MBB: Midwest Conference

[Titan Q]

The most impressive thing about the game was Taylor's stamina. The kid was in the game 36 minutes - not unusual for a 'normal' team, but abnormal for Grinnell. Tossing up 108 shots in *any* game is impressive. Sinking 3 pointers while being double and triple teamed in the final quarter - and being obviously bushed - amazing. Simply amazing.

Per the video, generally the only time he crosses halfcourt is to receive an in-bounds pass after a Faith basket.  How much stamina do you need for 36 minutes of cherry-picking?

[ecrugger]

If I was the Faith coach, I would have pulled a Jimmy Patsos and completely double-teamed Taylor, once I recognized what was happening.  If you remember a few years ago, Patsos had two of his Loyola players completely drape Steph Curry to prevent him from getting the ball.  Loyola got blown out playing 3 on 4, but Patsos held Curry scoreless.

[Titan Q]

Great post Larry.  whey your team is up by 40 at the half, its time to put the breaks on.  Instead they went out to embarrass an overmatched opponent in hopes of gaining national attention.

Looked to me like they're just having fun playing basketball.  The point of the game is to put the ball in the hoop--period.  Faith Baptist certainly knew about the system when they scheduled this game.  It's not like Grinnell rolled out a new secret weapon; this is what they DO and have done for years.  It really doesn't make a lot of sense to me why anyone would complain about  or criticize this.

1. Grinnell changed their system (substitution patterns, minutes played) specifically to break this individual record -- just like they did with Lentsch last year.  The "hey, this is just how Grinnell plays" argument does not work for me.

2. They ran the score up on a terrible opponent while doing so.  Just watch the last 5 minutes -- a kid hanging out on the offensive end of the floor so he can keep chucking up shots, while his team is up 60.

[onetinsoldier]

Great post Larry.  whey your team is up by 40 at the half, its time to put the breaks on.  Instead they went out to embarrass an overmatched opponent in hopes of gaining national attention.

Looked to me like they're just having fun playing basketball.  The point of the game is to put the ball in the hoop--period.  Faith Baptist certainly knew about the system when they scheduled this game.  It's not like Grinnell rolled out a new secret weapon; this is what they DO and have done for years.  It really doesn't make a lot of sense to me why anyone would complain about  or criticize this.

They were not having fun playing "basketball."  they were having fun playing some sort of shootaround against a clearly overmatched opponent.  I would also disagree that the point of the game is to put the ball in the hoop.  the point of the game is to score more points than your opponent. 

[jeffp]

hmmmm. I think Grinnell met BOTH criteria...

[scottie]

My guess is that Faith Baptist Bible Theological Seminary - let's call it like it is - probably played this game one-man-down.  Normally, they likely have an "enforcer" who probably would have hip-checked the chucker into the third row a few times and slowed down the circus.  But the enforcer was unable to suit up last night due to a bible study that couldn't be rescheduled.  Once the Grinnell staff realized this, and only then, they came up with a last-minute scheme to gimic it up and kick the team while they were down for some very minimal personal glory.  And, of course, they apologized and quickly inked a home-and-home contract after the game. 

Yeah, that's the ticket. 

(Bottom line:  They picked the worst possible opponent for an opportunity at crowning glory.  My guess is that they don't have mirrors in the Pioneer locker room so they players and coaches don't have to look at themselves after the game.)

[Greek Tragedy]

Off topic here, what was the reasoning for the conference to get rid of the Friday/Saturday  game schedule?

[larry_u]

BTW, Mr _u, I havent been on the board for years - except for one post last year. Get it straight, Pal! aaaahahahaha!

I've been here plenty long enough to know that you wouldn't kick Nordgren or Wood out of your house if they crapped on your kitchen floor.  No need to pull the wool over my eyes.  Assuming Taylor now gets in on the free Roopachino for life program that Big and Little A allready are enrolled in?


It does amaze me how defensive the GC backers get about this.  I think you are all blinded by the attention your little Iowa hamlet gets. 

[larry_u]

Off topic here, what was the reasoning for the conference to get rid of the Friday/Saturday  game schedule?

I would assume when Cornell was added into the schedule that it was going to screw up the road trip rotation of southern teams to northern and vice versa.  Now all teams take the long trips for Saturday games, and have the "local" games on Wednesday night.  LU doesn't play a team further away then Carroll on a "school night" this season.  Has to assume with the added southern team the MWC insisted on limiting missed class time, hense necessitating the schedule change.

[jeffp]

Faith keeps coming back; they know what Grinnell does and still they keep coming back. Turning the other cheek, or just happy to schedule a game?
One point I'd like to make; after time the MWC coaches have figured the system out. They - as well as most fans - know exactly what they have to do to stop it. It still boils down to the same thing; the best team...the best coached team...on any given night will always win.

Scottie, have a GREAT Thanksgiving and may Monmouth run the table...'cept for GC of course!

Mr _u - That's Nordlund; Big A doesn't drink coffee here; Jr. likes an occasional mocha; we haven't served a Roopaccinno in years; and have a nice Thanksgiving!

[fightingscots13]

Off topic here, what was the reasoning for the conference to get rid of the Friday/Saturday  game schedule?

I would assume when Cornell was added into the schedule that it was going to screw up the road trip rotation of southern teams to northern and vice versa.  Now all teams take the long trips for Saturday games, and have the "local" games on Wednesday night.  LU doesn't play a team further away then Carroll on a "school night" this season.  Has to assume with the added southern team the MWC insisted on limiting missed class time, hense necessitating the schedule change.

I don't know the exact reason, either, but it sure does put some extra miles on the college vehicles for MC to have to make separate trips to Ripon, Carroll and St. Norbert.  Maybe the MWC put extra cash in each team's travel budget??

[sigma one]

I've been interested, mildly, in the Grinnell "system" for a long time.  This was not a "system" win.  This is an embarrassment to the college and the program.  I've read the Grinnell supporters on here.  One word--stop.   Even you should be able to see that what happened last night was no positive for the college.  Blame the coach--what the h . . . are you thinking?  Could you possibly have thought in advance, while you were devising your "strategy," that this would enhance you and your program, and your college.  The player gets a pass from me; he was doing what the coach told him to do.  But how can such behavior possibly be educational for anyone on the team?  Oh, and you just made a joke of a noble game by devising a game plan that encouraged, demanded(?) that a player do what he did. And all the while, making other players on the team cooperate.  The box shows that the second-most number of shots by a player was 6!
     Where, Grinnell, is your administration?  Supportive of this kind of behavior?   

[badgerwarhawk]

I loved the comment by the announcer who states, "the Grinnell coaches call time out because they are unhappy with the recent defense being played."

Not only should Grinnell be embarrassed by the way they ran up the score against this cupcake they should be more embarrassed that they let that team score over 100 against them. 

[dahlby]

The KTLA Channel 5 Morning Show in Southern California ran a not to positive feature, with film, on the Grinnell game this morning. Yes, national coverage. Embarrassing a weaker opponent, IMHO, is not part of the D3 sports philosophy. What a shame that the Griinnell coach didn't instruct his team to just run the shot clock down.

[John Gleich]

Great post Larry.  whey your team is up by 40 at the half, its time to put the breaks on.  Instead they went out to embarrass an overmatched opponent in hopes of gaining national attention.

Looked to me like they're just having fun playing basketball.  The point of the game is to put the ball in the hoop--period.  Faith Baptist certainly knew about the system when they scheduled this game.  It's not like Grinnell rolled out a new secret weapon; this is what they DO and have done for years.  It really doesn't make a lot of sense to me why anyone would complain about  or criticize this.

Is embarrassing an opponent while playing a starter throughout the whole game fun? Check out the box scores of these other games...

North Central 73 IIT 20  Box

Hope 118 College of Faith 20  Box

UW Platteville 105 IIT 20  Box

UW Platteville 88 Emmaus Bible 35  Box


These are all massive blowouts, played by a greatly superior team and a severely under matched team. You'll notice that in only one (UWP vs. Emmaus Bible) did a starter play more than 20 minutes.

Grinnell's system, as TitanQ has mentioned, regularly rotates all 5 players in and out of the game, and rarely does a player play more than 20 minutes.

Grinnell has modified the system for certain of these "Record" games.