MBB: Midwest Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

Nice to finally see some LF representatives.

On a different note.......kind of tough that LU only plays the two last place teams (Knox and IC) once each this year while LF played them twice.

Play everyone twice like most conferences and you won't have that problem.  I'm sure a lot of teams have been saying that about LU the last four years or so..."We had to play LU twice, while [so and so] only had to play them once!"  Even the MIAC, with 11 teams, play each other twice.

[lake forest]

Roop - there is only one thing I have in common with LU...I dislike Ripon very much.  LU is a close second and everyone else is a distant third. 

As far as making it to Darby, I don't think so...I would love to drive 6hrs to watch, but the beauty of the information super highway makes it more conducive to stay home.  Next time maybe...

As far as playing everyone twice.  It is a debate that has gone on forever.  If the conference would extend the amount of games we are allowed,  it would be more of a realistic debate. 

[Greek Tragedy]

As far as playing everyone twice.  It is a debate that has gone on forever.  If the conference would extend the amount of games we are allowed,  it would be more of a realistic debate. 

Poor excuse.  The MIAC has 11 teams, play everyone twice, making it 20 games.  They have 5 nonconference games.

The MWC could play everyone twice and have 18 conference games and then play 5 nonconference games as well...making it the current 23 game schedule.

[Gregory Sager]

As far as playing everyone twice.  It is a debate that has gone on forever.  If the conference would extend the amount of games we are allowed,  it would be more of a realistic debate. 

Poor excuse.  The MIAC has 11 teams, play everyone twice, making it 20 games.  They have 5 nonconference games.

The MWC could play everyone twice and have 18 conference games and then play 5 nonconference games as well...making it the current 23 game schedule.

Excellent point, OS.

[The Roop]

Excellent point but too much common sense to ever be considered. That's why I still like my MWC-SCIAC merger-add a team from Hawaii-single round robin format the best.

[Greek Tragedy]

I bet these suddenly appearing Lake Forest people are just LU fans who changed their screen names. LOL.

At least the LU fans are posting now. lol 

[gcfan33]

Jeffp, I know I'm off and on but I'm always reading the posts about the Pio's.  I loved being able to watch one of the games on the MWCtv. 

I am actually down in Florida (for 3 years now).  No one down here runs the system so I have nothing to get my fix in the winter.   

I have one question for you.  The number of shots this year is way down.  Doesn't look like we shoot anywhere near the goal of 100 per game.  Are we playing slow down ball more often?  More time in the second half out of the press?  More patient on offense?  I want to know why we aren't letting it ride 120 times a game from downtown!

I know that just made me sound like the least knowledgeable basketball fan known to man, and it makes me laugh that I can ask that in a serious fashion.

Win out we host baby!  (Back in Darby)

[lake forest]

Old school you summed up my point exactly. The MIAC plays 25 games.  The MWC plays 23.  If you take away  two non conference games to play conference games you also take away the chance for the second place team or the conference champion that gets knocked off in the conference tournament to get the possible two extra in region wins that could make them an at large bid.  With the scenario like it is now it makes every regular season conference game count that much more.  you don't necessarily need the two extra conference wins to get the at large.  if lawrence in years past would have gone 14-4 in conference, won the conference, lost in the conference tournament, and go 1-4 in non conference would they have still made the tournament at 15-9? with the loss in the conference tournament added. or do they have a better chance with more non conference games where they can schedule possibly better teams than the lower level teams in conference that they can beat and get a better shot at an at large?    just playing devil's advocate...you guys are the knowledgeable ones. 

[Maverick]

The Schwanman makes a good point about the game - just a good old-fashioned rivalry game:  too lazy to look at the stats, but a lot of ties and lead changes, physical play, big shots and, among other things, some nice trash talking between the student sections...I have a few favorites, but "9 Straight Turkey Bowls" over and over never gets old.

fs13 - I gotta say that "9 Straight Turkey Bowls" chant sounds pretty nice to me.

[Titan Q]

A future Monmouth basketball/football player...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/02/09/sports/doc45cbf1e7357b0345807308.txt

[systemfan86]

Old school you summed up my point exactly. The MIAC plays 25 games.  The MWC plays 23.  If you take away  two non conference games to play conference games you also take away the chance for the second place team or the conference champion that gets knocked off in the conference tournament to get the possible two extra in region wins that could make them an at large bid.  With the scenario like it is now it makes every regular season conference game count that much more.  you don't necessarily need the two extra conference wins to get the at large.  if lawrence in years past would have gone 14-4 in conference, won the conference, lost in the conference tournament, and go 1-4 in non conference would they have still made the tournament at 15-9? with the loss in the conference tournament added. or do they have a better chance with more non conference games where they can schedule possibly better teams than the lower level teams in conference that they can beat and get a better shot at an at large?    just playing devil's advocate...you guys are the knowledgeable ones. 

I think the short answer is they have a better chance with more non-conf games against better teams than lower level teams in conference.

That said, it should be noted that they have to win those games. I think many of the MWC teams played better non-conference schedules this year, but few wins came against these good teams. (I know that GC's schedule included current top 25 teams Oshkosh and Carthage, and they also played Platteville, MSOE, and Simpson). I think the MWC has one win against a top 25 team this year and that came early in the year when Carroll beat a still ranked Larry team. Other than that, the MWC has come up empty against good non-conference teams.

You have to post wins against teams with high winning percentage to get your QOWI value up; this value is important in getting the Pool C bids that would go to the second team from the league. The relative parity of the league this years also works against a second bid. For example, GC's loss to Norbs hurt their QOWI; they also needed to win another one or two games of their non-conference schedule. 

Grinnell could have a very good year, win 14 of their last 15, but if that one loss is in the MWC Championship, they stay home and the team they lost to goes to the NCAA.

[gcfan33]

Systemfan86 hit the nail right on the head.  A couple of years ago, what on paper was the best Grinnell team possibly ever had a great year, set a record for points per game, won the regular season by a landslide, and then lost in the MWC championship game at the Old Darby.  No bid to the tourney. 

I think it goes with the territory of being the small conference in a sea of quality conferences (WIAC, Iowa Conference, etc).  Most people aren't looking at the upcoming Ripon/Carroll game with much national DIII interest even though it means a lot to everyone in the MWC.  Why?  Because who cares about Ripon or Carroll anyway?  I know I don't. 

That reminds me of a thought I had the other day: I believe that people from Wisconsin only consume bratwurst and cheese.  My only memory of Wisconsin is looking into the stands during both basketball and baseball contests and observing a host of overweight induhviduals in the stands eating brats and cheese.  One guy from Ripon once asked my friend while warming up for a basketball game if his toupee was slipping off, I wanted to ask him how he managed to purchase clothing with its own delicatessen in its pockets.  I think even the Munchiner Leute would be amazed anyone could even find that much pork sausage.  It's all imported from Iowa anyway.  We send it to you so that you'll be fat and not be able to keep up with the System!

[scottie]

Scottie, do you mind if I break out the first "Monmouth in '08?"

By all means...

A future Monmouth basketball/football player...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/02/09/sports/doc45cbf1e7357b0345807308.txt

Hmmm, them Tanney's have never been too successful wearing the White and Crimson...   

[lake forest]

I didn't realize that Iowans were so fit...it must be the granola 
Keep sending the sausage, we will supply the cheese and beer.

[systemfan86]

I think it goes with the territory of being the small conference in a sea of quality conferences (WIAC, Iowa Conference, etc).  Most people aren't looking at the upcoming Ripon/Carroll game with much national DIII interest even though it means a lot to everyone in the MWC.  Why?  Because who cares about Ripon or Carroll anyway?  I know I don't. 

I understand the reputation presumption, but after a couple of years on the site, I've come to accept that Pool C bids are more a function of schedule and quality wins than it is of reputation. It matters very little that you have or haven't had success in the past; if you don't beat in region teams that have winning records and lose a minimum of games (to quality opponents), then you're not going to get a Pool C bid.

I think the MWC is on the right track by getting on the schedule of teams from more traditional power leagues. Now we have to win those games and the opportunity for Pool C bids will go up.