MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[augiefan]

Augie blows a big lead in the 2nd half but holds on for a 60-57 win over Elmhurst. Michael led Elmhurst with 22 pts. and Martin was held to 12. Harrigan pretty much did it all for Augie with 27 pts., but was only 2 of 6 from the FT line.

In fact Augie's inability to make FTs in crunch time almost cost them the game. McAdams Thornton was in foul trouble much of the game and wasn't much of a factor (7 ts.). An ugly one, but a wins a win.

[augiefan]

NCC beat Aurora on the road tonight 102-73. This was a worse beating than NIU administered to  Aurora in Dekalb earlier this year. Given IWU's struggles at Carthage tomight and Augie's narrow win at home, it looks like NCC may be the new conference favorite. They are very impressive.

[kenoshamark]

Here is the box score from tonights Carthage - IWU game.

http://www2.carthage.edu/athletics/mens/basketball/iwu1.htm#GAME.BOX

What a heartbreaker as Carthage goes down by a score of 80-79.   Carthage had a chance but Kyle Jeffery's shot bounced off the rim.  It was a good look and a clean shot that just didn't go down. 

When Amelianovich missed one of two free throws to give Carthage the chance to take the final shot you could sense the crowd was going to taste a major upset but it just wasn't meant to be. 

Couldn't be prouder of the effort put forth tonight by the team and the coaching staff.  Bosko had them well prepared and this was as good a 40 minutes by a Carthage team that I have seen in the last couple of years.  With the recent academic casualities and other losses it was really going to take a team effort tonight and then on top of it, starting point guard, Scott Hood, was on crutches and out too.

What a game by Kyle Jeffery and Malik Imani who scored 25 and 21 respectively,   Imani was unconscious to start the game nailing 5 three pointers in the first hald and 4 of them within the first 4 minutes.  He finished shooting 7-12 from long range.  Jeffery was also very effective from 15 feet out going 10-18 (4-10 from behind the arc).

[dansand]

While I still think IWU is the favorite, North Central has definitely made a statement this week. Aurora appears to be a little down as compared to last year, but a 29-point beating on the road is mighty impressive. I'd have to put the Cardinals ahead of the two teams I saw at Carver Center tonight. Augie was fortunate to hang on in a real struggle with Elmhurst. A typically ugly game for the Vikes. I'm getting used to watching gritty defensive-minded wins by this team, but what concerns me about tonight's game is that they seemed to really lack any killer instinct and toughness. They had built a big 27-13 lead with 45 seconds left in the first half and let it dwindle down to three early in the second half. Then, after getting the lead back to 17 with 14 minutes left, let the Bluejays chip away. The lead was still 10 with 2:12 left. They never scored again, with Drew Wessels missing three free throws (the first was also the front end of a one-and-one) and Dain Swetalla missing what would have been a game-clinching dunk. However, the Bluejays weren't able to get a good look at a 3 on the final possession and the Vikes pulled out the win. A very physical game. Augie (particularly Nate Swetalla) did a good job on Chris Martin, although he did start to warm up in the second half. Offensively, Augie looked good when they pushed the ball and got shots off the secondary break (Often Harrigan pulling up for three's), but, predictably, struggled when they got bogged down in the motion offense. I wish Coach G would loosen the reigns just a little. The recipe of good defense and a lot of Harrigan has been very successful so far this year. However, they'll need to be a lot tougher down the stretch in close games than they were tonight. Actually, it shouldn't have even ended up being close.

[kenoshamark]

Not sure why there were some comments posted already about IWU playing poorly, I thought they looked good but ran up against a very determined Carthage team.  They shot 54% from the field and although they did miss some free throws down the stretch, they made some huge shots throughout the game that never allowed Carthage to make a big run.  

You absolutely have to play a strong 40 minutes to have a chance against IWU.  Just to many weapons and they mix up how they attach you so well.  They started by drilling a number of threes and then started to go inside to the Jones boys.  Freeman was pretty quiet in the first half but was more effective in the second stanza.  

Amelianovich led with 16 and was impressed by how well he went to the hole a couple of times.  Chris Jones put in 15 and went 6-6 down low.  

Although Carthage was out-rebounded tonight by a 39-25 advantage that really had more to do with the limited number of shots IWU took (only 50 compared to 65 for Carthage).  Great job handling the ball tonight as Carthage racked up 22 assists and only 5 turnovers.  

This one was a tough one to lose and you could really see it on the face of the Carthage coaches - they fought so hard and prepared so well, you just hate to lose these.

A win would have really topped off the night as their was an alumni game earlier in the day so many of the players stuck around and they would have been proud to see a win against IWU.

Some of the alums were, Jason Wiertel, Rob Garnes, Theo Powell, Kevin Menard, Bart Fabian, Brett Nishibayashi, Trevor Cockayne, Pat Kalamatas, Jim Oboikowitch, Assistant Coaches, Antoine McDaniel and Cory Wilson and others I'm sure I missed.

Lot of memories were brought back by seeing those great players tonight and a win would have only made it sweeter.

If the players continue with the same effort for the rest of the season, I will say it again, their is a bright future !!!

[sports]

Mark Scherer's quote about his players paying too much attention to the Internet and not enough attention to boxing out really cracked me up. If he's angling to take Rees Johnson's place as the CCIW coach most likely to grouse about this message board, the position is wide open. 

Seriously, I don't think that Elmhurst is the team most likely to lose perspective due to being stroked too much by CCIW Chat comments. Those of us who have commented upon the 'jays at length, such as Bluejaybacker and myself, have not praised the 'jays unequivocally. I don't think any Elmhurst player would be likely to get a big head from reading CCIW Chat, with the possible exception of Chris Martin -- and if there's one guy in this league who strikes me as being immune to outside comments, whether good or bad, it's Chris Martin.

[sports]

Possibly Elmhurst's loss to Millikin was due to Scherer's wild substitutions in the first half in which Bluejays scored 30 points. In the second half when he let one squad play without constant player changes Elmhurst scored 45 points.

[Stat]

Carthage lost on the free throw line. 8 for 15.  It seemed like all those misses were the first of a one on one.

The Hack a Shaq did come into play at the 4 minute mark as Freeman got pummeled.

Sorry,was just not impressed with this group of greenies.
The exception being the Jones brothers.

Dauksas, had his palms up all night, what me foul ref?

Freeman had moments down low, but pretty much invisible.

#1,  dont' think so.

But congrats on a win to lowly Carthage.

If not for the last second miss, my lordy lordy, turmoil in Normal.

[usee]

Jon was one of the last people to leave the gym after that Calvin playoff loss. (I know this because I was doing something like standing with my mouth open looking at the vistors basket.)  

April,

as an aside i am interested in this because this was one of the only games i made it to last year and my distinct memory of the game was watching JS walk out of the Gym as soon as the final horn sounded in obvious disgust. Having watched him in a couple games last year and many more the year prior, it was obvious he is a great player and true sportsman so i was surprised by this particluar incident. Anyway, thanks for pointing out the article, i enjoyed reading it.

the only unfortunate thing about IWU losing to NCC at the shirk and squeaking by Carthage in Kenosha is that now all the other CCIW "contenders" may actually think they have a chance vs these guys. My bet is IWU finishes w 1 loss in conference. (and this is from someone who would like nothing more than for them to finish with 1 win).

[Gregory Sager]

the only unfortunate thing about IWU losing to NCC at the shirk and squeaking by Carthage in Kenosha is that now all the other CCIW "contenders" may actually think they have a chance vs these guys. My bet is IWU finishes w 1 loss in conference. (and this is from someone who would like nothing more than for them to finish with 1 win).

... and if that happens (Wesleyan going 13-1), nobody will ultimately remember how close Carthage came to beating them. All the wins eventually blur together, while the big upsets stick out in your mind forever. Just look at how many people remember that North Central upset over Carthage the year that Bosko went on to win his first CCIW title in Kenosha. That upset took place five years ago today, and yet people were bringing it up just this week on CCIW Chat.

[titanhammer]

Stat, good prod at us greenies.  However, I have one back at ya...just two words:  Jeff Gibbs (since you had an alumni game tonight).

I'll have to talk to Q about this one before I can get a read.  However, if they play to their ability, I know the '05 - '06 Titans are as good as previously advertised.  Playing to their ability means taking zero possessions off.  They have to play with "The Edge" for fourty minutes.

By the way, didn't even recognize Bosko when he was on the WJBC post game show.  His voice was all there (didn't sound like he had half a voice box) and sounded like he was running for mayor (not like he had just lost a heart breaker).  I'm assuming the tan is as good as always.

[veterancciwfan]

The pummeling Freeman took, mentioned by Stat, was a near flagrant foul by Schlemm. Freeman was on the floor in pain for over a minute, left the game, and was replaced at the line by Chris Jones. The ref thought about it, and decided not to go the intentional foul route. But Bosko, to his credit, immediately benched Schlemm. He didn't return until the 1:23 mark, so he sat for about 3 minutes during crunch time. It was obvious the ref who called him on the Freeman foul was keeping a close watch on Schlemm when he returned for an IWU out-of-bounds play under the IWU basket. Schlemm pushed and shoved A'ovich and the same ref immediately called him for his 5th foul. Schlemm is a very good player. Maybe his Air Force stint caused him to be what I would call nicely "overagressive." He is probaly the 05/06 version of Rueben Slock. If Carthage plays the remaining 13 league games 80% as well as they played tonight, they will be in the conf. tournament. Their offensive efficiency is much higher than Augie's.

[Titan Q]

IWU did not play great tonight, but sure didn't play poorly either (except for a bunch of missed FT's down the stretch...it almost cost IWU the game).  Carthage was outstanding with Malik Imani unconscious from 3 most of the game and Kyle Jeffery nailing tough 18 footer after tough 18 footer with IWU defenders flying at him.  We interviewed Bosko on WJBC after we interviewed Scott Trost and Bosko said it was by far his team's best showing in terms of hustle, desire, execution, shooting, etc.. 

IWU could not stop Carthage for any sustained period of time - too many Red Men were hot offensively.  The Titans won this game offensively, where they executed very well and had a very balanced attack.  IWU shot 54% from the field, including 8-18 (44%) from 3.  Five Titans scored in double figures - Amelianovich (16), Chris Jones (15), Cory Jones (14), Zach Freeman (14), and Adam Dauksas (10).

Carthage may find that they're a better team without Trey Bowens and Mike Hart, simply from a standpoint of Jeffery, Schlemm, and Imani getting more shots.  In other words, it is much more clear to those guys now who has to step up and play.  There is a lot of talent on this Red Men team and as WRJN broadcaster John Weiser said after the game, tonight they put it together for 40 minutes for the first time all season long.

Championship teams survive tough games like this and IWU found a way to win.

[Titan Q]

Stat, this is the most talented Illinois Wesleyan team I've been around, and I've been around for 3 trips to Salem, including a title.  Sorry you're not impressed with these greenies, but I sure wouldn't trade IWU's roster with that of any Division III team.

[Titan Q]

The Pantagraph's article on the game...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/01/07/sports/103199.txt

Long day...time for bed.