MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[veterancciwfan]

IWU's defense is often overlooked but I thought the players used to defend Kruis and Brink were very effective. In discussing defense among CCIW teams, Augustana is usually credited with having the best. But this year, IWU"S defense was the best according to these stats (through the 25 game regular season): FG % Defense:  IWU: .407  Augie: .418   3-Point FG % Defense: IWU: .310  Augie: .312  I think tonight's game will be a classic winner go to Salem contest. I was very impressed with Dickinson. They have 9 players who average at least 13 minutes. Adam Honig is an outstanding point guard and quick. They have Calvin's size (6 players 6'4" or taller) and their big men are better athletes. I thought 6'7" soph. Ted Hinnenkamp was a super sub. Prior to last night, he was shooting .615 from the floor and .778 from the line + a good rebounder (3.6) in an average of 18 minutes.
They will have confidence after beating Wooster and Wash. U. on the road, quite an accomplishment. In Round 4 games at Shirk, IWU is 1-1 (losing to Manchester in 1995 and beating Methodist in 1997).

[USee]

As badly as Wheaton was getting beat off the dribble, I was shocked Mike Schauer didn't try to play some zone last night - I think Ron Rose will try some zone tonight.  Maybe try to shut down the one-on-one dribble penetration and live with some open 3-point looks.I think Dickinson also has some big matchup problems with IWU - especially with Victor Davis and Andrew Ziemnik.

If Schauer had gone to a zone last night it would have been the first time I have ever seen the Thunder, during his tenure, play zone. I haven't seen every game but I am not sure that's in their aresenal.  I agree it would have been preferable to what we saw, but it's just not part of what they do.

In the first half it looked like they were trying to react quickly on helpside defense but Dickinson was too good at adjusting and ended up getting the Thunder out of position on defensive rotations for open looks or layups. Dickinson is playing really well right now and they took it to the Thunder.

[iwu70]

Dickinson looks very tough, playing with confidence after several very big wins.  As usual, IWU needs to win the TO and RB battles, shoot a good percentage, and contain the two key scorers for Dickinson.  I like the way the IWU bench players are playing -- esp. Dortch, Zimmer, Mayberger and, of course, Nelson.  Hope Sodemann and Zman have a breakout game tomorrow.  Sodemann and Nelson will likely be guarding the key scorer, guard for Dickinson.  Dolan and Zman need to have better games Saturday night.  Home crowd, conditioning and the officiating could be factors Saturday night.

Go TITANS -- keep it rolling to Salem.  Come on, TITAN nation, fill the house.

Amazing to me that Wash U, Point, Wooster, Hope, Cabrini, and other key top-ranked teams are out.  Amherst and Williams, as usual, finding a way. 

IWU70

 

[oldknight]

Congrats to IWU on Friday night's win over Calvin. As I knew from watching the game at Hope in December, the Titans are talented, deep and very veteran. There's still plenty of work ahead but there's no reason IWU can't win it all. Best wishes.

[AppletonRocks]

I heard a rumor today that if IWU is in the Final Four, the NCAA will cancel the event to save money and give IWU the trophy....as there is no question that are the champions. 

[Gregory Sager]

Dickinson pretty good but still seems primarily a two man offense.

Dickinson has certainly proved its detractors wrong as to whether or not it deserves to be in the tourney -- it's amusing to think back now on the fact that the Red Devils were a slightly controversial Pool C choice two weeks ago -- and the Red Devils certainly have some ability. But I think that the winner of the second game tonight at Shirk will be going to Salem.

They are a fine team, but what they did during the regular season really put them on the bubble of Pool C bids and they shouldn't have been surprised if they weren't picked.

Doing well in the tournament doesn't prove that they belonged anymore than Morrisville State winning 3 games proved they would have deserved a Pool C bid.

I know that you're still smarting over Carthage getting snubbed, but it's time to let that go. Dickinson belonged in the field. The Red Devils have proved it, and there's a few thousand Wooster and Wheaton fans who will back me up on that.

[Gregory Sager]

For next year, Teuscher will be the key.  But here's hoping Pete Smith can exert himself offensively commensurate with his obvious talent and that J Smith, Berg or someone else can develop themselves to fill the inside void left by Haynes.  Every player will have to be even better if they wish to compete in the CCIW.

Don't be surprised if Wheaton has some outstanding freshmen next season who can step in and play right away in this league. I have no idea what sort of out-of-state talent Mike Schauer and his staff have been recruiting, but just in terms of Illinois-based players Wheaton looks like it's on the verge of bringing in some really outstanding talent for next year.

[Gregory Sager]

The NESCAC will own half of the Final Four. Amherst and Williams are winning blowouts tonight.

[bbfan44]

For next year, Teuscher will be the key.  But here's hoping Pete Smith can exert himself offensively commensurate with his obvious talent and that J Smith, Berg or someone else can develop themselves to fill the inside void left by Haynes.  Every player will have to be even better if they wish to compete in the CCIW.

Don't be surprised if Wheaton has some outstanding freshmen next season who can step in and play right away in this league. I have no idea what sort of out-of-state talent Mike Schauer and his staff have been recruiting, but just in terms of Illinois-based players Wheaton looks like it's on the verge of bringing in some really outstanding talent for next year.

They better hope for a big guy who can bang underneath.  I don't see anyone on the current team that can replace Haynes unless they spend many hours in the weight room this summer.

[Gregory Sager]

For next year, Teuscher will be the key.  But here's hoping Pete Smith can exert himself offensively commensurate with his obvious talent and that J Smith, Berg or someone else can develop themselves to fill the inside void left by Haynes.  Every player will have to be even better if they wish to compete in the CCIW.

Don't be surprised if Wheaton has some outstanding freshmen next season who can step in and play right away in this league. I have no idea what sort of out-of-state talent Mike Schauer and his staff have been recruiting, but just in terms of Illinois-based players Wheaton looks like it's on the verge of bringing in some really outstanding talent for next year.

They better hope for a big guy who can bang underneath.  I don't see anyone on the current team that can replace Haynes unless they spend many hours in the weight room this summer.

Wheaton could bring in multiple high-value big men for next season, if everything breaks Mike Schauer's way in the recruiting wars.

[Gregory Sager]

Williams 79
Mary Washington 46

Mary Washington was 7-46 from downtown in this game. My arms hurt just typing that stat.

[Gregory Sager]

Amherst 84
Morrisville State 74

[Gregory Sager]

Well, I'll say this: Dickinson can take a punch. When Wesleyan went up 22-7 it looked as though the Titans were simply going to run the Red Devils right out of the gym. Give the visitors credit for clawing back to go into the locker room only down by five.

[Gregory Sager]

Illinois Wesleyan is going to win the rebounding battle by a whopping 20 boards tonight. That's all you need to know in terms of analysis. Neither team shot well, but those 20 extra boards meant about 16 or so extra field-goal attempts for the Titans.

[Gregory Sager]

UWW 74
Emory 51