MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

Ziemnik's hair was even longer in high school, during which I several times heard him affectionately referred to by a theologically based nickname.   

[Drake Palmer]

NPU hosts UW-LaCrosse tonight in an early 6 pm start. The Eagles are 8-1, with their lone loss coming at the hands of UW-Whitewater. Given what Tom Slyder has available to work with, and the desultory play of the Vikings in their two recent losses, I do not have high hopes for this game. I am completely open to the Vikings providing me with a nice Christmas surprise, of course , but NPU has to be seen as a significant underdog in tonight's contest.

UWL actually doesn't put a ton of size on the floor in terms of starters, which is a break for undersized NPU:

Lucas Morrissey	6'4, 220, Sr.	11.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg
Lucas Collum	6'5, 210, So.	8.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Luke Tweed	6'6, 195, Jr.	12.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg
Braden Tice	6'1, 175, Jr.	8.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg
Jeff Heiden	6'0, 165, Sr.	13.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Way too many guys named Luke on that team.

The key reserves are 6'3, 190 sophomore Connor DeBruin (2.4, 2.0), 6'4, 245 senior Brock McMullen (2.0, 4.0), 6'9, 190 sophomore Cale Zuiker (5.1, 1.8), 5'8, 165 sophomore Johnny Coenen (1.7, 0.4), and 6'3, 195 sophomore Trent Schmidt (0.7, 0.6). Zuiker is a transfer from Youngstown State, although I don't know if he was scholarship or walk-on for the Penguins; his playing time for YSU last season was pretty modest. Heiden didn't play at all in UWL's last game two weeks ago; Coenen started in his place.

Rob and I will be on the call for tonight's webcast. We're looking to call a nice big upset tonight.

Maybe the Vikings will catch a break and LaX will go all "Cold Hand Luke" tonight!

If so, UWL head coach Ken Koelbl might blame it on a failure to communicate.

Well played gentlemen!

[Mr. Ypsi]

After trailing by as much as 18 to Hope early in the second, the Titans stormed back to take the lead, then blocked a shot with seconds remaining to hold on, 68-67.

[Titan Q]

IWU 68
Hope 67

* Dylan Overstreet: 15 pts, 2 reb, 3 assists
* Pat Sodemann: 12 pts (all in 2nd half), 6-6 FT, 4 reb
* Andrew Ziemnik: 11 pts, 7 reb
* Victor Davis: 9 pts, 5 reb, 2 assists
* Kevin Reed: 9 pts, 7 reb

The Titans trailed 48-30 with 17:21 to play and came all the way back to win it.  Dylan Overstreet hit the biggest shot of the game for the Titans, a long 3 to put IWU up 5 without 1:18 to play.  Eric Dortch blocked Colton Overway's game-winning shot attempt with :07 to go and Andrew Ziemnik batted the ball to IWU's side of the court as time expired.

Definitely a team effort in the comeback.  Victor Davis made some big shots and plays, as did Sodemann, Ziemnik, Overstreet, and Reed...and everyone who played really.

Key stat -- IWU was 11-12 from the FT line in the 2nd half.

[Titan Q]

IWU turned the ball over 19 times again.  Despite out-rebounding Hope 38-22, Hope took 14 more FG attempts than IWU. The Titans can be right in the middle of the 2013 CCIW title race if they learn to take care of the basketball.  Big if at this point.

Will be great to get Brady Zimmer and Mike Mayberger back soon.

[Titan Q]

WJBC's Eric Stock commented several times during the broadcast about how intense the game was today, and you could sense that from the crowd noise on the broadcast (which was probably mostly coming from the players on the bench).  Ron Rose mentioned the intensity of the game on the postgame show as well.

IWU and Hope have only played two games ever, but both have been thrillers.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Seems to bode well for IWU/Hope tomorrow!

I wouldn't factor in anything about the Hope/MC and IWU/MC games in assessing tomorrow's game.  Totally different matchup...should be a great game.

While I try not to put TOO much weight on common opponents, to say "I wouldn't factor in anything about ..." is ridiculous overkill the other direction.  Despite a high early ranking, Hope appears to be a train-wreck at this point, while IWU seems to be finally finding their stride.  I certainly am not expecting the kind of result these two games would point to, but I already thought IWU would win and am even more confident now.

Q, mea culpa - you could not have been more right.  The games against Miss Col gave ZERO foreshadowing of this game!  (Though the tourney game in Holland was a foretaste! )

[iwu70]

Congrats to NP on their big win.

Great to see the Titans get the two wins in FL. and congrats to Zman on tourney MVP.  Well deserved.  Good to see somewhat more balanced scoring, good contributions from Reed, Davis, Sodemann and Dortch.  I'm more assured than ever that Overstreet is the right choice for PG, with Dolan, perhaps Nelms getting minutes as needed backing him up.  Yes, would be great to have all the Titans healthy -- Zimmer, Mayberger, Molinari and Heyen -- for the CCIW run. 

Too bad for the Illini -- no "Brag'in rights" this year, again. 

IWU70

[AndOne]

After finishing 27-2 last season, Hope was ranked #7 in the preseason.  They've since lost 5 games:

* @ #3 North Central, 49-60
* vs NAIA II #24 Cornerstone, 63-66
* @ #14 Wheaton, 75-79
* vs Spring Arbor, 73-77 (OT)
* vs Mississippi College, 73-82

The top 8 for both teams...

Hope (4-5)
Starters:
G - Colton Overway, 6-0/170 Sr (12.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.3 apg)
G - Billy Seiler - 6-2/200, Sr (8.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.1 apg)
F - Chase DeMaadg, 6-3/190 Sr (4.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg)
F - Nate Snuggerud, 6-5/225 Sr (15.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
C - Nate VanArendonk, 6-10/255 Jr (6.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg)

Bench:
G - Alex Eidson, 6-2 Fr (6.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
C - Brock Benson, 6-8/230 Fr (5.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
F - Chris Ray, 6-6/200 Sr (2.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg)

Illinois Wesleyan (7-2)
Starters:
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 So (8.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.2 apg)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/190 So (13.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-4/230 Jr (10.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
F - Victor Davis, 6-5/235 Jr (5.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
F - Kevin Reed, 6-6/230 Sr (10.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.9 rpg)

Bench:
F - Eric Dortch, 6-3/210 Jr (4.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
C - Nick Anderson, 6-9/200 Jr (3.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
G - Bryce Dolan, 6-0/155 Fr (3.4 ppg, 1.7 apg)

IWU will once again be without key perimeter players Brady Zimmer and Mike Mayberger...I'm not sure what the Hope injury picture looks like.

Illinois Wesleyan and Hope are two of the most successful programs in NCAA Division III history.  I'm glad Ron Rose and Matt Neil scheduled this series.

Yikes. Neither pre-season All American Nate Snuggerud nor 6'10" C Nate Van Arendonk started. Snuggerud played only 5 minutes and scored a grand total of 2 points. NVA played 12 minutes, without scoring a single point.
Nothing official, but speculation is Snuggerud may have a dysfunctional lower back, and NVA just hasn't cut it recently.

As TQ has indicated. the Green Weenies must work on reducing their TOs as we enter the CCIW conference portion of the schedule. Failure to take care of the ball seems like one of the most sure fire means of posting a loss in conference play.

Hope must be one of the nation's most surprising teams.

[Mr. Ypsi]

HOPEfully, there is something that can help out Snuggerud - he was an absolute beast against IWU in Holland.  NVA, on the other hand, occasionally showed what being that size can do all by itself, but I agree with a number of posters on the MIAA board - he just isn't very good.

According to Koschnitsky's dad, he was scheduled for back surgery right after the season, but he was fantastic (despite obvious pain) against Hope.  Maybe Snuggerud and 'K-man' should have a talk!

I think it is now obvious that Hope is missing Krombeen and Bunn (and a healthy Snuggerud) more than was earlier imagined.  They are still a good team (and a contender in the MIAA), but they are NOT the #7 team once foreseen.

[sac]

Hope must be one of the nation's most surprising teams.

On this date one year ago, future CCIW Champion and Sweet 16 team North Central was 5-5 under circumstances very similar to what Hope has faced against a schedule no where near as difficult. 

[veterancciwfan]

A Hope fan told me that "Snuggarud's back is gone" with no elaboration. That's really sad as he was ridiculously awesome in March of this year. Just a reminder of how grateful athletes should be if they are healthy and can compete at the D3 level. It's so easy to be a star one day and forgotten the next. Playing a D3 sport is truly a blessing.

Dylan Overstreet's buzzer beating off balance highly contested desperation high-arching 3-point ( is that enough adjectives?) shot that hit NBN would be a hit on Sports Center. He couldn't make that shot unguarded if he shot it again 10 times. But he doesn't have to. IWU is 8-2 with at least 3 improbable wins (at home against Coe, and 2 nuetral court wins over Tufts and Hope).

On the postgame interview, Ron Rose credited Brady Zimmer for suggesting that Eric Dortch guard Colton Overway in the 2nd half. Good advice which Rose followed. 

[Titan Q]

Here is the IWU/Hope boxscore...

http://www.hope.edu/athletics/mbb/stats/1213/1222iwu.htm

After Hope took the 48-30 lead at the 17:21 mark, here are the Dutchmen made FGs the rest of the game...

10:31 - Colton Overway 3
5:49 - Caleb Byers 2
3:23 - Corey McMahon 3
0:53 - Brock Benson 2

IWU held Hope to 4 FGs in the final 17:21 of the game.  The Dutchmen went 6:50 without a FG from 17:21 to 10:31, and a stretch of 11:32 (17:21 to 5:49) with only the Overway 3-pointer.  That's pretty amazing.

As I mentioned earlier:

* IWU out-rebounded Hope by 16...which is quite a margin. 
* Hope shot the basketball 14 more times from the field and somehow lost the game.

[Titan Q]

On the postgame interview, Ron Rose credited Brady Zimmer for suggesting that Eric Dortch guard Colton Overway in the 2nd half. Good advice which Rose followed.

I also heard that part of the interview.  Sounds like Brady made a great call - Dortch must have done a fantastic job on Overway.

Ron Rose also said something like, "I would be shocked if Hope does not win their league and play in the NCAA tournament."  I'm right there with him...if I had to bet on a team to win the 2013 MIAA race, I'd take Hope without hesitation.

Here is the WJBC postgame interview with Ron Rose: http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=711&c=3911&f=916531

[Titan Q]

Various articles on the IWU/Hope game...

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/basketball-men/d3

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/titans-rally-back-to-subdue-hope/article_91632868-4cae-11e2-8d96-0019bb2963f4.html

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/sports/x1353224812/Hope-mens-basketball-shakes-up-lineup-loses-rematch-68-67-to-Illinois-Wesleyan

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2012/12/hope_suffers_one-point_basketb.html