MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Pantagraph on the IWU/NCC game...

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/iwu-men-grind-out-victory-over-north-central-now-/article_d71ecaba-65db-11e2-b33f-001a4bcf887a.html

A first half of swishing 3-pointers and flawless execution leading to open jumpers was long gone.

Illinois Wesleyan had to unearth another way to defeat North Central on Wednesday. And the Titans found it.

"We sucked it up," junior forward Andrew Ziemnik said. "We buckled down and played defense."

[robertgoulet]

NCC's Brandon Williams on the season...

FG: 24-85 (.282)
3-point: 2-14 (.183)
FT: 40-63 (.635)
39 assists/42 turnovers


The Cardinals have a pretty big problem at PG.  Ron Rose exploited the heck out of it tonight and I'm sure everyone else will try to as well.

I've been wondering when someone was going to start exploiting this. It's something that I've really been worried about since the graduation of Gillespie.

I didn't see the game, so I'm curious as to how Rose went about it. Did they press often? Pick up Williams and guard him tight at half court?

[CCIWchamps]

I didn't watch that game tonight. I can only go by what I saw on Saturday evening. But Gamble could barely put weight on his sprained ankle when he left the building, and he was leaning with his arm around the shoulder of an older gentleman whom I assume was his dad; Tiknis was visibly limping around in street clothes; and Raridon was clutching his iced-up bad shoulder and wincing as he left the gym.

Perhaps they healed up remarkably well between Saturday night and tonight. It could happen. I'm in no position to say. And perhaps the adrenaline kicked in at game time tonight and they were each able to completely ignore the pain and make their respective dysfunctional joints function properly. But I know what I saw. And what I saw was that all three Cardinals stars were in a bad way when they left NPU on Saturday night, and that's a fact.

I don't doubt the injuries or how bad things were Saturday at all.  But four days later...

Minutes played at IWU
Raridon - 37 (season avg - 33.8)
Tiknis - 33 (season avg - 29.8)
Gamble - 32 (season avg - 23.6)


I already commented on the trio's production last night - they scored more points as a group than their average, and came within 3 rebounds.  All on the road, against the best defensive opponent NCC will face in the CCIW (in terms of both defensive efficiency and FG% against), and a team that has per game rebound margin of +12.0.

Based on the way these three performed last night it doesn't seem like the injuries were a factor in the outcome of the game.  Raridon, Gamble, and Tiknis played heavy minutes, and played very well.

IWU: the team that NEVER benefits from the other team's injuries or missing players.  They simply outcoach everyone.   

[mwunder]

Was at the Carthage / NPU game last night.  Strange game indeed.  I've never been to a game that had as little flow as this one.  There were times where Cassita would be just over half court and would dribble for 20-25 seconds or NPU would go into a 3 man weave at the top of the key.  I suppose there was some point to this, but when you're down 12, you want to move.  Actually, North Park played a pretty gritty game, but made a few mental errors here and there that cost them.  They need to play a near perfect game given their offensive limitations, and didn't in this case.

For Carthage, there were times where 3 of the 5 were standing around as well.  The Park press left the middle of the floor wide open, but rarely did anyone flash to the middle to help break the trap.  It seemed to me that Carthage did just enough to get a win and move on, but the Red Men were not impressive in doing so.  The game was never in doubt after about 6 minutes of the second half, but give credit to Park for hanging around.  It reminded me of the scene from Rounders where John Malcovich is getting upset at Matt Damon..."Hanging around, hanging around. Kid's got alligator blood. Can't get rid of him."

Carthage should have won this game by 20 in my opinion.

[D-3 watcher]

IWU didn't press PG Williams, just backed off him, which allowed our guards to dig down on Gamble when he got the ball down low.

[iwumichigander]

IWU didn't press PG Williams, just backed off him, which allowed our guards to dig down on Gamble when he got the ball down low.

Right - Williams defender stayed inside the perimeter and played help and recover. My take -based on last night's game only - Williams a good ball handler and distributor with decent defensive skills and limited offense.  His role seemed to be - get the ball to the other four guys.

[D-3 watcher]

As far as injuries, the only player to show any sign of pain was Tiknis. He had a limp at times. I don't doubt the others were not 100 percent, but they didn't seem to be bothered. They were pushing and pulling just like IWU. And there was a lot of that.
The only problem I had with injuries was with Raridon's cut over his eye. Wasn't our trainer watching the same game I was? He stopped the bleeding and bandaged up him way to fast. I was hoping he would take him to the trainers room and take his sweet time, that boy (Raridon) is just to good.

[D-3 watcher]

I don't get to see NCC play as much as the Cards fans that post here, but for what I can see, anytime Derek Raridon doesn't shoot at least 20 to 25 times a game, Coach Raridon has done a poor job coaching.
If you have Silver in the barn, ride him, leave Mr. Ed talking to the stable boy.

[robertgoulet]

I don't get to see NCC play as much as the Cards fans that post here, but for what I can see, anytime Derek Raridon doesn't shoot at least 20 to 25 times a game, Coach Raridon has done a poor job coaching.
If you have Silver in the barn, ride him, leave Mr. Ed talking to the stable boy.

I agree with you on that. I don't know if it's the coach that makes that decision though. The few times I've seen Derek play I think he's not as shot happy as I'd like him to be. Against Wheaton I found myself often wondering why he wasn't forcing the issue a little more. I understand that they do have a couple other horses, but Derek being more aggressive from long/mid-range would seem to open up the interior a bit more. Force the defense to pay even more attention to him and open it up for Gamble inside.

[Titan Q]

It reminded me of the scene from Rounders where John Malcovich is getting upset at Matt Damon..."Hanging around, hanging around. Kid's got alligator blood. Can't get rid of him."

Hard to believe - all of these years here and I think this is the first Rounders reference on the board. 

Great movie...well played.

[Titan Q]

Massey now has North Central #8 and IWU #9...

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cb&yr=2013&sub=11620


Seeing NCC and IWU right next to each other seems right to me - as far as I can tell, there isn't any real separation between these two teams.  Also, I think 8/9 seems like about the right place in the poll for these two.  (Augie is #14 and Wheaton #16.)

Massey has NCC with a 31% chance of winning @ Wheaton Saturday.  They predict 61-56 Thunder.

[bopol]

From a Carthage prospective, given everything that has happened to them this year, I am very happy they are 4-3.  Sure, they let Elmhurst and North Park hang around, but in the end, they got the W.  Worth noting that in the Elmhurst game, Donte Logan, who was having a crummy game, came away with a big steal and hit free throws to seal the deal.  Last night, Mitch Thompson steps up to close out North Park with a few big blocks and free throws.

I know that Holmes wasn't in the lineup, but I am impressed with Marlon Senior and Mitch Thompson.  Senior has really stepped up and I hope this is an emergence of a quality CCIW player.  Thompson has really stepped up with Johnson leaving the team. 

Dare I hope to make the CCIW tournament?

[mwunder]

Dare I hope to make the CCIW tournament?

I believe if the season ended today, they would be in as a 4 seed.

[D-3 watcher]

Looking at last nights box score, didn't realize, Gamble didn't have any rebounds. So while I said it didn't look like much was wrong, his ability to jump off that bad ankle had to have something to do with that. Lot of playing time on a bad wheel, hard to get better in the middle of the conference race.

[veterancciwfan]

Gamble could run but couldn't jump last night. That info was from Todd Raridon. He had zero rebounds. Also, Tiknis was limping slightly in the 2nd half. However, the real differences between the 2 teams is 1) IWU's bench, which only contributed 13 (usually it is 25 or more) compared to 9 for NCC and 2) the guard play. I'll take Overstreet, Sodermann, and Zimmer any day over Kmiec (he was 2 for 8 and 0-6 on 3s, scored 5 with 2 As and 1 TO in 36 min.), Williams, and Rourke. IWUs 3 guards outscored NCC guards 25-7, and none of NCCs guards had any injuries (none that were mentioned).

Derek Raridon may be the best player in the league and his absence in the 2nd half certainly hurt the Cards' chances of taking control of the game. But give IWU credit. They find ways to win close games. In those games, especially in the last 5 minutes, IWU plays its best. Ask Hope, Coe, and Augustana.