MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[SkokieFan]

Listened to the IWU broadcast tonight. I don't think I have ever heard a more exciting finish as IWU's win in overtime after tying the score in the closing seconds of regulation.

Congratulations Titans

[markerickson]

Wheaton 68  North Park 53.  NP trailed by 3 in the third quarter, but after Jay Alexander got a T for slapping the backboard during a dunk (his 4th foul), NP's offense sputtered, at best.  Wheaton's starting guards tallied approx 40 points with Bollier netting 28.  NP consistently failed to defend the trey, especially from the guard position.  NP started a freshman PG that, according to another NP alum, started on the jv squad "last week."  This week's NP varsity PG got scorched all night yet the NP coaching staff let this kid play much more than half the game.  The lack of in-game transitions had my small rooting section's blood pressure far too high.  Also, as I've previously stated, NP's offense consists of three people hanging around the trey line with very few passes to a posted-up player or having a guard penetrating the lane.  Very frustrating in light of this Wheaton team being the worst Crusader squad since the pre-Wesley Pitts era.  Wheaton has little inside presence yet the NP braintrust starts two guys under 6' and a third under 6'3".

[dansand]

     Oh well, I might as well chime in on Carthage-Augie. Not the best officiated game I've seen (also not the worst), but I don't think either team gained a significant advantage as a result. I'm sure some Carthage fans (and probably some Augie fans) will disagree, but that's my take.

    A much different style of game than most that Augie has played this year. Harrigan and Jeffery put on a show, combining for 40 in the first half. Mark Morrison and Jay McAdams-Thornton joined in in the second half with 13 and 11 respectively.

    This one resembled the Augie-Elmhurst game at Carver in that Augie just couldn't put it away. They had a 10-0 run to start the second half, taking an 11-point lead, only to let the Red Men come back and tie it at 57. Then, after going on a 14-0 run to lead 71-57, they let Carthage cut the lead down to four. Fortunately, the Red Men missed some free throws down the stretch, which helped offset the seven turnovers the Vikings had in the last seven minutes of the game.

    Carthage has a lot of talent, especially considering Trey Bowens still isn't playing. Schlemm also didn't play tonight. Jeffery is a horse and I know Morrison isn't always as good as he was tonight, but he's an excellent shooting big man. Keena Johnson is a very athletic wing man. Ditto for Malik Imani, although he was pretty quiet tonight. I know they played a very tough non-conference schedule, but I don't see how they're 7-12 and 3-5 in the CCIW.

    For Augie, Harrigan carried them in the first half (21) and continued to light it up in the second, finishing with 37. The difference for the Vikings in the second half was that McAdams-Thornton and Dain Swetalla were much more aggressive attacking the basket. Drew Wessels played another solid game and knocked down several clutch freebies down the stretch.

     Sounds like a classic in Bloomington tonight. Dauskas does a "Witherspoon" on the Bluejays.

[titanhammer]

I'll leave all the details up to Q.  I'll just say that it was one of those games where you hated to see either team lose.  Martin was Martin (21).  Ruch (23) was outstanding.  Dauksas (27) was unbelievable...and Keelan (24) wasn't bad, either.

[titanhammer]

I'll throw in the last few details of regulation and then I have to get back to the hospital (by the way, thanks for all the "congrats").

23.2 seconds  IWU 73  Elmhurst 72
10.8 seconds  IWU 73  Elmhurst 74
05.1 seconds  IWU 73  Elmhurst 76
00.0 seconds  IWU 76  Elmhurst 76

The basket to tie was Dauksas getting it at one end, dribbling to within about 30 feet at the other end, and drilling the three.

[iwumichigander]

I'll leave all the details up to Q.  I'll just say that it was one of those games where you hated to see either team lose.  Martin was Martin (21).  Ruch (23) was outstanding.  Dauksas (27) was unbelievable...and Keelan (24) wasn't bad, either.

Dauksas with 4 FT made tonight passes IWU Assistant Coach Chad Hutson career total of 279   and puts him just one short of Chris Simich at 282. 
Happy Birthday Adam!

[Titan14]

I was at the IWU/EC game tonight. It was the best college basketball game I have witnessed at any level. Dauksas played the game of his life and that is saying something, considering all of the big games he has played in over the years. Cluch play after cluch play and that was after picking up his 3rd foul with 2 seconds left in the 1st half. Everyone played great. Martin, Ruch and Michael were outstanding. Keelan was unreal. Everyone was drained leaving the Shirk tonight. So many big plays in the last 10 minutes and OT by both teams. Just unreal! Congrats to both teams on a wonderful performance.

One point to bring up for discussion. EC up 3 with 5.1 left. IWU has to go the length of the court. Only a 3 will hurt them. why not foul? They had every opportunity to do so, yet let Dauksas get free for a wide open shot. Yes, it was from 28 feet, but he was wide open!

On a side note, Josh Hinz from Beloit had 50 points and 36 boards against Grinnell tonight

[robberki]

My grandmother had 27 and 10 against Grinnell.

[Mr. Ypsi]

My grandmother had 27 and 10 against Grinnell.

Rob, just a few points of clarification:

I'm pretty sure that your grandmother played before Arsenault introduced 'the system', so no way!

Are you sure she played for the men's team?

That would still put her hugely behind Hinz.

Anyone putting up 50 points and (especially) 36 rebounds against anyone has had one helluva game!

I don't think it should be scoffed at just because it was against Grinnell.  Regardless of opponent, Hinz had a hellacious game, and then some!!

[veterancciwfan]

Iv'e been to 95% of IWU games for a long time & these 2 games this week (@ NCC Wed. night & tonight vs. Elmhurst) may be the most entertaining, emotionally draining, & spetacular plays loaded back to back games I've ever witnessed. I can't imagine how the IWU players feel. This was one for the ages. At NCC, Trost instructed his team to foul Teising at the 8 second mark with IWU up by 3. He missed the front end of a 1 & bonus and IWU won. Tonight, Mark Scherer is in the same situation. IWU has the ball out bounds with the length of the court to go with 5.3 seconds down 3 at the end of regulation. Thank you Mr. Scherer for instrucitng your team not to foul. But it still took a Superman shot by Dauksas to send the game to OT. What a game-what a league.

[Jim Matson]

Titan14, I was wondering  the same thing.  How can he have any shot at all when, as you said, only the 3 would win?  Committing the foul might be a bit risky (make both and steal for the win), but Adam should not have had the look.

Wesleyan is making a name for themselves as the "Sudden Death Squad."  Of the many, think of Adam's shot at the buzzer and Bollier's shot at the buzzer.  Swap 'em and its bad news in Bloomington! 

The more these Titans keep squeeking by, the more experience they are building for the post-season - that is if they make it that far.

[Jim Matson]

Nice win by the Thunder teams tonight.  Bollier with 28 is sure senior leadership!  He will be missed next year.  I am surprised though at how weak Wheaton's inside game seems to be....  It really sets them up to have to win on the outside shot, as in the Wesleyan game.  And that's not so great when you've got a younger team.

The women really took it to the Vikes this afternoon.  The half-time score was something like 43-17.  These Wheaton youngsters are getting some momentum and I hope can play with some consistency in preperation for the CCIW Tourney (shouldn't have lost that one to Carthage).

[79jaybird]

TitanQ and your broadcast partner... you guys do a great job calling the game, and it was nice to hear because even though you are Pro IWU, it is easy to listen to as an "opponent".
Sounds like tonight was a classy basketball game that proves why D-3 sports is such a lovable success.  Heart, glory, agony, etc. all the components for a heartbreaking conclusion to a game.
How wide open was Dauksas?  From the sounds of the game, it seemed like the Bluejays "tempted him to shoot" .. those that were at the game can you describe the play?
Since 2001 it seems every EC/IWU game has been down to the wire and great to watch.  We have to start "converting" some of these close games into more W's.
Whew!!  Another emotionally draining night, especially from a Blackhawks fan who saw them go down 4-0 after 1 period, the radio blasting the ups and downs from Bloomington, and the Illini game.

[augiedad]

The audio from the Dauksas 30 footer at the end of regulation and then the Chris Jones winner are here:

http://www.wjbc.com/xwjbc-sports.htm


Wow.

[bluejaybacker1]

I was at the IWU vs EC game even though my team came out on the wrong end it was an amazing game. It was great to see both teams fight back from being down in OT or regulation. It was one of the greatest games I have ever seen in my life. I give a lot of credit to IWU for coming back. Elmhurst fought real hard the whole way, granted I think the officials did hose them at one point....but no matter what IWU didn't let down, all the respect in the world to them. Especially Keelan he kept them in this game, I know Dauskus is good not doubt he hit that shot at the buzzer and he obviously hit a lot of big shots but Keelan kept them in this game when EC tried to pull away. This game was a classic. The CCIW is amazing this year. GOOD LUCK TO ALL.