MBB: Midwest Conference

[fightingscots13]

ok, I lied...but I just saw the RC/GC box - Johnson not starting?  Was it maybe a result of the damage he did to MC's Huff Athletic Center after the Scots won Saturday afternoon?  Or was that a different player, and Johnson's just in the doghouse from his last couple of performances?

[fightingscots13]

...and after looking at the Scots' box score, I'm glad I didn't chip in and watch the webcast.  On paper that looks like one ugly effing game...

Here's hoping the Scots bounce back with a solid performance tomorrow.

[LU_nut]

good night for LU.  3 way tie for first now.  grinnell tomorrow.

Nut

[The Roop]

No way FS13. I can't believe any player from the "angelic" Ripon program would behave so inappropriately. You've gotta be making that story up.

[RiponRed34]

I never made fun of the system or said its not real basketball.  I congratulated Grinnell for their tough victory...what else do you want from a guy that bleeds Ripon basketball.  I even said Grinnell is "fun to watch" and the "system works."  I just wanted to make a note from the times I played against them and from what I've seen today, Grinnell won't win that many games when the officials call a tighter game.  When Grinnell is aloud to trap aggressively...push players in their backs as they are driving in the lane causing charges (something spectators can't see), they are going to win a bunch of games.  It always amazes me when the opposing team has more fouls then Grinnell cause they flat out get away with a lot. 

With that being said, Roop, you are absolutely right, if Ripon shoots better from the line and doesn't turn the ball over as much they may have won the game....not your fault!  I told myself I was going to post what I did either way (win or lose). 

[RiponRed34]

Nice Roop...a couple bad apples and label the entire program....very classy.

[Greek Tragedy]

Grinnell 120, Ripon 118

Interesting comments about the Grinnell/Ripon matchup...as a neutral observer who enjoys watching the circus play against Ripon (probably the MWC team I like the most), I'll have to disagree with some of the comments.

When I first saw Grinnell play (a couple of years ago at The Alex), I thought it was a big cluster#@%!...seriously.  It was horrible and I ripped the program a new you-know-what.  The shooting was horrendous, the pressure defense was basically a hackfest and it seemed like no one had a clue what to do except shoot the first three-point shot.

Times have changed a bit, IMO.  This is the 2nd time I've seen Grinnell play this year, the other being a pasting by Oshkosh.  In all honesty, I thought Grinnell played a pretty good game.  They seemed actually patient with their offense, pressed on defense (but wasn't a hackfest by any stretch) and were cool as the underside of a pillow when it came down to the wire and they needed to make their free-throws. 

Ripon, as mentioned above, had a lot of unforced turnovers that probably cost them the game.  Wow, 26 TOs is not good.  Their free throw shooting was horrible.  I remember when I was at the Oshkosh/Grinnell game, the Oshkosh coach kept yelling, "Take it straight to the basket..." and I think that helped because it cut down on the TOs caused by actually passing the ball when getting near the basket...something I saw numerous times by Ripon...driving to the basket and then dumping it off to an unsuspecting teammate.

Grinnell, as I said, actually had some kind of offensive flow.  They used their big men a lot more that I've seen in the past and actually made an effort to drive the hoop and "settle" for a 2-pointer.  I was impressed with Chamberlain, who seemed to be the last line of defense on those 3 v1 breaks and several  times forced the Ripon players to throw the ball away.

I think the reason why Bo Johnson didn't start and didn't play that much, for that matter, was because of who they were playing.  You needed smaller guys with good ball handling...which is why I don't understand the reasoning for Brian Schmitting to play so much.  Sure, you got him in there for rebounding, but he coughed the ball up 8 times.

I don't think the reffing was really that bad.  There were fouls that should've been called on both sides and phantom calls that were made as well.  I think the "bad" reffing evened itself out, but I wouldn't call it bad.  Those are my thoughts.

[scottie]

FS13: Are you taking your laptop to the Legion these days (nights)?   

I saw three MC alums in downtown Urbana tonight.  It felt like the "Bijou East."

Good luck to the Scots on Saturday...8-8 gets into the MWC playoffs year (7-9 makes the tie-breaker).

"Monmouth basketball in 2007!"   

[Greek Tragedy]

I told myself I was going to post what I did either way (win or lose). 

Something Lawrence fans have a hard time doing (posting)...when they lose. lol 

By the way, should've found me and said hi...unless you were the Ripon student in the pink pants in the student section standing...ouch, those were bad!

Grinnell upsets Ripon

Beloit handles Knox

Lawrence tops Ill. College

Carroll goes down

Norbs gets another win

[RiponRed34]

Old School,

Thanks for the insight....maybe I'm just too bias.

But seriously, I'm not just saying this to belittle Grinnell's program.  I want to know what other players on this board think.  Every game I've played against Grinnell, it is indeed a "hackfest."  Today's game was no different.  It may not be so obvious to the common observer, but trust me when I tell you when you play Grinnell, it's very physical.  You get hit, scratched, pushed etc.  Grinnell's players play hard and aggressive.  The pace is just so up and down, you can't help but be out of position as an official.  I'm really not trying to put anything Grinnell has accomplished down, it's just a very physical game with a lot of slaps that go unnoticed.  Call me sour grapes, but whether Ripon won or lost, this was the first time i was able to watch the system from afar and I have seen nothing that changes my mind.  Again I can't reiterate how classy of a program I think Grinnell is.  The players shake your hand regardless of a win or loss and I can't recall any trash talking inncodent....and I'll never forget coach A picking us Ripon players up when our bus broke down.  Class act all around....but it still doesn't change my mind.

[hjmphelp]

Wow! I wish the oafs had called WAY MORE FOULS on Grinnell!









woulda been a 20 point win instead, huh!

[hjmphelp]

Seriously, this is a great road win-maybe the MWC Upset of the Year to date-for Grinnell. Looks like one of the most solid performances of the year as well. Nice to see Schmidty go 5-7 from treyland especially when several others we count on were cold. Grinnell went over 40 years without a win at Ripon and now we have two in a row!

Thanks to Old School and Mr "the Roop" for the fine defense played out on this board last night. And to RiponRed34 for what I am sure were "difficult-to-say" kind words. Remember when this board was always a "Trash Grinnell"fest? How times have changed...and certainly for the best.
My understanding was that it was just a terrific game all the way around, and if the oafs did get in the way, well...its happened before all over the league (even in non-Grinnell games if you can imagine that!) and will keep happening I'd guess.

Now on to Larry where we haven't won in...well...I don't recall winning there maybe ever! Here's to another great game and hopes that the GC legs hold out for 40 or 45...or 50...or however many minutes it takes!

[systemfan86]

OS,
I think system might have been talking about the cold weather.  But still how long does one really have to be outside?  You drive up, park run inside and you are warm.

If the road contitions are the case, then he should stay down there.  People from Iowa can't drive in the snow (  Got one in there!! ).....but they still aren't as bad as anyone farther south.  1/2 inch and schools are shut down.  Wisconsin, 6 inches..."Ha, we can make it."

Come on now Early/OS , everyone knows that the UP of Michigan, the upper third of Wis/Min, and all of North Dakota are really part of Canada. Just ask 'em, ay? That makes Appleton part of northern Wisconsin (US territory).

It's mostly the cold weather. While I grew up in Iowa, I've been here in SW Ohio for the last 18 years. We're on par with St. Louis weather wise, so while it does get cold occasionally, I've avoided the zero and sub-zero temps for quite some time. As for avoiding the cold in your car, you're not taking the 'waiting for the frozen car to warm up ' experience!

As for the Iowa drivers crack...try coming down here when we get snow - any snow. The natives act like it's the White Death. The stores are stripped of bread and milk, the schools in Ky close on the first flake, and everyone slows down to 20 MPH and still spin out. Now THAT'S a circus! 

[systemfan86]

Seriously, this is a great road win-maybe the MWC Upset of the Year to date-for Grinnell. Looks like one of the most solid performances of the year as well. Nice to see Schmidty go 5-7 from treyland especially when several others we count on were cold. Grinnell went over 40 years without a win at Ripon and now we have two in a row!

Thanks to Old School and Mr "the Roop" for the fine defense played out on this board last night. And to RiponRed34 for what I am sure were "difficult-to-say" kind words. Remember when this board was always a "Trash Grinnell"fest? How times have changed...and certainly for the best.
My understanding was that it was just a terrific game all the way around, and if the oafs did get in the way, well...its happened before all over the league (even in non-Grinnell games if you can imagine that!) and will keep happening I'd guess.

Now on to Larry where we haven't won in...well...I don't recall winning there maybe ever! Here's to another great game and hopes that the GC legs hold out for 40 or 45...or 50...or however many minutes it takes!

A very nice win for GC. I thought they needed to a get a split this weekend to help their chances of making the MWC conference. Check that short term goal off the list. It looks like GC shot the ball well; nearly 40% from 3 goes a long way; 10 for 12 from the line in the second half is nice as well. (BTW, GC had only 6 more FTA than RC, but they made 10 more). I also thought it was interesting that four Ripon players played 30+ minutes; that seems like a lot at the pace. Don't most teams spread out playing time more against GC?

RR34, I had no issues with your comment. It was pretty well made. If I understand it correctly, you were simply pointing out that GC plays a physical, fast paced style, and when that style meets up with oafs...er, refs that aren't willing to work as hard as the players are, there aren't going to be as many calls as fouls. Fair enough.

Heck, you even allowed for your own bias which is pretty stand up. Since we all see the game through our biases, I'm guessing the GC fans would make the same claim you did about missed/phantom calls on GC by RC. I've yet to here a winning team complain about the refs - or if they do, it's pretty quiet.

Man, this thing is wide open! GC is one game back of first place and not in the tournament if it were to start today. Anything could happen, and that should make it fun down the stretch.

[fightingscots13]

Sorry, Scottie...I can't even get any reception on my cell in the Legion, so taking a laptop is definitely out of the question.  What can I say, I was itching to get a score and was home all night. 

Besides, "Third Base," FS13's own bar, was open all night...