MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[diehardfan]

looks like a guy who faithfully watches the 700 Club

the seven hundred club... ahh! make it stop

Of course, the lovely, devout, articulate and youthful April is the exception to the rule.

Huh? The what???   

Oh, posting my pic brings plenty of perceptions, many of which are not good. On the other hand, I do it because being me keeps me from being anyone else. (or in the words of Thoreau, "I am confined to this theme by the narrowness of my experience." )

I think this is a similar reason to why many use their real names on Posting Up. Come on augiefan... post a picture! The only way our perception of you could change is if you suddenly became an optimist. 

[79jaybird]

OK, here's a scenario that I want to see what you all think.  Say somebody other than Augie wins the CCIW tournament and Augie wins the reg. season title.  Obviously, the CCIW tourney winner gets the AQ.  Do you think the CCIW gets a third team in?   Say Elmhurst or IWU wins the tournament.  IMO I would take Augie also, but then where does it leave NC who's having a great year as well.?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

NCC's QOWI number isn't that great right now.  Another couple of losses would really hurt their chances to get in.  Augie and IWU both have pretty decent numbers.  It all depends on who loses to who and who wins the tournament.  It's hard to tell now, but I wouldn't doubt that three teams is realistic, although not guaranteed.

[True Basketball Fan]

NC has played Robert Morris Springfield twice, Judson, Mount Marty, Illinois Tech, and Adrian.  None of those games count and they all aren't very good anyway.  That'll hurt NC in the end if they lose a few more games.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

NC has played Robert Morris Springfield twice, Judson, Mount Marty, Illinois Tech, and Adrian.  None of those games count and they all aren't very good anyway.  That'll hurt NC in the end if they lose a few more games.

Well said.

[79jaybird]

Elmhurst has played some quality teams Hope UWP when they were ranked, Hanover  which will help their cause.  That darn Millikin game really hurts.

[matblake]

Where can I find a listing of the QOWI.  I looked around for it on the main page and couldn't find it, but knowing me I just missed it.    Thanks!

[iwumichigander]

Where can I find a listing of the QOWI.  I looked around for it on the main page and couldn't find it, but knowing me I just missed it.    Thanks!

Follow the url below or Go To Multi Regional Topics then Go To Quality of Wins Index

http://www.d3sports.com/post/index.php?topic=2910.60

Pat Coleman posts up an updated QOWI weekly   You will also find some additional discussion on QOWI

[iwumichigander]

NCC's QOWI number isn't that great right now.  Another couple of losses would really hurt their chances to get in.  Augie and IWU both have pretty decent numbers.  It all depends on who loses to who and who wins the tournament.  It's hard to tell now, but I wouldn't doubt that three teams is realistic, although not guaranteed.

Several posters throughout the board(s) express doubts that any region will get more than two teams into the Tournament.  Currently, within the Midwest Region whether you go by D3hoops.com Top 25 or by QOWI  NCC, Augie & IWU seems to be in pretty good shape.  Seems being the key word. 

There remains a lot of conference games to play before the CCIW tournament.  Elmhurst at 13 - 6 overall losses and with a QOWI not in the top 100 is likely on the bubble already.  Another couple of losses would hurt NCC and IWU.  One of these three may need to step up to win the CCIW tournament as the only means of entry thus getting the CCIW AQ.  Augie, assuming it does not bomb out in the remaining regular conference games, appears to be the most likely to get into the Tournament whether or not it wins the CCIW Tournament.  I think Augie could actually afford a reg. conference loss or two at this point, take a CCIW Tourney loss and still get an invitation to the Dance as a Pool C.

How will the NCAA rank the Midwest Region teams? This is a better question. Today, it would look like the CCIW, UAA and Midwest would have most or all of the initial rankings. I just do not see any team from the other Midwest Conferences - HCAC, NIIC, SLIAC or LMC with the credentials to get ranked - today - by the NCAA in its initial ranking. Yet, bear in mind all those conferences except the NIIC gobble up spots with AQs. (And, I don't profess to be the expert here.  I put this out as discussion.  Sager or Q can zero in on this better than I.)

[matblake]

Thanks iwumich!

[petemcb]

Random stream of consciousness observations on two of the weekend's games from an unaligned observer who just likes to see good games:

Augie @ Elmhurst was a great game.  I brought my high school sophomore son to see some great, hotly-contested D3 ball, and neither of us was disappointed.  Here comes the stream of consciousness part:  I am not convinced Augie is the better team.  Elmhurst shot good shots poorly, and couldn't make a layup to save their lives (or their conference championship hopes).  Brian Lee did not step up for the Jays as he did against Hanover, IWU, and Wheaton previously.  Chris Martin was not defended as well as Harrigan was.  I felt Swetella's defensive job on him might be overrated (apparently not a widely shared opinion this week).  Martin had his whole team involved  -  they just failed to knock down good shot opportunities that they (Nick Michael excluded), typically, would knock down. Giovannine was, for him, unusually restrained for most of the game, even when Augie was down in the first half.  Elmhurst's 6'9" freshman looked better than their 6'4" freshman did  -  on this particular afternoon.  He will be a ton, as will Elmhurst's entire front line next year.  He rebounded strongly, showed a nice little baby hook, and did not appear overwhelmed in a particularly intense game.  Augie enjoyed road support similar to what IWU received in their game at Elmhurst ealier in the season.  McAdams-Thornton did not appear all-conference on Sunday afternoon  -  which makes Augie's win all the more impressive.  Number 24 for Elmhurst hit some BIG buckets, and made several important plays at important times.  If Elmhurst is not in the D3 tournament, I would guess they will be the best D3 team in the country on the outside looking in.  That would be a shame for Elmhurst, the CCIW, and the D3 tournament.......

[petemcb]

Random observations continued:

Saturday night, I saw NCC @ Wheaton.  The food was outstanding!  I was less impressed with NCC than I wanted to be.  Simmons was streaky, and did not start either half.  Walton is still one of my favorite under-recognized players in the conference, at both ends of the floor.  Their freshman, I think he's #30, a 6'6" or so forward, is one of the more exciting freshman in the conference......although ask anyone at Wheaton how much stock to put in exciting freshmen......He looks to me like he will be every bit as good as Walton in a year or so, if not better, and he is two years younger.  If you get a chance to see NCC,  pay attention to this kid.  Wheaton's big men, other than Wiele, looked confused Saturday night.  Denham lost his man defensively several times,  resulting in some bad fouls in a belated attempt to recover.  Fiddler, in spite of the occasional high-flying exciting rebound, looked too weak physically to be a consistent factor in the paint.  In spite of being the second tallest player on the roster, he looks more comfortable on the wing/perimeter.  Tony Bollier, who I have seen have many great games, did not have one on Saturday.  He did not do as good a job as usual of involving his teammates, and showed uncharacteristically poor shot-selection.  It was the first bad game (of four) I've seen him have.  But he never quit, which is a more useful life skill/character trait than draining the 3ball anyway.  Mohan shows intriguing potential, but is really up and down in his intensity and involvement in the game.  Wiele has stud potential.  He doesn't play like a freshman, is even stronger than he looks, and is comfortable in the paint at both ends of the floor.  I like him.  Harris does a remarkable job of staying under control, except for when the same ref made a string of calls that drew reaction from the crowd, the bench, and looks of understated surprise from his two colleagues, capped off by a quick T given to Tony Bollier, not known for "untoward" behavior, to say the least.

[knarocky22]

I would probably agree with anyone who said that Augie is not the team with the most talented individual players in the CCIW.  However, as far as TEAM play goes, Augie has been the best team in the CCIW this season.  As far as Elmhurst missing open shots, if they were as good of a team as Augie, shouldn't they knock down the majority of those shots, especially at home?  From what I have seen, Augie plays the best team defense in the conference, and every game that Harrigan or McAdams-Thornton haven't stepped up, someone else has.  I have seen Augie get progressively better as the year has gone on, especially the role players.  I just don't agree at this point that Augie is not a better team than Elmhurst (especially after winning at IWU and at Elmhurst back to back).

[Gregory Sager]

(And, I don't profess to be the expert here.  I put this out as discussion.  Sager or Q can zero in on this better than I.)

You did a fine job. I would just add that the dates for the three regional rankings are: Wednesday, February 8; Wednesday, February 15; and Wednesday, February 22.

Good game reports, Pete. I'll just fill in your two missing blanks:

Number 24 for Elmhurst hit some BIG buckets, and made several important plays at important times.

Evan Patchett.

Their freshman, I think he's #30, a 6'6" or so forward, is one of the more exciting freshman in the conference......although ask anyone at Wheaton how much stock to put in exciting freshmen......He looks to me like he will be every bit as good as Walton in a year or so, if not better, and he is two years younger.  If you get a chance to see NCC,  pay attention to this kid.

Chris Drennan.

[diehardfan]

capped off by a quick T given to Tony Bollier, not known for  "untoward" behavior, to say the least.

Tony got a technical?? Huh?? Why on earth? What happened Pete? 

Thank you, incindentally, for the insight on the games.  As an unbiased fan, who is extremely insightful, your opinions are always very much appreciated, and necessary for good discussion!