MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Here is the boxscore of the IWU/NCC game...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2006/miwu11.htm

North Central just outplayed IWU in every facet this evening.  After IWU jumped out to a 24-14 lead at the 11:05 mark of the 1st half, it was all Cardinals the rest of the way.  NCC finished the 1st on a 20-6 run and opened the 2nd with a 12-4 run.  They had control of this game the final 29 minutes.

I did not see this as a case of IWU being flat or getting out-hustled...I just saw two very even teams with one of them executing better on both ends of the floor.  And one team that had a player who couldn't be stopped -- Anthony Simmons was just a ton.  29 points and 10 rebounds.  I do not think Illinois Wesleyan played well tonight - don't get me wrong - but I think the reason they played poorly had everything to do with North Central.

As I posted yesterday, on paper it looked like there were a lot of reasons to take (then) 9-0 North Central seriously.  I got accused of playing "Lou Holtz" when I made those statements.  I think NCC probably has everyones' attention now.  This is a very balanced team - great post player in Simmons who can also step out and make the 3, solid guards, a really good slasher in Dan Walton, and some good role players.

NCC is talented enough and well-coached enough to win the CCIW title this season.

[Titan Q]

The great thing about this league is that, as we say, "on any given night....."  Well, what better example than this evening.  NCC wins at #1 IWU and Millikin wins at #16 Elmhurst.

The CCIW was turned upside down this evening.  Game on.

[ncccardfan]

Go Cards!  I have faith in this team and  faith in Coach Rairdon. Great game!  Now on to the next game.  Take it one game at a time.

[kenoshamark]

Carthage beats Grinnell tonight 135 -123.  Schlemm leads the way with 32 points, 15 boards and 6 assists.


http://www2.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/basketball/grin.htm#

[petemcb]

Hey, the best news tonight is that maybe we'll finally pick up a few Decatur-based chatsters this season!

[kenoshamark]

TBF,   I'm here.....bet you couldn't wait to type that quote out regarding Bowens.

By the way, since you're big on quotes, thought I would share one of yours from earlier tonight.

Happy New Year !!!!

In response to a bunch of earlier posts..........

Cardinal Fans,

You will not win at IWU tonight.  Yes, you are undefeated.  Yes, you have good, experience players.  You have not been tested by your cupcake schedule.  It will be a rude awakening again (happened last year) for NC, too bad it starts at the Shirk.

[kenoshamark]

I have a question to test some memories out there.  A few years ago, Carthage was the powerhouse of the conference and lowly North Central beat the Redmen in Kenosha on the first night of the conference season.  What was Carthage's final conference record?  And didn't North Central pull another upset on opening night another year, too?

iwufans,   the answer would be Jan. 8th, 2000 when NC beat Carthage by a score of 67 - 62.  Carthage went on to a 11-3 conference record and a 22-3 overall record.

[petemcb]

C'mon, Greg.  How can you resist posting on a night where Millikin's at the top of the standings, and a couple of nationally ranked teams are (temporarily) at the bottom?  This opportunity will not last.

[robertgoulet]

congrats to North Central on a HUGE win for the program. big step in the right direction.....can they keep it up? stay tuned.....

[kenoshamark]

Well, I was looking forward to watching the Grinnell style of play and I have to admit it made for an entertaining game.  Not something I would care to watch all that often but it was interesting to see.

Amazing how a player would drive the lane and forego a layup so they could kick it out for a three-pointer.  Grinnell shot 61 of them tonight and Carthage shot a total of.....0.  Bosko had them go to the basket every chance they could.  

Some strong minutes from Chris Lee, Billy Jacklin and Evan Guay who combined had played all of 72 minutes this year.  Nice to see these guys contribute and no telling how much time they will get with Bowens gone.  Another player who was not in uniform tonight was Mike Hart.  

[devildog29]

Not a good night to be ranked #1 in the NCAA tonight apparently.  IWU and USC both fall, then throw in Millikin over Elmhurst.  Underdog city.

[veterancciwfan]

Quote from Scott Trost on the post-game radio show: "We were outcoached, outplayed, and outhustled. NC deserved to win."  Amen. And it's refreshing to hear a losing coach admit that after a very tough loss. IWU was never in a position to win, although A'ovich had an open 3-point shot from the right corner with about 4 seconds left to tie it. When he shot it, I thought it might be another miracle shot like Crabtree made against Rose Hulman at the Shirk in the D3 playoffs in the national championship year, 1997. The shot from A'ovich was basically in the same spot on the court, but a little deeper. But A'ovich's shot was strong and had no chance of going in. Simmons (who else?)rebounded the miss. Congratulations to NCC and coach Raridon on a rare Shirk victory. IWU is now 138-13 at the Shirk and has lost 2 of the last 3 CCIW games at home (loss to Wheaton and a win against Millikin in Feb. 05). IWU plays better on the road.

[diehardfan]

I'll lead off with this because it is a story that should't get buried....

I can't believe that Elmhurst lost. Craziness!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I had pretty much written Millikin as somewhat  irrelevant, this season. More relevant to Whaton than the rest of the CCIW. While they may not win the league, they are sure going to big a big factor this season, and obviously are already!

For all the Millikin posters out there,  I, too, hope that you stick around, from the bottom of my heart

Now... did anyone notice that in the d3hoops.com press release (from IWU) that the NCC coach commented on people that had bashed their weak schedule? Lol...that totally has to be from the CCIW board! I mean, where else?

Pete, I appreciate your valient effort to hasten Greg's return. I only hope it works... I'd hate to come out there for a game this season and not get to see him.

Grrrreeeeeegggg!!! Coooommmeeee baaaaaackkk!

[Gregory Sager]

Augustana 67
North Park 53

Augie stormed out to a 16-point halftime lead, led by as many as 19 points, and then held off any NPU attempts to get back into the game in the waning minutes. NPU threatened enough to force Grey Giovanine to stick with his rotation for the entire game, but the Park never got any closer than eleven in crunch time.

Rick Harrigan led the winners with 18 points, while Jay McAdams-Thornton added 16. Ed Whitaker had 16 points and Jason Gordon chipped in 15 for the host Vikings, who fell to 2-10, 0-1 with the loss.

It was same-old, same-old for North Park -- too many turnovers, no patience on offense, and a distinct lack of help defense when the bigger Doggies got the ball into the Swietella brothers in the post. In the first half NPU looked like a team that had taken a month off rather than a week, and at one point Augie actually had NPU doubled at 32-16. Harrigan hit three treys almost immediately after the opening tipoff, and for a moment I thought that he was going to eclipse his Augie predecessor Kirk Anderson's record for most points scored by a visiting player in the crackerbox. He ended the first half with 14 points, the only player in double figures after the first stanza. NPU actually handled him quite well in the second half, as freshman Devin Burnett did an excellent job of blanketing him. But McAdams-Thornton got to the basket too many times in the second half, with a number of putbacks off the offensive glass being especially damaging.

North Park actually outscored the Doggies in the second half, and played with a great deal of energy and effort. Burnett, Whitaker, and Jay Alexander in particular had really solid games. But Augustana not only has the experience, they have the savvy and mental focus that comes with it; every time NPU would make a run, the host Vikings would cough up an unforced turnover or take an ill-advised shot early in the shot clock that would undermine their efforts. As resigned as I am to a season in which I will only likely be able to enjoy whatever incremental improvements the young NPU squad is able to make, I wasn't altogether dissatisfied with what I saw tonight. But while my expectations for their performance are low, it'd be nice to see the Park manage to put forth the kind of effort they showed in the second half for an entire forty minutes.

[Pat Coleman]

That's actually North Central's release that quotes Raridon, quotes are from the radio postgame show, same interview we cited. Illinois Wesleyan's release is available by clicking the link for the "other release" from that page.