MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[gdog83]

After seeing another IWU game last night,  it is clear that the entire team continues to play tight and their basketball skills are diminished because they are playing the game in fear of making a mistake.  

Talent and X's and O's will not get it done in a competitive league.  The 3rd ingredient must be the mental part of the game.  Personal and team confidence starts at the top and is just as important as talent and execution.  

I am curious to know how many fast break points IWU had last night.......not many if I recall.  Credit EC's heart/desire and IWU's lack of confidence.

[iwumichigander]

Great exciting game at Elmhurst tonight.  I must say that Dauksas was the MVP even in the loss. He single handedly kept IWU in the game.  Great to see the Jays play a full game limiting the turnovers!!
I was also impressed with how the Jays kept Keelan quiet.
This year ( as in most years and sports) the CCIW is as cutthroat and parity stricken as ever.  That makes each and every game exciting.  If I were to pick 4 teams for the Tournament right now it would be 1) Augustana 2) IWU 3) NC/Mill 4) Elmhurst  and that's as far as I go because anybody can beat anybody.

Hmm  - that's five not four 79jaybird!

[iwumichigander]

I made notes last night listening to the Elmhurst/ IWU game of a critical period in the 2nd half where I think IWU lost the momentum and the game.  At 14:27 IWU was down by 9.  During the next 6:51 IWU had a 13 - 2 run but it was what IWU did not do during the run which may have cost them the W:

During that 6:51:
Elmhurst committed 7 fouls (going from 2 team fouls to 9); missed 8 shots; turnover the ball 4 times and stole the ball twice (failing to convert).  Their only score was a 2 point Brian Lee jumper @ 10:41.

While the Titans scored 13 points, only 1 of 4 Elmhurst turnovers was converted into points (Freeman dunk) with the other 3 opportunities lost to 1 turnover and 2 misses for which Elmhurst got the defensive rebound.  IWU also missed 5 shots (includes the two misses off turnovers) during that period  3 layups and 2 - 3's  and 2 Free Throws.  That was just too many blown scoring opportunites against the Bluejays who stayed in the game playying hard defense.

During the remaining 7+ minutes, subsequent to a Nic Michael layup tying the game 47 all,  the Titans went 1 - 5 FTs, missed 5 treys (Arnold 3 Dauksas 2) and two jumpers (only one in the paint I think) while scoring 15 points.  Meanwhile, Chris Martin got on fire!

[augie_superfan]

Now I haven't seen or even listened to an IWU game this year but just looking over the box scores from the games, I have a question for anyone familiar with IWU basketball this year.

Ever since Arnold came back, he has quickly taken over most of the minutes at the 2 guard while not really showing much in terms of the stat columns so far.  I'm just curious why Scott Trost so quickly gave Arnold most of his minutes back without proving much on the court this year (statistically that is).  Arnold, Fisher and McGraw all have about the same scoring average while Fisher and especially McGraw, are playing less minutes.

Also, Arnold is only shooting 30%, while Fisher and McGraw are shooting 46% and 53% respectively.

Now, I can see how Trost would give Arnold back his minutes right away since he proved last year that he could play really well, but to me, it is hard to justify when your team was rolling beforehand and your 2-guard tandem was playing solidly.  Obviously, IWU doesn't need a huge contribution from it's 2-guard but I was just surprised to see Arnold playing 34 minutes last night and shooting poorly when Fisher and McGraw only got 9 minutes and the opportunity to take 1 shot.

[diehardfan]

From the pantagraph article:

"Chris was throwing up today," Scherer said. "His strength is his incredible focus and competitive spirit. I don't think anyone would call him a pure shooter, but he plays his heart out in order to win."

Saying he did not feel as effective on the inside because of a recent illness, Martin scored all 15 of his points on five 3-pointers."

What a fighter! I love it! Games like this are some of the reasons why I was so happy to hear about his comeback this year.

Despited the expanded Pool C, I'm not sure Elmhurst can get into the playoffs any other way besides winning the conference tourney.... I have some early skepticism that given their in-region record, they'd be let in considering how fournula-based the process is. Could they make an interesting run? Of course, I just hope they get the chance.

Augie could easily be 1-3 at this point while Carthage has lost by just 9 points for all three conference games combined.  They could easily be 3-0.  Some pretty good and close games so far this year

Here's something even more mind-boggling. IWU is not that far from being 0-4!

Here's something even more mind boggling. Wheaton who lost (in over of top scorers from last year) 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9(x2 currently since Johnnie is still out) options right now, could be undefeated in the conference right now. 

Goo Wheaton!

Is it too early for me to request that NCC or Elmhurst get the top seed in the conf tourney, so that I can get to the games more easily, should I choose to fly out for the conference tourney? 

[augiedad]

TD Bears!

Just looking at the EC/IWU boxscore a little.  Why in the world is Scott Trost playing K. Amelianovich 40 minutes??

http://elmhurst.edu/~athletic/Home/M-Basket/stats/2005-2006/melm15.htm

People here are wondering what was wrong with K.A. last night, well for one, he had to have been gassed!  I know they used media timeouts last night, but still.

Chris Martin only played 30 minutes.

Seems like Trost is losing his grip on his rotation as things are getting tough.  The IWU off guard spot is a mess too.  Fisher 6 minutes?  McGraw 3 minutes?  Those two are good players who played well before Arnold returned, right?

[bluejaybacker1]

Augiedad- Martin played fewer mins. then normal last night especially considering that the importance of the game due to foul trouble. He had to be taken out in the 2nd half after he picked up his 3rd with almost 11 mins left he came out for a 2-3 mins and then when he picked up his 4th with 7 mins left he proceeded to hit his 3 3's in a row and then left the game with 4 mins left for another 2 mins to aviod picking up his 5th. If it weren't for foul trouble I guarentee Martin would have sat less especially coming down the stretch.

[Elmhurst_Mom]

titanhammer....i just felt the need to respond to you...given my name i don't have to tell you why.  i really respect you all on d3hoops...you teach me so much and are always more than respectful.  as for last nights game against elmhurst...i was at the same game and must admit i saw keelan "snow-plowing" himself...don't get me wrong...keelan and adam are great ball players and most definitely deserve their all-american status as does zach freeman in our opinion....however, let's give credit where credit is due....elmhurst played hard, did great from the free throw line and played well defensively, they came through as a team, their desire was great as you can imagine...martin most certainly contributed in the stretch and together they deserved that win.  I've been watching elmhurst face the titans for the last 3 years without a win and i am here to admit that it was sweet.  keelan is not only an all american in talent but he also has an EXCELLENT sportsman attitude which in my book is what makes him BETTER than the rest.  he and others are why i love and follow college ball...they play with such passion....but i don't believe that the titans didn't pull it off last night cuz someone was tuggin' on their  shirst and tatoos too much"...you and others have been quoted as saying that "elmhurst tends to play to their level" and that they did last night!

[Jim Matson]

I guess that's why he's the Titan Hammer...

[titanhammer]

Elmhurst Mom, I have no problem with your response.  However, I stand by my statements:  if the refs let players hold and camp in the lanes, it makes a difference.  If you have played the game, you know how much it throws a player out of the flow when they are pulled off balance.  I'm sure the Titans got away with a few fouls as well, but I didn't see any of the Elmhurst players flat out get mugged like Keelan and Zach did.  As a Titan fan, it was frustrating...just like they called IWU for 3 or so basket interference calls, but they missed the most obvious one on Elmhurst toward the end of the game when IWU was still in it.

All that being said, Elmhurst did their work on scouting and knowing what the Titans were going to do.  There were countless times the Elmhurst player would beat the IWU player to where the ball was going, usually resulting in a turnover.  On the other side of the ball, the IWU zone was much too reactive instead of being anticipatory - which is the only way a zone will be effective.  If a zone is working, a team can't make repeated cross court passes like Elmhurst did last night.

The poor officiating almost resulted in the worst thing of all last night:  both teams where getting rather "short fused" towards the end.  The refs had let it get to a point where you knew that was coming.  Lesser individuals than what these teams possess, would have been scrappin'.

Bottom line is that both teams are 2 - 2 in the conference and will need to do better than .500 if they want to secure post season (conf tourney) play.

Also, save this quote:  I appreciate the Elmhurst students handing out the overrated chant as the Titans will silence that noise on February 4.

[titanhammer]

By the way, I have never said anything about Elmhurst "playing to their level".  This is the first time that I have seen Elmhurst play this year and would not make that kind of statement without observing them in action.

If someone does see a tape of the game or on TV (since there were media time outs), I would like to hear their opinion of the Martin on Freeman hard foul toward the end of the game.  He MAY have been going for the ball, but he knew he would catch a lot of body as well.  I'm all for physical play, but not while someone is that high in the air.  Either player could have been hurt in that instance and it's not worth it.

[Titan Q]

The great thing about IWU falling in the polls now to #10 or whatever, is that I may actually be able to go to a Titan game and not hear the "over-rated" chorus.  I believe we're up to about 8 overrated chants on the 2005-06 season (and IWU has only lost twice).  Maybe if the Titans play really well somewhere now the opposing students will chant "under-rated"??

[Pat Coleman]

The great thing about IWU falling in the polls now to #10 or whatever, is that I may actually be able to go to a Titan game and not hear the "over-rated" chorus.

It's all about you, isn't it?

[Elmhurst_Mom]

point taken...and i can appreciate your frustration as i have felt that many times at the Shirk...i just felt like elmhurst did the job, taking care of the ball and holding their lead for the entire game other than the 2 pt spread near the end...i'm certainly no expert in b-ball like you and i mean that sincerely, i'm just not convinced that poor officiating was the cause here...

and as far as saving your quote....no thanks...i heard that at the Shirk last year too and i HATE that cheer no matter what school chants it...i just love the game and respect their passion.

[iwumichigander]

...you and others have been quoted as saying that "elmhurst tends to play to their level" and that they did last night!

Dear Mom - I honestly do not recall ANY IWU posters making that statement about Elmhurst.  We have a lot of respect for Elmhurst; and, remember your JV Coach is a Titan 

We have, and quite forthrightly, made that statement about our own Titans. 

As to officiating, its part of the game; however, when two coaches as good as both Scherer & Trost get called to the middle of the court by 3 officials to get a warning; those officials really need to take a hard look at what and how they are calling the game.  There is a reason why two coaches get on three officials; and, it is usually not how the players are playing the game!

Elmhurst won last night fair and square.