MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

If you blindly compare their resumes a second place conference finish is going to look much more impressive than a third place finish.  Wheaton sweeping the regular season against Wesleyan is a huge hit to the Titans as well.  Looking at their non-conference opponents might be the best to separate the two and that too probably favors the Thunder:

Wheaton has a quality win over a Calvin team that won the MIAA outright as well as a demanding win over the same University of Chicago team that beat Wesleyan.  Their two common opponents had similar results with Wheaton looking better on paper: Monmouth (Wheaton won 84-53 in Cali. IWU won 65-55 in Shirk.) Wash U. (Wheaton lost 64-62 in St. Lou in a game they led until the closing seconds.  IWU lost 76-71 in the Shirk Center).

Both teams have bad losses (Wheaton:Hope, Wesleyan:Carthage) however, four of the other six losses for the Thunder came by a combined seven points.  

A lot rides on Friday's semi-final game but on paper it looks like gang-green may have a little more to gain by a win than the Crusaders.  Looking forward to all the tournament action.

Remember...

* Wheaton's win over Calvin was out-of-region, therefore it doesn't help at all in the 5 primary criteria.

* Margin of victory is not a consideration.  So Wheaton beating Monmouth by more points than IWU, etc is not a factor at all.

But your overall premise is correct - Wheaton is sitting better than IWU right now.  Wheaton was ranked higher in the region coming into this week:

http://d3blogs.com/d3hoops/2010/02/17/2010-regional-rankings-week-3/

With IWU's loss @ NPU, that certainly won't change when the new rankings coming out Wednesday.  So to have a chance to flip the rankings, IWU definitely has to beat Wheaton Friday.

Right now IWU is 18-6 in-region (.750).  Wheaton is 17-7 (.708).  If IWU beats Wheaton and loses to Carthage, the Titans would finish 19-7 (.731) and the Thunder 17-8 (.680).  In that case, I believe the Midwest regional committee would rank IWU ahead of Wheaton by virtue of the in-region winning percentage (which has always been the most important of the 5 primary criteria).  If Wheaton wins the game, then loses to Carthage, the Thunder finish 18-8 (.692).  With a Friday loss, IWU would finish 18-7 (.720).

Friday's IWU/Wheaton game is an elimination game as I see it.  I think the winner ends up ranked higher in the region and goes to the Pool C bubble...I think the loser is done.  (I don't think there is any chance both IWU and Wheaton get Pool C bids.)

As far as whether either has a legitimate Pool C chance, I think it's fair to say either would be "on the bubble."  Both would have to hope for very few upsets across the country (where current Pool A teams fall in conference tournament games and steal Pool C bids).  But I do think IWU would have a much better Pool C case, with a .731 in-region record.  Wheaton's .692 would put the Thunder in position to get in as, like, Pool C #19 of 19.  Both would go in with some good wins over other regionally ranked teams (and that is one of the 5 criteria), which would help.

Again, bottom line, Friday is an elimination game.

[Titan Q]

By the way, information on the "primary criteria" I mentioned above, and other stuff relevant to the selection process, can be found in the Championship Handbook...

http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/basketball/2010/10_3_mbasketball.pdf

(pages 15-17)

[CCgrad2004]

To clarify the talk over the last day about NCAA tournament berths...
Am I correct in the understanding that Carthage gets in no matter what happens this weekend at the CCIW tournament and the CCIW could get two teams in if another team wins the tourament?

[Titan Q]

To clarify the talk over the last day about NCAA tournament berths...
Am I correct in the understanding that Carthage gets in no matter what happens this weekend at the CCIW tournament and the CCIW could get two teams in if another team wins the tourament?

Yes, I think Carthage is one of those "bubble proof" teams.  The Red Men are currently 16-3 in-region (.842).  If they lose Friday night, they finish 16-4 (.800).  A Saturday loss would put them 17-4 (.810).  With an .800+ winning % and a bunch of wins over other regionally ranked teams, Carthage would be a Pool C lock.  (They are one of the teams other Pool C bubble candidates across the country are rooting for to win a Pool A bid, and not steal a Pool C.)

[usee]

That's great analysis on pool C. It's really helpful to know the ins and outs of the selection criteria going into the conference tourney.

Regarding All conf: I think it would be really hard to leave Tim McCrary off the 1st team with his stats and impact this year in conference. There are a lot of considerations (does Schauer nominate both or choose one?, how do the other coaches compare all the players as they vote). I do think its really hard to get 2 1st team players. The reality is Wheaton has 2 1st team caliber players and the rest of their roster are supporting roles.

[Titan Q]

Regarding All conf: I think it would be really hard to leave Tim McCrary off the 1st team with his stats and impact this year in conference. There are a lot of considerations (does Schauer nominate both or choose one?, how do the other coaches compare all the players as they vote). I do think its really hard to get 2 1st team players. The reality is Wheaton has 2 1st team caliber players and the rest of their roster are supporting roles.

My personal picks are...

1st Team
Steve Djurickovic, 6-3 Jr. (Carthage) - M.O.P.
Tim McCrary, 6-6 So. (Wheaton)
Derek Raridon, 6-6 Fr. (North Central)
Doug Sexauer, 6-7 Jr. (Illinois Wesleyan)
Ben Panner, 6-3 Sr. (Wheaton)

2nd Team
Kyle Nelson, 6-9 Jr. (Augustana)
David Twyman, 6-3 Sr. (North Central)
Sean Johnson, 6-1 Jr. (Illinois Wesleyan)
Nick Williams, 6-5 Sr. (North Park)
Zack Boyd, 6-3 So. (Elmhurst)


Would have to think more about it to come up with a 3rd Team.

[usee]

My picks are only slightly different:

1st Team:
Steve Djurickovic--MOP
Tim McCrary
David Twyman
Doug Sexauer
Ben Panner

2nd Team:
Kyle Nelson
Derek Raridon
Sean Johnson
Nick Williams
Joscar Demby

[Dennis_Prikkel]

1st team predictions

stevie dj (MOP)
McClary
Sexauer
Panner
Williams

[AndOne]

CCIW 1st Team All-Conference

Djurickovic--Carthage
Panner------Wheaton
McCrary-----Wheaton
Twyman-----North Central
Nelson-------Augie

2nd Team

Sexauer---Wesleyan
Johnson---Wesleyan
Raridon----North Central
J. Demby--Millikin
Williams---North Park

3rd Team

Crosby---North Park
Pelton----Augie
Kelly-----Carthage
Boyd-----Elmhurst
Evans----North Central

*My original thought was to go with Sexauer on the 1st team ond Nelson on the 2nd. Their scoring and rebounding totals match very closely. However, Nelson has a better left (off) hand than Sexauer a better right (off) hand, and Nelson is a better defender.

*Many of you many not be familiar with North Central's Brian Evans, a 6'3' junior forward. However, he shows up among the league leaders in no less than NINE categories:
19th in scoring
11th in steals
11th in FT percentage
Tied 6th in assists
Tied for 15th in blocks--As many blocks as both Sexauer & Nelson
3rd in FG percentage
3rd in total rebounding
3rd in defensive rebounds
FIRST in offensive rebounds (again, at 6'3")

You'll often hear "statistics don't tell the whole story." Very true. If those of you who saw Brian play will remember, you also saw him defending the tallest and/or biggest member of your team, almost always giving away 3-6 inches, and 20-30 lbs.

[Titan Q]

I'll be on Hoopsville at about 6:15pm CST talking about the tournament picture.  Wash U head coach Mark Edwards will be on right after me.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hoopsville

[markerickson]

I'd go with either Twyman or Nelson over Raridon on the first team.  I can't put anyone from either Elmhurst or Millikin on the first two teams.

What is the largest leap of victories from one year to the next?  NP increased seven this year.

The bottom three teams combined for eight wins.  That number seems quite low.

[Moser]

CCIW 1st Team All-Conference

Djurickovic--Carthage
Panner------Wheaton
McCrary-----Wheaton
Twyman-----North Central
Nelson-------Augie

2nd Team

Sexauer---Wesleyan
Johnson---Wesleyan
Raridon----North Central
J. Demby--Millikin
Williams---North Park

3rd Team

Crosby---North Park
Pelton----Augie
Kelly-----Carthage
Boyd-----Elmhurst
Evans----North Central

*My original thought was to go with Sexauer on the 1st team ond Nelson on the 2nd. Their scoring and rebounding totals match very closely. However, Nelson has a better left (off) hand than Sexauer a better right (off) hand, and Nelson is a better defender.

*Many of you many not be familiar with North Central's Brian Evans, a 6'3' junior forward. However, he shows up among the league leaders in no less than NINE categories:
19th in scoring
11th in steals
11th in FT percentage
Tied 6th in assists
Tied for 15th in blocks--As many blocks as both Sexauer & Nelson
3rd in FG percentage
3rd in total rebounding
3rd in defensive rebounds
FIRST in offensive rebounds (again, at 6'3")

You'll often hear "statistics don't tell the whole story." Very true. If those of you who saw Brian play will remember, you also saw him defending the tallest and/or biggest member of your team, almost always giving away 3-6 inches, and 20-30 lbs.

Not to question the credentials of the three NCC players you listed, but I'm wondering if there is precedent for a sixth place team getting three all-conference players? I think Raridon and Twyman should be locks, but could NCC's low finish keep someone like Evans off?

[Viking Mike]

My first team consists of..................

Durickovic
McCrary
Panner
Sexauer
Nelson

(I agree with Panner on first team,  but would put Nelson of 4th place Augie ahead of Raridon and Twyman of 6th place  North Central.  Nelson has dominated games and puts up 16 pts a game in limited minutes in Augie's rotation.  He also is second in rebounding AND FG percentage in CCIW and plays outstanding defense!!!)


My second team is.............................

Raridon
Twyman
Johnson
Williams
Demby

My third team is...................................

Boyd
Pelton
Crosby
Evans
Kelly

[AndOne]

Moser---

Simple answer to your question is--U bet.

And, its unfortunate because while I haven't gone through the stats and counted the exact number, I'll bet there aren't many players who finished among the league leaders in as many as NINE categories as Brian did. And, as I previously stated, this is a kid who basically had a built in handicap to his outstanding performance due to the fact he was always assigned to guard the tallest/biggest opposing player--many of which we'll see on the 3 all-conference teams--despite being only 6'3" and 190 pounds.
However, with the politics involved, the prospects of a 6th place team garnering 3 spots among the top 15 aren't too likely.

Also, in my picks, I placed David Twyman on the 1st team and Derek Raridon on the 2nd, because I believe David demonstrated superior play in more different aspects of the game than did Derek. This is to take nothing away from Derek's performance which, especially for a freshman, was simply outstanding. After all, he scored 532 points in his 1st year of college ball, eclipsing the previous all time North Central freshman record set by the great Bill Warden way back in the early 1950s. With his thin frame, Derek also was frequently battered, beaten, and bruised over the course of the season, yet he always picked himself up off the floor and came back for more of whatever his opponents dished out. If he can put some meat on his bones and gain some additional strength, the sky may be the limit for Derek, unquestionably the league's best freshman this year.

[AndOne]

I'd go with either Twyman or Nelson over Raridon on the first team.  I can't put anyone from either Elmhurst or Millikin on the first two teams.

What is the largest leap of victories from one year to the next?  NP increased seven this year.

The bottom three teams combined for eight wins.  That number seems quite low.

Mark---

And its entirely possible nobody from Millikin or Elmhurst may deserve to be included on the 1st or 2nd team.

However---
1. Are you not, at least partially, taking a "traditional" or "political" view on all-conference selection?
2. Is it not possible for the beacon of an individual player's brilliance to penetrate the fog surrounding his team's gloomy performance? 

Just askin'