Nice WFRV interview with Gary  Grzesk after reaching 400 wins. Including some classic old footage of that 3OT game against Elmhurst.

https://x.com/lmhelmbrecht/status/1894199378442686921?s=46

Quarterfinals Scores:

#1 Wisconsin Lutheran 86 #8 Rockford 57: WLC all gas no brakes in this one. Was up 38-14 at half.
#2 St. Norbert 83 #7 Aurora 72: Green Knights got up big early and cruise to a win in the second half.
#3 MSOE 91 #6 Marian 74: Raiders weren't too keen on another tight affair like last time and kept Marian at bay.
#4 Concordia Wisconsin 82 #5 Concordia Chicago 68: CUW had few issues putting away CUC up in Mequon.

Semifinal Matchups

#4 Concordia Wisconsin at #1 Wisconsin Lutheran
#3 MSOE at #2 St. Norbert

https://x.com/JordanLoppnow/status/1894942046483345614?t=MWeddK7uFrLkb4mn_sBOLg&s=19

1st time in history all four semifinalists are from Wisconsin, apparently.

Semifinal Preview

#4 Concordia Wisconsin at #1 Wisconsin Lutheran: Warriors won both regular season meetings by big margins but the last time out CUW was missing a few players due to injury. Warriors had an impressive win last night over Rockford holding the Regents to 36% shooting overall (23% in the first half) and forcing 16 turnovers. CUW shot 53% in their win over Concordia Chicago. If the Warriors come out firing on all cylinders again, it will be very tough for CUW to keep it a game.

#3 MSOE at #2 St. Norbert: If there could be any chaos it could be here. MSOE has been playing strong ball as of late and sent Marian packing last night. SNC got a narrow 82-80 win in the regular season so this still could go either way here. SNC has also played good ball as of late after stumbling early in the new year so the lean goes to Green Knights.

Quote from: PauldingLightUP on February 24, 2025, 11:30:03 PMNice WFRV interview with Gary  Grzesk after reaching 400 wins. Including some classic old footage of that 3OT game against Elmhurst.

https://x.com/lmhelmbrecht/status/1894199378442686921?s=46

And on the heels of this, pretty incredible for SNC to notch two 1,000 point scorers in the same game in Garrett Grzesk and Jamison Nickolai in the quarterfinal win over Aurora. 

76-73 SNC over MSOE

Game of runs. Back and forth.

Two extremely well coached and talented teams. Very good crowd. What Division III basketball should look like.

SNC vs WLC for championship.

WLC routs CUW 86-65 in the other semifinal.

My thoughts on the final:

St. Norbert has really upped their play since their early stumbles however WLC has rolled through the tournament with no apparent sign of their inconsistent play. Maybe they were holding back a bit before the stretch run. WLC is a lock for the NCAA's so if they get upset here, the NACC will have two teams in the field for the first time since 2011.

St. Norbert downs WLC 70-52. 2 NACC teams will make the field thus popping someone's bubble.

Though it will be interesting where both teams will be in the brackets.

Interesting projection to see WLC hosting a pod. Possible teams in the pods will be Illinois Wesleyan, Chicago and Central. Still lean that Carthage will probably get the nod over WLC in terms of hosting.

Quote from: Captain_Joe08 on March 03, 2025, 10:08:36 AMInteresting projection to see WLC hosting a pod. Possible teams in the pods will be Illinois Wesleyan, Chicago and Central. Still lean that Carthage will probably get the nod over WLC in terms of hosting.

They're not going to put Carthage and IWU in the same pod if they don't have to - and they don't have to.

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2025, 10:24:23 AM

Quote from: Captain_Joe08 on March 03, 2025, 10:08:36 AMInteresting projection to see WLC hosting a pod. Possible teams in the pods will be Illinois Wesleyan, Chicago and Central. Still lean that Carthage will probably get the nod over WLC in terms of hosting.

They're not going to put Carthage and IWU in the same pod if they don't have to - and they don't have to.

They shouldn't have to. Felt that Carthage had a better shot of hosting over WLC. Would be the second time an NACC team gets to host a pod for the tournament (Benedictine Men 2016).

That UW-La Crosse/St. John's pod could be a fun one. St. Norbert could pull an upset if it played the way it did yesterday against WLC.

Quote from: Captain_Joe08 on March 03, 2025, 11:21:07 AM

Quote from: Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan) on March 03, 2025, 10:24:23 AM

Quote from: Captain_Joe08 on March 03, 2025, 10:08:36 AMInteresting projection to see WLC hosting a pod. Possible teams in the pods will be Illinois Wesleyan, Chicago and Central. Still lean that Carthage will probably get the nod over WLC in terms of hosting.

They're not going to put Carthage and IWU in the same pod if they don't have to - and they don't have to.

They shouldn't have to. Felt that Carthage had a better shot of hosting over WLC. Would be the second time an NACC team gets to host a pod for the tournament (Benedictine Men 2016).

That UW-La Crosse/St. John's pod could be a fun one. St. Norbert could pull an upset if it played the way it did yesterday against WLC.

Would have been 3rd time* for the NACC

Concordia Wisconsin hosted in 2010-11.

https://www.cuwfalcons.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/boxscores/20110304_fdv2.xml?view=boxscore

WLC is sent to UW-Platteville to face Calvin (21-6). Winner gets either Grinnell or UW-Platteville

St. Norbert is going to UW-La Crosse to face Carthage (21-6). Winner gets either UW-La Crosse or Greenville.

Seeds of both pods:

UW-Platteville (3)
WLC (28)
Calvin (31)
Grinnell (55) (29.25 average seeding)

UW-La Crosse (5)
Carthage (23)
St. Norbert (41)
Greenville (58) (31.75 average seeding)

On the women's side, the WIAC got 5 teams in and two of them are in the same pod. Pretty disappointing.

I was gonna say that Concordia hosted a pod because Point was in that pod and I remember going down there, just couldn't remember the year, but Wiz saved me from searching!  I believe they got to host because Stevens Point's women were hosting that weekend.

That Calvin game will depend on who wills their pace on the other team. Calvin grinds out games. WLC seems like to run.

Disappointed WLC or Carthage couldn't host (one of them probably would have had they won their conference tournament).

Platteville and La Crosse are too far for me. Chicago is actually closer, but still 2 1/2 hours away.