MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm not sure if I detected a tongue in cheek there or not?



Maybe it was a tumor...

[cardinal20]

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!

Let me start by saying the officiating was poor at best. Harris and Raridon were both on the officials all night. Bollier was trying really hard for a good 5 minutes to get Teising his 3rd foul in the 1st half. He was all over the place and was trying extremely too hard. He took himself out of the game. Finally, he argued one of the calls and the official had enough from him and the coaches.

Looking ahead to tomorrow night, obviously a big game for both teams, but the Cards need some confidence on their home court. After dropping a tough one vs. Elmhurst in their first home game, this game will set the tone for the rest of the season with only one more game on the road (at Elmhurst). If the Cards win, we could see them win out.

[diehardfan]

I'm not sure if I detected a tongue in cheek there or not?

Not at all!    Pete has a good eye for the game, and doesn't have an allegiance to any particular CCIW team, though I'd like to believe that he has a bit of a soft spot for my team.   

I was just encouraging him to post more...

[Titan Q]

CCIW record/regional record

Augustana 8-0/16-0
Illinois Wesleyan 5-3/10-3
Elmhurst 5-3/10-5
North Central 4-3/9-3

The most recent national Quality of Wins Index figures run by Pat Coleman (games from this past weekend not included)...

#3 Augustana 11.667
#19 Illinois Wesleyan 10.667
#29 North Central 10.364
#78 Elmhurst 9.286

As I look at the current regional records and QOWI, I believe the following about the CCIW's Pool C chances...

1) Augustana is very close to being a Pool C lock.  I think with 3-3 the rest of the way, Augie could lose on opening night of the CCIW tournament and still be in.

2) Elmhurst is very close to being out of the Pool C picture due to their 5 in-region losses and the low QOWI.  I think Elmhurst has to go 6-0 the rest of the way in the league to get into the Pool C picture heading in the CCIW tourney, which would mean winning at IWU and at home vs NCC.  It's possible but I think Elmhurst has no room for error.  Realistically, I see the Bluejays going into that tournament in Rock Island needing to win it to get in.

3) IWU and North Central would both be Pool C teams if the season ended today, but the season doesn't end today.  Things yet to happen -- a) IWU and NCC play each tomorrow (someone's gonna lose), b) Both have to face Augustana and Elmhurst again, c) Each has either lost or had trouble with at least one "bottom 4" team and there are plenty of those games left, and d) Assuming both make the conference tournament, at least one is going to lose a game in the conference tournament.  In other words, both IWU and NCC have an opportunity to stay in good Pool C shape, but it is probably not realistic that both will stay in good Pool C shape.  One or both may go into the CCIW tourney feeling like they have to win it to get in.


From a Pool C standpoint, the Illinois Wesleyan/North Central game in Naperville tomorrow is enormous.  In addition to the two "primary criteria" I've already commented on (in-region winning % and QOWI), head-to-head play is also one of the big 5 criteria.  If NCC and IWU are both in the Pool C picture on selection day and NCC has a sweep over IWU, it seems pretty obvious that the Cards would get in over the Titans.  That isn't to say both couldn't make it, but NCC would get in first. 

[Titan Q]

Things I did not think I would do in the month of January as I flew back from Santa Barbara on January 2...

1) Make a post evaluating Illinois Wesleyan's Pool C chances.

2) Make a room reservation at the Radisson in Moline for Feb 24...and confirm the cancellation/refund date for said reservation.

[Brick]

Q 

I think it is safe to say that all of us thought that we were going to be spending those days in Bloomington

[Mr. Ypsi]

Q,

Elmhurst was not in the top 100 QOWI list the first week Pat posted it, but on the latest list they are #78, at 9.286.

IF they go on a run, their QOWI should rise enough to give them a bit of a shot, but I think they would be wise to aim for the A!

[bluejaybacker1]

Thanks Ypsi I was just going to post that.

What was their loss to Augie worth 7 points?

[Mr. Ypsi]

6 points for a HOME loss to a .667+ team (woulda been 7 if the game was in RI).

[Titan Q]

Q,

Elmhurst was not in the top 100 QOWI list the first week Pat posted it, but on the latest list they are #78, at 9.286.

IF they go on a run, their QOWI should rise enough to give them a bit of a shot, but I think they would be wise to aim for the A!

Thanks...I corrected my post.

[petemcb]

cardinal20,

That was a very brief, low volume, under control, profanity-free "argument" on Bollier's part.  The official in question, in my experience of his games, has a quick whistle and has difficulty keeping himself from getting his ego involved even faster than his whistle.  If the ref in question had "had enough from him and the coaches", then he needed to address the coaches together at the scorer's table, rather than adding to his litany of poor calls with a momentum-swinging call like the T on Bollier.

If trying to draw a third foul on a key opponent in the first half is a bad basketball strategy, that's probably news to a lot of fans, players, and coaches out there, I'm guessing.......and  you say "all over the place" like it's a bad thing. 

[cardinal20]

cardinal20,

That was a very brief, low volume, under control, profanity-free "argument" on Bollier's part.  The official in question, in my experience of his games, has a quick whistle and has difficulty keeping himself from getting his ego involved even faster than his whistle.  If the ref in question had "had enough from him and the coaches", then he needed to address the coaches together at the scorer's table, rather than adding to his litany of poor calls with a momentum-swinging call like the T on Bollier.

If trying to draw a third foul on a key opponent in the first half is a bad basketball strategy, that's probably news to a lot of fans, players, and coaches out there, I'm guessing.......and  you say "all over the place" like it's a bad thing. 

I agree with the quick whistle, but he was talking with the officials a lot during the first half. In this instance, all over the place is a bad thing because he cost his team 5 or 6 possessions by throwing up bad shots. You tried to twist my words. Of course it's smart basketball, but not when it takes your team out of the game and rhythm they had. It's better to score points instead of drawing fouls on opponents? Maybe fouls are more important than points cause that would be news to me.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Sorry for your change of plans Q, but I think the rankings will say a lot when they come out next week.  You are right, it will be messy if IWU, NCC or Elmhurst roll into the conference tourney with extra losses.

[Johnny Augie]

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). 

The fact that Augie has beat Elmhurst twice makes them the better team.  The reason Augie is winning right now is because they are playing together as a team.  It's because of great team defense and the role players stepping up when Harrigan isn't scoring 25-30 points a game.

[arnoldfanclub10]

prayers go out to matt arnold and his roomates.... not sure if anyone read the paper this morning... matt's house on iwu's campus burnt down yesterday and he lost everything. no one was injured. and by the way, everyone was wondering before who this was, im one of his best friends from indiana.