MBB: Midwest Conference

[OBC]

Grinnell beat Cornell 99-90. Not the best execution, generally, but a W nonetheless. Hope they were saving it for Saturday,

[jeffdc]

Grinnell beat Cornell 99-90. Not the best execution, generally, but a W nonetheless. Hope they were saving it for Saturday,

For those who did not watch the game, 'not the best execution' is an understatement....

[jeffdc]

however....gotta say Yeager had a good game, Lentsch kept going after it even though the shots weren't always falling, and the team held together through a mid-game slump when balls simply would not drop.

Impressed with Cornell's speed and passing game. #2 and #3 in particular were amazing. But the GC defense rattled them early and hard.

[badgerwarhawk]

Is it still called "defense" when it surrenders 90 points?

[jeffdc]

Is it still called "defense" when it surrenders 90 points?

Read this article - it will tell you why GC is at the top of its conference despite not (theoretically) have a 'defense': http://www.foxsportswisconsin.com/02/12/13/Grinnell-College-has-a-1138-point-plan-f/landing_badgers.html?blockID=863069&feedID=5068

Money quote: ""Our guys walk around on campus like they're something special. They're very average, but they think they're good, so they play better than they are."

[jeffdc]

good luck to GC on their road game tomorrow with LU. should be a tough one.

[badgerwarhawk]

Very interesting, thanks for the link.

[Titan Q]

Is it still called "defense" when it surrenders 90 points?

Opponent PPG is not really a great measure of defense, because different teams play at different paces (different number of possessions)...and obviously Grinnell is the extreme. 

Efficiency (points per possession) seems to be the best measure.  For example, these numbers I posted on the CCIW board this morning:

Updated CCIW efficiency numbers (through 12 league games)...

Offensive efficiency (pts per 100 poss.)
1. Illinois Wesleyan: 115.4
2. Wheaton: 106.2
3. Augustana: 105.4
4. North Central: 101.3
5. Carthage: 94.5
6. Millikin: 92.0
7. North Park: 91.2
8. Millikin: 92.0

Defensive efficiency (opponent pts per 100 poss)
1. Illinois Wesleyan: 87.4
2. North Central: 89.3
3. Augustana: 94.9
4. Wheaton: 96.5
5. Carthage: 98.2
6. Millikin: 101.1
7. Elmhurst: 105.5
8. North Park: 117.8

Total efficiency (differential per 100 poss.)
1. Illinois Wesleyan: +28.0
2. North Central: +12.0
3. Augustana: +10.5
4. Wheaton: +9.7
5. Carthage: -3.7
6. Millikin: -9.2
7. Elmhurst: -18.4
8. North Park: -26.6

Grinnell's numbers (21 games) are:

Offensive efficiency = 118.5 (this is a tremendous number)
Defensive efficiency = 100.5 (this is a below average number, but certainly not as bad as 95.6 opponent PPG sounds)

There are 191 possessions in the average Grinnell game (both teams combined).  For the average CCIW team - and probably average MWC team outside of GC - that number is about 137.

[ExBBaller40]

My blog that has a lot of information in it regarding the MWC as well as the WIAC and NathCon http://diiihoopsblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/terrys-first-uber-blog.html

I had to combine about three blog post into one to make it work. But I think it works.

[scottie]

Any Monmouth?

[OBC]

 

[Greek Tragedy]

Grinnell falls in Appleton 114-106

St. Norbert edged Ill. College 70-68

[jeffdc]

I'll second that. 

[gbpuckfan]

Grinnell falls in Appleton 114-106

St. Norbert edged Ill. College 70-68

And that gives SNC the regular season title.

SNC plays Ripon in Seminfinal #1
Grinnell plays Carroll in Semifinal #2

(although I guess the GC/CU game will actually be played first)

SNC went 0-2 vs Grinnell this season, so playing in De Pere might be helpful if they meet in the title game

[Greek Tragedy]

I would like to see Grinnell make the NCAA tourney just so I could see how an opponent who has never played them, or anything like it, adjusts.  I'm talking about a National Championship caliber team, like IWU, Whitewater or the like. Obviously they would probably play a team in the Midwest, geographically speaking, in the early rounds.