MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[John Gleich]

Also, having been a student-athlete myself, I enjoyed the fact that no matter how the team did in the regular season, we had a chance to compete for a title in a tournament. It gave the season a sense of an end... and something we were working towards. Just my two cents.

I agree... For the record, I'm not a big fan of the 6 or 4 team tournament in an 8 team conference for just that reason.  If you're the one of the bottom teams, it really doesn't give you anything to play for.

UW Stout won their last 3 games... and all it got them was 7th in conference... and likely the longest winning streak of a team that doesn't win the national championship... instead of taking that momentum into the conference tournament.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Does anyone have any sense the conference is going to change their minds? Then why is it still discussed?

Because this is a message board? What else should we be talking about? I guess I found it interesting that if we didn't have a conference tournament we may have 3 teams in the dance. With a tournament, we may get only 1. On the CCIW board, that seems like a relevant topic.

I believe the CCIW has also had a couple teams make the tournament that maybe wouldn't have as a direct result of having the tournament.  The extra in-region game, game vs regionally ranked, and boost to SOS have all helped a CCIW get in.   IWU and Wheaton in recent season.

Ancient history!   This year Pool C prognosticators had IWU fairly safely above the bubble before the conference tourney; now I just hope that Lake Forest's loss drops them below IWU (Carroll was certainly not as 'good' a loss as Wheaton) so we get to the table pretty early, where SOS and regionally-ranked results just might be enough to sneak in.  But, while HOPEful, I'm not holding my breath!

[Dennis_Prikkel]

well the wheaties get another shot at the cards in merner fieldhouse - will the third time be a charm (brass bell #4 tomorrow)

I won't even say the Augiestana lost. 

[Titan Q]

The CCIW decided years ago to move forward with a conference tournament... but ever since then the annual conversation has surrounded around why this is a lousy idea. Does anyone have any sense the conference is going to change their minds? Then why is it still discussed?

The conference tournament has been voted on the by the AD's since it was implemented 6 years ago, and will be again soon.  That is why it is still discussed.

In addition to the fact that, as USee points out, this is a sports message board...and that is kind of what happens on a sports message board.

[iwu70]

Of course sorry to see my Titans go down tonight, but 30% shooting and a very poor percentage from treyville, just won't get it down vs. a quality opponent like WC in the conference tournament.  Congrats to WC on the win, sounds like they came out on fire, shooting lights out, with over 50% for the game.  Seems WC gets a bid now for sure --  Pool A or C.

My deep thanks and warm appreciation to Coach Rose and all the Titans on a very good season.  All the Titan fans much enjoyed their dedication, hard work and great play of the Titans all season.  Was, of course, hoping for a bid and some more basketball in the dance, but looks like the bubble burst tonight, esp. with some of the Pool A bids going to upset winners.  Doesn't seem likely that IWU will get in. 

We will miss Jordan Zimmer, Eliud Gonzalez, Kman and Stephen Rudnicki for sure.

Congrats to WC, the better team on the night for sure.

IWU70

[iwu70]

NCC over Augie 63-56.  Final.

So, WC vs. NCC for the AQ. 

IWU70

In Bloomington, on the women's side, CC beats WC, and IWU cruises over MU, so IWU vs. CC for the title, tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

[USee]

Tough to beat a good team 3x in a season. Wheaton will have their hands full. Also slightly more to play for with NCC as Wheaton knows they are in.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Tough to beat a good team 3x in a season. Wheaton will have their hands full. Also slightly more to play for with NCC as Wheaton knows they are in.

And here comes Greg in 3, 2, ...

[thunder38]

Just a note: With his performance tonight, Tim McCrary become the first player in D3 history to score 1600 points, grab 800 rebounds, and dish out 400 assists.  He'll pass the 1700 point plateau tomorrow.

[pistol]

Nice win for the Cardinals tonight. Poor shooting, very good team defense.

Looking forward to a great game tomorrow night. Two very even teams, home court probably the difference. 

[cardinalpride]

I can't understand why the CCIW coaches want a conference tournament. It only helps one team and hurts the other 3. And NCC with 2 consecutive leage titles could be twice denied a worthy NCAA tourney berth. The conference tournament makes no sense, either economic, academic (more classes missed), or NCAA tourney wise.

Once again, NCC didn't qualify for the national tournament due to its non conference record!  It was not because of the conference tournament.  Because of the conference tournament being in play, it gave NCC another chance to qualify for the NCAA's last year.

[Titan Q]

My current Pool C projections...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4232.msg1406280#msg1406280


I have IWU in as #18 as we speak, praying for basically no upsets today.  Unfortunately, there will likely be a few...and a few would be enough to knock the Titans out.

I'm confident the loser of the Wheaton/NCC game will be the Midwest's #1 Pool C on the board.  The big factor then, however, is how they stack IWU and Lake Forest up.  A case can be made either way - just a matter of how your interpret and weight the criteria...


* Lake Forest: 19-4 (.826), .520, 0-1 vs regionally ranked
* Illinois Wesleyan: 17-7 (.708), .538, 3-6 vs regionally ranked

(In my Pool C projection, I had Lake Forest ranked higher, but I could see this going either way really.)

IWU is sitting on the very end of the bubble as we speak, but the Titans are not out of it by any stretch.

[Titan Q]

I have both Wheaton and North Central as Pool C locks.  This would be the Selection Sunday Pool C resume for each...

* Wheaton: 18-6 (.750), .552, 6-5
* North Central: 18-6 (.750), .501, 5-3


In my mock selection on the Pool C board, I have Wheaton as the Pool C team since the game tonight is @ NCC.  Wheaton is an absolute done deal lock - I have the Thunder as about the #5 Pool C. 

I now also consider North Central a Pool C lock.  The huge factor for NCC since the last regional ranking is that they have picked up a 3-0 record vs regionally ranked teams now the Augustana is considered ranked - I can't stress how big this is. Those 5 wins vs regionally ranked puts NCC in "lock" status as I see it.  Notice that none of my Pool C selections from 7 on have 5 wins vs regionally ranked.  Where I have Wheaton in at about #5, I think NCC would get in at about #11 or so.

Wheaton would, without question, be the stronger Pool C candidate of the two (due to SOS), but I think both are very safe.

[TitansIWU]

Following Zimmer's 2 of 9 from 3pt land in the tournament, here are the IWU top 5 career 3 point shooters.

1. 252         Keelan Amelianovich (104 games) - 2002-06
2. 245         Korey Coon (109 games) - 1996-00
3. 244         Jordan Zimmer (102 games) - 2008-12
4. 238         Sean Johnson (111 games) - 2007-11
5. 235         Mark Edmundson (113 games) - 1986-90

[petemcb]

Bob, I'm pretty sure this was addressed on the board earlier but I'm still not clear on it: do ncc's wins over Augie when Augie was not regionally ranked now count into their record versus regionally ranked foes?  That doesn't seem right.