MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[augiefan]

Wheaton bailed Augie out big time tonight by upsetting IWU. A very disappointing week for Augie losing two winnable road games. There is no excuse for losing both, particularly tonight's game against 7th place Millikin.

An IWU win tonight would IMO have set them up to win the regular season title outright as expected. Augie has two really tough games left to round out the regular season, which the way they are playing right now could very easily both be losses.

Wheaton on the other hand had a great week. Upsetting currently the two best teams in the conference. Both games were won because Wheaton knows how to make FTs with the game on the line. It's doubly amazing considering how badly Wheaton has lost some of their other games this year.

Thanks again Wheaton. Augie certainly needed your help tonight.

[bluemom]

You got to hand the evening to Wheaton, everything went their way in the Win, loss column and the race to the Conference Tournament.  Elmhurst assured themselves a berth in the conference four, while NCC and Wheaton race to the end.    Wheaton has to go 2-1 at least plus hope Augie or Elmhurst gives NCC a loss (you never know though when Elmhurst and NCC plays how many OT's that will take.)  All NCC has to do is win one, and they control their own destiny.  If Wheaton wins out, and NCC loses out, you have cinderella at the ball.  

When you look at games remaining on their schedules and realize what type of year it has been, this "Cinderella at the Ball"  concept isn't too far-fetched.

Boy, what a night!

[titanhammer]

However many teams we get in the NCAA tournament, the pressure is really going to be on after all the talking we've all done about the league. If at least two don't make a deep run, and the way the big boys have been playing lately, I'm not sure that's a given, I think it'll look like just a lot of hot air.

It's not Sunday yet, but AMEN!!!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg,

Augie 'backed-in' to the regular season title tonite, which presumably means Grey Giovanine will take home coach of the year. 

But after Wheaton beat both Augie and IWU this week, with a decimated roster, you want to re-open that debate on what coach deserves the COY?!

[bluemom]

"Wheaton has to go 2-1 at least plus hope Augie  or Elmhurst gives NCC a loss " should have  read "Wheaten........Augie and Elmhurst gives NCC a loss"

In the words of Emilee Latella upon pointing out her mistakes said, "oh, never mind..."

[dansand]

I read on the Millikin website that the Big Blue shot 54.9% to 33.9% for Augie. I'm trying to think of a response that doesn't contain unprintable expletives...but I can't. Did Millikin turn it over 50 times? How did Augie even stay in the game? JEEZ, THAT'S JUST FREAKIN' AWFUL! Hopefully they'll have the entire box score up soon and I can further analyze this disaster.

[augiefan]

Wheaton's chances of making the conference tournament are pretty remote. NCC has beaten Wheaton badly two times. so they have the tie breaker. Wheaton not only has to win all 3 of their remaining games, but NCC has to lose their last two, both at home. Anything is possible this year, but I am pretty confident that scenario is totally beyond the realm of possibility.

[augiefan]

Augie and IWU both have won several games they easily could have lost in the conference season. Tonight their luck ran out for both of them.

It's beginning to look like there are a lot of good teams in the CCIW but no dominant ones. I wouldn't be surprised to see both of our conference representatives eliminated by the 2nd game of the NCAA tourney, unless the contenders start playing a heckuva a lot better. Too put it bluntly tonight's loss to Millikin is an embarrassment for Augie.

[bluemom]

NCC has Elmhurst at Elmhurst and then Augie at Naperville.  If they lose both, and Wheaton wins out, wheaton would be 8-6 and NCC 7-7.    If Wheaton loses one of their last three games (which includes @ Millikin, then at home against Elmhurst, and closing at home against Carthage,) then the tie breaker goes to NCC.

I don't think that MIracles happen that often, but I do believe that Miricals do and can occur.  Given this season, if you had told me Augie would have won the conference or that IWU would be 8-4 at one point, I would have bet the farm!

At this point, I am not betting anything, and I refuse to call something a miracle until it happens.  But the scenario with NCC and  Wheaton is possible.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Augie and IWU both have won several games they easily could have lost in the conference season. Tonight their luck ran out for both of them.

It's beginning to look like there are a lot of good teams in the CCIW but no dominant ones. I wouldn't be surprised to see both of our conference representatives eliminated by the 2nd game of the NCAA tourney, unless the contenders start playing a heckuva a lot better. Too put it bluntly tonight's loss to Millikin is an embarrassment for Augie.

That's one way of looking at it, but I prefer the 'glass-half-full' approach: since their losses were (almost) ONLY to other CCIW teams, if they don't meet each other too early, I see no reason we can't have 2 (or 3??!) teams in Salem.

Unfortunately, the NCAA pairings will almost certainly prevent that scenario.

[bluemom]

Augie Has IWU and NCC to close out the season. 

A Famous Bear (or Berra) once said: "It's not over until its over!!!!

[augiefan]

I acknowledge the flaw in my reasoning, since NCC has to play at Elmhurst not at home on Wednesday. The Jays should win that one. I certainly hope Wheaton is the 4th qualifier, as it will mean Augie beat NCC at Naperville. Wheaton qualifying for the conference tourney is no longer beyond the realm of possibility but still highly improbable.

[Greek Tragedy]

per release

On its final possession, the Vikings ran the clock down, and Pat Brusveen, who made six 3-pointers on the night, missed his 10th attempt but McAdams-Thornton was there for the putback to tie the game 71-71 with three seconds remaining.

With its final play of the game, Millikin inbounded the ball to Harrington, who drove the length of the court. He missed his shot, but Nohren was there for the put-back at the buzzer.

You can do all that in 3 seconds?  

[bluemom]

I agree, and I can't see Augustana closing the season out with four losses.  You know that Wesleyan will be primed, knowing that an Elmhurst Win and their loss to Augie would place them third in the conference, It will be a barn burner of a game.  

I also know that many on the oard may not feel that how you do in one gamne primes the pump for how well you do in the next game,  the IWU-Augustana game will have interesting side-notes going itno it.  The next Augie game couldhave some side-notes attached to it, depending upon how Wednesday nite's games go......

AugieFan, you and I are only looking at it from the perspective of Augie, IWU and NCC.......Wheaton's match-ups merely because of some of the rivalries involved can be just as interesting in and of themselves.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Augie Has IWU and NCC to close out the season. 

A Famous Bear (or Berra) once said: "It's not over until its over!!!!

As far as the regular season (at least in terms of hosting the tourney), it's over: Augie has the tie-breaker over either IWU or Elmhurst.  For the honor of regular season co-champs, IWU and Elmhurst are still alive, though long shots.

For that tourney in RI, Augie will be #1 seed, all the rest are very much up in the air - Wheaton makes it only if they go 3-0, while NCC goes 0-2; doubtful.  Presumably the other three teams are IWU, Elmhurst, and NCC.  But in what order, I won't even try to guess.