MBB: Midwest Conference

[Just Bill]

Yeah, Grinnell's and the NATION'S top scorer as well. Taylor will be missed sorely, but some others found out they DO know how to step up. I'm just not ready to write the obit quite yet.

I dunno folks....Am I the only one who thinks this "injury" might just be another gimmick to make sure that Taylor preserves this status as the nation's top scorer through the end of the year?  Granted, he's had success against the next two opponents (IC and RC).  But I really don't think the staff wants to take a chance on Taylor getting completely shut down again by the Good Guys next week and dropping his average down to a point where he could actually finish the season .... gasp .... without the scoring title.  I'm calling this a three-game vacation with statistical advantages.   

That won't work. You have to appear in 75 percent of your team's games to qualify for the national statistical leaders. Taylor has played in 12 games, so assuming he is done for the year, his name will be removed from the national leaders once Grinnell plays their 17th game of the season.

[ExBBaller40]

Here is my weekend analysis blog post featuring Beloit-Cornell and Lawrence-Grinnell, and games from the WIAC and NathCon http://diiihoopsblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/weekend-analysis-6-sorry-it-took-so-long.html

Good analysis of the GC/LU game. One comment: the loss of Taylor is definitely a blow to GC - but this team has one of the deepest scoring benches I've seen in many years of watching the team. A friend and I counted up 5 players that could *each* easily top 15-20 points a game. Add in Lentsch, who has had some phenomenal seasons in the past few years, and I still think GC is very viable for the tournament. It will just take a slightly different path.

Good luck tonight against IC, which handed GC a home court defeat a few weeks back. Should be an interesting game!

Yes, but is a deep bench greater than D-III's leading scorer*?

Whatever people think about the 7000 point game earlier this year, the kid can downright play... and he'll definitely be missed.

I have to agree with you John...I'm not saying that Grinnell doesn't have scorers. They do, but the way that Taylor was filling it up in the No. 1 scorers role won't be copied by Lentsch or anyone else on the team.

Just look at the box score. They only scored 90 points (which could've been just a pace thing, but I think it's more) and Lentsch was the top scorer at 15. These are well below the season averages for team and top scorer, which I think is indicative of how important Taylor was to the team.

Not to mention have to shift lines after having already gained a chemistry with the line that you are on. I just think it's a bit much to overcome and at the wrong time to try and overcome it.

[jeffdc]

Here is my weekend analysis blog post featuring Beloit-Cornell and Lawrence-Grinnell, and games from the WIAC and NathCon http://diiihoopsblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/weekend-analysis-6-sorry-it-took-so-long.html

Good analysis of the GC/LU game. One comment: the loss of Taylor is definitely a blow to GC - but this team has one of the deepest scoring benches I've seen in many years of watching the team. A friend and I counted up 5 players that could *each* easily top 15-20 points a game. Add in Lentsch, who has had some phenomenal seasons in the past few years, and I still think GC is very viable for the tournament. It will just take a slightly different path.

Good luck tonight against IC, which handed GC a home court defeat a few weeks back. Should be an interesting game!

Yes, but is a deep bench greater than D-III's leading scorer*?

Whatever people think about the 7000 point game earlier this year, the kid can downright play... and he'll definitely be missed.

I have to agree with you John...I'm not saying that Grinnell doesn't have scorers. They do, but the way that Taylor was filling it up in the No. 1 scorers role won't be copied by Lentsch or anyone else on the team.

Just look at the box score. They only scored 90 points (which could've been just a pace thing, but I think it's more) and Lentsch was the top scorer at 15. These are well below the season averages for team and top scorer, which I think is indicative of how important Taylor was to the team.

Not to mention have to shift lines after having already gained a chemistry with the line that you are on. I just think it's a bit much to overcome and at the wrong time to try and overcome it.

Perhaps. We'll know a lot more after the next couple of games.

[jeffdc]

Nice win by GC over IC last night. Yeager was top scorer with 24 pts, but solid contributions from Levin, Lentsch, and Zachary. Yep folks, count 'em, that's 4 solid scorers. Plus Lentsch hit his 1500 career point last night.

Ripon's next.

[Greek Tragedy]

Lake Forest goes to Waukesha and upends Carroll 74-53.

Norbs keeps pace by taking care of surprising Beloit 66-56.

Ripon smokes Lawrence at The Alex 83-58

Cornell takes care of Monmouth 92-78

Grinnell 106 IC 102

[jeffp]

Nice to get one back from IC. Worrell always has a great plan to combat the system, he just doesn't always have the horses to pull it off. To do this at IC without Taylor speaks to just how sub par Grinnell's performance was during the first meeting at home.

Also important to note that almost all of last years contending team is back and healthy. Last years team got hit by injury as well; we could have seen a conference championship from that group. Taylor made a big difference, but having the most important folks back from last year should give some pause to those thinkin' that GC is gonna disappear from contention.

One last thought; GC needs to have at least 3 guys performing well and the rest hangin' in to make the system work. When everyone is off - like the 1st IC game - it ain't gonna happen for 'em. The timing of those "off" games then becomes all important for not only a chance at the conference crown, but for a deeper foray into the DIII tourney if they do manage to win the conference.

[jeffdc]

Jeffp - the IC game was still amazingly close at the end. This GC team really likes to make us old codgers push into heart attack territory.

Apart from the shooters, solid work by the ball handlers - Yeager, Maher in particular.

[ExBBaller40]

Anybody else really surprised at Lake Forest not just winning but blowing out Carroll in Carroll last night? Props to Jeff Beck for going off as well.

The Wisconsin Pioneers have seemingly been playing what I think is inconsistent basketball. Sometimes they look like the best team in conference and other times they look to be middle of the pack.

This is the time of year you need to start playing your best basketball and I don't know if they are.

[ExBBaller40]

Here is my midweek blog with stuff from the MWC, WIAC and NathCon http://diiihoopsblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/midweek-blog-8-its-wild-its-wacky-its.html

[scottie]

.......One last thought; GC needs to have at least 3 guys performing well and the rest hangin' in refs zonin' out to make the system work. When everyone is off - like the 1st IC game - it ain't gonna happen for 'em. The timing of those "off" games then becomes all important for not only a chance at the conference crown, but for a deeper foray into the DIII tourney if they do manage to win the conference.

[scottie]

Anybody else really surprised at Lake Forest not just winning but blowing out Carroll in Carroll last night? Props to Jeff Beck for going off as well.

The Wisconsin Pioneers have seemingly been playing what I think is inconsistent basketball. Sometimes they look like the best team in conference and other times they look to be middle of the pack.

This is the time of year you need to start playing your best basketball and I don't know if they are.

I believe this is officially called the "Monmouth Beatdown Bounceback."  Beck held to 8 points by the Good Guys. 

S T I L L   M A T H E M A T I C A L L Y   A L I V E   I N   2 0 1 3 ! ! !

[jeffp]

Now now, Sly...er. Scottie. Let's keep it real. Can't always be blamin' the stripes for GC's winnin' ways. Tell your Alma in to hire faster, younger oafs if you really think that is the difference. You've never seen a game in our house, but I HAVE seen several games in YOUR house. YOU (sic) hire the suckers when we play there, so instead of griping about GC, scream at your AD!

I know it (oafin') can't really be that big a deal because:
#1. GC almost always gets called for a ton more fouls than opponents. Make yer freakin' fts!
#2. We always feel like WE are getting the short end of the stick. If everyone is complaining, they are probably doin something right.

And when did Jeff Beck move from GB and give up Guitar to play for Lake?!??

[Greek Tragedy]

Never too early for Pool C talk!   

I think Grinnell is already in bad shape.  They are currently 11-3, but only 10-2 in the NCAA's eyes with two games not in-region.  Another thing against Grinnell is that they only play 22 games.  The MWC is already at a disadvantage as it seems they are limited to just 23, so losing a game and then playing two games the NCAA doesn't count really hurts Grinnell.  Another thing that kills Grinnell is that their SOS is horrible, sitting at about 213 right now.  They don't have too many chances to raise that either.  They only play St. Norbert again as they only play Carroll once (a loss).  Sure, they could end the season, say, 21-3, but they would have to beat St. Norbert again, and possibly in the MWC tourney and then lose in the final.  That would help a lot. 

Though with the same record, St. Norbert is in better shape.  All of their non-conference games are in-region.  In addition, their SOS is much stronger, coming in at 62.  Unlike Grinnell, St. Nobert will have played some potential regionally ranked opponents in Augustana and Whitewater.  That helps in the decision-making process come March.  They are 1-1 in those games and also play Whitewater again.  Even if they go 1-2 against Augustana and Whitewater, that record against regionally ranked opponents is better than going 0-0.  I think Grinnell's saving grace would be for St. Norbert to be regionally -ranked and have a good record against them, 1-0 so far.  There might be a possibility that Carroll could also be regionally ranked, and St. Norb's plays Grinnell and Carroll again. 

Carroll's loss to Lake Forest really hurt.  They have another loss now and their SOS is 89.  Carroll has played two teams that could be regionally ranked.  They lost to North Central and beat Rose-Hulman.  However, they did lose to St. Norbert and beat Grinnell.  They do have one more shot at St. Norbert.  Of course, St. Norbert could also be regionally ranked. 

The first regional rankings are a long way off, so no need to worry just yet!

[Titan Q]

I think Grinnell is already in bad shape.  They are currently 11-3, but only 10-2 in the NCAA's eyes with two games not in-region. 

As far as the selection process goes, a 10-2 (.833) in-region record is better than 11-3 (.786).

[jeffp]

Prediction: The MWC will NOT get a pool C bid. Period.