MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Tweet of the Year candidate...


Matt Nadelhoffer ‏@CoachNgoBIGBLUE
I wish I could just play Schauer in one on one tomorrow at the Griz.... #newera

[D-3 watcher]

Q, I got the hoffer for a Jackson, give you 3 in a race to 11

[Titan Q]

http://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/carthage_men_will_try_to_hang_first_cciw_loss_on_illinois_wesleyan_470025263.html

Carthage men will try to hang first CCIW loss on Illinois Wesleyan

BY ANDREW HORSCHAK
ahorschak@kenoshanews.com

KENOSHA — In their four seasons as members of the Carthage men's basketball team, Tyler Pierce and Mitch Thompson have been a part of a number of memorable College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin victories.

The senior mainstays have a chance to make their final game at Tarble Arena one to remember when the Red Men (11-11, 6-5 CCIW) host No. 9 Illinois Wesleyan (19-3, 11-0) at 7 tonight before what is expected to be a large Alumni Night crowd.

With three games to play, the Titans have already clinched at least a share of the regular-season title. They are attempting to become the CCIW's first undefeated team since Augustana went 16-0 in 1973.

"I would love to put on the red and black Saturday night and go play," Carthage coach Bosko Djurickovic said after Wednesday's victory over Elmhurst. "They're on their way to what they think is a national championship and they may very well be right.

"That's one of those games ... how can you not enjoy it? It's Alumni Night. We're going to have one heck of a crowd — 1,700, 1,800 people. They're going to bring 300 people to their coronation. How much more fun can you have?"

Wesleyan, which lost in the Final Four of the NCAA Division III Tournament last season, has won its 11 CCIW games by an average margin of 18.5 points.

While the Titans don't boast a go-to player, they have five players averaging between 8.5 and 11.7 points in CCIW play — Pat Sodemann (11.7), Andrew Ziemnik (11.3), Victor Davis (10.8), Dylan Overstreet (8.5) and Kevin Reed (8.5). The Titans are averaging 78.6 points in league play.

Wesleyan leads the all-times series with Carthage, 89-25, but the Red Men have won three of the last eight meetings. Carthage lost to the Titans earlier this season, 82-65, on Jan. 12 at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Ill.

In a combined 200 games (153 starts), Pierce and Thompson have teamed up for 1,916 points, 941 rebounds, 223 assists, 115 steals and 215 blocked shots — 189 by Thompson, Carthage's all-time leader in that category — in helping the Red Men to a 63-39 record (.618).

"It's their last home game," Carthage sophomore point guard Donte Logan said. "We have to do it for them."

[Titan Q]

Would love to see a Bosko/Ziemnik matchup...I hope he plays.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Would love to see a Bosko/Ziemnik matchup...I hope he plays.

I'd pay to see that - though Bosko vs. the Victor Davis I saw in Holland would be even better!

I'd have $20 on VD by 21-0!

But I'm not about to pile on Bosko - what else can you say?  (And his "on their way to a national championship" is absolutely classic Lou Holtz-ism!)

[iwu70]

Randy and Q, I do appreciate the sports coverage of the Pantagraph, and especially your coverage and other's coverage of the Titans, Randy.  My thanks.  But, this does not cover up the basic decline in the size, quality and obvious political slant of the Pgraph  in recent years or the widespread complaint, even disdain, about the quality of the paper in recent years.  I didn't coin or make up the widespread use of the term "The Daily Paragraph." For me, yes,  enjoy reading your sports page as it does cover well local high school sports, ISU, the Titans etc.  We supporters of the Titans love to see our achieving athletes get featured coverage from time to time.   I enjoyed it in print -- via my folks sub or the Ames Library sub -- and online.  I did not enjoy the snide biased coverage of the recent campaign with snide, at times even mildly racist cartoons day in and day out targeted at our President and the slanted coverage toward other Democrats.  The Pantagraph's coverage of the Gill campaign was sadly biased, often incomplete, even misleading.  (Yes, Gill lost by .3% in a Congressional district that has been Republican for years and years.  Yes, moving on -- Shimkus, I mean Rodney Davis, won fair and square).    Everyone in town, with favor or with disdain, knows the Pgraph to be a Republican rag.  I hope the paper can survive and improve, become somewhat more comprehensive and objective for local, state and national news.  Almost no international news at all, to speak of.  Of course, like all print journalism now, you have constraints of ownership, of sponsorship, ad pages, and revenue, and these are not going to go away.  I know the cutbacks and the constraints that you and other such publications have faced and face now.  For some reason, some of my connections here in HK block the pgraph site, I guess because these connections are deemed to be in "China" and subject to the fear of hacking, I suppose.  And now, as you know, there is a limitation on free views, so after a time each month, the paywall comes up.  Yes, I do refuse to pay for this now from a distance . . . and hence my question to others on this free site about Zimmer's health.  Why not find out the information for free?  The web is here, D3hoops chat rooms are here, so why not ask the question?  Q will say I'm a lazy poster, I suppose.   No one has to answer if they don't wish . . . and no one here in CCIW chat is metering replies, as far as I can see.  Perhaps Pat will be putting up a paywall, soon, who knows?   I wish the Pantagraph well and hope it continues to serve the B/N community and area . . . just wish it was better, more substantial on NEWS, more balanced in local, state and national news, and sure wish it covered the world a bit better -- but perhaps that's not its wish, market or purpose.  I guess I'll go to the NY Times site, for free, for my international news.  Again, a pretty good local sports page that many in the Titan nation, myself included, appreciate.

Happy Chinese New Year -- Year of the Snake -- to you both, to all! 

IWU70

Go TITANS -- good luck in Kenosha!  Bring home the outright CCIW crown.  ms

Guess the Bosko-Victor Davis or Zman battle needs a paywall!  At least Ypsi is willing to pay.     

P.S.  Pat, no icons working for me either, over here on the Far Side.  No one smiles in China anyway, right? 

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan @ Carthage (7:00pm)

IWU (19-3, 11-0)
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 So (8.5ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.3 A/TO)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/190 So (11.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.5 apg)
F - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-4/230 Jr (11.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
F - Victor Davis, 6-5/235 Jr (10.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
F - Kevin Reed, 6-6/230 Sr (8.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.7 apg)

F - Mike Mayberger, 6-6/220 Jr (3.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
C - Nick Anderson, 6-9/220 Jr (3.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
F - Parker Musselman, 6-8/250 So (3.5 ppg, 1.4 apg)
F - Eric Dortch, 6-3/210 Jr (3.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
G - Bryce Dolan, 6-0/155 Fr (2.7 ppg)

Carthage (11-11, 6-5)
G  - Donte Logan, 5-11/160 So (7.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.3 A/TO)
G - Reese Herth, 6-2/170 So (11.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 apg)
F - Cameron Van Wyk, 6-6/185 So (3.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
F - Mitch Thompson, 6-6/205 Sr (11.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
C - Tyler Pierce, 6-5/265 Sr (12.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

G - Marlon Senior, 6-5/195 Jr (8.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
G - Kevin Sykes, Jr, 6-3/160 Jr (4.2 ppg)
F - Kiston Lee, 6-3/185 So (3.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
G - Ellis Matthews, 6-3/165 Fr (3.5 ppg)


Pantagraph: http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/healthy-sodemann-leads-iwu-into-kenosha-to-take-on-carthage/article_1b409c7a-7269-11e2-8247-0019bb2963f4.html

Video: http://www.carthage.edu/library/webcast/webcasting-stream-2

Live stats: http://www.carthage.edu/athleticspages/livestats/mb/xlive.htm

WJBC radio: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/wjbc.portal#

Massey predicts: IWU 70 Carthage 64  (IWU #5, Carthage #68) http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cb&yr=2013&sub=11620

[TitansIWU]

I would take losses the rest of the season just to go into Carthage and destroy them.

Something about Bosko's attitude makes me want that.

Does Bosko have any eligibility left? If so, I say suit up.

[Titan Q]

Randy from the Republican Rag reports that Brady Zimmer (back) probably won't play today.  The Zimmer injury is really significant for the Titans.  He is such a big weapon off the bench for the Titans, and he's one of the most talented players on a very talented roster.  Zimmer is still IWU's per-game scoring leader in CCIW play:

13.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.0 apg
35-49 FG (.714)
9-13 3-point (.692)
32-37 FT (.865)

I can't imagine there are too many better 6th men across Division III than Brady Zimmer.

Hopefully they can get Brady right.  This team could do some pretty special things with him healthy.

[Titan Q]

I would take losses the rest of the season just to go into Carthage and destroy them.

Something about Bosko's attitude makes me want that.

Does Bosko have any eligibility left? If so, I say suit up.

I've always been a Bosko fan actually, and I enjoy Bosko-speak.  He basically says exactly what's on his mind, and often these quotes are sorta crazy, but generally I find them to be fun and refreshing. 

I've gotten to know Bosko a little over the years in following the CCIW - had a lot of conversations with him in CCIW gyms.  He's quite a "character" and I like that.  A lot of IWU people don't like Bosko, just going back to the heated IWU/NPU rivalry back in the day...I've never been one of those.

Love the "coronation" messaging - good stuff.

[iwu70]

Q, sorry to hear about Brady Zimmer's ongoing injury issues.  Thanks to Randy for the info -- here or in the Pgraph.   Perhaps it's better to rest Zimmer now and get him back fully healthy by NCC or for the post season.  Back injuries can be real tricky.

I'm with you on Bosko.  CCIW can always use some colorful characters and Bosko is surely one, and a superb coach, uniquely-spoken basketball man.

Good luck to the Titans.  I'd love to see them wrap it up totally tonight in Kenosha . . . not always an easy place to play.

Would love to see the Titan women come back with a W, too.

Double happiness?

IWU70

[CCIWchamps]

Barf.  Enough of the IWU rah-rah time.  I want them to lose. 

[D-3 watcher]

Like your honesty

[Boards45]

I am  new to the CCIW region.  Is it me, or are most IWU fans full of themselves.  I have been around basketball all of my life and I now find it easy to root against IWU.  Not only from interactions on the message board, but also games I have attended at IWU and when they visit on the road.

[Backseat Driver]

I am  new to the CCIW region.  Is it me, or are most IWU fans full of themselves.  I have been around basketball all of my life and I now find it easy to root against IWU.  Not only from interactions on the message board, but also games I have attended at IWU and when they visit on the road.

I think it's just you. IWU has great support from its students, alumni, and the B-N community, but there's not a higher percentage of "full of themselves" fans at IWU than at any other school. And if IWU fans are "full of themselves," they probably have a right to be because of the tradition and success of the IWU program.