MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[cardinalpride]

Guys, we sent our 5th and 6th best teams.  What did you expect?

That hasn't been established yet. Howzabout we play fourteen games apiece in January and February before we start declaring who the fifth- and sixth-best teams are in the CCIW?

I don't think anyone genuinely thought that Wheaton or Carthage would beat Hope in DeVos this season (well, I'm sure that the Red Men faithful are at least more confident that they have a crack at an upset than were their Wheatie counterparts). The Dutch are a serious national power this season, and with the possible exception of Illinois Wesleyan (note: I said possible) I don't think that the Dutch would be underdogs to anyone in their new digs this year.

Calvin's another story, though. As I said before, they lost a lot to graduation (and to just plain ol' non-returnees, a la Wheaton's Raymond, Bennett, et. al.). And Josh Meckes, their only established inside player, had been hurt; last night was his first game back.

Don't make the mistake of assuming a direct rung-to-rung correlation between the CCIW and the MIAA. Even as loyal an MIAA stalwart as Sac says that the CCIW is stronger on a team-for-team basis. If Calvin is the third-best team in the MIAA this season -- something that is no more established at this point than is the proposition that Carthage and Wheaton are the fifth- and sixth-best teams in the 2006 edition of the CCIW -- it doesn't necessarily put them on a par with the CCIW's third-place team. It might mean that they're on a par with the CCIW's fifth- or sixth-place team, for all we know.

What I'm trying to say is that: a) conference standings are pure conjecture at this point; b) there is no established and assumed rung-to-rung correspondence between the standings of these two conferences; and c) give the MIAA representatives credit, because even though Wheaton is struggling this season Carthage isn't exactly chopped liver. Just ask Concordia (CA) about that.

I expect the Maroons to play good defense today, try to slow the Titans down and keep the game in the 60s if possible, and play very hard.

Nice try, Lou.

We all know what Chicago is going to try to do, Bob. And it won't make one iota of difference upon the game. As I said on Wednesday night after the Chicago @ Wheaton game, if the Maroons are within twenty of the Titans at halftime today it'll be a sign of the apocalypse. Wesleyan wins this one, 89-59, and you'll have plenty of chances to say the words "Gant" and "Nussbaum" over the air during the last ten minutes of it.

Greg, you already believe your boyz over at the Park will be cellar dwellars in the CCIW.  So, you haven't exactly shyed away from your predictions either.

[martin]

It looks like the WJBC webcast ot the IWU/Chicago game is overloaded.  There is a webcast available of the UofC broadcast at:
http://home.uchicago.edu/~asa/index.html

It is in many ways more entertaining than WJBC.  One of the announcers is a Brit.

[sac]

From Holland

Calvin 84 Wheaton 64

Hope 75 Carthage 61....but Carthage led 29-12.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I expect the Maroons to play good defense today, try to slow the Titans down and keep the game in the 60s if possible, and play very hard.

Nice try, Lou.

We all know what Chicago is going to try to do, Bob. And it won't make one iota of difference upon the game. As I said on Wednesday night after the Chicago @ Wheaton game, if the Maroons are within twenty of the Titans at halftime today it'll be a sign of the apocalypse. Wesleyan wins this one, 89-59, and you'll have plenty of chances to say the words "Gant" and "Nussbaum" over the air during the last ten minutes of it.

Looks like Q wasn't pulling a Lou Holtz afterall - IWU 71, UC 67 (tied at halftime)!

Now, about that apocalypse...?!

[iwumichigander]

[We all know what Chicago is going to try to do, Bob. And it won't make one iota of difference upon the game. As I said on Wednesday night after the Chicago @ Wheaton game, if the Maroons are within twenty of the Titans at halftime today it'll be a sign of the apocalypse. Wesleyan wins this one, 89-59, and you'll have plenty of chances to say the words "Gant" and "Nussbaum" over the air during the last ten minutes of it.

Greg, as the end result shows, Chicago did not just "try" but "did it".  And, not exactly a pretty 1st half by IWU.  McGrath did a good job getting his Maroons ready defensively but maybe should have spent a little more time practicing shooting. 

As to "Nussbaum", unfortunately he is out for the season do to a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery.  However, I do think you are correct about Gant.

[bluejaybacker1]

Elmhurst 67
Hanover 57

Big win for the Jay's tonight at home. Elmhurst played pretty sloppy in the first half. Chris Martin was not his usual self. It was good to see two young guys step up for our team. Brent Ruch and Robert Strzemp both were in double digits and were a big reason why Elmhurst came back and won this game. I believe Mr. Sager said a few weeks ago when he attended the Elmhurst game that he really wanted to see more of Robert Strzemp, well he sure played one hell of a second half. Down the stretch the Elmhurst defense really stepped up and held Hanover in check. Evan Patchett was a big reason with some really big off. and def. rebounds. He also had some key steals and was hustling all over the place.

Big win for Elmhurst tonight! 

[augie_superfan]

Augustana   83
Simpson       74

Rick Harrigan led the way with 31 pts. on 10 of 17 shooting, 2-3 from 3pt., 9-10 FT

Team shot free throws really well:  29-33

Bad sign again:  9 assists to 22 TO

McAdams-Thornton:  12 pts. on 4-12 shooting
Nate Swetalla:  11 pts., 12 rebs.

[augie_superfan]

Also of note on the Augie game:

Dain Swetalla started but played only 5 minutes...lets hope he did not get injured tonight

[dansand]

Also of note on the Augie game:

Dain Swetalla started but played only 5 minutes...lets hope he did not get injured tonight

Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. Dain rolled an ankle. I actually thought it was earlier than five minutes in. He put no weight on it at all when he was helped off the floor and was on crutches the rest of the night. As far as the game went, it was pretty ugly, especially in the first half. Simpson gave the Vikes fits with full court pressure, which is a little troubling considering the Storm didn't appear to be exceptionally quick or athletic. Drew Wessels played probably the worst half of basketball I've seen him play at Augie. The second half was better. They did a better job handling the pressure, rebounded better and did a better job (especially Shaun Rose) on Storm post player Jason Soppe, who was killing them in the first half. Two players stood out. Rick Harrigan continued his terrific play, carrying them offensively. He seems much more intent on going to the hoop than in the past. He attempted only three 3-pointers while shooting 10 free throws. I think he had four traditional three-point plays. Nate Swetalla was the other player that stood out. He played a solid all-around game with 11 points and 12 boards and looks to have a real soft jumper. They probably need to find him more shots.

[augie_superfan]

Thanks for the update dansand....hopefully Dain will be able to recover as soon as possible.  Looks like a big guy off that bench is now going to have to step up and play some big minutes.

[bluejaybacker1]

Elm 67
Hanover 56

Stats from the game-

Brent Ruch-18 pts, 8 brds
Robert Strzemp-13 pts, 4 brds
Chris Martin- 12 pts, 5 brds
Evan Patchett- 10 pts

Bench scoring  E.C.- 43pts Hanover- 21 pts

Hanover only had one guy in double digits. EC held Lye and Parker in check who both avg. double digits. Hanover was 4-21 from the arc.

[Titan Q]

Here is the IWU/Chicago boxscore...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2006/miwu5.htm

* Zach Freeman: 18 pts, 8 reb, 3 assists, 3 blocks
* Adam Dauksas: 17 pts, 3 reb, 6 assists
* Keelan Amelianovich: 12 pts, 4 reb

* Jesse Meyer: 20 pts (6-10 3-pt)
* Brandon Woodhead: 18 pts (3-7 3-pt)


People are probably going to assume IWU played poorly today because the Titans only beat Chicago (which was just handled easily by Wheaton) by 4 points, but I don't think that was the case at all.  IWU shot 52% from the field and held Chicago to 39%.  IWU won the battle of the boards and only turned the ball over 11 times in the game.  I thought the Titans played very hard this afternoon and just ran into a Chicago team that played very well and made a lot of big shots.  As I posted this morning, Chicago almost always plays IWU tough at Chicago and today was no exception.  I wasn't playing "Lou Holtz" at all when I wrote "I expect the Maroons to play good defense today, try to slow the Titans down and keep the game in the 60s if possible, and play very hard."  I've simply seen a lot of IWU games up there and rarely are they easy.


Chicago made this a game by making 9 of 20 3-pointers, all 9 of those makes by the starting backcourt of Jesse Meyer and Brandon Woodhead.  IWU came in averaging 20 3-pt attempts per game but only shot 10 today (connecting on 4).

After trailing the entire 1st half, IWU clawed back to even at 28-28 just before the break.   At the start of the 2nd Half, Adam Dauksas helped get things going the Titans' way.  Dauksas had 10 points in the first 10:04 of the 2nd, at which point IWU opened up a 9 point lead. 

The Titans led 62-51 with 3:18 to go but the Maroons kept fighting.  A Meyer 3 cut the lead to 4 with :45 to play...Adam Dauksas was fouled and the senior made 2 key free throws.  Woodhead made a tough shot to get it to 4 again and Chicago sent Zach Freeman to the line...he made both.  Another Meyer 3 got it to 3, 68-65, with :20 left when senior Mike McGraw nailed 2 FT's.  And finally, Clay Carmody got it to 3 a final time with :05 to go, but McGraw made 1 of 2  to ice it.

[Titan Q]

Remember folks, we're dealing with a human element here and sometimes that gets lost in the desire to play the "common opponent" game...."Wheaton beat Chicago by 11 so IWU should beat Chicago by 25." 

Did the Chicago kids have better focus today vs the #1 team in the nation or vs Wheaton earlier in the week?  In today's Pantagraph, Mike McGrath said, "We played horribly at Wheaton. I'm not sure why. I thought we were really flat."  Well, Chicago wasn't flat today at all.  Did Illinois-Chicago have better focus vs Georgia Tech (where they won by 22) or vs Georgia Southern (where they lost by 20 3 days later)?  I have no way to confirm it, but I have a sneaking suspicion I know the answer.

Chicago played great today and IWU picked up a nice road win.

[Titan Q]

Elmhurst/Hanover was very entertaining...an extremely physical game.  Hanover controlled the first 26 minutes of the contest.  After taking a 5-point halftime lead, the Panthers got up 9, 39-30, with 14:13 to go in the game.  It looked like the same ole Hanover team I've seen 4 times in the last 2 years...well coached, smart players who play great defense and play a lot bigger than what they're listed at in the program.  But Elmhurst turned things around and took control of the game.

Freshman Robert Strzemp was the guy that really started the Bluejay run.  He made some huge baskets and was just very active on both ends of the floor.  Freshman Brent Ruch was also very good down the stretch...he is a big boy and he is going to be a good player in the CCIW.

Hanover did a great job on Chris Martin, kind of like Chicago did today on Keelan Amelianovich.  Chris had 12 points and 5 rebounds tonight...Keelan had 12 points and 4 rebounds this afternoon.  Mike Beitzel made other Bluejays beat him, just as Mike McGrath made other Titans beat Chicago. 

This was a good, solid win for Elmhurst over a solid Division III program.  The headline on the Elmhurst website is a little over the top though:

"Elmhurst Stuns #8 Hanover 67-56"

I don't think Elmhurst stunned anybody.  Elmhurst is a very good team that returned everybody and added some impact newcomers.  Hanover lost 3 starters from last year's team and as I have been saying, is overrated at #8...and Elmhurst underrated at #22.  This is a game Elmhurst should have won, and they did.

The 'jays are going to have a good year.

[Titan Q]

The Pantagraph article on IWU vs Chicago......

http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/120405/spo_20051204039.shtml