MBB: Midwest Conference

[ExBBaller40]

A special blog post as I break down for the first time the Pool C chances of St. Norbert (and the Three WIAC teams) who is regionally ranked http://diiihoopsblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/blog-special-pool-c-chances.html

Also check out my midweek blog as well http://diiihoopsblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/midweek-blog-11-catching-up.html

[jeffdc]

My gut (such that it is) is having a reasonably good feeling about GC vs SNC, seeing as how: a) it's at home; b) the Scarlet Sea; c) it's at home; d) an eetsy weensy little SNC loss AT HOME against GC.

Should be fun!

[scottie]

Anybody else not a fan of the new color scheme?  My rods and cones are all screwed up! 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

As a red/green color deficient person... I don't mind the look at all!

[Pat Coleman]

Anybody else not a fan of the new color scheme?  My rods and cones are all screwed up!

It should still be the same colors -- still blue and a lighter blue.

[jeffp]

Yup, lighter blue. Not sure that St Norby is seeing lighter blue though.  My guess is VERY Blue and a little black thrown in for good measure.
And yup, I did attend this game and it is my first and only game of the season live and in person.
And again, yup. Grinnell 104 - Norbs 99 in O(my god)T.
A few reflections:
St Norbert will be the team to beat over the next 3 years. They are very good, quite deep, and just barely outta diapers young. GC almost looks grizzled in comparison.
Grinnell is deeper than a Cormac McCarthy novel - more so than they appear on the webcast. They are very disciplined, and their top 8 is as good as anybody in the conference. The difference maker is the time given by the next 5 or so players. There just isn't much drop off, especially on the defensive end. I'm sure some of you watched and assumed that Norbs slowed it down in the 2nd half. Your assumption would be wrong. GC played a controlled 4 corner for a lot of the 2nd half and at times it looked like it was gonna cost 'em the game.
Most impressive to me? GC couldn't hit the broad side of a battleship most of the game.  St N was just that tough on defense, and the long ball was just that much off. Until it was needed, that is. Man, these kids hit some clutch shots to pull back up at the end of the 2nd half and throughout the OT.
I know that Norbs lost a biggy last week and that might have changed the way some folks think about the overall talent they have. Well, let me tell ya, they are GOOD, but they are also young.
Grinnell is as balanced - without Taylor - as any team I've ever seen here. Team leadership seems to reside with whichever senior has the ball at any given time. Is it the best class ever at GC? Ida know. The class of 2004 was pretty damned good, had an incredible go to guy and SOMEONE was always lights out behind the arc. But there were only 5 of 'em. Ida know how you weigh that against this class. No standouts, no brutes, no flash anywhere, just damn consistent ball players.
The Daves aren't gonna have BIG shoes to fill, but they are gonna have a lot of 'em. I hope the new incomings are strong.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself, but may not be able to attend another game until medicare kicks in. 

Oh, and one last thought? I'm happy to report that MWC conference officiating hasn't improved one iota in my absence. 

[Pat Coleman]

Was it a five-minute overtime?

[jeffp]

Yup

[OBC]

Great fans game at Darby Gym. Grinnell perfect shooting in OT.

I can't believe Schwoerer for St. Norbert was "only" 11-21 from the field. It looked to me like he hit everything. I never saw so many 15 foot short corner jumpers go in. And then he nails 2 consecutive 3s at the end.

Yeager and Lentsch, clutch for Grinnell. But the play of the game belonged to GC's Dominique Bellamy. With Grinnell leading 102-98 and St.N inbounding the ball, he lulled the offense to sleep as they tried to get the ball up the floor with no time running off the clock. Bellamy timed his move perfectly and struck like a cobra. He stole the inbounds pass, took two dribbles and slammed home the exclamation point with 5 seconds left.

A very good W for the Pioneers, as the Green Knights are the best team I've seen this year.

[OBC]

One more thing. OK, two more.

1. Marques Valdez is tough, fearless, rebounds bigger than he stands and must lead the team in floor burns. I like him on the defensive end with the game on the line.

2. Nice post Jeffp; good to see you back at Darby.

[jeffp]

Fun to be back, OBC!

And yeah, did you notice that those two treys (I think) were the only ones St Norbert took all night? Yikes!

Absolutely correct about Bellamy. I think the game was (finally) over at that point, but that was so impressive. I think Grzesk shrunk about 6 inches after that play. Norbert never laid down, though.

[jeffdc]

geez. I guess I have nothing to add after OBC and jeffp. Let us just say I was glad I left Baconfest to catch this game...

[jeffp]

for those of you in wonderment, Baconfest is a yearly (for what, 5 or 6 years?) bacon extravaganza in Des Moines. It sells out within seconds every year, and features....you got it, Bacon. Bacon, bacon on a stick, bacon pancakes, bacon salad, bacon ice cream, bacon streudel, bacon condoms. And dc almost blew off a really fine game ba-cause of bacon.

And don't let dc fool you. He didn't just LEAVE Baconfest, jeffdc had consumed so much bacon that Security singled him out and he was forced to leave. He had bacon coming out his ears, stuck in his pockets, braided into his moustache, down the front of his shirt...or maybe that was bacon vom...um...debris, who knows. Anyway, it was fun to catch up with dc and to see obc under the second half bucket.

Is there anybody else out there?........No?..........well then, from dc.obc and jp, nighty nite!

(Psst! Everybody knows that dc,obc, and jp are the same person, right?

[diehardfan]

OMG, it's a jeffp sighting! Hiiiiiii 

[jeffp]

Well, ding dang, Diehardfan! You're up early...or were out late, one or the other! Howzit?