MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[kiko]

To all you hard core CCIW followers, who is the POY at the 1/2 way point?

Overstreet.

[79jaybird]

I was referring moreso the home Carthage L costing the Jays the conference title. IMO they are definitely going to make the Conf. Tournament.

 

[iwumichigander]

To all you hard core CCIW followers, who is the POY at the 1/2 way point?

Overstreet.

IMHO a close call between Dylan Overstreet or Hunter Hill.  With Auggie in 1st, probably goes to Hunter Hill at the half way point.

[augiefan]

It's pretty much a toss up at this point between Overstreet and Hill, but the more interesting question might be who is the best player in the conference right now. I think I would vote for North Park's Juwan Henry. Super athleticism for a DIII player.

[Mr. Ypsi]

New poll is up.  Augie falls from 1 to 4, Elmhurst rises from 22 to 16, NCC falls out, but retains 47 points.  I was curious how IWU would be regarded after going 1-1 on the road against two ranked opponents (including taking down #1 on their own floor) - answer, not well, as they lost another two points.  Apparently the voters cannot abide loss #5.

[AppletonRocks]

The NPU victory over Oshkosh is looking more valuable to NPU every day. 

[Gregory Sager]

I note that there has been no talk about in/deflategate that contributed to North Park's victory.

I prefer the term "Ballghazi" instead.

I did make it to the Carthage-Wheaton game after attending the IWU-Elmhurst game.

I remember a few occasions when the schedule worked out in such a way that I would be able to catch two CCIW games in one day. I really enjoyed it.

I did enjoy the Titans-Bluejays game as well.  I have only seen IWU play twice and both were losses.  They amaze me with their ability to come back from double digit deficits.  Some of those bombs in the Elmhurst game felt like they were from Villa Park.  They are never out of a game.

Well, they were out of their game against Wash U with a lot of time remaining in the second half, but for the most part I agree with you.

This conference is tough and no team can take a night off.

I've gone on record as saying that this is not a particularly noteworthy year for the league in terms of its overall talent level, and I'm sticking by that. But this is also the most competitive that I've seen the league in quite some time. For all the chest-thumping we CCIW types do about our league, the truth is that in most seasons the three teams at the bottom have nothing more than a very slim chance of beating the three teams at the top, regardless of venue. This season, I don't think that anybody gets a night off.

F'rinstance, on Wednesday night Wheaton is at Illinois Wesleyan. Wheaton was a thin team to begin with, and the losses of Luis Miller and Riley Teuscher have been more costly than I think most people realize. The Sonic Atmospheric Disturbance is really struggling, their narrow win over Carthage on Saturday notwithstanding. But I wouldn't be all that surprised if they somehow picked themselves up off the mat and came away with an upset win at Shirk on Wednesday. Likewise, Millikin visits the airplane hangar on Wednesday night. Now, given the personnel and the respective records of these two teams, a casual observer to this league would think that NCC will almost certainly chew up and spit out MU, particularly since the game's at Gregory Arena. But does anyone who follows this league really think that Millikin's chances are slim and none?

The heightened competitiveness of this league may end up biting the CCIW in its collective butt come tourney selection time, but I'm certainly enjoying the unpredictable four-dogfights-per-night vibe we've got going right now.

Elmhurst looks to me like a team that collectively plays better than the sum of its parts, and the individual parts aren't exactly chopped liver.  Huge props to John Baines for having his team where they are at this point.

I think that that captures the essence of that Elmhurst team as much as anything. When you watch this week's CCIW POW, Kyle Wuest, play, he doesn't really do anything that draws oohs and aahs from the crowd. He just plays hard, smart basketball, and he maximizes his talents. He plays right. He's got several teammates that fit the same description. Players like that tend to reinforce each other's performances for the better, which is where you get that the-whole-is-better-than-the-sum-of-its-parts vibe. I think that that's a tribute to the coaching staff, and I echo the praise of John Baines that several posters have made today.

It's pretty much a toss up at this point between Overstreet and Hill, but the more interesting question might be who is the best player in the conference right now. I think I would vote for North Park's Juwan Henry. Super athleticism for a DIII player.

I'll agree with that. POY almost inevitably comes down to a player from one of the top-tier teams, so I, too, think it's between Overstreet and Hill. But in terms of overall performance and sheer impact upon a game, Juwan Henry is making a very strong case for himself. I just don't see him winning it, though, unless NPU makes a significant climb up the ladder in the CCIW standings.

[veterancciwfan]

I thought IWU's impressive win in Rock Island and a close road loss to Elmhurst would result in more Top 25 votes, not fewer. Those losses to Benedictine and especially Cal. Lutheran have a lasting impact. IWU has a chance to finish 20-5 in regular season and even 19-6 plus one win in conf. tourn. probably nets a D3 tournament bid.  A little early, but I think the CCIW has a decent chance of getting 3 teams in the tournament.

[iwu70]

I worry those early losses by IWU will be more damaging than the loss EC has.  EC will likely have an overall better record than IWU.  Let's hope Vet is right and the CCIW has a shot at three bids, come late February.  Who knows, may NPU gets hot and wins the CCIW tourney and the AQ,   Strange things happening this year.

Still looks to me, at this point, like the Conference tourney will be AC, IWU, EC and NCC.  WC or NPU could enter in I suppose too.

IWU needs to protect in all the home court games now. 

IWU70

[iwumichigander]

Vet and 70 - not so sure on three teams getting in as CCIW in the new Central Region this season.
In addition to the UChgo and WashU competing for spots, we have the WIAC to contend with.  UWW and UWSP in pretty good shape as of now, but stub their toes in their conference  tourney I think likely both would be knocking on the Pool C door!

If the CCIW were in its old region, I would feel pretty good about three CCIW getting in as it stands right now.  I just do not have the same feeling with the new Central makeup.  Nor do I think the national committee will overload with the Central Region this season despite the churn in other regions/conferences that normally turn out NCAA bids, for example, the NESCAC.

As always, the sure bet is to keep focus, win to get into the CCIW tournament and then win it to get the AQ!

[iwu70]

IWUMich, I share your doubts about 3 bids.  One can always hope.  I do worry about IWU having too many losses.  Even with a tourney worthy team, they may not get in.  Should be only 3 Ls, not 5.  Could happen to EC or NCC too. 

Still, lots of basketball to be played.

IWU70

[WUPHF]

As far as the Central Region is concerned, here is a look at the last published 2013-2014 NCAA Regional Rankings and the current projected KnightSlappy regional rankings.

Midwest
1 Washington U. 22-2 22-2
2 Illinois Wesleyan 22-3 22-3
3 Wheaton (Ill.) 17-8 17-8
4 Augustana 19-6 19-6
5 St. Norbert 21-1 22-1
6 Carthage 15-8 16-9
7 Rose-Hulman 20-5 20-5
8 Chicago 14-9 15-9

Central
1 Washington U. 14-2     
2 Augustana 16-2   
3 UW-Whitewater 15-1   
4 UW-Stevens Point 14-4
5 Illinois Wesleyan 13-5   
6 North Central (Ill.) 14-4     
7 St. Norbert 15-1   
8 Elmhurst 15-3

I know that the committee does a national search for at-large bids, and this region is certainly the toughest in the nation, but how deep can we expect them to go in one region?

[Wildcat]

 As an Elmhurst fan. I want to compliment the Wesleyan fans on the support they give there club. I am an old basketball  scout so when I saw the current team 2 years ago. I told the coaches they had the nucleus they needed to turn the program around. So far so good, a huge game tomorrow with  Augie . I really  have enjoyed watching this group grow together.

[Gregory Sager]

Current Massey:

    5. Augustana
  15. Elmhurst
  20. Illinois Wesleyan
  29. North Central
  87. Wheaton
114. Carthage
118. North Park
195. Millikin

Always nice to have the entire league in the top half of D3, per Massey.

[iwu70]

Wildcat, your guys are surely making some serious noise this year.  A really good team.  Keep going.  We sure do like your coach! 

Greg, thanks for the Massey.  Interesting.  Some really big games upcoming, esp. EC vs. AC.  Would love to see EC get the win.  IWU has a pretty good schedule down the stretch . . . has to make the most of it.  Never easy to beat Wheaton, home or away.

My Mother, an ardent and long-time IWU fan and loyal supporter, a long-time member of the travelling (elderly) Titans on the fan bus, especially supportive of the IWU women's teams, turns 96 today.  Happy Birthday Helen Marie McNicol Sheldon '40.  A true TITAN!  Along with my Dad, she received the IWU Alumni Association Loyalty Award in 2011.  So proud of them both.  Dad already 96, heading for 97.  They've been married 73+ years.  You don't see that every day.  Happy Birthday, Mom!

IWU70