MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dennis_Prikkel]

former Wheaton president Dr. Hudson Armerding died recently.  Dr. Armerding had the unenviable task of following V. Raymond Edman's presidency at Wheaton.

[Gregory Sager]

For those of you who are interested in following tonight's games:

Augustana @ UW-Whitewater, 7 pm
http://www.sidearmstats.com/uww/mbball/index.htm
http://uwwsports.com/sports/2007/9/20/followthewarhawks_09202007.aspx

Aurora @ Millikin, 7 pm
https://www.millikin.edu/sites/athletics/mbasketball/Pages/LiveStats.aspx

Benedictine @ North Central, 7:30 pm
http://www.sidearmstats.com/ncc/mbball/index.htm
http://www.wonc.org/

[Gregory Sager]

Final from Whitewater, WI:

UW-Whitewater 77
Augustana 66

[Gregory Sager]

Final in overtime from Decatur:

Aurora 91
Millikin 85

[Gregory Sager]

Final from Naperville:

Benedictine 66
North Central 63

BU wins the battle of Maple/Chicago Avenue, and the CCIW goes 0-3 for the night. Can't remember the last time that that's happened.

[augiefan]

I think we all need to thank Sager for his multi-tasking efforts tonight. Covering all 3 CCIW games simultaneosly is quite impressive. Sadly losses all around. I fear this is a rebuilding year in the CCIW.

[Gregory Sager]

I think we all need to thank Sager for his multi-tasking efforts tonight. Covering all 3 CCIW games simultaneosly is quite impressive. Sadly losses all around. I fear this is a rebuilding year in the CCIW.

Thanks. I look at it as practice for staying on top of multiple games during our NPU home-game broadcasts.

I've thought all along that the CCIW would be down somewhat this season, given the outstanding senior class that just graduated and the fact that this year's CCIW senior class is so weak. But losing @ Whitewater in a year in which the Warhawks are still undefeated at the holidays is not unexpected, and Aurora and Benedictine are never gimmes in any season. Still, you never figure to lose to both of them when they're each visiting a CCIW gym on a given night.

[Gregory Sager]

A glance at the evening's stats:

Augie was outshot by UWW, 52% to 43% from the field, and 36% to 13% from downtown -- Augie shot a miserable 2-15 from beyond the arc. UWW was also much better at the charity stripe, going 26-29 to Augie's 8-14. Augie won the battle of the boards by two and also had two fewer turnovers, but their inability to put the rock in the hoop with any regularity spelled doom for Grey's boys.

Kyle Nelson had a nice night, finishing with a 17 and 11 double-double. Matt Pelton was the only other Augie player to reach double figures, as he scored 12.

[Gregory Sager]

Tonight's game in Decatur was a study of contrasting styles, with the up-tempo Spartans dictating the pace of the game in spite of the defensive-minded Big Blue's desire to slow it down and play a game in the 50's or 60's. Millikin did shoot the ball very well, finishing at 52% for the night from the field and 24-30 from the line. As usual, the Big Blue did not do a good job from downtown, where they went only 3-12. Aurora shot 50% as a team, 44% from downtown, and 80% from the line. Lancaster's boys can really stroke it. MU dominated on the glass, 40-31, but turned the ball over seven more times than did AU. That's not typical of this Millikin team.

Joscar Demby was Jim Dandy tonight for Millikin, registering a double-double of 27 and 16. Charles Warren scored 20 and Corey Mitchell added 13 for the Big Blue.

[Gregory Sager]

North Central spent almost the entire evening in catch-up mode tonight, and while the Cards did make a run in crunch time that brought the game close, BU made just enough free throws to prevent NCC from getting over the hump and erasing the lead. Stats were very close; both teams shot 42% from the field, NCC made one more three-pointer than did BU (6-18 to 5-18), and the Cards went 13-17 from the line to 17-25 for the Eagles. Turnovers were even, but Benedictine outrebounded NCC by five and had six more caroms at the offensive end of the floor than did North Central.

Derek Raridon led the way for the hosts with 23 points, and Reid Barringer was his only teammate to join him in double figures, as the senior from Sycamore scored 17. Brian Evans led the Redbirds in rebounds with eight.

Augustana is now 7-3, Millikin is now 4-5, and North Central is now 5-4.

[Gregory Sager]

With Elmhurst a huge underdog tomorrow night @ UW-LaCrosse and no games scheduled for the rest of the week, this could be an 0-for-5 week for the league. Yikes!

[Dennis_Prikkel]

since the first rule of CCIW player of the week honors is - must have played in a winning game - I nominate GS as our Player of the Week. 

[augiefan]

I'll second the motion. He even provided post game analysis.

[augiefan]

It is certainly starting to look like Derek Raridon is the heir apparent to succeed Kent Raymond and Steve D. as the next super star in the CCIW. Coach's kids are usually a good bet to be solid players, but I do not believe any of Coach G's kids fit that bill. Augie could sure use a 3 point shooter to round out this team. Chris Anderson had a couple of good games, but there is really no one else who can shoot and make the 3 on this year's squad.

[Gregory Sager]

It is certainly starting to look like Derek Raridon is the heir apparent to succeed Kent Raymond and Steve D. as the next super star in the CCIW. Coach's kids are usually a good bet to be solid players, but I do not believe any of Coach G's kids fit that bill. Augie could sure use a 3 point shooter to round out this team. Chris Anderson had a couple of good games, but there is really no one else who can shoot and make the 3 on this year's squad.

What's wrong with junior Mike Avallone? He's a career .424 shooter from downtown -- he shot .453 from out there last season -- and yet he's been buried on the Augie bench this year. He's only played double-digit minutes in one game all season, and he's even had a pair of DNPs. I figured that he'd be a key player for Augie this year for precisely the reason you outlined: Grey Giavonine needs outside shooters pretty badly.