MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[John Gleich]

Since we are now in offseason when things slow down on this board, here's some, ummmm, interesting D3 related news out Univ. of Chicago.  I mean, how did we do it before the internet and social media?........

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/03/16/u-of-c-students-launch-hookups-website/

I'm not sure this is an improvement...  If you condone that type of behavior (not saying I do...) you used your charm and/or good looks to seal the deal.

This is a step backwards... don't need either of those with this approach.  In fact, deception almost seems to be encouraged here, or at least veiling of the truth.

[iwu70]

Congrats to the Tommies on their convincing win in the National Championship game. 

And, congrats to our Titan women for a superb season, first Final Four ever, 27 wins and 4th place nationally.  This senior group will be sorely missed, as they had a superb four year run of something like 112-12.  Amazing.  But, the future is bright on both the men's and women's side.

For the men, think Gonzales, a Zimmer on each wing, the Kman, Zeimnick, and Victor Davis at power forward, and Connelly and Nick Anderson in the post.  Rudnicki is back too . . . and recruits yet unknown. 

For the women, think Hasselbring, Lett, Gardner, K. Solari, and Shelby Jackson, and all the freshmen and sophomores coming up.  And, again, recruits unknown.

I think Titan basketball -- both men and women -- looks very bright in future.

Thanks to all the players for all their efforts, dedication and great play this year.

[Always.A.Titan]

Congrats to the CCIW players who made the D3 All-American List

http://cciw.org/news/2011/3/20/MBB_0320115501.aspx

[markerickson]

Are seven conference victories the lowest ever for the bottom three teams?  Four victories for the sixth place team?  Uff da.

[iwumichigander]

Are seven conference victories the lowest ever for the bottom three teams?  Four victories for the sixth place team?  Uff da.

Yes and No.  Yes, since 1997 with the current conference teams.  No, in the history of the conference, the bottom three finished with fewer than seven conference wins as follows: 1947 (5 wins); 1949 (5 wins) and 1953 (4 wins).

Since 1997, Millikin does not sit all alone with zero conference wins.  NPU had zero wins in 1997, 2005, and 2009.

[OurHouse]

Congratulations to Steve D on the Josten award. Kyle Nelson was also in the final 10 for the award. Both of those great players will be missed next season.

Congrats also to the IWU women. What a comeback. Too bad the Fighting Illini MBB team didn't recruit Nikki Preston. They certainly could use a finisher like her.

Steve D certainly deserves the award....he played great against any opponent - Nelson always seemed to struggle against good teams

[Ralph Turner]

Are seven conference victories the lowest ever for the bottom three teams?  Four victories for the sixth place team?  Uff da.

Yes and No.  Yes, since 1997 with the current conference teams.  No, in the history of the conference, the bottom three finished with fewer than seven conference wins as follows: 1947 (5 wins); 1949 (5 wins) and 1953 (4 wins).

Since 1997, Millikin does not sit all alone with zero conference wins.  NPU had zero wins in 1997, 2005, and 2009.

In double round-robin play, there is a minimum of 6 games among 3 teams.

North Park's 80-74 win over Elmhurst was the other win besdes those from the 6 games among  the bottom 3.

[mactitan]

At the beginning of the season, I wrote a blog about Illinois being the Crash Davis of Div. I basketball.

http://fatpastor.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/the-best-college-basketball-program-without-a-championship/

Would Augie be a candidate for that distinction in Div. III?

[Mr. Ypsi]

At the beginning of the season, I wrote a blog about Illinois being the Crash Davis of Div. I basketball.

http://fatpastor.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/the-best-college-basketball-program-without-a-championship/

Would Augie be a candidate for that distinction in Div. III?

Perhaps, but I doubt they would beat out Wooster (the second-winnigest program in d3) for THAT title.

[mactitan]

I didn't realize Wooster hadn't won a national championship.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I didn't realize Wooster hadn't won a national championship.

The four winningest programs are Wittenberg, Wooster, St. Thomas, and IWU.  Each has one title (St. Thomas finally getting the first title for the MIAC), except Wooster.

[Hghpnt]

Does anyone have info on coaching vacancies?

[Gregory Sager]

I didn't realize Wooster hadn't won a national championship.

The four winningest programs are Wittenberg, Wooster, St. Thomas, and IWU.  Each has one title (St. Thomas finally getting the first title for the MIAC), except Wooster.

... which isn't really relevant to the topic of winning D3 titles, since those win totals include games played decades before D3 ever existed and are to some degree a function of when the program in question started.

To answer Robb's question, then, the program that comes the closest to being the Crash Davis of D3 men's basketball is Franklin & Marshall, with Augustana a close second and Wooster and Hope trailing not too far behind. F&M is the only school that has thirty-plus wins in D3 tourney history without having won a title; F&M is the only school that's among the top four programs in terms of D3 tourney games played that hasn't brought home the Big Doorstop; and the Diplomats are tied with Augustana for the most Final Four appearances without ever getting a chance to cut down the nets after the title game (four).

Wooster and Hope have each been to the tournament more often than has Augie, but Augie's been to the Final Four more often than have either the Scots or the Dutch (who've each been there and fallen short three times), and Augie has the further ignominious distinction of being the only program in D3 tourney history to have lost the national championship game on its own floor ... a game which it lost in overtime, no less, and only because Potsdam State's Derrick Rowland hit a half-court shot at the buzzer at the end of regulation to tie it up. This happened in the 1981 title game.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg, agree to disagree.

It's true that the 'all-time winningest programs' includes plenty of games before d3 existed.  But they keep claiming on the NCAC board (I haven't independently checked the veracity of the claim) that Wooster is the winningest program of the 21st century (and, at least in winning-percentage terms, I believe they are including ALL divisions of the NCAA).

I find the FF criterion (at only 4 to 3) to be rather arbitrary, especially when you acknowlege that both Hope and Woo have been IN the tourney more times.  All four teams you mentioned are worthy candidates for the "Crash Davis Award", but I'll stick with Woo.

[r.w. mcnickels]

... the Diplomats are tied with Augustana for the most Final Four appearances without ever getting a chance to cut down the nets after the title game (four).

Actually—it pains me to say it—it's five Final Four trips without a title for F&M. If nothing else, it strengthens your argument, Greg.