MBB: Midwest Conference

[Maverick]

scottie - Just found the final on the MC website...you beat me to posting it, but like schwanman has said before I'm not gonna bother deleting everything I just typed!

IC 67, MC 61

Curious to read the game summary or any recaps by anyone who may have been at the game--though I doubt the latter will happen.  Anyhow, judging from the score it looks like just another close loss for the Scots as they wrap up a very disappointing season at 8-13, 4-12 MWC.  As bad as it may sound, I'm sort of glad that this extremely year finally come to a close; just very frustrating to see a program take steps forward after a very down year (finished the 2002-03 MWC season at 2-14, then picked up a couple more wins the following season to go 4-12 in the conference, and then jump all the way up to 9-7 last year...only to see the program take a couple steps backwards this year in finishing 4-12 again).  I've said it before, but I'll say it one last time: it just doesn't make sense to me that a team with this much talent, and several players who had been instrumental in moving back up the conference ladder during the past couple seasons, would struggle this much to pull out their share of close games.  Here's hoping that the Scots can get back up near the top of the MWC next year.

[Maverick]

Just got a look at the MC vs. IC box score and a few things jumped out at me. 

1) Monmouth shot 14-28 from the FT line, gotta have those in what looked to be a close low-scoring game.  And with all the close losses for the Scots this year, this poor FT shooting seemed to be a trend.  Checked the conference stats--lowest FT percentage as a team in the MWC.
2) The Scots had 4 assists and 20 turnovers!  'Nuff said... 
3) Another game full of 3-point shots.  This team really did seem to live and die by the deep ones--second most 3-pt. attempts in the conference (Grinnell the obvious first) and third most attempts isn't very close to Monmouth's total.

Any other Scots posters feel like venting as well?

[Pat Coleman]

But if the LU/CC game isn't worthy of top billing on the home page of this site, I don't know what is?  Right, Pat?    

Oh for goodness sakes, there's nothing that pisses me off more than whining about something I haven't done yet.

[Sam Johnson]

I think we all owe Pat our thanks for the top billing on the front page.  Thanks Pat! 

WOW  ...I had to brave a blizzard to go to this game and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  Van Male was PACKED.  Standing room only all around.  There were people stuck outside in the snow b/c security wouldn't let any more in.  LU's students showed up in force (although late...apparently the bus driver got lost  ) and the LU parents were as loud as I've ever seen them.  This was D3 atmosphere at its best (minus some of the much less than appropriate chants from the CC fans...nice improv on the chant that Gonzaga banned fellas, I'm sure you administration was real proud of that ...oh yea, Scoreboard? You might want to look again  ).  That little rant aside...still an AMAZING atmosphere.  I stood over by the CC students and LU bench the whole game and enjoyed myself thoroughly.

Thoughts:
1. LU is pretty darn deep.  There was a long stretch in the 1st half where Tharp rested the starters and played the bench, including a 4 frosh/1 soph lineup.  And LU didn't give an inch in that time period.
2. Braier did not have a great night from the floor (only 6/18).  Despite this, he led the team with 16 and pulled down 10 for the dub/dub.  He was taking tough shots all night against good pressure.  When it came down to it, he and LU got it done.
3. Drury's stat line may not show it, but the kid was the thorn in LU's side much of the night.  He drilled any open look...LU just didn't give him that many.  He was basically face guarded the whole 2nd half.  More than any other Pioneer, he had me worried down the stretch.
4. Not sure why, but Scheper was not on the floor much in the 1st half.  He wasn't in foul trouble, so I don't know why he wouldn't have played more.  You have to wonder if that could have made the difference for CC.
5. LU would have had the game in hand if they had hit FT's.  Hopefully this won't be an issue in the tourney on our home rims.
6. Oafs were pretty solid.  I'm betting this is the conference's best crew.  Missed calls for sure, but they missed both ways.  There were only a couple of really bad calls that stick out in my mind, and they didn't end up being game changers.
7. Look at these team stat lines:
      FG-FGA    3-PT FG-FGA    FT-FTA    OF    DE  TOT   PF   TP   A   TO  BLK   S
LU: 26-55                3-14        9-14      9     27    36   19   64  10   9     1     5
CC: 22-52                6-21      13-16      6     24    30   19   63  10   9     3     4
Scary how similar they were.  This literally was a game that could have changed in an instant.
8. Overall I thought LU showed good composure.  There were some moments when you could see they were tight, but they found a way to guy it out and win.
9. I'm nominating Ben Rosenblatt as "JJ Reddick for the night".  His only three was a hand in the face dagger from WAY beyond the arc.
10. This should go down as one of the classic games in our conference history.  It was that good.
11. When MacGillis passed it i thought we were goners for sure.  I didn't see Bradley sneak in there and the next thing I know the shot drops, the buzzer is going, and I'm trying not to jump all over Ryan Gebbler and reinjure his MCL.

And yes, I might just post a little something on my blog about this. 

[Gregory Sager]

I'm fine with that Scottie, however, lets not have a movie about the team.

No, let's. They could title it Cool Rrrrrrrunnin's. 

[crusaders]

how about the clarke crusaders tonight....what an impressive win....

[LU_nut]

sam

excellent summary.

I do think Sheppler had two fouls in the first and that is why he sat.  McGillis had two even earlier and sat as well.

Ben's 3 was at least 10 ft. past the line.  Nothing but net.

Carroll is a top 10 team.  I could see them getting runner up and being sent out west (very weak) and then making a lot of noise if they can play with poise.

Comments on Drury are right on.....he might be the best shooter in the league.

Ref's were solid.  Carroll fans were crying about the lack of a 5 second call on the inbounds at the end of the game, but overall, the breaks did not advantage LU in any way.

While I think Carroll is good, they must be depressed to lose at home when Braier does not shoot well, McGillis is in foul trouble the whole night, ditto for Kroeger, and Toshner banks in a 18 footer from straight away at a key time (1:30 mark).  Not sure how things could have gone better and yet they lost.  Van Male is a crummy place to shoot for visiting players.   (Carroll D has something to do with it as well, but I do not like the background in fieldhouse settings).

There will be a third match in 10 days. 

Nutty

[systemfan86]

I'm fine with that Scottie, however, lets not have a movie about the team.

No, let's. They could title it Cool Rrrrrrrunnin's. 

I don't even want to imagine the uniform kilts they'd be wearing. "Here's the Scottish bobsled team starting their run. The jump into the sled...OH MY GOD!...I think I just threw up in my mouth..."

Back on basketball...

The first three seeds are set, and we know that Carroll and GC play next Friday night. Carroll also has a hand in who plays Larry in the other game. Any of the top three seeds have players that could use a game off? I don't think any of them will: Larry still has the undefeated season to attain, Carroll has to make sure their ranking in the region stays high, and GC need to stay in rhythm.

Looking forward to the tournament. 

[hjmphelp]

SF86-

GC needs to GET BACK in rhythm! Last night was not stellar, but still a powerful statement about system ball. When GC got back in sync toward the end of the 1st half and for a few runs in the second, they just toasted KC. Even though Wally was off last night he proved his talent by doing so many other things. Mike Schmidt had a great game, and almost everyone else stepped forward. I still honestly believe that GC is perfectly capable of pulling off upsets in the tourney IF everything clicks. Lake Forest always plays GC tough so this weekend will be a very interesting game. I doubt anyone will get any rest on this team even though the game means little in the standings at this point. That just isn't the way the GC coaching staff and team members look at things IMHO. Quite an interesting discussion yesterday on the "who is playing grinnell ball" string about recovering from system games, BTW.

[viking68]

This was D3 atmosphere at its best (minus some of the much less than appropriate chants from the CC fans...nice improv on the chant that Gonzaga banned fellas, I'm sure you administration was real proud of that

Sounds like a great game and a great finish!! I only heard a few minutes of the webcast at the end of the first half (stupid job!), but the LU announcers were saying that some Lawrence fans got kicked out by the Carroll administration for some inappropriate chants/cheers. Anyone know anything about that? Even if they didn't, I'm sure there were some inappropriate cheers on the LU side of the aisle too.

Great job by Carroll - they are going to be tough to beat in the MWC tourney (even if it is at Alex) and in the national tourney... How about a 4th LU-CC game in the Final Four !?!?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Larry stays alive and Carroll continues their bid for #2.  Wittenberg and Albion both went down last night, so there is hope for moving up.

[scottie]

But if the LU/CC game isn't worthy of top billing on the home page of this site, I don't know what is?  Right, Pat?    

Oh for goodness sakes, there's nothing that pisses me off more than whining about something I haven't done yet.

Pat, you're really stretching it here...  I include a humorous wink at the end of my statement and you call it "whining"??   Your retort was much more pediatric.  The winter blahs may be getting to you... 

BUT, thanks for your MWC inclusion on the homepage.  You're all heart. 

[scottie]

Just got a look at the MC vs. IC box score and a few things jumped out at me. 

1) Monmouth shot 14-28 from the FT line, gotta have those in what looked to be a close low-scoring game.  And with all the close losses for the Scots this year, this poor FT shooting seemed to be a trend.  Checked the conference stats--lowest FT percentage as a team in the MWC.
2) The Scots had 4 assists and 20 turnovers!  'Nuff said... 
3) Another game full of 3-point shots.  This team really did seem to live and die by the deep ones--second most 3-pt. attempts in the conference (Grinnell the obvious first) and third most attempts isn't very close to Monmouth's total.

Any other Scots posters feel like venting as well?

Mav - Good points on all three counts.
1.  What happened to the Scots' team of a few seasons ago who were among the leaders in the Nation in FT%?  (I know...they graduated.  But one would think that FT's would still be an emphasis.)

2. 'Nuff said is right.  I'll make a link with this point to number 3.

3. Three point shooting is great.  Heck, some teams even work it into their religion.     But 23% for the game (on 30 attempts) seems a bit askew.  If you're launching up 3's, there's obviously not as much emphasis on working the ball around (inside) which would lead to more assists.  Terwelp and Price seem to have been coming on strong toward the end of the season.  More looks by them inside could have been the antidote to avoiding overtime. 

- - - - - - - - - -

4.  But, the Scots always have next year.  (Yes, I'm also a Cubs fan.)

5.  Sam J - Props for braving the snow storm to attend this MWC classic.

6.  LU/CC sounds like the SECOND best game of the year.  Right JeffP?

7.  Did I actually read a post about the Clarke game on this board?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

7.  Did I actually read a post about the Clarke game on this board?

I was wondering when this was going to get picked up.  I think the posts were flying too fast for that guy, who clicked the MWC board instead of the NIIC board.  However, Clarke did have a big win last night and kept hopes alive for a Pool B bid to the tournament, so they do deserve a mention, but probably not here.

[dahammer]

I was able to get into the jam packed gym at Carroll last night. What a game too bad anyone would have to lose.  Both teams showed that they are at the top of D3.  CC has no reason to be depressed. If LU is the #2 team in the country and had to win on a fluke play (give the LU kid credit though for making the pass) when no one from CC was at the top of their game offensively.  Also Drury and Scheper both had 2 fouls in the first 7 minutes and basically sat the rest of the 1st half. MacGillis fouls hurt LU early also.  CC had a chance to really pull ahead in second half but  couldn't connect from 3 point land on some open looks.  Then the last 10 minutes became a defensive battle. Highly questionable call with 3.4 (that only the ref Koester saw that way) left that gave the ball back out to LU under their basket and lead to game winner.  Still a great game, atmoshere and a game that they will be talking about for awhile. Both teams have a lot to be proud of and CC has no reason the hang their heads.