MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[dansand]

I believe the games will be on live video stream in Wheaton this weekend at www.wetn.org

That's great news.

I anticipate a solid crowd at Elmhurst.  The student body was well represented (literally as they spelled out B-L-U -- bluejays on their bare bellies) at Wheaton and brought the Elmhurst flag.  Where was this support on day 1 of the season ?    

Needless to say, that with a smaller gym,  I think RAF will be packed to the rafters.

Hey Jaybird,

You gonna break out the giant Bluejay head for this one?

[BRLHSFAN]

Thanks for the incite Pat.


BRLHSFAN,

Local politics aside, would you agree that it would be a nice venue for the finals?

I think so, I am not sure how many it holds but it's really nice.  Been a long time since I've been to a concert or anything at ISU, U of I or even Peoria Civic Center, but it basically reminded me of that.  Plenty of room and really I don't think there'd be a bad seat in the house.  Highest row didn't seem to be that far really.  For anyone wanting to know more info about it, here's a link:  http://www.uscellularcoliseum.com/


79Jaybird, I am making the trip again this Friday.  We should be there around 5ish. Good to meet you last Saturday at Wheaton, guess I need to find a portable radio to bring with me so I can listen and keep that ritual going! LOL

[Titan Q]

Thanks for the incite Pat.


BRLHSFAN,

Local politics aside, would you agree that it would be a nice venue for the finals?

I think so, I am not sure how many it holds but it's really nice.  Been a long time since I've been to a concert or anything at ISU, U of I or even Peoria Civic Center, but it basically reminded me of that.  Plenty of room and really I don't think there'd be a bad seat in the house.  Highest row didn't seem to be that far really.  For anyone wanting to know more info about it, here's a link:  http://www.uscellularcoliseum.com/


79Jaybird, I am making the trip again this Friday.  We should be there around 5ish. Good to meet you last Saturday at Wheaton, guess I need to find a portable radio to bring with me so I can listen and keep that ritual going! LOL

U.S. Cellular Coliseum is a very nice facility.  It is probably too big for the Division III Final Four - it seats 7800 for basketball.  The crowds in Salem are usually in the neighborhood of 3500 think.  Although, Bloomington is driving distance from a lot of solid D3 territory, so I'm pretty sure there would be more casual fans than Salem.

I don't think the D3 Final Four is even on the radar of anyone at the arena, so probably a moot point.

Photos:

http://www.uscellularcoliseum.com/facility/gallery/index.html?c=1&id=7&t=9

http://shopzamboni.com/images2/USCellular%20Coliseum.jpg


I'm not afraid to say I've seen REO Speedwagon, Journey, and Def Leppard at U.S. Cellular Coliseum (and not like in the '80s...the place is only 3-4 yrs old).  I'm a little more hesitant to admit I saw Head East there (even if they were the opening act).

[BRLHSFAN]

Yes I checked and it was just opened in 2006 so it's only 3 yrs old.  I agree that you could draw the casual fans more though. 

[sac]

Last years final four attendance listed on the two Hope boxscores.

vs Washington  2187
vs Ursinas 2348

Outside of the four teams, there weren't many from the general population there.  Washington and Hope had #'s near 500 each.  Amherst and Ursinas maybe a little less than half that.  Total guesses by the way.

[79jaybird]

Dansand-  Hehe,  no.  My mascot days have been retired once I graduated in '02.  I am looking forward to calling the game on Elmhurst's WRSE.  Looking at the game, I think Elmhurst is going to have their hands full,  but I have said that before against Wheaton and Elmhurst showed they are capable of playing against big time teams.  The real question for EC is going to be consistency (or lack there of) which has cost them both the CCIW reg. season title and Tournament title.

BRLHSFAN- Yes, look forward to seeing you again.  Hope the end result is a little different than last week's. 

[usee]

Sac posted this on the MIAA board and I thought it might be interesting for folks on here as well (thanks Sac)

I put UW Platteville through the offensive and defensive efficiency formulas.  Remeber its points per 100 posessions.

UWP offense  114.9
Hope offense 110.5

114 is a very efficient offense

UWP defense  96.0
Hope defense  97.5

96 is about what Albion did this year.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's all four teams at the Wheaton Regional.

Offense
Wheaton 115.8
Platteville 114.9
Fontbonne 114.8
Hope 110.5

Defense
Wheaton 95.7
Plattevill 96
Hope 97.4
Fontbonne 105.2

[usee]

Pat does a nice job on the D3 tournament overview on page 1. He also picks Wheaton as the likely team to win it all. That's a heavy cross to bear, but I think the Thunder are up to the challenge! 

One thing is certain....if the winner of the St Thomas bracket is the national champion, there will be no doubt they earned it!

[hope1]

i think hope will win friday   and saturday give wheaton  a really tough  gam saturday  night they played 1 bbfore this year it was  pretty close as i remember.
hope is still selling tickets for fridays game maybe not a see out a lot of people are watching the hope girls play friday

[markerickson]

haha..."heavy cross to bear"...with the championship around Easter and Wheaton perhaps int he mix!

Anybody here seen St. Thomas?  My dad knows a talented freshman who is on the jv squad at STU.

[Sakman 1111]

Whitewater appears to be a difficult matchup for Elmhurst. Very quick talented guards that can score have been a nemesis for the Bluejays all year.....simply our guards have a hard time defending off the dribble. Probably see more zone defenses from the Bluejays this game. Given all that Elmhurst can beat anyone if they are hitting from the outside( .....need Childs, Burks, and Strzemp to have good games......

[petemcb]

Last years final four attendance listed on the two Hope boxscores.

vs Washington  2187
vs Ursinas 2348

Outside of the four teams, there weren't many from the general population there.  Washington and Hope had #'s near 500 each.  Amherst and Ursinas maybe a little less than half that.  Total guesses by the way.

I have to think that Wisconsin and Illinois  themselves could/would come up with 2500 fans or more at a venue like the King or the Tarble up in Kenosha, never mind the fans of the four schools participating in the Final Four.  How did it end up in Salem anyway?  Was that considered to be a d3 hotbed?

[AndOne]

Last years final four attendance listed on the two Hope boxscores.

vs Washington  2187
vs Ursinas 2348

Outside of the four teams, there weren't many from the general population there.  Washington and Hope had #'s near 500 each.  Amherst and Ursinas maybe a little less than half that.  Total guesses by the way.

I have to think that Wisconsin and Illinois  themselves could/would come up with 2500 fans or more at a venue like the King or the Tarble up in Kenosha, never mind the fans of the four schools participating in the Final Four.  How did it end up in Salem anyway?  Was that considered to be a d3 hotbed?

Its always seemed logical to me that the finals be more centrally located  instead of on the eastern edge of the country. Especially with so many good teams in the OH, IN, MI, IL, WI, IA, MO area. Often less travel for more teams. Maybe Salem gave the NCAA a large payout? How about the Final Four at the Allstate Arena (is is still called that)? Couldn't be more convenient for air travel and there are a multitude of hotel rooms and places to eat locally.

[monsoon]

At Allstate???  Only if you want 3/4 of the seats to be empty.  It makes no sense in any way, shape or form.  And I'm not sure there's any talk (other than here) about moving out of Salem, anyway.

[petemcb]

At Allstate???  Only if you want 3/4 of the seats to be empty.  It makes no sense in any way, shape or form.  And I'm not sure there's any talk (other than here) about moving out of Salem, anyway.

You mean there's a world outside of here?!