MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

The CCIW will get 3, I don't think that's even a question unless goofy stuff happens.

I'm not going to be popular in this room for saying this, but here's to goofy stuff happening -- with NPU being the author of that goofy stuff.

Despite some really poor play this year, the Thunder have displayed a penchant for getting up for  the bigger games on their schedule (vs IWU, @ Augie, @EC) tonight being one of those.  Indeed they realistically have little else to play for in the 2nd half but to make some noise around the league against the teams with much more at stake.

... and it sounds like GoPerry agrees with me, except that he'd like Wheaton to be the team that brings the goofy stuff.

Tell you what, GoPerry and other Wheaton fans: If you'll root for the Park to administer some goofy stuff to the top four, I'll be on the bandwagon for your Orange and Blue to goofy-stuff this league as well.

Sign of the Apocalypse:  Greg is gonna root for Wheaton!

Greg, I hope your shower is working for afterwards - I know you're gonna feel dirty!

[toooldtohoop]

The CCIW will get 3, I don't think that's even a question unless goofy stuff happens.

I'm not going to be popular in this room for saying this, but here's to goofy stuff happening -- with NPU being the author of that goofy stuff.

Despite some really poor play this year, the Thunder have displayed a penchant for getting up for  the bigger games on their schedule (vs IWU, @ Augie, @EC) tonight being one of those.  Indeed they realistically have little else to play for in the 2nd half but to make some noise around the league against the teams with much more at stake.

... and it sounds like GoPerry agrees with me, except that he'd like Wheaton to be the team that brings the goofy stuff.

Tell you what, GoPerry and other Wheaton fans: If you'll root for the Park to administer some goofy stuff to the top four, I'll be on the bandwagon for your Orange and Blue to goofy-stuff this league as well.

FWIW....and I know it is worth nothing.
I have respected your loyalty and support for your program despite the suffering of these past seasons.  And I am happy that you get to celebrate a change in trajectory of the NPU team.  Quite a statement from you to offer a partnership, but I'm in.

This has been a year when the Thunder get a taste of that kind of disappointment and loss.  Just please go easy on us and give it to everyone else!
I think we assume the role of the spoiler in the second half.
Go NPU Go Thunder!

[Gregory Sager]

Sign of the Apocalypse:  Greg is gonna root for Wheaton!

Greg, I hope your shower is working for afterwards - I know you're gonna feel dirty!

In most contexts, you'd be right, Chuck. But it's different now, because for the first time in many years Wheaton is one of the have-nots rather than one of the haves. And I understand the transactional nature of shared suffering. Hence:

FWIW....and I know it is worth nothing.
I have respected your loyalty and support for your program despite the suffering of these past seasons.  And I am happy that you get to celebrate a change in trajectory of the NPU team.  Quite a statement from you to offer a partnership, but I'm in.

This has been a year when the Thunder get a taste of that kind of disappointment and loss.  Just please go easy on us and give it to everyone else!
I think we assume the role of the spoiler in the second half.
Go NPU Go Thunder!

For a response like that, I can gladly set aside my Park-fueled animus for Wheaton and root for the Orange and Blue on selected occasions.

[Gregory Sager]

Another consideration is that I like rooting for underdogs. I'm one of those people who enjoys seeing a lightly-regarded team overturn the applecart. While there is a CCIW-loyalist part of me that wants the league to put its best foot forward nationally by getting as many teams into the dance as possible, rooting for the means that would make that end possible -- a clean sweep by the league's top teams over the league's bottom teams -- strikes me as too cold-blooded, even when it doesn't involve NPU.

[veterancciwfan]

I agree on the premise that the #1 and 2 regional seeds at the end of conf. tournament play will host 1st and 2nd round regionals. However, a potential men's host may face the dilemma of competing with the women for the right to host the regional, namely Whitewater. Go Lady Warhawks, or Warhawkettes!

[iwu70]

IWU up 38-33 at the half vs. Wheaton.

'70

[iwu70]

AC 40 EC 29 Half

iwu'70

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I agree on the premise that the #1 and 2 regional seeds at the end of conf. tournament play will host 1st and 2nd round regionals. However, a potential men's host may face the dilemma of competing with the women for the right to host the regional, namely Whitewater. Go Lady Warhawks, or Warhawkettes!

FYI - women have priority in the first weekend; men in the second weekend this season.

[jaybird44]

Too bad the men and women can't be combined at the same site.  Four games in Round One on a Friday and two games in Round Two  on Saturday combining men's and women's games shouldn't be that big of a problem, should it? 

[GoPerry]

6:09 left, tied at 55 in Bloomington.  IWU not shooting well and are ripe for the Thunder to get one if they could just execute.

[GoPerry]

Meanwhile, Jordan Robinson on fire trying to bring it home for NPU in Kenosha.

[GoPerry]

Just another night in the CCIW . . . all 4 gamesa nail-biter as Titans/Thunder head to OT.

[mr_b]

North Park 79, Carthage 75 (final)
Millkin 69, North Central 66 (final)
Elmhurst and Augie in OT
Wheaton and IWU in OT

[jaybird44]

Titans win 77-70 in OT.

[John Gleich]

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?

The question is will the WIAC get 3 and that answer is probably  no.

There aren't 3 WIAC teams deserving an NCAA bid. 

Platteville is #3 behind WW and Point and they're 13-6 (5 d3 losses). They couldn't hold on tonight and felt the wrath of Whitewater's Q Young, like Eau Claire earlier this year, Williams and Stevens Point last year, with a late layup for the W.

And the WIAC is set up to protect the top two seeds. Both get a first round bye and a home game in the conference tournament.