MBB: Midwest Conference

[OBC]

Looks like Grinnell beats Monmouth 122-92. That's all I know about it so far.

[jeffp]

Yes, OBC they did win, but for a while I wondered how. GC went 6 minutes or so in the 1st half without scoring a point, ending the 1st half with miserable 38% shooting - 22% from 3 pt range. They literally couldn't hit the broad side of a battleship. Somehow they managed to cling to a 2 or 3 pt lead even during the worst of that slump. 2nd half was MUCH improved, when after a few minutes the 3's started to fall. GC did a great job of finding the hot hand during that period, and for a few minutes Taylor was unstoppable from outside.

Free throws: Monmouth couldn't hit em. Evenly called game, both teams had plenty of opportunity to complain...and did. Amazing that one official was obviously hurt - he could barely run during his pre game stretch and noticeably limped throughout the game. This guy stopped the game so many times to pick up the tiniest pieces of paper, to talk to players about whatever, to check at the scoring table...he really shouldn't have been on the court. It was hilarious towards the end watching the discussion between the MC coach and this ref about traveling. It honestly looked like they were doing the Hokey Pokey. Left foot in, left foot out, hoppin' all about...and for about 5 seconds not even paying attention to the action.

Monmouth is young. VERY young.  0 seniors, 1 junior, and equal numbers of 1st and 2nd years. They have some good young talent and at times seemed to just blow past the GC big guys down under. When GC started to light it up in the 2nd half, they tried everything to adjust, including a brief stint with a 4 corner offense that GC just destroyed. Did I say this team is young? I do see a lot of potential as the youngins mature, but unless thing change I'm afraid this will be a learning year for them.

There is one thing that never seems to be tried in the MWC to beat Grinnell. It is something that every team does against other opponents but never against GC. It baffles me to no end...and no I ain't gonna say what it is since it has apparently been kept secret for 20 years now. OBC, i'll explain my theory the next time we talk in person.

GC will not be able to beat St Norbert shooting the way they did in the 1st half, but may have a chance if they shoot consistently from the field as they did in the 2nd. Mr The Roop noted that there was more of a GC inside game than years past when they played Beloit. That is kinda fun to see since they aren't particularly tall, but when a team puts so much pressure on the outside, the only way to loosen it up is to go inside for a few shots. For that 6 minute stretch in the 1st half, going inside didn't even work. It looked like they were shooting medicine balls at pin holes. All in all, a good game to watch from the GC perspective against a team that has the capability of playing well at times and not so very well at others. Top 4 will be a stretch this year, Scottie, but the next two could be a different story.

[scottie]

scottie, I wasn't expecting Americas Team to beat #4 ranked UW-Whitewater but the good guys should have done a little better than they did. Here's a beer to 30 point losses and short memories.

Thirty....thiry-one....what's the difference?  Cheers!

Thanks for the fair & balanced review, jeffp.  You're a great American!  Indeed, I suspect the Good Guys will take their lumps for another season or so. But then, the youngins are gonna grow up and this is gonna happen:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hShxpYG_ql0   

[jeffp]

 

[The Roop]

Attn: Maverick and the infractions committee. I just returned from the Post Office. Seems I had a package from Iowa there. I believe this constitutes a second "shame on scottie" in a matter of days.

As I'm not on the committee I can only make requests but this could be grounds for double secret probation.

[scottie]

Was there a thin envelope of unmarked bills enclosed as a book mark?   

[AppletonRocks]

Was there a thin envelope of unmarked bills enclosed as a book mark?   

Or an honorary diploma from Crossroads Bible College? 

[Gregory Sager]

scottie, I wasn't expecting Americas Team to beat #4 ranked UW-Whitewater but the good guys should have done a little better than they did. Here's a beer to 30 point losses and short memories.

Thirty....thiry-one....what's the difference?  Cheers!

According to the Greek Tragedy Principle, all Grinnell outcomes should be cut in half when translating them to ordinary basketball. In other words, the Scots lost by 15. All kidding aside, I think it's a pretty sound method for eliminating the built-in distortion of final margins caused by the System and helping people read the outcomes in traditional basketball terms, regardless of whether the Pioneers are on the fat end of the scoreboard or the skinny end.

[The Roop]

Was there a thin envelope of unmarked bills enclosed as a book mark?   

A royalty deal was mentioned in the enclosed card but no mystery envelope. Typically I would refuse thin envelopes of unmarked bills any way.

[AppletonRocks]

scottie, I wasn't expecting Americas Team to beat #4 ranked UW-Whitewater but the good guys should have done a little better than they did. Here's a beer to 30 point losses and short memories.

Thirty....thiry-one....what's the difference?  Cheers!

According to the Greek Tragedy Principle, all Grinnell outcomes should be cut in half when translating them to ordinary basketball. In other words, the Scots lost by 15. All kidding aside, I think it's a pretty sound method for eliminating the built-in distortion of final margins caused by the System and helping people read the outcomes in traditional basketball terms, regardless of whether the Pioneers are on the fat end of the scoreboard or the skinny end.

I know the long-term scoring records at Lawrence are being scoured to figure out the records on a with and without Grinnell games.  Banners will be made to hang in Alexander Gym to reflect both sets of records.  Of course the ones that include the Grinnell games will be larger. 

[jeffp]

Hey! I know....lets figure out the win/loss records without Grinnell too! Imaging how much better THAT would make everyone look! We could even have a special day called "Marginalize Grinnell Day"!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Hey! I know....lets figure out the win/loss records without Grinnell too! Imaging how much better THAT would make everyone look! We could even have a special day called "Marginalize Grinnell Day"!

Not necessarily.  IWU, for example, would lose one win, no losses.

But scoring records is a different matter.  I dare say there may be as many as 50 teams where the single game scoring record (team or individual) is against Grinnell.

(IWU's team scoring record is against Grinnell.  The individual record is not.)

It is NOT anti-Grinnell to recognize that those games are 'different'.

[AppletonRocks]

Hey! I know....lets figure out the win/loss records without Grinnell too! Imaging how much better THAT would make everyone look! We could even have a special day called "Marginalize Grinnell Day"!

Even better, lets ask Grinnell to join the IIAC or the UAA.   

[jeffp]

Sure! That's a GREAT idea! Petition to the IIAC for us will you? Let them deal with all the messy statistical machinations that are apparently needed to understand Grinnell victory margins and scoring records. Unfortunately GC wouldn't be a good fit for the UAA since it doesn't have university status...

Or, we could avoid all the conference changes and statistical maneuvering and just say...
Grinnell 122
Monmouth 92

next game please?

[scottie]

scottie, I wasn't expecting Americas Team to beat #4 ranked UW-Whitewater but the good guys should have done a little better than they did. Here's a beer to 30 point losses and short memories.

Thirty....thiry-one....what's the difference?  Cheers!

According to the Greek Tragedy Principle, all Grinnell outcomes should be cut in half when translating them to ordinary basketball. In other words, the Scots lost by 15. All kidding aside, I think it's a pretty sound method for eliminating the built-in distortion of final margins caused by the System and helping people read the outcomes in traditional basketball terms, regardless of whether the Pioneers are on the fat end of the scoreboard or the skinny end.

Ya know, Gregory, I was thinking the same thing but didn't want to bring it up at the time.  I'm not sure if 18-4 is going to make it to the Tourney, so I'm walking on egg shells with The Roop right now.  Especially with America's Team coming to God's Country to take on the FreshSophs tomorrow afternoon.....  If THE STREAK hits five games, things might go nuclear on this board!