MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[veterancciwfan]

Martin: Thanks for the brief update on Chris Jeffries. He's definitely on my all-time IWU opponents team, one of the most dominating and smothest post players I ever saw in his senior year when IWU played Wash. U. twice.

Regarding the nice Sun-Times article on Nick Michael. I run a lot of races and I have never seen a 220 pound runner (that's Michael's listed weight on the program for the IWU game) run a 5:20 mile. I don't think it's possible unless he was running down a mountain and perhaps on a skateboard. Michael is a great b'ball player and will get even better and he can indeed run the court. His story is very similar to 6'10" David Caldwell, the IWU MOP of the 91/92 season, whose story I relayed in an earlier post.
I love D3 stories about players like Michael and Caldwell who just will themselves with hard work and determination to get significantly better. I doubt if Michael will win the MOP award this year unless Elmhurst wins the league, but he certainly has a very good chance to be the MOP next year. He still has a lot of upside potential as a junior and that's scary because he is close to dominating right now.

[True Basketball Fan]

Here is a few questions after the first 5 games:

Any chance that NP stays with IWU and keeps the streak alive for the most nerve racking CCIW games played in a row in IWU's history?  I would think not, but who knows anymore these days.


Also, would it be safe to say that Wheaton is now the best team in the midwest with the worst record?  (It was Carthage, but they seem to be headed in the wrong direction now)

Another.......Isn't it about time for NC to start their annual plunge?

One more.....Can Elmhurst make a run like they did last year?  History says yes (mainly because most of the same players are back)

Last one........Will NP win another game, especially since Gordon is out?


Sorry, had to add this one.........Will Bowens ever play a CCIW game?

[Gregory Sager]

Any chance that NP stays with IWU and keeps the streak alive for the most nerve racking CCIW games played in a row in IWU's history?  I would think not, but who knows anymore these days.

It's extremely unlikely. NPU is in seriously bad shape. As I told another poster last night in an e-mail, if Trost hasn't put in his JV at the 5:00 mark, it'll be a huge moral victory for the Park.

Last one........Will NP win another game, especially since Gordon is out?

Anything's possible, but every game will be an uphill battle for NPU from here on out. It all depends upon whether the remaining players can stay healthy, their attitude remains positive, and the PG position doesn't completely implode. But we're back to peeking-thru-our-fingers mode at NPU.

[Gregory Sager]

This is going to be a basketball marathon weekend for me. Tonight I went down to 55th and Ellis to see the Brandeis @ Chicago game. Tomorrow I'll be in the crackerbox from noon onward to watch Day One of the Pops Ballinger Shootout, a major high school tourney run by Von Steuben and hosted by NPU. That'll immediately be followed by NPU's JV and varsity games against Illinois Wesleyan. On Sunday it'll be back to the crackerbox for Day Two of the Ballinger Shootout, starting at noon and going to 11 pm. I'll be there for almost all of it, especially the marquee game between Von Steuben and Hales Franciscan at 7:30.

Thanks to the downturn in the weather, I'm just glad that all of the basketball I can handle this weekend is practically right at my front door.

[armywife]

I'd like to step forward and state, unapologetically, that I am enjoying basking in the glow of Augie being in first place. I'd also like to say that in my few years of following CCIW basketball, this is the strangest season I've seen so far. For those of you who have been following this conference for many years, it's probably normal to see teams be really good ony to fall off and then regroup and be strong again. I have a question. Does that fact that there is a CCIW tournament this year change the dynamics for these teams? Now, you don't have to take first in the conference to get a tournament bid, you can get one by winning the CCIW tournament, is that right? Does that mean that teams don't come out with do or die intensity that they had to have before?

[The Roop]

At this point in the season I don't think it has any impact on a teams "interest" level. However, as the season comes to a close there might be a temptation to rest certain players for the upcoming tournament if there was no chance of improving your seed. I seriously doubt that teams would be taking games off though.

[augiedad]

That'll immediately be followed by NPU's JV and varsity games against Illinois Wesleyan.

Gregory,

The Bloomington Pantagraph article says there is no JV game at NPU tonight.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/01/21/sports/104376.txt

[augiedad]

armywife, all of us Augie fans need to keep in mind that the Vikings have only really won the games we should have won so far.  No games yet at all vs NCC or IWU and no road games at the top 3 teams.

Tonight is a biggie.  I think Augustana has to win the game to stay in good shape.  I do not think the Vikes will win in Bloomington Wednesday -  I just see that as one of those big Shirk Center games with 3000 screaming Titan fans playing a back-against-the-wall IWU team that will find its groove again.  I think Augie will struggle at North Central and probably at Elmhurst.  So, I view tonights game as the difference between 11-3 potentially and 10-4.

Regarding the tournament, no, I personally do not think it changes anything during the regular season at this early stage.  There is a huge advantage to winning the regular season title - you get to host the tourney.  So everyone is playing as hard as ever, trying to win the regular season.  Whether the tournament is in Bloomington, Naperville, Rock Island, or Elmhurst is the difference in who will be favored to win it.

[augiedad]

Cool pic on IWUhoops of the Freemans...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/

What a unique thing to have two sets of identical twins.

[advoice]

CarthageKing, You owe sager an apology.

Sager, I gained some respect for you for not responding to the rant. I disagree with you on many counts, but you have every right to give them. Once in a while you will say something I agree with.

Steve Yount is one of the classiest, caring men I have ever met. The reasons behind his losing interest was a personal health issue for a member of his family. I still wonder if Bosko has lost interest in the same way. I do think it is a fair comparison. Both successful (albeit to different degrees).

[advoice]

I apologize to Coach Raridon for mispelling his name and thank cardinalpierd for pointing it out.

[Gregory Sager]

The Bloomington Pantagraph article says there is no JV game at NPU tonight.

The gym schedule posted outside the northeast entrance lists a JV game today, so it must've been canceled within the past couple of days. I'm not terribly surprised. Injuries and defections have decimated the NPU roster.

[cardinalpride]

Cardinal Pride, you don't need to explain your opinion.  However, if NCC "didn't play very well", I'm going to give Vegas a call and see what the line is on the Cardinals to win it all.

Pete, I appreciate your comments.

TH, I meant to say didn't play very well in certain aspects of the game.  I thought NCC did a nice job defensively against the titans.  However, NCC wasn't very sharp offensively or from the foul line.  I know Titan defense and athleticism had something to do with some of the cards offensive woes.

[cardinalpride]

I apologize to Coach Raridon for mispelling his name and thank cardinalpierd for pointing it out.

You're "cute"!!

[cardinalpride]

Another.......Isn't it about time for NC to start their annual plunge?

Not this year my friend.  Just the opposite.  It's about time NCC starts it push for a CCIW title with a win at Augie!!  Cardinal pride starts with me!!!   Go Cards!!