MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[coebball70]

Second-guessing coach's decisions and discussing basketball strategies is why this board is so well received by D3 basketball fans.  It is not to be negative or critical, it is more to understand why certain decisions are made and why certain game events happen.  To my friendly Titan followers, I still don't understand how IWU shot so poorly at home and why there was little to no spark in team's emotional make-up (except for DG) for such an important game?  Was it NPU's defense or was it something else that is going to be carried into Rock Island?
Also, I would like to understand why a 6'8" freshman, Duncan Lawson, known for his shooting abilities, leads the preliminary JV game with 18 points, and is coming off his most minutes of the year in the Augie game (12), only gets 3 minutes?  To me it sounds like the IWU brick-laying staff could have tried one more mason.

[Titan Q]

I heard Kent Raymond was honored as a senior last night at Wheaton in Senior Night festivities, with all of his family in attendance.  Raymond, of course, has one year of eligibility left and is listed as a junior on Wheaton's roster.  Whether Raymond decides to move on or return to Wheaton for a 5th year will be a big story in the off-season.

[Titan Q]

Second-guessing coach's decisions and discussing basketball strategies is why this board is so well received by D3 basketball fans.  It is not to be negative or critical, it is more to understand why certain decisions are made and why certain game events happen.  To my friendly Titan followers, I still don't understand how IWU shot so poorly at home and why there was little to no spark in team's emotional make-up (except for DG) for such an important game?  Was it NPU's defense or was it something else that is going to be carried into Rock Island?
Also, I would like to understand why a 6'8" freshman, Duncan Lawson, known for his shooting abilities, leads the preliminary JV game with 18 points, and is coming off his most minutes of the year in the Augie game (12), only gets 3 minutes?  To me it sounds like the IWU brick-laying staff could have tried one more mason.

I don't think it was a lack of spark.  The Titans played hard, they just missed shots.  I saw an extreme lack of confidence from the IWU perimeter shooters as the game went on, and that should not be confused for lack of effort or spark - I think those are very separate issues.

As for Duncan, there is absolutely way no way he could have guarded any of the five lighting fast Viking players on the floor at any one time.  Guys like Sean Dwyer and Darius Gant had trouble keeping up with their dribble penetration.  After an off-season of hard work, Duncan will get his chance next season.

[usee]

Congratulations to the Wheaton Thunder for fighting through a strong conference slate and finishing 2nd. The Thunder had a chance in every conference game which is all you can ask. THey took a team that last year was widely regarded as a one man show and they developed a nice supporting cast. Andy Wiele was non existant and blamed for a couple key losses a year ago. This year he came in determined, in shape, and much stronger to provide a post presence the Thunder haven't had since the Kolmodin days. Ben Panner took his game up a level and became a strong offensive threat as well as a premiere defender. The Thunder aren't nearly as deep as they were a year ago but the top 3 made big strides in their games and they are now in a position to earn a spot to the post season.

[usee]

If Raymond comes back next year to join Wiele, Panner, and Jahns, the Thunder have a chance to have a starting 5 as good as anybody they play.

[coebball70]

Speaking of Kent Raymond's outstanding game last evening I forgot to mention he accomplished his first career dunk.  It will never make ESPN's best 10 all-time slams.  Yet, for Kent Raymond it will never be forgotten!  The thrill and joy of a break-away stuff in your last game had to be something.  In fact, he actually had a chance for a slam on two other occassions in the game but was fouled both times.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I heard Kent Raymond was honored as a senior last night at Wheaton in Senior Night festivities, with all of his family in attendance.  Raymond, of course, has one year of eligibility left and is listed as a junior on Wheaton's roster.  Whether Raymond decides to move on or return to Wheaton for a 5th year will be a big story in the off-season.

It sure sounded and felt like Raymond's Crusaderville swan song.  His parents were there, they gave him his senior photograph, he had a half-page bio in the two-page program (which was given away - by the way North Park which charges a dollar for a one page copied sheet).  I'd be real surprised if he makes a reincarnation at Wheaton, but then Raymond has surprised all before.

DoS

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Speaking of Kent Raymond's outstanding game last evening I forgot to mention he accomplished his first career dunk.  It will never make ESPN's best 10 all-time slams.  Yet, for Kent Raymond it will never be forgotten!  The thrill and joy of a break-away stuff in your last game had to be something.  In fact, he actually had a chance for a slam on two other occassions in the game but was fouled both times.

Oy - what a bad looking dunk - first he snapped the rim down so he could get the ball into the cylinder.

Sign of the end times - Raymond perfect at the line throughout, actually missed his last two free throw attempts in the final 90 seconds - and missed both of them badly - wonder if his emotions had overwhelmed him.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

This is a really tough call.

Dan McCarrell was criticized back in 1970 for not honoring Greg Crawford and Jim Carroll in their final game at Carthage.  In his defense the Vikings were in a tense battle and only won by six.

I thought Rees Johnson should have played his senior reserves on the last night of Rick Alspach's career versus Elmhurst.  Alspach continued to throw up brick after brick (I think he was 1 for 13) - and Rees just let him shoot away - while two senior reserves never got a sniff of the floor.

That's a tough call for a coach - and especially one who still has a chance for the conference title - neither McCarrell or Rees were in that position on the final night of the season.

DoS

[Late nite]

Check out most of the teams in the CCIW this year---There will be alot of talent coming back next year for every team---including the three-time defending champions Vikings---They only lose one starter---Next season's conference race should feature some outstanding basketball

If Raymond comes back next year to join Wiele, Panner, and Jahns, the Thunder have a chance to have a starting 5 as good as anybody they play.

[Fox 40]

[b]"Historic three-peat"[/b]

Alex Washington had 17 points, Brett Wessels 15, and Dain Swetalla 11 as Augustana not only clinched the CCIW title outright, but also accomplished something that hadn't been done in the conference for 28 years!! The Vikings epitomize "Team" play as Augie had seven different high scorers in 25 games and six different leading rebounders.  Here is the article from The Dispatch:

               http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=375922

[Dennis_Prikkel]

[b]"Historic three-peat"[/b]

Alex Washington had 17 points, Brett Wessels 15, and Dain Swetalla 11 as Augustana not only clinched the CCIW title outright, but also accomplished something that hadn't been done in the conference for 28 years!! The Vikings epitomize "Team" play as Augie had seven different high scorers in 25 games and six different leading rebounders.  Here is the article from The Dispatch:

               http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=375922

This is a gloat-free zone...
This is a gloat-free zone...

DoS

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I heard Kent Raymond was honored as a senior last night at Wheaton in Senior Night festivities, with all of his family in attendance.  Raymond, of course, has one year of eligibility left and is listed as a junior on Wheaton's roster.  Whether Raymond decides to move on or return to Wheaton for a 5th year will be a big story in the off-season.

It sure sounded and felt like Raymond's Crusaderville swan song.  His parents were there, they gave him his senior photograph, he had a half-page bio in the two-page program (which was given away - by the way North Park which charges a dollar for a one page copied sheet).  I'd be real surprised if he makes a reincarnation at Wheaton, but then Raymond has surprised all before.

DoS

One last observation from last night - there was a time in the 2nd half - when Elmhurst went on a seven-point run midway through the half - all of the Wheaton players were standing around waiting for Raymond to take over - Wheaton coach Bill Harris called a time out and took Raymond out - forcing the players on the floor to run some offense without the All-American senior on the floor.  Wheaton scored.

DoS

[armywife]

Dennis, who made this a gloat free zone? Gloat away Fox 40, you will be standing with a long line of CCIW gloaters whose teams have done well.  We'll not mention any names. 

[tjcummingsfan]

 I was at the Shirk last night, delighted to see the Vikings absolutely take over in Overtime and finish the season with a win at IWU for the second year in a row. 

Regardless of the ramifications of playing guys who haven't seen the floor in conference play but once, I thought it was in very bad taste to let the seniors not named Darius ride the pine for 45 minutes.  I don't think anyone in here expects Ron Rose to play those guys for a whole half, or even a full 5 minutes, but, knowing the kind of heart a guy like Brian Nussbaum has poured into this team for 4 years, you want to tell me he doesn't deserve to take off his warm-ups on SENIOR NIGHT (considering the monster contributions from Chamernik and Lawson)?  Absolutely ridiculous!  Q and whoever else, you can say all you want about what an important game it was for the team, blah, blah, blah, SENIOR NIGHT is a night to honor seniors, and that clearly didn't happen, save 1.

I know this'll make alot of people (Q) mad, but as a NP observer I have to point out what I saw...

Unfortunately, the Titans wasted an unbelievable individual performance.  On Senior Night, senior Darius Gant had 28 points and 21 rebounds and made every big basket for the Titans down the stretch in regulation.  North Park had no answer for him.  They tried to double and triple team Gant, but his quickness, strength, ability to camp out in the lane for 5-8 seconds at a time,and leaping ability still made him an impossible matchup.  I think Darius solidified his spot on the 1st Team All-CCIW.

Now, kudos to Darius for realizing the refs weren't counting to 3 and taking advantage of it, but there it is.

This game easily could've been a NP blowout, but just as easily it could've been a Titan blowout, luckily for me as a spectator, neither team could hit a 3 in the first half and it remained close.  I thought North Park played some outstanding defense (except on Gant), and let the game get close by not hitting shots.  Jay Alexander's 4 blocks were especially fantastic, my favorite was the one that sent the ball over the Viking bench into the stands (my second favorite was the clean one as Sexauer, who's listed at 2 inches taller than Jay but is probably at least, maybe 4, was posting up on him).  Nick really came to play tonight, and I loved it.  You could see in his eyes he wanted this one, and that he was having fun, two things you love to see from one of the stars of a team.  As much as Jason and Jay and Ed will be missed next year, I really think Park is going to continue heading in the right direction.