MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[diehardfan]

Who is the best player in the CCIW right now? Who gets best coach?

For best player, I'd say the choices come down to these (picking one from each of the top five teams): Rick Harrigan, Chris Martin, Anthony Simmons, Keelan Amelianovich, Tony Bollier. I'd back this up with stats, but I'll leave that for someone who has more time. I feel these are really the players who have carried their teams, and have led them to some nice successes. Based on the current standings and stats right now, the league MOP pick from the coaches would probably go to Rick Harrigan, or possibly Chris Martin.

I may be an extra homer for this one, but I know a lot of you at least partially agree with me. My pick for coach of the year is Wheaton's Coach Harris. He has handled this season with tremendous class, and has really done a lot with his young players. The desire is there, the team is playing like a team, and the problems of young teams (like turnovers) are getting fixed. While Wheaton was picked to finish 6th in the preseason poll, and worse by most of you, and half way through the season, they have a seriously good shot at making the conference tourney. I've liked Harris, and his methods, a little more every year since I first started watching d3hoops. The way he has responded this year has earned him my undying loyalty (since I know he cares so much!) 

Giovanine is obviously a great choice for Coach of the year as well. Incidentally, how cute is this pic of Coach G and family? It's sorta nice to see him not screaming and stamping his feet. 

http://www.augustana.edu/athletics/mbasketball/coach.php

[bluejaybacker1]

Who is the best player in the CCIW right now? Who gets best coach?

Best player- I'll take either Martin or Harrigan, I think this battle will be decided in the 2nd half of the season. Do they vote on this after the conference tourney now? I would assume and hope so.

Coach of the year- I would say Giovanine, he is finding ways for his team to win and shut down their opponents. Diehard- if Wheaton makes the conference tourney I would like to think he would see some votes for sure and would probably get my vote then too.

Anyone for best freshmen?

I'll take Gensler. He absolutely destroyed EC at home and helped in them beating NCC. I know he was key in the OT loss to IWU. I really like Ruch and Strzemp too though, call me a little biased, but they come to play every night and have had some really big roles in a number of our victories.

[thunderwearer]

I just wanted to add a couple of tid bits from my own mind.

With regards to Augie D, I have seen them play Wheaton a couple of times, but not this year yet,  and they are the most physical team I have seen play.  In my opinion, most of what they call defense could be considered a foul, but the refs let them get away with it.  To Augies credit, they play what they can get away with.  The past few games that I saw Augie play, the refs let augie play too physical until the second half, but by then it was too late and the damage was done in the case of the Wheaton games.

Just another tidbit of info.

With a Wheaton victory on Saturday, they are right in the thick of things for the Conference tournament.  They have not gotten much press because of their record but they are exactly the type of team to go under the radar and make serious noise.  And as far as Q's 11-3 record mentality, Wheaton still holds true, having held home court so far, and losing away games to the three top teams in the confrence so far (taking two of them to the last few seconds of the game).

I am still in doubt of Wheaton's chances, but they are the type of team that will contend in most games, and if they can learn how to win one of those games, they just might actually make the confrence tournament, and then, anything is possible.

Just my two cents.

[rpknupp]

HUGE win for the EC Bluejays! Nice game for Brent Ruch! Great to see. Way to represent area basketball!!

[knarocky22]

For anyone who saw the game last night, to complain about how physical Augie played and how many fouls they got away with is just ridiculous.  Whoever was guarding Harrigan was holding and throwing pretty much body blocks whenever he tried to go around a screen.  Yes, Augie plays very physical, but so do Wesleyan, North Central, and other CCIW teams.  Augie didn't get away with any more fouls than Wesleyan did last night, so for people to start talking about this now that Augie is winning, I just think is being used as an excuse as to why Augie is still undefeated in conference, when in fact, they have just hit every big shot when they've needed it, and other teams haven't to this point (this could all change in the 2nd half of conference season).

[thunderwearer]

Just to clarify,

All of my comments are and were in no way based on the game last night.  They are based on the games against Wheaton that I have seen, and I distinctly remember commenting on Augies phyisical charictaristics after the games.  I truly believe that Augie plays very physical and their play always toes the line with fouls.

Yes all CCIW teams are physical but in my opinion, Augie is the most physical.  How does Augie perform when the game is being called tight?  What happens when two of their starting 5 get 2 fouls in the first three minutes of the game.  I am asking this not to stir up controversy, but because I honestly do not know not having seen it.

Yet again, my two cents.

[BigPoppa]

Where are all the Bosko bashers this week?? I guess he does know what he is doing afterall. The Carthage contingent has gotten mighty quiet about this (non)issue.

Winning cures all ills...

[79jaybird]

I'll chip in on Coach of the Year--  I would give it to North Central or Elmhurst HC.  I think everybody expected IWU and Augie to be up there.  Nobody saw Elmhurst at the top and NC right up there with them.
Again we go back to broadcasting criticism.  As the football voice for Elmhurst I can tell you that you do it because you LOVE the sport/school/game/etc.  It is not easy, you don't have a voice in one ear muff telling you who is doing what and giving you a second set of eyes like the Major Networks do.
I have heard the IWU broadcasts and they do a fine job.  Bias?  Well every body has a bias to the team that he/she likes best.  As long as they call an accurate game and as a listener, you get a good picture of what is going on... how can you complain? 

[Jim Matson]

Well, I was one of those who was predicting a run through the CCIW for Wesleyan back in December.  Ypsi wasn't the only one!

The Wesleyan I saw last night wasn't the team I "watched" earlier this year.  Some of the things that Dennis mentioned sound like the real reason behind some of this fade by the Titans.  But I'd also have to agree with Greg - a ton of talent in Bloomington and a good coach will add up to nice odds in a must win game.

[The Roop]

Sometimes it's easier to beat the team that can't be beat than it is to beat the team that has figured out how to win.

The webcast last night was nice, video quality was much better than I expected.

Bottom line. IWU got the shots they needed, they just didn't fall. That happens sometimes. Now is a good time for a short memory.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Roop,

What's going on?  You become erudite just by posting on the CCIW page?  Where is that temperance and wisdom in the MWC?  or is that where you let loose?

[knarocky22]

79jaybird:  If I am right, wasn't Elmhurst ranked during the preseason and Augie wasn't?  I don't know if you can really say that Augie was expected to be up there and Elmhurst wasn't. 

[The Roop]

Hoops,

Not sure what erudite means but if it's good I'm that. I like to keep up with what's going on here so I drop a line from time to time; for what it's worth.

[bluejaybacker1]

knarocky- I will have to side with you about the rankings, although the coaches picked Augie ahead of Elmhurst. I think everyone was pretty sure EC, Augie, IWU and NCC would be at the top with Carthage being the big question at the beginning of the year. No one should be surprised EC is doing well right now especially after finishing tied for 2nd last year. Augie too they were a really tough team last year who didn't lose much if anything. If the second half is as entertaining and fun as the first half of conference play was this will be a really great year for the CCIW.

AUGIE-ELMHURST 3pm Sunday the 29th.

[redmen1]

Can i hear some thought about the Carthage/IWU game on saturday? The Redmen need to watch early runs by IWU. I think they will be pretty mad about their last loss, and they probably don't like the fact of Carthage winning at their place.