MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

D3hoops voters who read this board:  Dickinson has a really good record, has a big front line, shoots well, will be a "hand full" for Wheaton.....how come they didn't receive even one Top 25 vote?

I had been voting for Dickinson for a good chunk of the season after watching them play in December... but I eventually dropped them out of my poll for two reasons:

- I couldn't wrap my mind around some of their losses in conference. I thought that if they really were that good a team - aka Top 25 - they should be blowing through their conference (Centennial) or at the very least coming out on the winning side of close games. Even others I know in the conference couldn't figure out why they had taken some of their losses... and then losing at home in the conference title game against JHU was the icing on the cake (if they had won, I would have probably put them in my Top 25).
- There were a LOT of teams I was trying to shoe-horn into the 15-25 or even 12-25 slots... eventually some teams had to be left out even for trivial reasons.

[Titan Q]

I'll be joining Dave McHugh on Hoopsville at about 6:30 Central.

http://www.d3hoops.com/hoopsville/archives/2013-14/mar13

[iwu70]

Everyone should listen to Q on Hoopsville . . .as he is almost always right about almost everything.  It's that IWU education that does it!   


IWU70

[AppletonRocks]

Is anyone else having as miserable of a time as I am with the feed tonight?  Non-stop buffering.

Mine has not buffered at all.

Both teams wear green.  Makes me sick.

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan (25-4, 12-2 CCIW) vs Calvin (24-5, 12-2 MIAA) - 7:30pm

Illinois Wesleyan (25-4, 12-2 CCIW)
G - Dylan Overstreet, 6-3/180 Jr (10.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.3 apg)
G - Pat Sodemann, 6-3/195 Jr (9.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.5 apg)
F - Andrew Ziemnik, 6-5/220 Sr (12.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)
F - Victor Davis, 6-5/235 Sr (11.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
C - Mike Marietti, 6-8/245 So (4.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg)

G - Jordan Nelson, 6-1/170 Jr (11.3 ppg)
F - Mike Mayberger, 6-6/205 Sr (7.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
G - Bryce Dolan, 6-0/160 So (5.2 ppg)
F - Eric Dortch, 6-4/210 Sr (4.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
G - Brady Zimmer, 6-4/180 Sr (3.8 ppg)

Calvin (24-5, 12-2 MIAA)
G - Jordan Brink, 6-3/185 Jr (15.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.1 apg)
G - Jordan Daley, 6-3/185 So (8.9 ppg, 3.5 ppg, 2.0 apg)
F - Tyler Dykstra, 6-8/200 Jr (7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
F - Mickey Devries, 6-7/235 Sr (9.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
C - Tyler Kruis, 6-9/235 Sr (15.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg)

G - Austin Parks, 6-0/185 So (6.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.4 apg)
F - B.J. Van Loo, 6-6/205 So (4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
G - Brad Visser, 6-3/170 Fr (4.2 ppg)
C - Daniel Stout, 6-9/230 Jr (2.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
G - T.J. Huizenga, 6-4/205 Jr (1.9 ppg)


IWU Sectional Site - http://www.iwusports.com/news/2014/3/9/MBB_0309144706.aspx?path=mbball

Bracket - http://www.d3hoops.com/playoffs/men/2014/bracket

Pantagraph - http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/titans-home-in-quest-for-final-four/article_86d7ffaf-0aee-5b76-b1a2-cabeaa90de6a.html

Live video/stats - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#

WJBC audio - http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/wjbc.portal#

[iwu70]

Thanks, Q.  Calvin is HUGE, looks a tough out.  Key is, as always, taking care of the ball, shooting a good percentage, and winning/being close on the rebounding battle.  I like our chances.  Hope Vic and Marietti have big games again and that Zman has a break-out game in this run of the tournament.  I'd bet both coaches have done a great job getting ready for this key game, scouting well the other team's strengths and weaknesses. 

Good luck, safe travels to all the teams in the Sectionals.  Some really great games this weekend.  Win or go home . . .

Go GREEN, GO TITANS, GO CCIW!

IWU70

[oldknight]

Thanks, Q.  Calvin is HUGE, looks a tough out.  Key is, as always, taking care of the ball, shooting a good percentage, and winning/being close on the rebounding battle.  I like our chances.  Hope Vic and Marietti have big games again and that Zman has a break-out game in this run of the tournament.  I'd bet both coaches have done a great job getting ready for this key game, scouting well the other team's strengths and weaknesses. 

Good luck, safe travels to all the teams in the Sectionals.  Some really great games this weekend.  Win or go home . . .

Go GREEN, GO TITANS, GO CCIW!

IWU70

I believe it was TQ who correctly noted that there is more than one way to be big. Calvin is tall and long but IWU is wide. Tournament basketball against an unfamiliar opponent is particularly interesting because when teams totally unfamiliar with each other compete, the game favors the one best able to cope with the strengths of its opponent. Davis and Ziemnik have certainly played against opponents taller than them and based on what I saw of IWU in December it appeared to me that the Titan inside players are smart, patient and capable of making space down low to get good looks at the basket. If they do that tonight, IWU should win. On the other hand, Calvin's big guys are particularly good at off-the-ball defense where a second (and sometimes a third) defender comes over at the right time to contest a shot in the paint. Tyler Dykstra is especially effective here because he has blocked and bothered a boatload of shots this season while helping out. Dykstra averages less than 8 points a game but was named second team All-Conference due to defensive attributes not often seen at the D3 level.

A well balanced inside-outside game is something each team can play and if one or the other can't do that tonight, that team will lose. I can't believe this is the first time these two schools have played one another in men's hoops and I am looking forward to seeing how the game is played.

[USee]

It's a sad state of affairs, but Q missed part of the Calvin lineup, amended below:

Calvin (24-5, 12-2 MIAA)
G - Jordan "On the" Brink, 6-3/185 Jr (15.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.1 apg)
G - Jordan "Mayor" Daley, 6-3/185 So (8.9 ppg, 3.5 ppg, 2.0 apg)
F - Tyler "Lenny" Dykstra, 6-8/200 Jr (7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
F - Mickey "Mouse" Devries, 6-7/235 Sr (9.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
C - Tyler "Ulis"  Kruis, 6-9/235 Sr (15.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg)

G - Austin "Powers" Parks, 6-0/185 So (6.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.4 apg)
F - B.J. "In a" Van " down by the water" Loo, 6-6/205 So (4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
G - Brad "E. " Visser "8th", 6-3/170 Fr (4.2 ppg)
C - Daniel "I.M." Stout, 6-9/230 Jr (2.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
G - T.J. "Wayne" Huizenga, 6-4/205 Jr (1.9 ppg)

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Thanks, Q.  Calvin is HUGE, looks a tough out.  Key is, as always, taking care of the ball, shooting a good percentage, and winning/being close on the rebounding battle.  I like our chances.  Hope Vic and Marietti have big games again and that Zman has a break-out game in this run of the tournament.  I'd bet both coaches have done a great job getting ready for this key game, scouting well the other team's strengths and weaknesses. 

Good luck, safe travels to all the teams in the Sectionals.  Some really great games this weekend.  Win or go home . . .

Go GREEN, GO TITANS, GO CCIW!

IWU70

Youa re right that the Knights are tall.  What I witnessed in the 7 games I saw them in person this year is that while htey are big, they tend to only really "pound it" inside if they are playing against a much smaller team.  Dykstra and Kruis tend to live outside the lane when confronted with comparable size, while Devries is more of a banger inside.  I know that tendancy is one that frustrates many a Calvin fan (and which Hope with 6-10 and 6-8 post players) took advantage of in several games. 

Despite all the discussion about 3 point shooting, I expect the in the paint points and second chance points to be the determining factor in this one.

[jaybird44]

Some notes on Calvin, as we await what should be a sensational game with IWU tonight.

As I watched the Knights twice last weekend, I was impressed with Calvin's unflappable nature.  This has evolved, for sure, through games at Hope where large crowds could affect visiting teams who weren't prepared for it.  Calvin coolly overcame a 4-point play by Wash-U's Alan Aboona that had the Wash-U crowd shouting and stomping late in the 2nd half, as the Bears climbed within 4 points after trailing by 14 early in the 2nd half.  Those cheers and stomps were quickly silenced on the next Calvin possession by a Jordan Brink 3.  I expect Calvin to be as poised playing at the venerable Shirk Center tonight.

Brink and Jordan Daley are very good on-the-ball defenders, especially Daley--who may be the best defensive guard I have seen all season.  Moves his feet well, doesn't needlessly reach and commit fouls, and he has a wide wingspan.  Both guards also keep their dribble alive and don't pick up the basketball too soon and trap themselves.  Sounds elementary, but there are many guards who take a bounce or two and panic.  Brink and Daley keep dribbling with confidence until they know exactly want they want to do with the basketball.  It will be fun to watch Dylan Overstreet (a point guard that I believe is among the best that I have seen at this level) and Pat Sodemann battle the Calvin duo, since they are tall and won't be blanketed by Calvin's height.

Tyler Kruis is the real deal...not burly, but he can step out from under the basket for mid-range and 3-point shots, and he is comfortable shooting both.  Smart and effective shot blocker and defender who is not apt to commit a flurry of fouls to send him to the bench.  I wonder if IWU will have some sort of switch and deploy Victor Davis when Kruis wanders away from the basket?  I have not seen enough of Marietti to know if he can play Kruis away from the basket.

IWU has players like Andrew Ziemnik who are intangibles--having the knack of being in the right place at the right time to make the right play that leads to victory.  Andrew left "The Mark of Ziemnik" with his Zorro-type of headband, on a 3-point shot that broke Wash-U hearts in last year's 2nd round matchup.  Mickey DeVries is that kind of player for Calvin.  Not physically impressive at first glance, but works hard and makes plays.  At the end of the night, he gives the Knights 9-10 points and a half-dozen rebounds, and leaves people wondering how he did it.

Calvin's bench is pretty deep...Austin Parks killed Wash-U with 18 points off the bench, making it tough to guard both he and Brink beyond the arc, AND try to offer help defense on Kruis.  Dan Stout and B.J. Van Loo offer good minutes inside to spell Kruis (who doesn't need much rest).  Brad Visser is a capable 3-point shooter who doesn't play much yet because of the talent in front of him.  IWU has a better-balanced bench IMHO regarding production from the guards and forwards, but Calvin's reserves can impact a game as well.

So, I'm left with splitting hairs when determining who will win tonight's game.  I think that the game will hinge on IWU's bench and who gets the advantage on points-from-turnovers.  Lots of potential scoring from the Titan reserve guards, and Mike Mayberger is a matchup problem off the bench--a tall forward who is guard-like on offense, and who can post-up defenders and defend in the post.  That aggregate will be tough for Calvin to match, even with the many media time-outs that can diminish the impact of bench players.  And, in a game like last week's Calvin/Wash-U battle--between teams who don't turn the ball over much--points from turnovers will be at a premium.  Calvin won that stats category in decisive fashion vs. the Bears. 

I see the endgame sequence unfolding in this manner...Calvin is up by a possession, and IWU makes a last-second shot to win it.  A 3 from Nelson or Zimmer, to erase a 2-point Calvin lead.  That's how close I believe the game will be tonight.  Could be the best game to watch in the entire tournament.

Good luck to both well-coached teams--I hope to be in front of a computer or IPhone, watching the action tonight!

[USee]

Dickinson Lineup below:


G - Adam "And Eve" Honig, 6-1 Sr (16.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.1 apg)
G - Brandon "Roy" Angrodi, 6-4 So (9.3 ppg, 1.8 ppg, 44% 3pt)
F -"Tom and" Gerry Wixted, 6-8 Jr (15.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg)
F - Steve "Phil" Collins, 6-10 Jr (6.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
G - "Mel" Tucker Landy, 6-5 Sr (7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg)

G - Ted "John Cougar" Hinnenkamp, 6-7 So (5.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
F -Tom "Bert and" McInerney, 6-6 Sr (7.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
G -Chris "Collins" Cox, 6-2 Jr (4.1 ppg)
G - Brian "I need a" Gerney, 6-2 Jr (1.9 ppg)

[Gregory Sager]

Interesting game over the first twenty minutes. I think that Wheaton has more individual talent, but the Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance are completely being outplayed on a team basis by the Red Devils. Wheaton's help defense has been absolutely nonexistent, both on weak-side cuts and on straight drives down the lane. And Peters can't get untracked at all. Dickinson's length is creating a lot of problems for Wheaton when the WC offense gets close to the rim, although the rebounding is basically a wash.

[Gregory Sager]

Wheaton appears to be one Smith short tonight.

[Gregory Sager]

Dickinson 81
Wheaton 71

The Red Devils looked pretty impressive. They thoroughly outplayed Wheaton tonight.

[theseguysaregood]

Wheaton appears to be one Smith short tonight.

street clothes on the bench looked like right hand was in a cast