MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[devildog29]

I think Q always puts it best when he says of course on any given night, anyone can beat anyone, otherwise, why play the game.  That being said, to win at the Shirk against 2 or possibly 3 all-Americans this year with a packed crowd of green making a ruckus would be quite a feat.  Of course it can be done.  It's happened what 10 or 11 times over the past 11+ years?  With the way the Titans have been playing this year, though, a team would have to catch them on an extremely off night.  The possibility of Dauksas, Amelianovich, Freeman, and both Jones' all being off on the same night is pretty improbable though.  It seems that all those seniors realize that this is the last year they are going to have to win the Nat'l championship that they undoubtedly have the talent to win.  It seems they realized after the quick exit in last year's tournament that they can't take anything for granted this year and win by just showing up and putting on the uniform.  Do they have the talent to go undefeated through the conf. season this year?  Absolutely.  Is it probable?  I doubt it because the conference is just too tough to do so.  Just like Illinois last year in the Big 10.  It's just too hard to go 14-0.  That being said, if a loss is going to happen, it's going to be in somebody else's gym where the Titans don't get the same bounces and rolls like they would get in the Shirk.  Here's hoping they prove everyone wrong though and sweep......

[rknuppel]

Albion 74, Elmhurst 66

No details yet.  Just the score.

[dansand]

UW-Stout 70, Augie 66.

Harrigan had 25, McAdams-Thornton 19. Looks like the Viking big men were outplayed by Stout's. Too many turnovers & poor shooting (30% in the first half--38.9% overall). 14 3-pointers! I think that ties the school record. Unfortunately that means, if my math is right, the Vikes hit 30.4% inside the arc. Ouch.

[iwu70]

IWU wins, 104-87.

[John Gleich]

IWU beats UPS 104-87

UPS cut a 20+ lead to 6 with 4 minutes to go, but it was too little too late.  Titans ended the game on a 15-2 odd run (that's approximate, I have no clue what it actually was, that's about right though).

UPS controlled the second half (esp the tempo and the way the game would be played) causing IWU TO's and wreaking overall havoc on the Titans.

[Jim Matson]

Looks like Wesleyan is on their way to winning their second Byron Classic at Westmont.  I think they'll handle host Westmont by 15 or so.

The Tourney has some Wheaton connections: it is named after a Wheaton grad, Tom Byron, and in 2002 and 2003, former Wheaton player Kevin Blomstrom was the tourney MVP (playing for Westmont).

Here is the link to the tourney program:

http://www.westmont.edu/_sports/static/basketball_mens/2005TomByronProgram.pdf

[Mr. Ypsi]

IWU 70, Mr. Ypsi. et al--
   A few points concerning the recent discussion on point guards--
  There's a good reason Steve Laub's assist totals aren't to be found.  We didn't keep them then but he would have had plenty. We weren't calling anyone a point guard then, either.  Laub was the consummate team player.  In his senior season, 1966,  he was the only returning starter but led  IWU to the conference title and led the team in field goal percentage with .454.
   T he  arrival of Brad Gregurich in 1979 marked the first time  we referred to a point guard.   I believe Gregurich's assist totals would be considerably higher under current conditions.  We didn't dish them out as freely then as I believe they do now.  Like Laub he was an unselfish player.

Thanks for confirming that my memory had not gone COMPLETELY around the bend!  I was pretty damn sure that Steve Laub was a helluva point guard, even if they hadn't yet invented the term on the stat sheet!

[Mr. Ypsi]

And by the way Ypsi, don't get all upset that Wesleyan is a travelling to a "conservative" Christian school to play a tourney where a few Merry Christmas greetings may have been uttered. 

Oh my goodness, Jim!

What did I post (probably past 2 am!) that led to that!!  I personally greet peope with 'Merry Christmas!'  Though with the total B***S*** from scumbags like Bill O'Reilly who think 'Happy Holidays' is an ATTACK on Christmas, I don't doubt that I might have said something untoward! 

In my view the anti-PC people are the most PC people there are!  I really wish everyone could get off the (headed-for-a-headon-crash) bandwagons and realize that the best antidote for arguments you don't like is YOUR argument.  Don't stifle it, refute it!

Particularly this year, anyone who would be OFFENDED by 'Happy Holidays' is a BIGOT, since Hanukkah and Kwanzaa both began within one day of Christmas.

[The Roop]

PS managed to cover the 21 point spread I made the other day. No doubt a point shaving incident. 

[bluejaybacker1]

Albion 74
Elmhurst 66

Well Scherer decided to front Crawford in the post the whole game. He had 20 at the half. I believe he ended up with 34 for the game. Lob after lob entered the post leading to some easy buckets. He had about 3-4 3 point plays off this. Crawford ate us up all night. He is a very polished in finishing inside and uses his size very well. He shot great from the line all night. None of our defenders were ever really given a chance to stop him one on one which would have been nice to at least try.

The game was a great game to watch especially coming down the stretch for a good five to six mins both teams traded the lead and buckets. Elmhurst was down a bit early in the second half by 10 at one point. We came back to go up by 2 a few times but couldnt hang on to it. The D really tightened up in coming back. The killer was when Albions' PG hit a 3 to go up 68-64. He had 14 for the night and really is a solid player. We missed 3 3's in the next few mins and they then had free throws coming and iced the game. Martin had 21 and the rest was pretty even with Strzemp having 9, Gersh 7, Bacon 7. 

The officiating was very inconsistent. This went for and against both teams. The offcials really affected both teams in the games with poor calls going both for and against the two teams. One thing that really stuck out is an Albion shooter #24 was at the free throw line and the score was 68 or 69?-64, he went to dribble the ball at the line and set up for his shot. He dribbled it off his foot and it rolled to one of our players. Is this not a lane violation?? So they gave it back the ball back to him and proceeded to make his shot. This would have been a real nice win, and our road woes continue. We NEED to start winning on the road otherwise conference is going to be rough.

[Titan Q]

Here is the IWU/Puget Sound boxscore...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2006/miwu9.htm

* Keelan Amelianovich: 24 pts, 7 reb
* Adam Dauksas: 22 pts, 12 assists/3 T.O.
* Chris Jones: 14 pts, 7 reb, 7-7 FG

* Zack McVey: 26 pts, 12 reb
* Curtiss Chase: 24 pts, 4 reb

IWU turnovers = 17 (Puget Sound average forced = 33)
Puget Sound turnovers = 24

Rebounds: IWU 45 Puget Sound 35

FG%: IWU .582, Puget Sound .387


IWU led by 21 at halftime and still by 21 with 9:22 to play in the 2nd half.  The Loggers made an impressive 5 minute run, getting the Titan lead down to 6 with 4:22 to play.  IWU's players looked completely worn out and Coach Trost said exactly that in our postgame show - "physically and mentally drained" is what he said I think.  The Titans settled down behind a huge Matt Arnold 3 with 4:06 to play that pushed the lead back to 9.

I didn't know what to think of Puget Sound as a "national power" before the game, and I still really don't know what to make of them.  Man for man, they aren't even close to a CCIW 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place team...but their system is crazy.  Their pressure is as intense as any I have ever seen, at any level.  They just completely wear you out.  Wherever the ball is, they have two guys all over it...and every single player is forced to handle the basketball.  It's tiring to watch!

Besides that 5 minute stretch in the 2nd half, IWU dominated Puget Sound...the Titans just have too many weapons for the Loggers.  I'd say Puget Sound is overrated at #5, but the may be a legitate top 10-15 team due to how well they execute their system.  Of the other ranked teams I have seen this year, Puget Sound is better than Hanover but not as good as Elmhurst.

[Titan Q]

The Pantagraph's piece on the game...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2005/12/30/sports/102374.txt

[Pat Coleman]

Call me crazy, but I'd always thought Happy Holidays referred to Christmas and New Year's. Never took it as an attack on Christmas.

[dansand]

One thing that really stuck out is an Albion shooter #24 was at the free throw line and the score was 68 or 69?-64, he went to dribble the ball at the line and set up for his shot. He dribbled it off his foot and it rolled to one of our players. Is this not a lane violation?? So they gave it back the ball back to him and proceeded to make his shot. This would have been a real nice win, and our road woes continue. We NEED to start winning on the road otherwise conference is going to be rough.

bluejaybacker1,

Believe it or not, I'm pretty sure the officials got that one right.
It's not a lane violation any more than dribbling (inside the free throw line) before attempting the shot.

[iwumichigander]

Tough night for the CCIW on the 29th, offset by the IWU win over #5 UPS 

Missed the first half of the IWU game due to internet connection problems, but listening to the 2nd half and seeing the stats this morning -- A really outstanding job from the bench last night - Chris Jones (14) , Matt Arnold (9) and Steve Schweer (11) with solid rebounding by Jones (7) and Schweer (6)

Maybe the best first few minutes to start a game this year by the Titans; and, solid 5 minute efforts at the start & finish of each half.

A really impressive fight from behind by UPS which find a way to find their game in the 2nd half. 

I don't think Westmont will offer up the same type of challenge that UPS did last night.  Tonight should be more of a "classic style" game. 

Should be an interesting next Top 25 with Wooster, UPS, Augustana, Elmhurst and others taking losses.  And, where will the voters put Amherst who did not play?