MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[markerickson]

I attended tonite's NP game.  I've observed basketball offenses thru the years.   Yes, IWU has always been able to pass the ball several times in search of the open shot (at least since 1981) just like my alma mater during the Chief and Bosko years.  Then the wheels fell off. 

King Dennis:  We know times are very difficult.  How do you support a coach who chooses to not shroud the in-bounds passer with 3.4 seconds left in OT?  Shi*. - the pass goes to the point guard who weaves in order to shoot an uncontested trey.  Basketball 101 instructs that you guard the in-bounds pass.

Also, I see no evidence that the NP "big men", except Bret, have been coached on proper footwork.  I could name names but, if one is really interested, look at the box score.

Will NP win a conference home game?

Should a Willingham be pulled?  Harsh!!

   

[Mr. Ypsi]

HJ,

I found that listing (finally!) - took him 52 shots to do it!

Q,

Or perhaps 'system' teams in general - I noticed a fair amount of Redlands listings too!

[Titan Q]

Some numbers from the IWU/IC debacle...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2006/miwu7.htm

Rebounds: IWU 54   IC 36

FG%: IWU 50.8   IC 28.8

3-pt%: IWU 52.6 (10-19)  IC  28.0 (7-25)

* Keelan Amelianovich: 19 pts (5-6 3-pt), 6 reb.
* Jason Fisher: 12 pts (5-7 FG)
* Adam Dauksas: 11 pts, 11 assists/1 T.O, 6 reb.

IWU leads...

27-4 (8:05 1st)
42-12 (3:19 1st)
47-18 (Half)
67-27 (12:59 2nd)


As the teams approached the center circle to start the game, the IC student section chanted "overrated" at IWU.  The Wabash students started the chant during the layup line, so the IC backers were more restrained I suppose.  With the Titans up 27 early in the 2nd half, they brought out the chant again (not sure how much the Titans were supposed to be up at that point to be "properly rated"), and then the best chant of the evening.  At 67-27, the Blueboy students went with, "We're down 40."

Pantagraph story...

http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/121805/spo_2005121829.shtml

[Titan Q]

Scott Stone's 14-21 (.667) 3-pt performance for Wash U is absolutely amazing.  As mentioned above, NCAA Division III record holder Jeff Clement of Grinnell went 19-52 (.365) -- think about that for a second...he shot 52 3's in one game.  Stone's 21 is crazy enough.  In that game (Feb 18, 1998) Grinnell defeated Illinois College 149-144.  Clement finished with 77 points.

The Bears of Wash U beat Fontbonne by 35 points without their best player, 6-6/225 sophomore forward Troy Ruths (18.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg).  Carthage transfer Nick Nikitas started for Ruths.

http://bearsports.wustl.edu/mensbball/FU-WUM.HTM

[dansand]

As the teams approached the center circle to start the game, the IC student section chanted "overrated" at IWU.  The Wabash students started the chant during the layup line, so the IC backers were more restrained I suppose.  With the Titans up 27 early in the 2nd half, they brought out the chant again (not sure how much the Titans were supposed to be up at that point to be "properly rated"), and then the best chant of the evening.  At 67-27, the Blueboy students went with, "We're down 40."

http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/121805/spo_2005121829.shtml

I think the "overrated" cheer might be the dumbest in sports. They might as well say, "Our team sucks." Which, in IC's case, is apparently true.

[augiefan]

It is beginning to look like IWU has a chance to go through the season and through the tournament for an undefeated National title. They are dominating teams like no DIII team in recent memory. Injuries are likely the only way they can be stopped, even in a year in which the CCIW has some other really good teams, i.e. NCC, Augie and Elmhurst.

I imagine there might still be an upset on the road along the way in conference action, but the rest of us are fighting for 2nd place and a possible tourney bid as the conference runner up. I stand by my earlier poll vote that IWU will be the last undefeated DIII squad this year.

[augiefan]

I hope Sager doesn't stay away too long, but I can certainly understand his pain. I remember when traveling to North Park was along with the trip IWU the most challenging road venue in the CCIW. None of the rest of us in the CCIW enjoy seeing one of our fellow conference teams fall to the depths of losing at home to the likes of Westminster (MO.)

[iwumichigander]

It is beginning to look like IWU has a chance to go through the season and through the tournament for an undefeated National title. They are dominating teams like no DIII team in recent memory. Injuries are likely the only way they can be stopped, ...

IWU's start is encouraging.  It is scary too when you step back realizing IWU did not have Andrew Freeman or Matt Arnold through six games.  Andrew saw limited minutes last night. Arnold will be back for the Westmont Tournament. 

[True Basketball Fan]

It's ridiculous in mid-December to start talking about an undefeated season.  IWU's chance to do so is better than most, but they still have several tough road games to get through, and I'm not even talking about the NCAA tourney.  Besides, even the greatest teams have their moments during the year, in which they don't play well.  In IWU's case this year, they will usually win those games anyway.  Augie, Elmhurst, and NC on the road are dangerous games, because they WILL be excited, and if one of them is hot at the time...............

[True Basketball Fan]

Some of the scoring records shared by Grinnell and Redlands should not be excluded or labled with an asterick.  They were accomplished in a legitimate college basketball game and should be recognized accordingly.  However, the way that they were accomplished does taint the significance.  Therefore, it is acceptable to bash to a certain extent.

[sac]

Someone eventually surpassed all of Andre Ware's stupid records too.

[Titan Q]

Well, a lot of IWU fans circled December 20 on their Titan schedules before the season started.  IWU and Hanover have played 4 times in the last two seasons, with Hanover winning 3 of those games.  

On December 18, 2003 a much more experienced Panther team came to the Shirk Center and won pretty convincingly, 63-54.  It was just the 7th game IWU's nucleus of Dauksas, Amelianovich, Freeman, Jones & Co. played together and the loss dropped IWU to 4-3.  Hanover just controlled the entire game.

March 5, 2004 IWU traveled to Hanover to take on the #2 ranked team in the country in the 2nd round of the tourney.  In one of the most impressive Titan performances I've ever seen, IWU beat that same outstanding Hanover team, led by HCAC P.O.Y. Thad McCracken, 77-67.  IWU sophomore Cory Jones had 21 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Titans.

December 12, 2004 IWU and Hanover met in a game that was back and forth all the way down the stretch.  Hanover got up 6 with 9:18 to play, but IWU came back to take a 1 point lead late.  Adam Dauksas scored a basket that looked like it put IWU up 3 and then a whistle blew...looked like a possible 3-point play.  But the call was a charge.  Hanover's Ben Lye hit a 15 footer to win the game with :07 to play.  The final was 55-53.

And then of course  March 4, 2005 another classic was played, this time back at IWU in NCAA Round 2.  In one of the best offensive displays you will ever see, Hanover shot 17-23 (.739) from the field in the 2nd half in front of 3000 screaming Titan fans.  IWU led 62-61 with 6:29 to play, but Hanover went on an 11-0 run with all 11 pts scored by Tommy Dennis and Brian Chrin.  When Dennis, a low post player who never shots 3's, drilled a long one from the top of the key to cap that run, you knew it was Hanover's night.

[Titan Q]

Should be another fun game Tuesday.  Hanover is not as dangerous without Dennis, Ryan Lanning, and Matt Moore, but like all great programs they have replaced those guys with very talented players.  They're just not the same experienced, battle tested squad...but they still have Ben Lye, Brian Chrin, and Nate Minyard.  5-11 sophomore Clint Parker is their leading scorer (14.0 ppg) and 6-7/220 sophomore Robby Brown is a big boy.  I think this Hanover team will keep getting better as the season goes on.

Against Elmhurst, Hanover dominated the first 25-30 minutes of play but they should have had an even bigger lead - the Panthers missed a bunch of wide open 3's.  They shot just 4-21 from 3 in that game.  Elmhurst came back a won going away 67-56.

Random thoughts...

* Hanover hasn't played since a win over Rose-Hulman on December 10.

* I don't see Hanover shooting 4-21 from 3 vs IWU.

* It will be one of those kind of quiet non-conference crowds with the students gone, no band, etc...definitely not like the playoff game atmosphere in March.  Maybe 2000 in the house?

* IWU is the better team without question.  I saw the Hanover/Elmhurst game and the Titans can win this game by a bunch if they play well.

* I think this is the kind of game that from a confidence standpoint could propel IWU to the kind of very special season I think they are going to have. 

[John Gleich]

* It will be one of those kind of quiet non-conference crowds with the students gone, no band, etc...definitely not like the playoff game atmosphere in March.  Maybe 2000 in the house?

I suppose everything is relative but... a quiet 2000?

[Mr. Ypsi]

PS,

Welcome to IWU bball.  My experience was Fred Young Fieldhouse in the 1960s, but, yes, 2,000 is a SMALL crowd!  Even then (when the (legal) capacity was probably 1,700), the usual  crowd was over 2,000.

Today, a crowd of 2,000 is highly disappointing!  (Though  Q may be be sand-bagging a bit to call them 'quiet'!)