MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[veterancciwfan]

Several thoughts on the IWU/AC game:

1) IWU again showed an ability to play great team ball in the last 5 minutes to close out a game. Examples: Coe (at home), Tufts (neutral  court), Hope (neutral court), Wheaton (away), Augie (home), North Central (home), and Augie (away). This, I'm sure breeds confidence that good things will happen late.

2) Overstreet continues to improve. Even though he is a combo guard, his A to TO ratio is 1.9 to one, quite impressive for a 1st year player. He was 8/9 and had 4 RBs. At 6"3', his RB avg. is 3.1, much better than the typical PG not named Tyler Peters.

3) I hesitate to bring this up, but how good could Augustana be with Luke Scarlata and Kam Norton as senior post players?

4) Eric Dortch saw very limited PT at Millikin and at Elmhurst and DNP against NCC at Shirk, but he was outstanding last night. Like all of the IWU players, he plays for the name on the front of his jersey, as Matt Nadelhoffer mentioned

5) It's almost impossible to score only 1 FG and 2 FTs in the final 9:31 at home, but AC did. Factor in IWU's 2nd half FG % of 70% (14-20 including 5 layups by O'street) and IWU prevailed.

[markerickson]

Greg:  I don't think you realize that you posted the Vikings beat the Thunder by 12.

[Gregory Sager]

Greg:  I don't think you realize that you posted the Vikings beat the Thunder by 12.

Yes, I do realize that, Mark. It was pointed out to me here:

North Park 82
Wheaton 70

Chris Benjamin: 17 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls
Zach Cassita: 17 pts, 5 rebs
Mark Holmes: 14 pts, 10 rebs
Cameron Burnett: 10 pts, 4 asts

Nathan Haynes: 23 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blks
Michael Kvam: 22 pts (7-11 trey)
Brayden Teuscher: 15 pts
Peter Smith: 6 rebs
Tyler Peters: 10 asts, 5 rebs, 5 stls

NPU at least made it interesting for awhile, jumping out to an early 11-6 advantage and maintaining a lead for the first seven minutes of the game. Even after Wheaton began inevitably asserting itself, the Vikes persisted in holding Wheaton close, for the most part, until Michael Kvam began raining threes shortly before the end of the first half.

NPU was so outmanned that Tom Slyder essentially had to decide what he was willing to give up and what he was going to guard against. Since Wheaton's greatest offensive strength rests in the dribble penetration of Tyler Peters and Brayden Teuscher, Tom had the Vikings collapse on the penetration whenever it took place. That left the perimeter wide open, and Wheaton did a nice job of locating Kvam and getting him the ball in those situations. Even when he was covered, it was often with the vertically-challenged Cameron Burnett, whom the NPU coach was attempting to keep away from Tyler Peters, due to the ability of Peters to post up smaller guards. Unfortunately, it's also difficult for Burnett to stop the much taller Kvam from shooting right over him. And, of course, the size-challenged Vikings had no answer for Nathan Haynes inside.

Tom's strategy, as has been the case in several CCIW games that North Park has played, was to slow the pace of the game down by having the Vikings hold the ball until there were only five-to-eight seconds left on the shot clock, and then try to create a shot. This seemed like an especially apt strategy against Wheaton, whose entire game is predicated upon the ability to run up and down the floor for forty minutes. Unfortunately, NPU just doesn't have the personnel to be able to create a shot in that short an amount of time -- the Vikings frequently struggle to find a good shot even when they have the full 35-second allotment -- and the offense was coming up with one empty possession after another. Left with no other choice, Tom finally opened up the offense, and at that point the inevitable onslaught of Wheaton runouts began. Wheaton was listed as having only 8 fast-break points, but that's a misleading stat; if secondary-break points are counted as well, WC's total would've been well over 20.

Chris Benjamin played a very solid game. He was frequently asked to guard Tyler Peters, the toughest player to guard on the floor, and the 1-7 FG performance by Peters last night speaks for itself as far as Benjy's defense is concerned. Cameron Burnett had a solid overall game, although Peters did pick his pocket a couple of times. Mark Holmes was invisible in the first half (zero points, two fouls), but played very well after the break. And Zach Cassita had perhaps his most well-rounded CCIW game yet.

The game was not as close as the twelve-point final margin made it appear. NPU was just plain outgunned. Same old, same old. At least this weekend, the Vikings will be in Decatur playing a team that's more on their own level.

Judging from your score at the top of your post, doesn't seem that North park was outgunned at all.

I think there is a diagnosis for what you have, score dyslexia possibly?

Sadly, just putting it up there like that won't change the outcome, nice try. 

... and I responded to it here:

Judging from your score at the top of your post, doesn't seem that North park was outgunned at all.

I think there is a diagnosis for what you have, score dyslexia possibly?

Nope, just wishful thinking impinging upon inattentiveness.

[Gregory Sager]

Judging from your score at the top of your post, doesn't seem that North park was outgunned at all.

I think there is a diagnosis for what you have, score dyslexia possibly?

Nope, just wishful thinking impinging upon inattentiveness.

GS,
Who was the third commentator on the broadcast last night?  (Which I thought was very good -content wise- even though you still used the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance tag)    The voice was Female and sounded computer generated.

"Third commentator"? A computer-generated female voice? I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

And I didn't make the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance reference. That was Rob Berki's doing, not that it really matters one way or the other. We're certainly not the most polite and buttoned-down broadcast team out there. But, just for the record, I called Wheaton "the Thunder", which I always do on the air.

Thanks for the compliment, though!

I heard that too- I think it has something to do with the video stream software?  Maybe she was saying "demo" or something because she said it pretty regularly, like she was talking in the background.  If "she" is a computer that might make sense.

Great. Now, in addition to a lousy season, NPU has to worry about a poltergeist in the webcast.

Maybe it's the ghost of North Park past:)

Nope, that can't be it. I'm pretty sure that the Ghost of North Park Past speaks Swedish, not English.

[markerickson]

On the heels of the worst conference record possible ever (two wins) by the 7th and 8th place teams last year, I wonder, given Elmwurst's current woes, will we see the worst conference victory total of teams 6-8 ever?

[Gregory Sager]

On the heels of the worst conference record possible ever (two wins) by the 7th and 8th place teams last year, I wonder, given Elmwurst's current woes, will we see the worst conference victory total of teams 6-8 ever?

Nope. Just a momentary scan of CCIW history reveals at least one season in which the league consisted of eight teams (1952-53) in which the bottom three teams won four league games between them. This season's current teams in the sixth thru eighth slot have five league wins between them already.

[kiko]

For those who care about such things:

CCIW Endowments as of June 2012 ($MM):

Wheaton - $325.0
Illinois Wesleyan - $191.9
Augustana - $116.0
Millikin - $105.5
North Central - $91.3
Elmhurst - $85.2
North Park - $64.8
Carthage - $54.8
---
Average - $129.3


Comparative Costs, 2012-2013:

Illinois Wesleyan - $46,822
Augustana - $43,398
Carthage - $42,000
Elmhurst - $40,288
North Central - $39,954
Wheaton - $38,680
Millikin - $37,914
North Park - $30,130
---
Average - $39,898

(Courtesy of my alumni rag.)

Man, this gets more 'spensive every year.  Seems like they should have to pay *you* to spend the year in Decatur.

[iwu70]

Very nice piece on the Titans in "Around the Nation."  Really glad to see Eric Dortch getting some props and some important, productive minutes vs. Augie Doggie.  He, Zman and Overstreet really led the charge in the final 8+ minutes.  Seems a new guy can step up each and every game and make some good contributions.  Could be Sodemann, or Anderson, or Dortch or Mussleman or Mayberger  . . . etc.  Sure would be nice to get Brady Zimmer back healthy and active.  Any word?

Five more games to go . . . down the stretch we go!  Go TITANS!!!  Of course, I'm hoping for a 5-0 or 4-1 finish to the CCIW run.

Have a good weekend all.  Chinese New Year festivities coming soon . . . Hong Kong to be in serious vacation mode.  Year of the Snake upcoming.

IWU70

[Titan Q]

The 2013 D3 Championship Manual...

http://static.psbin.com/w/6/qxppu7z1rkr1ta/2013_Pre_Championship_DIII_Men-s_Basketball.pdf

A serious D3 fan should spend a little time reading through the manual.  It explains in great detail how the tournament process works.

This year's Midwest regional advisory committee is:

David Buchanan, chair (Carroll)
Mark Edwards (Washington-St. Louis)
Ron Rose (Illinois Wesleyan)
Jon Miller (Hanover)
Joel DePagter (Lawrence)
Mark White (Dominican)
Matt Mitchell (Westminster)

[KnightSlappy]

The 2013 D3 Championship Manual...

http://static.psbin.com/w/6/qxppu7z1rkr1ta/2013_Pre_Championship_DIII_Men-s_Basketball.pdf

A serious D3 fan should spend a little time reading through the manual.  It explains in great detail how the tournament process works.

This year's Midwest regional advisory committee is:

David Buchanan, chair (Carroll)
Mark Edwards (Washington-St. Louis)
Ron Rose (Illinois Wesleyan)
Jon Miller (Hanover)
Joel DePagter (Lawrence)
Mark White (Dominican)
Matt Mitchell (Westminster)

A couple of errors I've noticed. (1) They incorrectly list Centenary (La.) as eligible for the tournament in the south region and (2) they still insist that by dividing the number of teams in each region by 6.5 that they're ranking 6.5 percent of the teams (it's really 15.4%).

[iwumichigander]

3) I hesitate to bring this up, but how good could Augustana be with Luke Scarlata and Kam Norton as senior post players?

But since you did - I have thought about it too.  I have to think that with Scarlata and Norton together with Kunz (Sr) , Ryan (Fr), Johnson (Fr) and others that Augustana would be pushing, if not at, the top of the CCIW and in the Top 25 D3 teams.  Augie has only three upperclassman with includes Kunz whom will be hard to replace when he graduates.

I don't think of them as a "lock" for CCIW tournament right now.

[Gotberg]

For those who care about such things:

CCIW Endowments as of June 2012 ($MM):

Wheaton - $325.0
Illinois Wesleyan - $191.9
Augustana - $116.0
Millikin - $105.5
North Central - $91.3
Elmhurst - $85.2
North Park - $64.8
Carthage - $54.8
---
Average - $129.3


Comparative Costs, 2012-2013:

Illinois Wesleyan - $46,822
Augustana - $43,398
Carthage - $42,000
Elmhurst - $40,288
North Central - $39,954
Wheaton - $38,680
Millikin - $37,914
North Park - $30,130
---
Average - $39,898

(Courtesy of my alumni rag.)

Man, this gets more 'spensive every year.  Seems like they should have to pay *you* to spend the year in Decatur.

I am fairly impressed with NPUs endowment given that it only became a 4 year institution in the early 60's.  JC graduates may have given their money to Augie, Wheaton or some other school of coise.  The enrollment was also quite small until a little more than a decade ago and the recent graduates are still reaching towards their earning potential.

NPU has also had quite a few enhancements to the campus over the last 10 years or so - Brandel Library, Helwig Rec Center, Holmgren Athletic Center, plus lots of expense local real estate being purchased for student housing.  The school has also raised 40+ mm over the last couple of years for the new Johnson Center.

Tuition is like a car - its just a 'negotiable' list price and would I be curious to know the actual average cost per student (on campus vs. commuter).

[sac]

On the heels of the worst conference record possible ever (two wins) by the 7th and 8th place teams last year, I wonder, given Elmwurst's current woes, will we see the worst conference victory total of teams 6-8 ever?

Nope. Just a momentary scan of CCIW history reveals at least one season in which the league consisted of eight teams (1952-53) in which the bottom three teams won four league games between them. This season's current teams in the sixth thru eighth slot have five league wins between them already.

they have to split at least 6 wins between them, any wins outside that adds to the sum.

Elmhurst vs NP (2)
Elmhurst vs Millikin (2)
NP vs Millikin (2)

[kiko]

On the heels of the worst conference record possible ever (two wins) by the 7th and 8th place teams last year, I wonder, given Elmwurst's current woes, will we see the worst conference victory total of teams 6-8 ever?

Nope. Just a momentary scan of CCIW history reveals at least one season in which the league consisted of eight teams (1952-53) in which the bottom three teams won four league games between them. This season's current teams in the sixth thru eighth slot have five league wins between them already.

they have to split at least 6 wins between them, any wins outside that adds to the sum.

Elmhurst vs NP (2)
Elmhurst vs Millikin (2)
NP vs Millikin (2)

Millikin beat Carthage in their conference opener, which means they will tally 7 wins between them at a minimum.

In that 1952-53 season that Gregory mentioned, each team played a nine-game conference schedule rather than a double round-robin.

1953
Wheaton 9-0
Illinois Wesleyan 7-2
Millikin 7-2
Augustana 4-4
Lake Forest 4-5
North Central 3-6
Illinois College 1-8
Elmhurst 0-8

[Gregory Sager]

For those who care about such things:

CCIW Endowments as of June 2012 ($MM):

Wheaton - $325.0
Illinois Wesleyan - $191.9
Augustana - $116.0
Millikin - $105.5
North Central - $91.3
Elmhurst - $85.2
North Park - $64.8
Carthage - $54.8
---
Average - $129.3


Comparative Costs, 2012-2013:

Illinois Wesleyan - $46,822
Augustana - $43,398
Carthage - $42,000
Elmhurst - $40,288
North Central - $39,954
Wheaton - $38,680
Millikin - $37,914
North Park - $30,130
---
Average - $39,898

(Courtesy of my alumni rag.)

Man, this gets more 'spensive every year.  Seems like they should have to pay *you* to spend the year in Decatur.

Of course, endowment figures don't tell the whole story in terms of a school's ability to compete athletically. If a school's administration is ambivalent or indifferent towards athletics, the budgetary outlay may not be there for the athletic department, even if the school itself is richer than Croesus. Conversely, a school that puts a great deal of emphasis upon athletics, either for purposes of visibilty or student quality-of-life or because it's an enrollment strategy (as is the case with Adrian, which has only a $37.8m endowment), can be very competitive in sports even if it's relatively poor.

Also, endowment figures don't reflect direct gifts to the school that are specifically targeted towards athletics. Hence, Carthage, which is the poorest school in the league if one goes strictly by endowment, has reaped tremendous benefits in terms of athletic facilities improvements over the past decade and a half via direct gifts from the Tarble family (of Snap-On Tools fame; hence, my nickname for Tarble Arena, "the Toolshed").

The reason why NPU has such a dramatically lower tuition rate than the other seven CCIW schools, for those of you who are not in the know about this, is because the school adopted a WYSIWYG model towards costs about a decade ago (WYSIWYG = What You See Is What You Get). The idea is that, since parents frequently get a case of "sticker shock" whenever they see the raw costs of tuition and room & board at a private college, when in fact financial aid makes the actual costs much lower, NPU could gain a competitive advantage by reflecting the costs more accurately. In other words, the cost is lower to go to NPU, but the financial aid available is much lower as well. This model, which NPU borrowed from OAC member Marietta, has worked very well over the past decade for North Park as an admissions strategy. Unfortunately, the accurate, no-financial-aid cost is itself now getting so high that it's still producing sticker shock in parents, if not nearly as much as is suffered by looking at the costs of one of the other seven CCIW schools.