MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

By the way, Augie's offense (outside FT attempts!) was really solid down the stretch - very smart, very efficient.  They either got good looks or got fouled.

Kyle Nelson has turned into a great player.  He's a 1st Teamer.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I said on CCIW-updates (back when Carthage was stomping Augie) that it looked like the tourney would be in Kenosha.  Despite Augie's comeback, that is still my prediction.

I just can't see Carthage losing another game - they finish with NCC and NPU at home, and Elmhurst and Millikin on the road.  Not a guaranteed sweep, but I just can't find the loss.

Meanwhile, IWU, Augie, and Wheaton each play each other - Augie gets them all at home, but I have doubts about any of them sweeping (and Augie sweeping still wouldn't be enough if Carthage doesn't lose).

I hope the Carthage event staff is getting prepared.

[John Gleich]

Tough night for ranked teams from the Cheesehead state...  River Falls beat #6 Whitewater, Lake Forest beat #9 St. Norbert, and Augie beat #23 Carthage.

Good thing #4 Stevens Point didn't play... but they took care of picking up the L on Wednesday...!   

[CCIWchamps]

In the first half Wheaton extended its defense in order to force North Park's guards to drive longer to the basket and to take away the high screens by Emanuel Crosby and Nick Williams. It was very effective, and Wheaton pulled out into a double-digit lead, although NPU brought it back to within six at halftime, 30-24. But Wheaton opened up the second half absolutely on fire from all over the court, especially Ben Panner -- he was knocking down shots from everywhere. Meanwhile, at the other end of the floor, the Vikings offense sputtered and stopped. They couldn't knock down anything from long range (1-11 on the night), in spite of plenty of good looks, and the entry passes into the low post were made from so far out that Wheaton had plenty of time to get weak-side help in to counter Crosby and Williams whenever they got the ball into their hands. Ben Panner, who was very much the best player on the floor today, did a terrific job of neutralizing Ro Russell, and nobody else except for Gonzalez and his activity on the boards really contributed anything for NPU. The Vikings played the second half like a team that couldn't wait to get back on the bus and get out of DuPage County.

You're right.  BP was huge.  HUGE huge. 
I think Wheaton must've done some soul searching after their recent skid and decided to get it together to end the season on a high note.  And if this is the result, I will take it.  Panner set the tone early.  He's going to be even more important as they head down the stretch.  He looked similar to how he was in the tourney last year- composed and controlling the tempo.  Also as a flashback of sorts- it seemed like Jake had some pep in his step as well.  He was definitely more involved than I seem to remember him lately.   

[iwumichigander]

I said on CCIW-updates (back when Carthage was stomping Augie) that it looked like the tourney would be in Kenosha.  Despite Augie's comeback, that is still my prediction.

I just can't see Carthage losing another game - they finish with NCC and NPU at home, and Elmhurst and Millikin on the road.  Not a guaranteed sweep, but I just can't find the loss.

Meanwhile, IWU, Augie, and Wheaton each play each other - Augie gets them all at home, but I have doubts about any of them sweeping (and Augie sweeping still wouldn't be enough if Carthage doesn't lose).

I hope the Carthage event staff is getting prepared.

You might end up eating these written words

[Mr. Ypsi]

I said on CCIW-updates (back when Carthage was stomping Augie) that it looked like the tourney would be in Kenosha.  Despite Augie's comeback, that is still my prediction.

I just can't see Carthage losing another game - they finish with NCC and NPU at home, and Elmhurst and Millikin on the road.  Not a guaranteed sweep, but I just can't find the loss.

Meanwhile, IWU, Augie, and Wheaton each play each other - Augie gets them all at home, but I have doubts about any of them sweeping (and Augie sweeping still wouldn't be enough if Carthage doesn't lose).

I hope the Carthage event staff is getting prepared.

You might end up eating these written words

I would do so with relish!

Hold the ketchup.

[petemcb]

Great job by the Carlson Crazies and their cohorts, by the way. In spite of the time change, the NPU student section was in the house and large and loud and proud. Wheaton AD Tony Ladd could move this game to six o'clock in the morning, and the Crazies would still be there.

Not only was it a great job by the Crazies et al, but they out-performed and even out-attended the Wheaton football team who usually compose a significant amount of whatever vocal and energetic student contingent shows up to a Wheaton game.  Where was the football team yesterday?  Did they miss the 5 p.m. start time?

[petemcb]

I've seen schools do the "men's game first, women's ame follows" and it always leads to an embarrassing result.  (I've seen it in basketball and soccer.)  What will happen will be a mass exodus after the men play, and the women will observe it while they are warming up.  American culture is not going to change, at least in any of our lifetimes.

I'm watching the NPU @ WC women's game on WETN, and the gym is practically empty. I feel sorry for both teams. I think that the Wheaton administration stuck it to them by scheduling them for the late game, because your prediction came true -- mass exodus during the women's warmups, and they had to watch all those people leave.

It might have appeared empty, but I stuck around for the first half of that non-game and the crowd seemed to be about the same size as other Wheaton women's games that I've taken my daughter to.  It might have looked worse because of the exodus.  Is there any further word on the rationale for the switch?

[petemcb]

Carthage looked very much like a one-man team...the supporting cast couldn't make a shot.

That's not entirely true. Max Cary had 14 points on 4-8 shooting. But nobody else besides him stepped up for Carthage, as Augie held the Red Men to under 32% from the field on the night. Djurickovic had 21 points and nine assists.

Kyle Nelson is playing as well as, if not better than, any other big man in this league right now. He had a 24 and 13 night for Augie.

A day or two ago I posted that my vote for the 5th All-Conference first team spot would go either to Twyman or Nelson.  Nothing happened tonight to change that vote except for Panner turning in a clear player-of-the-game performance against a seemingly and surprisingly disinterested North Park squad.  The two of those three that don't make the first team will be a real nice start to the second team.

[petemcb]

Freshman James Robertson, Elmhurst's best three-point shooter (which this year is like being the best-looking warthog in the herd), didn't get into the game tonight. Is he injured?

Edging towards harsh, but one of the better lines in the last few pages.  Karmaworthy.

[petemcb]

I said on CCIW-updates (back when Carthage was stomping Augie) that it looked like the tourney would be in Kenosha.  Despite Augie's comeback, that is still my prediction.

I just can't see Carthage losing another game - they finish with NCC and NPU at home, and Elmhurst and Millikin on the road.  Not a guaranteed sweep, but I just can't find the loss.

Meanwhile, IWU, Augie, and Wheaton each play each other - Augie gets them all at home, but I have doubts about any of them sweeping (and Augie sweeping still wouldn't be enough if Carthage doesn't lose).

I hope the Carthage event staff is getting prepared.

I hope you're right Ypsi.  Carthage is the easies commute from my house of any of the likely contenders, and you can't beat those seatbacks!

[petemcb]

In the first half Wheaton extended its defense in order to force North Park's guards to drive longer to the basket and to take away the high screens by Emanuel Crosby and Nick Williams. It was very effective, and Wheaton pulled out into a double-digit lead, although NPU brought it back to within six at halftime, 30-24. But Wheaton opened up the second half absolutely on fire from all over the court, especially Ben Panner -- he was knocking down shots from everywhere. Meanwhile, at the other end of the floor, the Vikings offense sputtered and stopped. They couldn't knock down anything from long range (1-11 on the night), in spite of plenty of good looks, and the entry passes into the low post were made from so far out that Wheaton had plenty of time to get weak-side help in to counter Crosby and Williams whenever they got the ball into their hands. Ben Panner, who was very much the best player on the floor today, did a terrific job of neutralizing Ro Russell, and nobody else except for Gonzalez and his activity on the boards really contributed anything for NPU. The Vikings played the second half like a team that couldn't wait to get back on the bus and get out of DuPage County.

You're right.  BP was huge.  HUGE huge. 
I think Wheaton must've done some soul searching after their recent skid and decided to get it together to end the season on a high note.  And if this is the result, I will take it.  Panner set the tone early.  He's going to be even more important as they head down the stretch.  He looked similar to how he was in the tourney last year- composed and controlling the tempo.  Also as a flashback of sorts- it seemed like Jake had some pep in his step as well.  He was definitely more involved than I seem to remember him lately.   

Wheaton regulars, is this the first game Carwell has started since the trouble with his ribs?  I saw him wincing once last night as he came back down the floor following the only scrum I remember NPU being willing to get on the floor for.  Other than that, he seemed to be playing more like his old self, which I assumed was due to him feeling healthy for the first time in a few weeks.  It didn't look like he was wearing the rib protecting flak jacket type thing he's been wearing the last few times I've seen him.  That would be a big plus for Wheaton.

[Titan Q]

It might have appeared empty, but I stuck around for the first half of that non-game and the crowd seemed to be about the same size as other Wheaton women's games that I've taken my daughter to.  It might have looked worse because of the exodus.  Is there any further word on the rationale for the switch?

I got on e-mail last night from "someone close to the Wheaton athletic department" (how is that for protecting a source?).  He was quite frankly irritated with the suggestion here that Wheaton College scheduled the game for 5:00pm to keep NPU students in check.  He said Wheaton's A.D. simply wanted to give the women's team the late game. 

My source is extremely reliable and very much in the know.

[Titan Q]

...a seemingly and surprisingly disinterested North Park squad.

I watched the first 30 minutes of the game (until it was basically over) on Wheaton's video stream.  Certainly not the same as being there, but it appeared to me that Wheaton was playing with a definite sense or urgency.  I did not see that from NPU.  

One small example is a rebound very early in the game.  Wheaton missed a shot and the ball bounced to the baseline, not far from the end of NPU's bench.  Three Vikings were near it and one of them just had to grab it...instead a Wheaton player (who started out further from the ball than any of the 3 NPU players) hustled into the pack and beat them all to the ball.

There just seemed to be numerous times when it looked like Wheaton wanted the game more.

[markerickson]

A team clamps down on Carthage's front line and wins.  No mystery with that strategy; I think I've read that here.

Jorge "Joe" Gonzalez played 22 minutes last night and scored 9 points while pulling down 10 rebounds.  I think he's proving himself...just don't know why his minutes are coming in the second half of the season.  I believe a starting front line of  Crosby, Schneidermeier, and Gonzalez will be the best in the league next season.

"Shooter" Collins is a grand 8-24 in trey attempts in his last five games.