MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

Besides the horrible shooting, the Titans were out-rebounded 39-25.  That should not happen!

[Titan Q]

Besides the horrible shooting, the Titans were out-rebounded 39-25.  That should not happen!

And some of the offensive rebounds NPU got were in critical stretches of the game...when IWU was still very much in it with plenty of time left. 

Somehow IWU has turned into a terrible rebounding team, and I have no idea how that has happened. 

[augiefan]

Augie 66 NCC 50 is your final.

[armywife]

Augustana makes history by going 17-0. Fun game to listen to; the Carver Center was full tonight. I wish I could have been there.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Augustana makes history by going 17-0. Fun game to listen to; the Carver Center was full tonight. I wish I could have been there.

A huge night for Augie in another way - by beating NCC and NPU beating IWU, Augie now has a 2 game lead on anyone else.  It is still mighty early, but they have clearly taken over the driver's seat.

[armywife]

A huge night for Augie in another way - by beating NCC and NPU beating IWU, Augie now has a 2 game lead on anyone else.  It is still mighty early, but they have clearly taken over the driver's seat.

I knew that, but I didn't want to brag.   Thanks for pointing it out though. Tonight's win coupled with IWU's loss gives Augie some breathing room. I was trying not to rub it in.

[armywife]

Great win by North Park tonight, but that was a really tough game for IWU to lose. They are going to be hard for Augie to beat on Wednesday, because they are going to have an opportunity to get back into the thick of the race with a win.

[BlueJay21]

Augustana definitely seems to be the head of the class this year in the CCIW. I don't anticipate them blowing a 2 game lead, but still a long ways to go. With NPU beating IWU tonight it looks like the CCIW is in real danger of being a 1 bid league unless Augie doesn't win the AQ.

Obviously Bob knows more about the chances of teams getting a bid than I do, but I know that back when I played, 1 bad loss was just about enough to cost a chance at an at large bid.

[markerickson]

I may be wrong, but I thought preseason chatter mentioned how Elmhurst lacked height, which surprised me when NP took 19 shots from beyond the arc en route to their loss.  NP was 2-19 for three-point land.

And then NP beats IWU while I stay away from Foster and Kedzie.  Sucks for me.  I'd like more infor about this transfer, Mr. Gabriel.

[Titan Q]

Obviously Bob knows more about the chances of teams getting a bid than I do, but I know that back when I played, 1 bad loss was just about enough to cost a chance at an at large bid.

I'm still comfortable with this, Ryan...

Pool C outlook...


With 11-3 CCIW Record and 1-1 in CCIW Tournament
Augustana 22-4 (.846) - Lock
Illinois Wesleyan 20-6 (.769) - Lock
Wheaton 16-6 (.727) - Probable
Carthage 14-6 (.700) - Possible

With 10-4 CCIW Record and 1-1 in CCIW Tournament
Augustana 21-5 (.808) - Lock
Illinois Wesleyan 19-7 (.731) - Probable
Wheaton 15-7 (.682) - Not likely
Carthage 13-7 (.650) - Not likely

With 9-5 CCIW Record and 1-1 in the CCIW Tournament
Augustana 20-6 (.769) - Lock
Illinois Wesleyan 18-8 (.692) - Not likely
Wheaton 14-8 (.636) - No chance
Carthage 12-8 (.600) - No chance

(Obviously a team going 0-1 in the CCIW tournament changes the above.)

North Park, Elmhurst, North Central, and Millikin don't have any chance at a Pool C bid.

[Titan Q]

17-0 is really something.  Congrats to Coach G & staff & the Vikings.  Really impressive.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wednesday marks the midpoint of the conference season, yet already may be the last chance to derail Augie for the regular season title.  If IWU can't pull the upset in Rock Island, they will fall 3 back with just 7 to go.  NCC is obviously much better (currently) than their overall record shows, but I still can't see an 8-9 team catching the Vikes.  And everyone else is already at least three games back.

As far as making the conference tourney, it oughta be a madhouse.  Augie is definitely in, Millikin is definitely out; everyone else is between 4-2 and 2-4, fighting for the three slots Augie doesn't take!

[Viking Blue]

Wayne Messmer sang the national anthem tonight at North Park.  Very cool, though I told him he probably didn't even need the mike.  Glad to have been there to experience that, and the game.

[Viking Blue]

So I haven't posted in a long, long time, which may make me appear to be a front-runner, but just hear me out (I have my reasons):

1.  (Let's start with the easy one):  Some posters know that I am NP's PA announcer.  Suffice it to say that, with a wife and baby at home in the western suburbs and a full-time commitment as a high school teacher and coach, I don't do this for the money.  However, as I told several people after the game, games like tonight's are the reason I still do this 13 years after doing my first game as a NP student.  Great crowd, very involved, outstanding team effort, beautiful result.  I wish they could all be like that.

2.  (The reason I've stayed away):  It should first be stated that I played baseball at North Park, so I have a very good understanding of what it's like to be an athlete at the D3 level.  Over the course of this season, I've been thinking a lot about the purpose/effects that a site like this may have on the actual athletes and coaches that are involved with these programs, and I've started to feel the need to back away.  This became a much easier decision for me after reading the debacle regarding comments from a poster about ACT scores and disciplinary records.  I'd just like to remind everyone....these are KIDS.  99.9% of them are playing without any hope of playing at the next level.  They are balancing academics with the rigors of playing in the best D3 conference in the nation, and are receiving NO financial support for doing so.  As for the coaches....I have no specific knowledge about individual salaries, but I have a feeling that most of these CCIW coaches would be better off if they were teaching at a middle school and coaching the 7th grade girls team.  They, also, are truly doing this for the love of the game.  So, for the moral of my preaching:

Take a step back and just enjoy what you're watching.  I'm not saying this site is bad.  Not at all.  But I get worried when we are so critical of the players and coaches involved.  Save that criticism for pro sports and they multi-million dollar athletes involved.  As for the CCIW, it's one of the best-kept secrets in the nation, and I think it would be best (as I'm sure most of my fellow CCIW former athletes would agree) if we kept it as it is:  a conference that is about developing good human beings first, and winning games second.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sermon to write for tomorrow morning   Go Vikings!

[Viking Blue]

One more thing....

For anyone looking to find Mike Gabriel's stat line from last night, he is listed as #44--Nate Rummell--in the box score.

http://resources.northpark.edu/athletics/MensBasketball/2011/1-22mbb.htm