MBB: Midwest Conference

jeffdc · January 14, 2011, 10:21:29 PM

GC 104, LU 93

Something must've been in the water, because I don't understand how the LU team got to 5-1 playing the way they did tonight. GC took the lead early and never looked back. Good to see the GC shifts putting together solid minutes. Matt Skelly in particular had a fine game. Looking forward to Carroll tomorrow!

OBC · January 14, 2011, 11:10:47 PM

Jeffdc you beat me to the post. I figured it was just because you live closer to Darby than I do, back in my old neighborhood. Then, I realized it was because you left early and missed Lawrence's last bucket. Final score, Grinnell 104, Lawrence 95.

The entire difference in the game was the last 10 minutes of the first half. Grinnell's pressure caused a few turnovers that led to open 3 looks and it was Katy bar the door. I kept waiting for JoJo's timeout call.

You'd think the Pioneers had put it all together beating the first place team in the conference, but it was anything but smooth sailing. The guys played with heart, though. There were a couple sequences where I thought we were going to set a record for bodies hitting the floor going after loose balls. That kind of effort wins games.

Free throw shooting down the stretch...not so good. Zone defense down the stretch...not so good.

Lawrence looked a little out of sorts most of the game and then started taking it hard to the basket and making up ground. To me, and this is an opinion based on seeing them in person once, they didn't look like a conference title contender. Now that I've said that, basketball karma will insure they hammer Grinnell by 20 in Appleton, right?

Anyway, I second the "nice game" to Skelly. Also McManamy (defense, Brian, defense) and Bellamy.

A few other guys, if you are going to take 12 to 20 shots a game, you had better make a few.

jeffdc · January 15, 2011, 12:24:30 AM

OBC, actually, I saw the whole game but my brain decided to delete the final basket from LU's score for some unknown reason. Gettin' old....

The Roop · January 15, 2011, 12:26:10 AM

Was wondering why the board was so quiet, then I checked the scores.

I didn't watch the Beloit game as I expected them to take care of business and they did. Saturday will be the test. They had Lake Forest at home but let them off the hook by not making free throws. Now they have a chance to fix that.

Unfortunately I probably won't watch that one as Lake Forests webcasting is notoriously poor quality. I'll reload it once, maybe twice and after that I'm giving up and await the results on the team website.

jeffdc · January 15, 2011, 07:41:37 PM

CC 105, GC 102

Ouch. I really enjoyed this game, other than the outcome. CC is one of the few teams in the conference that can run with GC the entire game. Both teams played very well - very strong defensive efforts all around. GC essentially led the entire game until about 3 minutes out - then ran into trouble at the free throw line. CC capitalized, GC failed to respond, and that was it. A bummer for this observer, as I think GC had really won the game. But obviously CC had some gas in the tank, used it, and walked home with a win.

Kudos to Matt Skelly (again), Aaron Levin (hitting them under pressure, Kale Knisely (standing up to 41, an impressive 6'8" CC freshman), Patrick Maher ( looked good in the ever important ball handling role), and Griffin Lentsch. Better luck on the next game!

augiefan · January 15, 2011, 09:46:05 PM

Speaking of the Lake Forest webcast being lousy, last night had to be the ultimate example of bad webcasting. With the score tied in the final seconds the webcast was fixed on the scoreboard for Lake Forest's final possession. So the viewers never saw the foul called on Ripon's Gillespie with .6 of a second to go. Fouls at that point in a game are almost unheard of, and the web viewers never saw the play, which was followed by LF's Beck making the winning FT in a key conference game.

The Roop · January 15, 2011, 09:56:02 PM

Bucs go 1-1 but pick up half a game on that 4th place spot given the other results of the weekend.

Augiefan: Did they keep switching back and forth between cameras like they always do? I didn't even try watching today.

OBC · January 16, 2011, 10:04:16 AM

This was one that got away. Grinnell had Carroll on the ropes. 57% FT shooting in the second half. 57%. Just to give you an idea:

6:02 Missed FT
4:11 Missed FT
4:11 Missed FT
3:31 Missed FT
2:12 Missed FT
2:12 Missed FT
1:18 Missed FT
1:18 Missed FT

There were also a couple of Made FTs in there, including 2 by Skelly at 32 seconds left. I think we missed 8 of 12 in the last 5 minutes.

This was a tight game, and on the other end we could only foul a guy who is a 100% free throw shooter for the year (Hurd). Or other guys who made their shots. Here's Carroll's last 6 minutes:

5:48 Good FT
5:48 Good FT
2:06 Good FT
2:06 Good FT
1:00 Good FT
1:00 Good FT
0:41 Good FT
0:41 Good FT
0:21 Good FT
0:12 Good FT
0:12 Good FT
0:02 Good FT
0:02 Missed FT (intentionally)

No doubt whatsoever where this game was won by the Pioneers, and where it was lost by the Pioneers. As shame, really, because the team played well for the most part for 35 minutes.

The Roop · January 18, 2011, 01:04:13 PM

Yup, when you lose the close ones free throws tend to be behind it.

OBC · January 19, 2011, 01:30:15 PM

So basic, so simple, so important.

bdohse · January 20, 2011, 01:52:00 PM

Quote from: augiefan on January 15, 2011, 09:46:05 PM
Speaking of the Lake Forest webcast being lousy, last night had to be the ultimate example of bad webcasting. With the score tied in the final seconds the webcast was fixed on the scoreboard for Lake Forest's final possession. So the viewers never saw the foul called on Ripon's Gillespie with .6 of a second to go. Fouls at that point in a game are almost unheard of, and the web viewers never saw the play, which was followed by LF's Beck making the winning FT in a key conference game.

I was there and had a very good angle on the call. It was one of the worst calls I've seen in a basketball game at any level. Gillespie stopped the LF PG cold at about 17 feet. He picked up his dribble and had nowhere to pass. He lauched a ridiculous fadeaway 17 footer that was almost shot one-handed. Gillespie may have leaned with him as he faded, but no contact whatsoever. I have never seen a ref leave a gym so fast. I mean, they usually get out pretty quick, but this guy literally sprinted for the door and even down the hallway.

jeffdc · January 21, 2011, 11:57:43 AM

best of luck to GC on the road this weekend (in the cold and snow), tonight against Beloit and tomorrow against Lawrence (who I imagine will be looking for some revenge after last week's loss).

jeffdc · January 21, 2011, 09:57:33 PM

BC 116 GC 100 (I think)

First, the quality of the broadcast truly sucked. lost connections, 'ghostly images', etc. Awful, awful.

GC came in strong, then went cold and BC took the lead into the half. Coming out of the half, GC showed some energy but then lapsed into (again, from what I could make out via the awful broadcast) a lackadaisical game that BC took advantage of.

Not much I can say about this, sadly. the 3 pt shooting just wasn't there, the hustle was often not there, and the shifts failed to adapt to BC's defense.

The Roop · January 21, 2011, 09:59:46 PM

Yeah, what he said. Americas Team 116 Americas 2nd Team 100 with 57.1 to go. Beloit usually doesn't have webcast problems but Ken Burns must have been in the house.

I'm guessing Beloit held on for the win.

augiefan · January 21, 2011, 10:12:49 PM

Lost the feed from Beloit with 57 seconds to go, but even Grinnell can't score 16 straight in that time frame. Better video than the two camera scew ups at Lake Forest but not by much tonight.

Lawrence just took two OTs to beat Knox in Appleton. Knox had a chance to tie in the 2nd OT but rimmed out a 3 with 4 seconds to go. At least Knox should be as worn out as Beloit going into tomorrow's 4 p.m. game at Flood.