction about Fridman is playing out well . . .

I'm still of the view that Marco Anderson should be starting. 

'70

We get a rarity tomorrow: an all-afternoon set of Saturday games.

Augustana @ North Park
Wheaton @ Carroll
Millikin @ Carthage
North Central @ Illinois Wesleyan

They're all scheduled for 4:15 pm tipoffs.

Quote from: iwu70 on January 10, 2025, 11:42:21 AMGreg, fine with me.  The games will all play out. 

IWU needs to protect home court this weekend.

My prediction about Fridman is playing out well . . .

I'm still of the view that Marco Anderson should be starting. 

'70

The CSL South is strong in this post. 

GU1999, I had no idea. 

I'm just giving my views from what I see on the floor with the Titans in many games now.  Ron Rose has a bounty of riches and seems to be pretty much sticking with this 10 man rotation, including Boldt and Colak.  It's working for him well so far.

North Central presents some greater challenges, me thinks.

'70

What is CLSouth?  Frosh of the Year Fridman went to Glenbrook North.  Is it in the conference's southern division?

Quote from: markerickson on January 10, 2025, 11:35:33 PMWhat is CLSouth?  Frosh of the Year Fridman went to Glenbrook North.  Is it in the conference's southern division?

It's the Central Suburban Conference, and Glenbrook North is indeed in the Southern Division. 

Quote from: iwu70 on January 10, 2025, 03:09:25 PMGU1999, I had no idea. 

I'm just giving my views from what I see on the floor with the Titans in many games now.  Ron Rose has a bounty of riches and seems to be pretty much sticking with this 10 man rotation, including Boldt and Colak.  It's working for him well so far.

North Central presents some greater challenges, me thinks.

'70

But the question arises, 70, which version of wildly inconsistent NCC will the jolly green giants Titans get? Will it be the version that was never really in the game vs Elmhurst, or the version that eviscerated Wheaton who almost upset your team?
If they play the way they did vs WC, they will certainly present a formidable challenge.

Predicting that the highly-lauded, Chicago-Sun Times All-Area, IHSA all-state guy would be good...