MBB: Midwest Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

Live courtside at Alexander (note...not in the stands)...

Crowd starting to file in for game one...

First fans in...IWU fans with tix for both games. 

We could've cut in line if we had tickets for both games?  DAMN IT!

[Greek Tragedy]

Personally, I thought the refs were horrible...for both teams. In the end, the bad calls evened out and I don't think the refs played any part in the outcome of the game.  More later when I have time.

congrats to LU on a great season.

[The Roop]

At the risk of creating a media circus tonight I did not identify myself as "The Roop" to anyone. Even though Beloits staff sat with me after half time. So yes coaches, you may now tell Americas Team that you've made first contact with the NRO.

Had to laugh at Cecil though, he couldn't leave the refs alone. 

[Pat Coleman]

Pat:

Since LU couldn't be on the front page for more than 2 hours when we were undefeated, I think its time to get the "ousted" stuff off the front page.  For example, you could have "Augie blasted" too.

I know you respect my opinion. 

You were on the front page several different times during the undefeated run, totalling much more than two hours.

[Homj42]

For starters, I would not blame the officials for LU losing.  I thought IW was a more talented team.  The officials were consistent, with the exception of the young guy.  He needs to go back to Grade School.  One of the worst college officials I have ever seen.  Now to my point.

If you think the type of game officials call does not affect the outcome of a game, you do not know Basketball.  Ask any Coach.  Excuse me, any GOOD Coach.

IW is a physical, athletic team.  LU is more of a finesse team, with a few minor exceptions.  Officials that call tight would have given LU the advantage,  Officials that don't use their whistles give IW the advantage.  It does not take a genius to figure that out.

Saturday night IW had 26 personal fouls, friday they had 15.  Play the game with saturdays officials and LU still shooting 13-26 from 3.  ? 

[The Roop]

Lawrence had 9 threes in the first half, so to finish with 13 for the game means they didn't shoot as well in the second half. Not all of that was IWU defense. Some of it was LU firing up a shot because they were open. You simply can't do that and have any success.

Do I think Lawrence lost the game, no. IWU won the game. I'm not sure officiating had anything to do with it.

[The Roop]

I'm still waiting for the first MWC team in the Final Four but I think that will change very soon. "Reputations" have no bearing on who is selected to make the field of 59, but they do influence how teams are seeded; whether the NCAA will admit it or not.

The MWC rep(s) is no longer considered a bye for seeding purposes and I'm glad to see it. Gotta keep in mind, Carroll gave IWU all they wanted in the first round and people remember that. I'm sorry LU didn't advance but the conference gained much much respect.

For those of you that did not see Puget Sound last night, they reminded me a lot of Carroll minus a Scheper type of player.

[titan2000]

Good comment, Roop.  Carroll and UPS had a lot of similarities.  Except Carroll is a girl's name. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Good comment, Roop.  Carroll and UPS had a lot of similarities.  Except Carroll is a girl's name. 

titan2K,

That line is getting awfully stale - especially since it is clearly false.  Carol or Carole are girl's names; Carroll has always been a boy's name (e.g., Carroll O'Connor).

And what's up with UPS - they deliver packages, not education!

[Maverick]

Hey, Scottie! You got finally got the top story coverage from d3hoops for Larry and the MWC that you have wanted! Cool, huh?

Yeah it sure looks like he finally did get that coverage jeff!  And I'm sure whoever was putting "Lawrence ousted" there on the front page was simply loving it.   Also jeff, I walked past a Starbucks on Saturday afternoon and thought of you.

[diehardfan]

Also jeff, I walked past a Starbucks on Saturday afternoon and thought of you.

I too, very frequently see starbucks and think of our beloved Jeff P. Though I doubt he would enjoy people thinking of him due to such thoughts.   

[mnelson]

Do I think Lawrence lost the game, no. IWU won the game. I'm not sure officiating had anything to do with it.

Were you watching the same game I was? I will admit Lawrence's 70% + shooting in the first half was worrisome -- often teams will not know how to get easy baskets on the offensive end after their shots inevitably stop falling. However, considering IWU has been acknowledged as the more physical team, I cannot understand how they took 20 FTs compared to 7 for LU. You would think, even in a game where the officials let the players play, the more physical team would invariably foul more than the 'finesse' team. Not to mention the blatantly terrible calls on crucial possessions down the stretch: IWU knocking either Bradley or Kroeger into the Lawrence fans and being called for a turnover, Braier twice getting a look down low only to be pushed in the back, Kroeger being grabbed by the jersey any time he tried to cross the lane, Hurley getting a foul call for BOXING OUT -- of course the officiating factored into this game.

I will say I would expect a team as good as (I thought) LU was to weather bad officiating, but aside from two three-pointers by IWU, the officials really let this game get out of hand. I'll give IWU credit, they hit the free throws the officials awarded them. I was just hoping that a Lawrence loss would make me feel we lost to a better team. I didn't feel that way on Friday.

I'll take some heat for this whiney-sounding post, but would welcome anyone who disagrees with me to tell me what they saw differently.

[Titan Q]

Do I think Lawrence lost the game, no. IWU won the game. I'm not sure officiating had anything to do with it.

Were you watching the same game I was? I will admit Lawrence's 70% + shooting in the first half was worrisome -- often teams will not know how to get easy baskets on the offensive end after their shots inevitably stop falling. However, considering IWU has been acknowledged as the more physical team, I cannot understand how they took 20 FTs compared to 7 for LU.

Lawrence shot 9-27 in the 2nd half.  Of the 18 missed FG's, 13 (72%) are listed as "Jumper" or "3 PTR" on the running play-by-play.  You don't get to the FT line shooting from the perimeter.

http://www.lawrence.edu/athletics/mbasketball/stats0506/ncaa3.htm

While the play-by-play doesn't say where on the floor the fouls are commited, we know that 16 of IWU's 20 FT attempts were from it's 4/5 positions...

Zach Freeman: 7/8 FT's
Cory Jones: 4-6 FT's
Chris Jones: 2-2 FT's

Anyone at the game knows that IWU was the team that pounded the ball inside from start to finish.  Lawrence lived by the perimeter in the 1st half (9-13 3-pt), and died by the perimeter in the 2nd (4-13 3-pt). 

[hjmphelp]

Maverick-
Key words in your post:

"I walked PAST a Starbucks..."

Bless you for that!

DHF-take note above!

[Greek Tragedy]

Saturday night IW had 26 personal fouls, friday they had 15.  Play the game with saturdays officials and LU still shooting 13-26 from 3.  ? 

Did you see Friday's first game with UPS?  Did you see Saturday's game?  UPS and Lawrence are complete opposites.  You can't compare the two games, officials or stats.  Seriously.

Dauksas had THREE fouls, all fast break charging calls.  The style of the two games were 180% apart.

I totally agree with Titan Q.  LU rarely went inside against the bigger IWU players.  They shot a lot of jumpers and 3-pters.  They rarely "drove" to the lane. 

Titan Q-

Nice to see BOTH Jones foul out on Saturday (I think)! lol.