MBB: Midwest Conference

[titan2000]

Hey Jeff P:

Every day I drive into Appleton from Stockbridge and I stop at the Starbucks on KK and 441.  I think their coffee is ok but they are always trying to sell the NY Times which shows they are likely communists.  Then in addition to that, they are pitching scones at you.  And a reusable cup, which would save the environment that so loudly say we need to save, costs $19.  WTF.

Do you treat your customers like that? 

[jeffdc]

GC 136 - Cornell 112

Tight well fought game. Cornell mounted a strong game, with frequent line changes. GC struggled with the 3 pointers but was deadly on turnovers. I can't remember a game recently with as many steals and double-dribbles/traveling calls. Ticus made a hilarious under-the-basket steal in the 2nd half, befuddling the Cornell player. C never gave up.

A blast to watch!

[The Roop]

Previously I stated that the MWC teams in the MWC/LMC Challenge needed to win by 15 points a game each time out in order to be considered contenders in the conference this year. Ripon did not get the job done as they lost 78-70 to Marian. Beloit on the other hand did get the job done in making short work of Maranatha 94-54.

In the early game Ripon raced out to a quick 6-0 lead and my blow out prediction was on it's way to becoming reality. However, the next time I looked at the scoreboard it was Marian 21 Ripon 8. Ripon started the second half with a 10-0 run to make it 46-42 but could never pull even. They came as close as two but never closer. They have talent, that's obvious, but they didn't really play well as a team and gave up way too many open 3s. Lots of fouls on both sides for a game that was not particularly physical.

The Bucs sealed the deal early in the second game as they had a 51-23 halftime lead. This came with Hinz on the bench for the last 12 minutes of the half with foul trouble. They got sloppy a few times in the second half or they would have easily hung 110+ on the board. The new recruits are for real and their bench is good enough that Maranatha never got a break. I did like seeing them press after they got a big lead. It was very WIAC-like.

Towns will definitely light it up from beyond the arc this year now that he doesn't have to handle the ball all the time.

[d3bbfan]

Thanks for the report Roop. What a great stat line for Towns. 23 pts...4-6 from 3's...7 assists and no TO's. And even though Hinz played only 19 min he still had 15 pys and 8 rebounds. It sure was fun watching them get out and run the floor. The freshman pt grd Dowden is very, very good. And with Skelton as the back up pt. they look really solid at the grd spots. Fiek had a great game as well. He's going to be a tough match up for guards in the league. Hendry also played well...and man is he fast and can really jump. If he could just make his layups he'll be really tough to guard.The 2 freshman bigs played well also. Tubbs is really tough inside...a good rebounder. Horton did some good things too....it just looks like he needs to get a little tougher....he was getting balls ripped out of his handsa after getting a good rebound. He's a really good outside shooter.....Good luck tomorrow. Marian played very tough against Ripon. They just seemed to want it more than Ripon did. They are a pretty good team.

[Dolph Stanley]

1)  Marantha was really bad

2)  Beloit will clearly be looking to run more this year.  They have the speed and depth to do so but will need to hit the defensive boards hard (tonight was not an inidication of whether or not they can do so, refer to point #1)

3)  For all the talk about the two big freshman moving Hintz to more of a perimiter position, the same frontcourt as last year started with Hintz playing the same position.

4)  Horton, one of the new post players looked very solid on the offensive end (again, refer to point #1) Tubbs, the other looked raw, a step slow and foul prone however, it was his first college game so look for improvement.

5)  Dowden brings better pure point guard play than the Bucs have had in recent years

Really tough to get much of a read on this team from tonights game (tomorrow against Marian should tell some more) but it should be an improvement over last year.  Depth may still be a question at some positions as Skelton looks like a solid backup at PG but Bystead had an awful night when the game was still being contested and there don't appear to be many other options in the backcourt. 

[The Roop]

While I doubt that Maranatha will be in Pool C contention should they not get a Pool A this year, beating anybody by 40 is still a good sign. I was expecting a bit more from Tubbs but I think he got in the game much sooner than planned due to Hinzs foul situation. He's certainly not a liability out there that's for sure. He'll own the boards with a few games under his belt.

[Dolph Stanley]

"While I doubt that Maranatha will be in Pool C contention should they not get a Pool A this year, beating anybody by 40 is still a good sign."

Any team that Maranatha beats this season should be demoted on the spot to Roop's D4 bracket.  A 40 point win is a positive but a quick look at Beloit schedule reveals almost no opponent aftet tonight who would not also beat Maranatha by about 40.   

[hjmphelp]

Haven't been able to find a box on the GC vs CC game last night, so I guess we can still keep some of the details secret, eh, dc?
Several comments:
1.This is not your fathers "system"...not your brothers, sisters, mothers, cousins, or best friends either. Look out for a topsy turvy, crazy mixed-up, react to whatever the opponent throws at you kind of team this year.
2. With out the box to help, I'm still guessing they hit a good % of the treys, especially in the 2nd half.
3.Quick. very, very quick.
4. When you do finally see the box, don't believe a word/number of it. It won't be the same next game. Or the next either.
5. Not the most talented team at Grinnell...yet, but they will be the most confounding to deal with.

Its gonna be a fun year.

[systemfan86]

Still no box score on the Grinnell Web site, but they did mention that FRESHMAN John Grotberg had 36 points and FRESHMEN Bobby Long and David Arseneault added 17 and 16 points. If my Grinnell Math BA doesn't fail me 69 points from 3 freshmen. Wow. Haven't seen what the other youngsters did, but if you add sophomore Mike Schmidt's 16, we're up to 85 points from the kiddie corp.

I know the standard response is take all Pioneer scoring numbers with a big grain of salt, but 36 points from a freshman in their first college game is still quite an accomplishment.

You're right jeffp, it does sound like a fun year!

I might have to make that trip in January after all!

[Dolph Stanley]

Tough loss for Ripon last night to a very scrappy Marian club.  The game had a lot of "clutch and grab" defense off the ball and never seemed to get in to much of a rythm.

McMullen and Johnson were a combined 1-21 from the field which is something I don't think will happen very often (if ever again).

Ripon did show signs that they can be a very solid club this season. 

[hjmphelp]

AM-
the thing is, you gotta look beyond the numbers (since we really don't have any, anyway) to see how these three open up the prospects for the guys they play with. This team will be so balanced by the time they hit the conference...They have gone from being somewhat disfunctional at the point position to being, well, talented there should we say?

I dare anyone to concentrate on one of 'em or even all 3 of 'em. Even the 36 point guy does WAY WAY MORE than score. That was a very unselfish effort on his part, BTW.

[gobucs]

Wow, nice game bucs!  The bench is much improved over the last couple of years, should only help Towns and Hinz to get a breath!  I was impressed with Horton, showed nice rebounding and ability to score underneath!  Dowden is a true point and quick on D.  Fieck and Hendry also looked sweet, Skelton looked pretty good for only practicing 2 days!  (football)
I know Maranatha is not much of an opponent, but I remember in years past when we struggled with them!
should be a better test tonight, The bucs are hungry and they deserve a great season!
Ripon was full of themselves, great potential but you can't look by anyone!

[scottie]

Good evening ladies, gentlemen, that other girl, etc.

I'm weening my way off the football site now.     Our playoff run came to an ubrupt end thanks to #3 St. Johns.  Maybe next year...

I DO have some basketball news.  Monmouth loses their season opener tonight against DII Central Missouri State University 90-61.  Joe Terwelp led the Scots with 14.  Perhaps I can see MC in person while I digest some leftover turkey sandwiches next weekend. 

Looking forward to another fun season.

Scottie

p.s.  My karma took a big hit thanks to many of the MIAC football posters.  I hope many of my friends on this board will come to my aid.   

[The Roop]

Ripon won 79-61 over Maranatha, but I wasn't impressed enough today to give them a mulligan for yesterday. Despite Maranathas blatant lack of offense they managed to hang around in this one. Ripon finally opened a comfortable lead with about 10 minutes to play but didn't seal the deal until the 5 minute mark.

Beloit was cold in the first half of their game, 41% from the floor to Marians 61%. I didn't stick around for the 2nd half stats but they hung on and won 81-78; despite 12 point leads on several occasions in the second half. Marian nearly tied it on a 75ft at the buzzer that went off the backboard then off the rim. It was close, I have video to prove it. Had Beloit made their free throws down the stretch it wouldn't have been such a nail biter.

In conclusion, Ripon has some issues this year. I think they played better in their loss yesterday than in their win today. Beloit seems to be on the same page as a team, more so than Ripon anyway, but they tend to get one dimensional when the shots aren't falling. Silly fouls also rear their ugly head when that happens.

[gobucs]

A nail biter in Beloit, but the Bucs held on!  Missed free throws kept Marion alive until the end.  Marion is very scrappy and never folded when down by 12 with 6 mins to go.
As far as Ripon goes, I think its obvious how much Becker meant to the team.  He made things happen, even when he wasn't shooting the ball. Ripon  didn't impress me very much.