MBB: Midwest Conference

[gcfan33]

Also of question is whether Carroll players will be allowed to push, shove, and hack at the Grinnell point guards like they did when GC played there recently.  Most of the GC turnovers were as a result of being hacked to death by clutch and grab defense by Carroll, who looked like they practiced it all season without punishment.

[CCpiofan88]

Hey now...no need to hold grudges against Carroll posters in general...just because a few in the past were quite questionable.   

Just thought it was time to get someone from Carroll posting up on the boards.

[Dolph Stanley]

Also of question is whether Carroll players will be allowed to push, shove, and hack at the Grinnell point guards like they did when GC played there recently.  Most of the GC turnovers were as a result of being hacked to death by clutch and grab defense by Carroll, who looked like they practiced it all season without punishment.

I have been as big a defender of the System as any non-Pioneer over the years but have to draw the line when a Grinnell fan talks about "push, shove and hack without mentioning that it is the sole defensive strategy of Grinnell and has been since the System was implemented.

[carrollfan]

I have internet access in jail . No, but anyways,  i only saw two CC games this year, both on MWCTV and both being losses. When things turned for the worse all you would see was terrible forced shots and lazy defense.  Is that pretty typical of their play this season? 

[jeffdc]

i actually have always had respect for CC - they are one of the few teams conditioned enough to run with GC the entire game. Their first game this season against GC was a bit odd - they seemed sluggish and off their stride. Then the roles were reversed when GC lost the 2nd game.

So I'm predicting...who the heck knows? The worst part is that I'll be on an airplane during game time, so no way to watch. I expect detailed play by play posts when I finally get home!

[The Roop]

Hey now...no need to hold grudges against Carroll posters in general...just because a few in the past were quite questionable.   

No grudge on my behalf. It was merely a rivalry between some LU and CC posters that I found humorous.

Now that a certain teams season has ended in the WIAA play offs, Brian Vraney and Pat Miller can get back to the recruiting war for next years freshman class.

[Gregory Sager]

One would think that you folks would encourage new Carroll posters rather than snipe at them the moment that they appear for the first time. The more schools from the MWC that are represented in this room, the better ... and Carroll's representation here has been nonexistent since the days of William Wallace and his boozy band of compatriots.

Part of what makes a good Posting Up conference room a good one is widespread representation. Even if you don't like a particular school, you have to admit that the room is better when that school has someone speaking for it in here. This room is relatively hamstrung by the fact that the fan bases of half of the MWC's member schools (Knox, Illinois College, Lake Forest, St. Norbert, and Carroll) are seldom or never heard from.

[CCpiofan88]

Thats alright, there was no offence taken!  Plus, I've been reading the posts of ROOP and the others for quite some time now...and I have to admit they are always a pleasure.

In terms of the tournament...
I'm not really sure who will win between CC and GC... though Carroll is usually great at keeping up with GC, the last time they played GC was without Chamberlain.  I think that might give them the "edge" they need to pull it off..I think he had 15 points against CC the first time the teams played when GC won.

Assuming LU beats SNC on Friday,  I think they will be victorious in the championship game as well.  First of all, Lawrence has had a great season...lots of skill, and second of all, the winner between GC and CC will be exhausted.

I have internet access in jail . No, but anyways,  i only saw two CC games this year, both on MWCTV and both being losses. When things turned for the worse all you would see was terrible forced shots and lazy defense.  Is that pretty typical of their play this season? 

carrollfan--did you see the losses to Ripon and St. Norbert on MWCTV.  I'd say it's not "typical" of their play this season, but I noticed it during those games towards the end.

[gcfan33]

There was, for a while on this board, a debate about Grinnell's Bobby Long compared to Grotberg.

Looking statistically, Long averages 6 points fewer per game (21.8 compared to 27.8 for Grotberg), however he has more steals (62 to 60), rebounds (3.3 per game to 2.9 per game), a higher 3pt shooting percentage (37% to 33%), and a higher field goal percentage (40% to 37%)

One could argue about the difficulty of shots Grotberg is forced to take in the System, and that their positions are totally different.

Looking at all those statistics, it's pretty clear that Grinnell would have an almost impossible time being successful all season without either one of them.  It's also clear that they would be playing for any team in the conference.  They should both be first team all-conference selections in my book.

[The Roop]

I'm just glad that I'm not on the selection committee or have to make out brackets as there are several highly ranked teams in the area and some will have to get moved; it's just a matter of who and how far. Still haven't figured out a scenario for LU to host anything unless the byes fell right and they got to host a 1st round single game.

Take Centre out of the South and put them in the Great Lakes. They're a good geographic fit for that region anyway. This opens up a spot for Wash U. to be placed in the South and host a regional. It also keeps a #2 vs #4 match up from happening in the early rounds. Give UW-SP a bye and have the winner of Occidental vs. Puget Sound come to Point. In theory this gives Whitewater a regional and they face LU while Augustana squares off against St. Thomas.

Sounds nice until the CCIW gets a second team in or the WIAC gets three. Then there's the IIAC and SLIAC which don't have any ranked teams but will get Pool A bids. Where do you put them ?? Wash U. regional perhaps, who knows. Too many ranked teams in my theoretical Whitewater regional but the committee may not have any choice. Just wait until next year when the NathCon gets it's automatic bid and it will really be confusing.

[LU_nut]

Notorius

I actually feel better about LU getting some home games than you do.  I learned a few years ago when we were worried that despite being 25-0, they would get moved because of gym limitations that the seeding committee really does look at record and criteria.   

There are a couple of teams like Wash U that have played opponents with crazy winning percentages, but if LU holds serve in the tournament, I think they will rate above any of the West teams.  Take a look at the updated list that D3 just put together.  LU has a better winning percentage than almost all the West teams.  The two teams that have comparable records, St. Thomas and Occidental, actually have played teams with a lower winning %.

I will not be surprised if LU does some hosting.   I think it is key for them to beat the WIAC teams which I think they are capable of beating this year, especially at home.     LUs opponents winning percentage has trended up and will continue to as they have been playing teams with winning records like Carroll and St. Norbs lately and will do so in the conference tourney.

Nut

[LU_nut]

PS:

the old Beloit coach used to be on the selection board.  Does anybody know if someone else from the MWC has replaced him?

[hickory_cornhusker]

I'm just glad that I'm not on the selection committee or have to make out brackets as there are several highly ranked teams in the area and some will have to get moved; it's just a matter of who and how far. Still haven't figured out a scenario for LU to host anything unless the byes fell right and they got to host a 1st round single game.

Take Centre out of the South and put them in the Great Lakes. They're a good geographic fit for that region anyway. This opens up a spot for Wash U. to be placed in the South and host a regional. It also keeps a #2 vs #4 match up from happening in the early rounds. Give UW-SP a bye and have the winner of Occidental vs. Puget Sound come to Point. In theory this gives Whitewater a regional and they face LU while Augustana squares off against St. Thomas.

Sounds nice until the CCIW gets a second team in or the WIAC gets three. Then there's the IIAC and SLIAC which don't have any ranked teams but will get Pool A bids. Where do you put them ?? Wash U. regional perhaps, who knows. Too many ranked teams in my theoretical Whitewater regional but the committee may not have any choice. Just wait until next year when the NathCon gets it's automatic bid and it will really be confusing.

I think the NAthCon has a good chance of getting Aurora in if they can win their conference tourney. Your idea looks good except for the 3 missing teams. I think Augustana or St. Thomas will end up hosting a 4 team regional so the Whitewater bracket will get broken up.

[siwash]

"This room is relatively hamstrung by the fact that the fan bases of half of the MWC's member schools (Knox, Illinois College, Lake Forest, St. Norbert, and Carroll) are seldom or never heard from."

ah...but we are listening...

[Pat Coleman]

I'm apparently 24 hours late on this but welcome to our new posters.