MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

So as I was saying...


Standings through 2/4
North Central: 9-1
Wheaton: 8-2
Illinois Wesleyan: 7-3
Augustana: 6-4
Carthage: 5-5
Elmhurst: 4-6
North Park: 1-9
Millikin: 0-10

+/- standings through 2/4
(+1 for road wins, -1 for home losses)

North Central: +4
Wheaton +3
Illinois Wesleyan: +2
Carthage: +1
Augustana: +0
Elmhurst: -1
North Park: -4
Millikin: -5


* NCC in good shape

* Wheaton and IWU still in the mix

* Augie basically eliminated from title contention...and not a lock yet for the conference tournament

* Carthage still alive for the conf tournament

[diehardfan]

Well, c'mon. If that's your standard, then just about anything a coach does short of drop-kicking a puppy across a basketball floor is going to be acceptable behavior.

He's done that though, right? Or was it a baby...

I don't hate buildings. Hating a building is not directing anger in the right place. A building didn't beat your team. The other team beat your team.

You, on the other hand, really do have it in for certain buildings:

Oh man, I totally had forgotten about the University of Chicago Spaceship. Bahahaha.

It's interesting how the Mike Schauer era seems to have bracketed your tenure on the scene at Wheaton. He was there before you arrived, and now he's back.

Hah, yes, it really perfectly did. I looked at when he assistant coached and it's right before I started following basketball at Wheaton. I think it would be super weird to see a game without Coach Harris on the sidelines, though I am sure I will get around to it eventually. I was surprised that there was someone I still remembered on the team (Tim McCrary) but I am pretty sure that whenever I saw him play he was like a JV game or online on a teensy screen or something. Brett Marhanka is still there though, yay!

AndOne's poetry was kind of epic. Coming back was worth it just for that.

I went to see UMHB play last weekend and it was kind of bittersweet. The last time I went to a game, I was able to connect with WheatonC for the first time. He was passing through this part of Texas, and we met up at the game. It was a joy to meet a brother and fellow Chicago area native. I'm glad he's home now, but he is missed on this board. My prayers are with his family.

Uhm..... I randomly bumped into WheatonC when I was at Wheaton last May... this makes it sound like he died???!?!?!?!?!!! 

[Titan Q]

Uhm..... I randomly bumped into WheatonC when I was at Wheaton last May... this makes it sound like he died???!?!?!?!?!!! 

Unfortunately our friend Dave passed away Sept 4, 2011...

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?n=david-robert-lawrenz&pid=153494018&fhid=2048

[diehardfan]

Oh my god... He spotted me from a distance and rushed over to say hi. We probably talked for almost a half hour about basketball and his kids and what I was up to. He looked older, but lord knows I do too... and he seemed totally fine... That's just crazy. I can't even process. There are people from here that was close too and I've wondered about whether they were okay, because I knew they were older and had health problems but, holy crap. I feel like I was just broadsided. 

[Titan Q]

These would be the Selection Sunday in-region records for the CCIW's top 4 assuming two things - 3-1 record during the final 4 CCIW games (and note, these four obviously can't all go 3-1 the rest of the way) AND 1-1 in conference tournament (and obviously only one team is actually going to to 1-1)...

Wheaton: 15-4 currently + 4-2 = 19-6 (.760)
North Central: 14-4 currently + 4-2 = 18-6 (.750)
Augustana: 15-5 currently + 4-2 = 19-7 (.731)
Illinois Wesleyan: 14-5 currently + 4-2 = 18-7 (.720)


Strength of schedule is another big Pool C metric (IWU got in due to a big strength of schedule # last year - .543). Some SOS data courtesy of KnightSlappy through games of Jan 30...

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2012/01/regional-rankings-1312012.html


And for context, the in-region records and strength of schedule numbers for the 18 Pool C's selected last year...

Here is my best guess at the order the Pool C's were selected...

1. Williams (NE): .920/.558
2. Concordia (MW): .875/.501
3. WPI (NE): .846/.516
4. Virginia Wesleyan (S): .840/.506
5. Penn St-Behrend (GL): .885/.481
6. Oswego St (E): .852/.507
7. Becker (NE): .852/.505
8. Ramapo (Atl): .826/.507
9. Gwynedd-Mercy (Mid-Atl): .800/.502
10. Amherst (NE): .875/.464
11. UW-River Falls (W): .750/.585
12. Ithaca (E): .760/.547
13. Mary Hardin-Baylor (S): .750/.508
14. Western Conn (NE): .800/.531
15. Hanover (MW): .731/.542
16. Wittenberg (GL): .727/.552
17. Texas-Dallas (S): .800/.485
18. Illinois Wesleyan (MW): .692/.543


Left on the board, in the order of selection competitiveness (by my estimation):

* Carleton (W): .750/.528
* Ferrum (S): .800/.471
* St. Joseph's LI (Atl): .769/.504
* Wabash (GL): .760/.499
* Edgewood (MW): .692/.547
* Stevens (E): .731/.512
* Leb Valley (Mid Atl): .720/.509
* Eastern Conn (NE): .680/.526


(Obviously I have just listed winning % and SOS above.)

Just based on in-region records and SOS, my take on Pool C is...


* Wheaton can probably afford to lose one regular season game (3-1) and then go 1-1 in the tournament and get a Pool C.  At 19-6 (.760) and a great SOS, Wheaton gets in.

* With 3-1/1-1 North Central (18-6. .750) would be on the bubble due to a low SOS.  The Cards most likely need to finish 13-1 in the CCIW to get in strong Pool C position.

* Augustana would be on the bubble with another regular season loss and then 1-1 in the tourney - certainly a chance to get in at 19-7 (.731) and a good SOS, but the odds would not be great.  Augie needs to go 4-0/1-1 to get in strong Pool C position.

* Illinois Wesleyan, similarly, would be on the bubble with another regular season loss and then 1-1 in the tourney - 18-7 (.720) and a good SOS would have the Titans in the mix, but they'd be a longshot.  IWU needs to go 4-0/1-1 to get in strong Pool C position.


In terms of the above, here are the games left vs the teams in the CCIW's top 5:

- Wheaton - @ Carthage 2/7, @ NCC 2/11, vs Augie 2/21
- North Central - @ IWU 2/7, vs Wheaton 2/11
- Augustana - @ Carthage 2/18, @ Wheaton 2/21
- Illinois Wesleyan - vs NCC 2/7, @ Carthage 2/11




I'll update my Midwest Region ranking projections after the huge Wash U @ Emory game today at 11:00am CST.  Obviously the rankings determine the order the teams get "to the table."  (And note, we'll get the first "real" regional rankings this week.)

[Dennis_Prikkel]

It's always a good Saturday in CCIW action - when Augustana loses in any sport. 

[Titan Q]

My updated Midwest Region ranking projection through games of Sunday, January 29...

- In-region record listed
- Includes "in-region" wins over teams I project would be in the ranking discussion in the Midwest (below) or other regions (example, UW-Stevens Point in West)
- Also includes all losses 

1. Transylvania (HCAC), 16-1 (won vs Wabash, vs Hanover, vs Rose-Hulman...lost @ Defiance)
2. Grinnell (MWC), 14-1 (won @ Lake Forest...lost @ Carroll)
3. Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW), 13-4 (won vs Wash U, vs Wheaton, vs Augustana...lost @ Ripon, @ UW-Whitewater, @ NCC, @ Wheaton)
4. Washington U (UAA), 14-3 (won vs Augustana, vs Wheaton, vs Emory...lost @ Whitworth, @ IWU, vs NYU)
5. Wheaton (CCIW), 13-4 (won vs NCC, vs IWU...lost @ Hope, @ Wash U, @ IWU, @ Augustana)
6. Lake Forest (MWC), 14-2 (none...lost @ Edgewood, vs Grinnell)
7. Hanover (HCAC), 14-3 (won vs Ohio Wesleyan, vs Rose-Hulman...lost vs Ohio Northern, @ Manchester, @ Transylvania)
8. North Central (CCIW), 12-4 (won @ Augustana, vs IWU...lost @ Aurora, @ Simpson, @ UW-P, @ Wheaton)
----------
9. Augustana (CCIW), 14-4 (won vs UW-Stevens Point, vs Wheaton...lost @ Wash U, vs North Central, @ IWU, @ Elmhurst)
10. Edgewood (NATHC), 13-4 (won vs Lake Forest...lost vs UW-Stevens Point, @ UW-Whitewater, @ MSOE, @ Marian)
11. Concordia, WI (NATHC), 13-4 (none...lost @ UW-Eau Claire, @ Benedictine, @ Carroll, @ Edgewood)
12. Rose-Hulman (HCAC), 14-5 (none...lost vs Wabash, @ Hanover, @ Transylvania, @ Bluffton)

My updated Midwest Region ranking projection through games of Sunday, February 4 (Wash U won @ Emory today)...

- In-region record listed
- Includes "in-region" wins over teams I project would be in the ranking discussion in the Midwest (below) or other regions (example, UW-Stevens Point in West)
- Also includes all losses 

1. Transylvania (HCAC), 18-1 (won vs Wabash, vs Hanover...lost @ Defiance)
2. Washington U (UAA), 15-4 (won vs Augustana, vs Wheaton, vs Emory, @ Emory...lost @ Whitworth, @ IWU, vs NYU, @ Rochester)
3. Wheaton (CCIW), 15-4 (won vs NCC, vs IWU...lost @ Hope, @ Wash U, @ IWU, @ Augustana)
4. North Central (CCIW), 14-4 (won @ Augustana, vs IWU, vs Augustana...lost @ Aurora, @ Simpson, @ UW-P, @ Wheaton)
5. Lake Forest (MWC), 17-2 (none...lost @ Edgewood, vs Grinnell)
6. Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW), 14-5 (won vs Wash U, vs Wheaton, vs Augustana...lost @ Ripon, @ UW-Whitewater, @ NCC, @ Wheaton, @ Augustana)
7. Augustana (CCIW), 15-5 (won vs UW-Stevens Point, vs Wheaton, vs IWU...lost @ Wash U, vs North Central, @ IWU, @ Elmhurst, @ North Central)
8. Grinnell (MWC), 15-3 (won @ Lake Forest...lost @ Carroll, @ Ripon, @ St. Norbert)
----------
9. Hanover (HCAC), 15-4 (won vs Ohio Wesleyan...lost vs Ohio Northern, @ Manchester, @ Transylvania, vs Earlham)
10. Edgewood (NATHC), 14-5 (won vs Lake Forest...lost vs UW-Stevens Point, @ UW-Whitewater, @ MSOE, @ Marian, @ Aurora)
11. Concordia, WI (NATHC), 15-4 (none...lost @ UW-Eau Claire, @ Benedictine, @ Carroll, @ Edgewood)


Wash U's win @ Emory was really big today.  In additional to UAA championship implications, in my regional projection, it was the difference between #2 in the region and #6.  That is how tight the region is, and how big every game is.

So based on how I see the region, CCIW Pool C hopefuls need to root for...

* Transylvania to win the HCAC conference tournament, Pool A bid

* Wash U to win the UAA (no conference tournament), Pool A bid

* Lake Forest to win the MWC conference tournament, Pool A bid



It would be big for the CCIW teams if the 3 teams above all get in via Pool A, leaving the CCIW teams as the region's top Pool C contenders.  I'd like the league's chances of getting 2 Pool C's in that scenario.  (It's too early to know where Lake Forest and Wash U would stack up relative to the CCIW teams - too many games left - but they certainly could end up regionally ranked higher.)

One of the big things to look for when the real regional rankings come out this week -- where do they put Lake Forest?  I put them below the Wash U/Wheaton/NCC pack due to "results vs regionally ranked teams."  Those 4 teams all have so many games played vs other regionally ranked teams, and "good wins" - Lake Forest doesn't have a single win over a team in the Midwest ranking mix.  (I have Lake Forest ahead of IWU for now due to LF being 2-0 vs Ripon, while IWU lost to Ripon.)

[iwu70]

Q, thanks for all the numbers crunching and scenarios regarding regional rankings and Pool C prospects.  I'll follow your recommdations and do the appropriate cheering for the prospective Pool A candidates mentioned.

A totally enjoyable evening at The Shirk last eve, with swimming, HUGE track meet, two basketball games and a very successful Pink Zone event associated with the women's game.  All good.  The place was jumping, just packed.  Hard to find a parking place around The Shirk within 2-3 blocks.  Coach Mia Smith is a class act . . . and many good people attending from the cancer survivors, families, and cancer treatment communities in the B/N area.  Proud of our teams, coaches and programs on a night like that one, to be sure. 

Titans had a good game with solid performances by IWU's bigs, good night for Victor Davis, 17 pts., and Jordan Zimmer, 16 pts.  Reed, 10, Gonzales 9, and Ziemnik 9.  Dortch and Anderson made good offensive contributions last night and Nick is improving his overall offensive game, moves in the post area.  He's going to be really good in years to come.  Dortch, contributed and made is normal good contributions with tough D, very tough D.  Big key was a huge advantage on the boards, 46 to 27.  I also have the view that the consistent, good play of Kevin Reed is a big part of the successful Titan season to date. 

Roshaun Russell was very effective from treyville, scoring 21, but our Titans also hit 10 treys, at a 50% clip.

Big game now Tuesday, with NCC coming to town.  Was sorry Augie didn't put a loss on them, in that very strange 43-41 game @NCC.  Gotta hand it to NCC, they are staying out in front.  With Augies 4th loss, I guess all of us on this board have to admit that none of us were right, as we almost all picked AC to win the league, and they are clearly not going to do it.  Some big games yet to play, including this Tuesday at The Shirk.

Down the stretch we go . . . with only 4 games to go. 

IWU70

[AndOne]

A very bizarre day and night in Naperville yesterday.
Beginning with the extremely sad and depressing news of the death by homicide of a 2011 NCC grad and former punter on the football team, who was working as an elementary school teacher in Naperville, and the critical wounding of a current senior football player in the same 1:00 AM attack.
While there is certainly some degree of cheer associated with the Cardinals narrow victory over Augie last evening, the joy is certainly tempered by the cloak of sadness that today lingers over the NCC campus community.

With regard to the game itself, the proceedings began with the reading of a statement from the administration, and a minute of silent prayer for Shaun's family, and for Willie's full recovery following his emergency surgery. This followed an earlier memorial service/prayer vigil on campus.

Once the actual game got underway, bizarre is a good way to describe things basically from start to finish, but is particularly applicable to the opening 10 minutes or so of action. Said "action" consisting primary of a combined display of ineptitude rarely seen by both teams. Most passes thrown during the opening minutes were as soft as a baby's butt, pass receivers displayed hands of cement, and the baskets surely had covers over them. Five minutes and 33 seconds elapsed before Augie scored the 1st basket of the game. A FT at the 13:48 mark, and a basket with 11:59 remaining in the opening half put the Augie lead at 5-0. Finally, after 9 minutes and 12 seconds, and 12 missed shots, a Vince Kmiec three made the score 5-3 with 10:48 remaining. An Aaron Tiknis put-back tied things at 5 at 9:05. Can anybody say Millikin? At that point, the flood gates opened. The remainder of the opening stanza saw the Cardinals bank 12 more points while the Vikings posted a whopping 17 to take a 22-17 lead into halftime.

The opening of the 2nd half featured Aaron Tiknis' emergence as the evening's top star. Aaron scored 14 of his game high 19 points in the 2nd half. The entire Augie team only scored 19 2nd half points. He opened by feeding Kevin Gillespie for a layup on the half's 1st possession, and then drained a 3 to tie the score at 22. After a put-back by Augie's Kam Norton, Tiknis answered with 4 straight points. Augie then jumped back to a 28-26 advantage which was followed by another Tiknis 3, and a layup by CJ Goldthree. NCC then went cold for some 4 minutes during which Brandon Kunz scored the next 6 points for Augie, including a missed traveling violation by the zebras on which he took a couple of noticeable steps accross the lane after giving up his dribble. Augie subsequently held a 38-34 lead, but a 3 by Gillespie from the deep corner, and a Derek Raridon FT left the score tied at 38 with 4:23 to play. At that time, freshman Mark Roth hit his only shot of the night, a three, but it would prove to be the last Augie basket of the evening. CJ Goldthree then followed with a FT, and a layup and one on a Roth foul to give NCC the lead for good at 2:07. Goldthree's layup came off a beautiful find and feed from Landon Gamble. Tiknis hit 1 of 2 FTs at 1:09 to make it 43-41, ultimately, the final score. Augie had enough chances to win it, but Roth missed a 3 pointer at 0:58, and Brian DeSimone missed another 3 attempt with 5 seconds remaining. The rebound on DeSimone's shot was back tapped out long to Roth who misfired again at the buzzer.   

Kind of hard to believe the Cardinals won with Landon Gamble going scoreless, Derek Raridon scoring only 3 points, and their being out rebounded by a whopping 47-26! While NCC shot a horrendous 29.2% for the game, the Vikings were only marginally better at 31.8%, including a miniscule 15.4 (2/13) on threes. However, the primary stat that really jumps out at you is the astonishingly high total of 25 Viking turnovers. That total somewhat negates the huge Augie rebound advantage as, after gaining the rebound, the Vikings often lost the ball right back to the Cardinals. That, plus the Augie starters tallied a combined total of only 14 points.
I'm also glad we saw as much of Kameron Norton and George Dexter as we did as opposed to Brandon Kunz. Norton and Dexter are good rebounders, but neither has never been known as much of an offensive threat. On the other hand, Brandon Kunz was clearly Augie's best player last night, registering a double-double with 12/12. Thanks also go to Bryant Voiles fouling out late in the game and being unavailable to take the final shot. It was nice to see  freshman Mark Roth take the final shot. Roth may have shot well this season, but how many of the freshman's shots have come under pressure? You would almost always rather have a freshman take that shot as opposed to a proven senior.

     

[AndOne]

With the SB beginning, I almost forgot to comment on a topic that has been the subject of much discussion here recently, namely the deportment of Augie Coach Grey "Stomper" Giovanine.

Not that he cares what I or anyone else thinks, but unless others saw some things I missed, I must say Coach G displayed the best behavior I have seen from him over the last several years. His conduct last night could almost be described as "gentlemanly."
When he removed his coat (it was hotter than hell in the hangar last night), he gently placed it over the back of his chair. I didn't see even one incident of his attempting to stomp a hole in the floor. I did observe a couple of "wave offs," but they were much less demonstrative than usual, and seemed directed as much toward his own players for their ineptness rather than in the direction of the refs.
I think the NCC students had prepared some special greetings and salutations based on his renowned antics, but the atmosphere was undoubtedly somewhat subdued due to the tragedy early yesterday morning. Also, I believe a good number of students who eventually made their way to the game, arrived late, after the memorial service that began at 7:00. 

[Titan Q]

My updated Midwest Region ranking projection through games of Sunday, February 4 (Wash U won @ Emory today)...

- In-region record listed
- Includes "in-region" wins over teams I project would be in the ranking discussion in the Midwest (below) or other regions (example, UW-Stevens Point in West)
- Also includes all losses 

1. Transylvania (HCAC), 18-1 (won vs Wabash, vs Hanover...lost @ Defiance)
2. Washington U (UAA), 15-4 (won vs Augustana, vs Wheaton, vs Emory, @ Emory...lost @ Whitworth, @ IWU, vs NYU, @ Rochester)
3. Wheaton (CCIW), 15-4 (won vs NCC, vs IWU...lost @ Hope, @ Wash U, @ IWU, @ Augustana)
4. North Central (CCIW), 14-4 (won @ Augustana, vs IWU, vs Augustana...lost @ Aurora, @ Simpson, @ UW-P, @ Wheaton)
5. Lake Forest (MWC), 17-2 (none...lost @ Edgewood, vs Grinnell)
6. Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW), 14-5 (won vs Wash U, vs Wheaton, vs Augustana...lost @ Ripon, @ UW-Whitewater, @ NCC, @ Wheaton, @ Augustana)
7. Augustana (CCIW), 15-5 (won vs UW-Stevens Point, vs Wheaton, vs IWU...lost @ Wash U, vs North Central, @ IWU, @ Elmhurst, @ North Central)
8. Grinnell (MWC), 15-3 (won @ Lake Forest...lost @ Carroll, @ Ripon, @ St. Norbert)
----------
9. Hanover (HCAC), 15-4 (won vs Ohio Wesleyan...lost vs Ohio Northern, @ Manchester, @ Transylvania, vs Earlham)
10. Edgewood (NATHC), 14-5 (won vs Lake Forest...lost vs UW-Stevens Point, @ UW-Whitewater, @ MSOE, @ Marian, @ Aurora)
11. Concordia, WI (NATHC), 15-4 (none...lost @ UW-Eau Claire, @ Benedictine, @ Carroll, @ Edgewood)

KnightSlappy's regional ranking analysis...

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2012/02/regional-rankings-262012.html

His objective system and my subjective system have 7 of the same teams in our top 8.  He has Concorida (WI) in over Augustana...I can't see that actually happening.

[petemcb]

Gotta check to see if you're still listening, Bob.

I've decided that absolutely everybody from the "Bosko tree" says "Wezzzleyan."  Bosko does...Greg Sager does...Tim Bernerno does...Carthage broadcaster John Weiser does.  I've traced it all back to Coach Djurickovic.

The Bosko Tree......wasn't that a U2 album a while ago? 

[sac]

Someone please photoshop a pair of Bono sunglasses on Bosko's head.

[Titan Q]

The Bosko Tree......wasn't that a U2 album a while ago? 

Who could forget such timeless classics as...

- Where the Streets Have Cheese Shops and Adult Video Stores

- I Still Haven't Found Raul Guzman

- With or Without Steve

- Red Men Hooping Town

[Gregory Sager]

The Bosko Tree......wasn't that a U2 album a while ago? 

Who could forget such timeless classics as...

- Where the Streets Have Cheese Shops and Adult Video Stores

- I Still Haven't Found Raul Guzman

- With or Without Steve

- Red Men Hooping Town

Bet you'd like to forget the best song on that album, "One-Trey Hilton".