MBB: Midwest Conference

[larry_u]

4 out of the last 5....its officially a dynasty!!


LU can win without Tharp and Braier!

Now we need to sit back and hope for an Augie loss to Ill Wes and a Chicago win over Wash U and hope for that First round home game!!!

[larry_u]

Chicago beat Wash U 74-66

I think LU has to jump ahead of them.  I hope... I beg???


Come on Ill Wes!!!!

[Mr. Ypsi]

We'll give it our best!

Thanks for the commentary, l u!  (See, you did have an audience. )

[systemfan86]

4 out of the last 5....its officially a dynasty!!

umm, I was going to congratulate Larry on their win until I saw that...

Great. I wanted to cheer for them, but if you're going to adopt the NE Patriots arrogance...

Well, I guess it's respect the team and ignore the fans...your first name isn't Justin is it? 

[enjoy the win, they earned it]

[LU_nut]

To quote myself, "the MWC tourney is going to be very interesting".

Larry U.  I too was very impressed by Carroll.  When they are hitting on all cylinders, they are good.  The had the potential to do damage in the NCAA like last year if they had made it.  The key again is two good guards. 

Good Luck to LU.  Surely, they move past Wash after two losses by Wash U since ratings two weeks ago.   Love to meet Augie anywhere but there place.   LU has ability, but has to play at their best to make a run.   The second half today did show the advantage of playing at home.

Nut

[wc2viking]

OK, trash talk.

It's interesting to see the Grinnell folks already looking ahead to the championship game tomorrow given their postseason record of non-success (including the debacle of last year.)  I think the circus leaves town this evening.

Of course, you only heard about last year's debacle, since you weren't there...

Hey, good one +1 Karma from me.  I was more impressed with the system yesterday.  I suppose GC didn't seem to cling to it when it made more sense to take the easy 2 than kick it out for the 3.

[larry_u]

4 out of the last 5....its officially a dynasty!!

umm, I was going to congratulate Larry on their win until I saw that...

Great. I wanted to cheer for them, but if you're going to adopt the NE Patriots arrogance...

Well, I guess it's respect the team and ignore the fans...your first name isn't Justin is it? 

[enjoy the win, they earned it]

Its ok...we don't mind the jealously....

With luck we can continue the MWC's recent success in the NCAA tournament and make some noise.  What's Grinnell's record in the NCAA's again??

[wc2viking]

Wow!  What a weekend, the highlight obviously being meeting Roop and Old School.

What a game today.  I have to admit that I was slightly concerned when LU was down 17 early in the second half, but spirited defense and the good ball movement on offense led to the comeback.  Kroeger didn't have a good outside shooting game and instead used his driving and slashing to get his 27 points. 
Watching the game, I felt like CC never missed from the foul line and I was almost right - they were 22-23 including 18-19 in the second half!  (LU was pretty good too - 24-30 including a perfect 12-12 in the second.

Something to file in the amazing fun facts category:
CC @ LU on 2/2/08 - score at the end of regulation: 83-83 (CC won 115-112 in 2OT)
CC @ LU on 3/1/08 - score at the end of regulation: 83-83

I can't wait until Monday noon for the NCAA tournament bracket.  Unfortunately, I'll miss any games next weekend (business trip).  Question for any gurus out there: IF IF IF LU gets past next weekend, is there any chance that they host in the next round?

[wc2viking]

4 out of the last 5....its officially a dynasty!!

umm, I was going to congratulate Larry on their win until I saw that...

Great. I wanted to cheer for them, but if you're going to adopt the NE Patriots arrogance...

Well, I guess it's respect the team and ignore the fans...your first name isn't Justin is it? 

[enjoy the win, they earned it]

Facts have a Lawrence bias. 4 out of 5 = dynasty

[larry_u]

I can't wait until Monday noon for the NCAA tournament bracket.  Unfortunately, I'll miss any games next weekend (business trip).  Question for any gurus out there: IF IF IF LU gets past next weekend, is there any chance that they host in the next round?

Highly unlikely.  Would need several higher ranked teams to lose, and several teams with larger gyms to lose.  LU can "technically" thanks to the nazi like fire marshal hold about 1200 fans.  Even if LU is ranked higher, if say Point is still in it, and they can host about 2500 for a four team sweet 16/elite 8 regional, I would bet they get it.  Lu got it 2 years ago, but I think that was only because they were undefeated and there would have been absolute chaos if they didn't host.

I suppose anything is possible, but I would definitely hazard to guess LU if they make it to the sweet 16 will be on the road somewhere.  Frankly, I hope they  get to host a 4 team regional this weekend, and don't get the shaft and have to go to Augie or Whitewater for a 4 team regional which I also could easily see.  I'm pretty sure LU won't get a bye since the highest they will be ranked is 2nd in the MW, like Is aid I just hope they don;t have to go play at a Augie or Whitewater for a second round game if they would beat the first round opponent they would likely get in a Loras or another weaker Pool A MW team.


Just a guess...really knowing the way the NCAA works, we all have no fricking clue what the hell will happen until we see it Monday morning

[Greek Tragedy]

Now we need to sit back and hope for an Augie loss to Ill Wes and a Chicago win over Wash U and hope for that First round home game!!!

You have to hope for at least TWO home games, that would mean you'd be hosting a "pod" for 1st and 2nd round games on Friday and Saturday.  If you only host the 1st round game, that means you're playing on Wednesday and then traveling to a team with a bye.

With Whitewater winning the WIAC tourney championship, and coupled with their WIAC reg. season championship, I have a feeling they are in line for one of 5 first round byes.  St. Thomas also did the "double" but they were ranked behind Whitewater.

There are a whole host of teams in the West/Midwest regions that you'll be fighting for hosting a pod.  I think you should have the advantage over Whitworth (NWC, either SCIAC team-Oxy or Cal. Luthera-if they even get in), Loras (IIAC tourney champ) or Buena Vista (IIAC regular season champ), Stevens Point, Aurora and a Pool C UAA team like Washington U.  Fear for Augie (another possible 1st round bye team), Whitewater or even St. Thomas in this neck of the woods.  Heading over to Hope could also be a possibility (La Crosse went there two years ago).  At worst, they could be a #2 seed in a pod hosted by one of those latter teams I mentioned.  Point is probably seeded too low to host, but it hasn't stopped the NCAA before...they have a bigger gym.

[The Roop]

When you're up 17 @Lawrence (unless you're Grinnell) TAKE THE AIR OUT OF THE BALL. Coach Schultz made good use of his time outs last year and it got them to where they went. I'm not a Carroll hater but how can you give up a lead like that ?? LU was ripe for the picking as they were already in the dance; and played like it for the first half.

LU gave Carroll this game and Carroll gave it back. Thus sayeth The Roop.

[LU_nut]

Old School:

Nothing will really shock me, but I will be a bit surprised if LU has to go to any West Region gyms.   LU has better in region records than both WW and St. Thomas as well as a much higher opponents winning %%%.   It is the opponents winning % that I think makes for the opportunity for Augie doing some hosting.     I learned a bit a few years ago when Lu was undefeated and we were all worried about getting sent somewhere.  What we found out talking to a member of the selection committee is that they really do like to go by the regional ratings unless there is a big issue.   Such an example was three years ago when Point would have hosted, but your girls were hosting so we all went out to Puget Sound.     The gym size at Alex can be argued as something of an issue, but given that they cleared the gym between games two years ago, none of the visiting teams were disadvantaged.   The tickets for the individual games were split which means that all teams had 550 tickets (700 pre fire marshall).   Few D3 schools travel more fans than that.   The Augie/Puget Sound game was not full.   The Ill Wes. LU game was, but it was the LU people turned away vs. the Wes people who had a 6 hour trip.   I am not certain, but I do not believe any Wes. fans were unable to go that wanted to.    They even set up a viewing area elsewhere in the arena to see the game on TV.

I will admit that more than 550 point fans would probably come, but why would you do something intentionally to advantage a team with a lower record and ranking(despite your win over LU)?  It isn't logical and given the closeness of the teams there is no real expense in hotels, etc.

Another note.  I found MWC TV to be a good way to see games when unable to in person.  The NCAA should set these games up the same way.

Just my views.

[Greek Tragedy]

I've been informed that there was a new NCAA rule implemented after that year when Point men and women could've hosted.

In the even years, if a school has both teams eligible to host, the MEN get the first weekend and if the women advance, they would be in line to host the 2nd weekend.  And the odd years, its vice versa.

I do not believe or anticipate Stevens Point's men hosting this weekend because they were 4th in the West Region going into the week and they lost last night.  Lawrence seemed to have done a respectable job of hosting a couple of years ago, so I could see them hosting a 1st and 2nd round pod. 

Unfortunately, the NCAA doesn't always go by the numbers.  There have been several times when a lower seeded team hosted.  I think Whitewater will either get a bye or host a pod.  Lawrence is good enough that they could go deep into the tourney, but I'm sure you'd rather not have to run into a WIAC school on your way!  I respect Lawrence enough that I don't really want my Pointers in the same sectional, but it will probably happen. 

[systemfan86]

Its ok...we don't mind the jealously....

With luck we can continue the MWC's recent success in the NCAA tournament and make some noise.  What's Grinnell's record in the NCAA's again??

Facts have a Lawrence bias. 4 out of 5 = dynasty

Can't argue the facts of 4 out of 5. Grinnell has reasons to be humble in that respect. You could choose to be more humble, but apparently you're choosing to be arrogant. Let's hope the players are better than the fans.

I'd argue that 4 out 5 in the NFL is a dynasty, but 4 out of 5 in D3 basketball probably doesn't cut it. That's not to say this couldn't be the start of one, but I'd submit you need to keep it up another 4 or 5 years before I'll agree to that title. Beloit in the 40's and 50's was a dynasty. You're not there yet.