MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

I am very happy for Augustana web stream broadcasters Chris Ford and Dan Sand.  I have listened to this duo at least 10 times this season.  They are both huge Augie fans, but they are as unbiased as can be during their broadcasts.  Happy for these two that their team is going to Salem.

[Greek Tragedy]

When the tourney field was announced, next to RMC, Augustana was probably the favorite,  so hailing Augie the favorite now that RMC is out isn't surprising. Regardless of last night's performance, they were the favorite to make the Final considering the perceived weaker bottom half of the bracket. It's amazing how one game can change the attitudes of some as a few of you were worried about advancing out of the Sweet 16 after the subpar escape game in the 2nd round. 

[Titan Q]

It's amazing how one game can change the attitudes of some as a few of you were worried about advancing out of the Sweet 16 after the subpar escape game in the 2nd round. 

I didn't really remember reading anything like this, so I went back and read the board starting after the Augie/DePauw game...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4592.39915

I still don't find anything that matches this, Greek.

[Gregory Sager]

Moving forward, I believe we will see even more top-to-bottom strength and balance - this trend should continue.  All 8 programs are aggressively trying to win now (still not really processing that Carroll is coming back next year!).

That's because it's not, Bob. Carroll is rejoining the league the year after next.

[sac]

I've always thought the second round was the key.  It seems like every year someone has to do something special to get past a second round opponent that's a little more than determined to beat you.  The winner ends up in Salem.

2 of the 4 semi-finalists had difficult and even 'great escapes' from Round 2 this year.

Augustana 68  Defiance 66
Va. Wesleyan 77 William Patterson 74

Babson played what I presume was a tight one with Scranton winning 54-47.  Only Point cruised into the Sectionals with a 17 point win over IWU.

In 2012 Cabrini needed OT to get past Hobart and IWU needed 2OT's to get past Hope
In 2013 North Central won by 4 over Whitewater
In 2014 Illinois Wesleyan snuck by Webster in Round 1 by just one

All of those games could have gone the other way and history is a bit different.  Pretty amazing thing this March Madness.

[Greek Tragedy]

It's amazing how one game can change the attitudes of some as a few of you were worried about advancing out of the Sweet 16 after the subpar escape game in the 2nd round. 

I didn't really remember reading anything like this, so I went back and read the board starting after the Augie/DePauw game...

http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4592.39915

I still don't find anything that matches this, Greek.

I thought I recalled some general concerns (rightfully so) after they escaped their 2nd round game vs DePauw. Whether or not it was this board or another. No big deal, Bob.

[Titan Q]

Moving forward, I believe we will see even more top-to-bottom strength and balance - this trend should continue.  All 8 programs are aggressively trying to win now (still not really processing that Carroll is coming back next year!).

That's because it's not, Bob. Carroll is rejoining the league the year after next.

I knew there was some explanation why it wasn't clicking for me.

[Titan Q]

I've always thought the second round was the key.  It seems like every year someone has to do something special to get past a second round opponent that's a little more than determined to beat you.  The winner ends up in Salem.

2 of the 4 semi-finalists had difficult and even 'great escapes' from Round 2 this year.

Augustana 68  Defiance 66
Va. Wesleyan 77 William Patterson 74

Babson played what I presume was a tight one with Scranton winning 54-47.  Only Point cruised into the Sectionals with a 17 point win over IWU.

In 2012 Cabrini needed OT to get past Hobart and IWU needed 2OT's to get past Hope
In 2013 North Central won by 4 over Whitewater
In 2014 Illinois Wesleyan snuck by Webster in Round 1 by just one

All of those games could have gone the other way and history is a bit different.  Pretty amazing thing this March Madness.

This is a very good point, sac.  I think most Salem runs involve some type of "escape" along the way.  IWU fans of course remember the Rose-Hulman game in 1997.  You mentioned IWU/Webster last year.

Thinking back to the two Wash U national title teams, they had some dicey moments in the early rounds.  UW-Stevens Point had the famous game in the Pac NW (was that Puget Sound?).

Augustana's escape vs DePauw was one of those games - the Vikings were in huge trouble in that one.  "Survive and advance" is very real in the NCAA tournament!

[AppletonRocks]

Has the CCIW/WIAC Festival to be played at Carroll been confirmed for 2017?  Would be a great way to welcome them into the CCIW and provide the WIAC a bunch of in region wins. 

[AndOne]

Marietta lost by 49 at Augie (down 30 at half).  I'm sure Marietta had a bad night...but 49 is 49.

Bottom line - the CCIW was really good this season.  A tough NCC team was the 4 seed.  And #5 North Park beat #1 Augustana, #2 IWU, and #4 North Central.  I'm pretty sure the CCIW can lay claim to "best conference" in 2014-15.

Moving forward, I believe we will see even more top-to-bottom strength and balance - this trend should continue.  All 8 programs are aggressively trying to win now (still not really processing that Carroll is coming back next year!).

Augie's last 5 games:

2/27--Beat North Central by 6
2/28--Beat IWU by 4
3/7---Beat DePauw by 2 (Augie's "lucky" game?)
3/13--Beat Mt. Union by 13
3/14--Beat Marietta by 49 (not likely to happen again, but cutting the deficit in half still makes it a 24-25 point loss)

DePauw had a great spurt at the end of the season, but finished only 9-9 in the NCAC.
Makes you wonder where top teams in conferences like the NCAC and OAC would finish in the CCIW. 

[iwu70]

I have Augie and Point in the final, with the Pointers winning.

I've always been a believer in Tayvian Johnson, from very early on, even high school.  And, as you know, I think Hunter Hill can "go off" at any time.  Must admit, Straughter is making a believer out of me too with his play in the recent four games. 

But, I just think SP is the most complete unit I've seen this year.  Should be some great games in Salem this weekend.  The top ODAC teams are always good.  Don't know much about Babson, but they got there, so gotta respect them.

Final Four, final weekend.  A long and fascinating season.

IWU70

[iwu70]

Congrats to Dylan Overstreet on first-team All Region honors.  And, congrats to the many other CCIW players receiving similar accolades. 

IWU70

[Gregory Sager]

Congratulations to Juwan Henry upon being named to the All-Region team. He's one of only two Central Region sophomores to make the All-Region team.

[jaybird44]

As much as I have enjoyed watching David Overstreet play, I think an argument can be made in favor of David Fatoki of Wash-U for 1st-Team All-Central Region:

Fatoki  30.3 mpg/126-267, .472 FG/40-101, .396 3pt%/45-56, .804 FT%/4.1 rpg/7.6 apg/198-62 a-to, 3.19 ratio/1.9 stpg/13.0 ppg
Overstreet 26.9 mpg/114-244, .467 FG/21-72, .292 3pt%/73-93, .785 FT%/4.6 rpg/4.6 apg/134-75 a-to, 1.79 ratio/1.2 stpg/11.1 ppg

Both are deserving of 1st-team status, but the stats line is favorable to Fatoki.

Up for discussion...

[Gregory Sager]

You make a good case, Jay. I wonder if Dylan Overstreet and Hunter Hill were selected ahead of David Fatoki because they were the CCIW co-MOPs, whereas Fatoki lost out on the UAA Player of the Year award to Alex Foster of Emory?

(I realize that Hill's team making the Final Four may have affected his status as well.)