MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[kenoshamark]

Bob,

Interesting, the Carthage website has the scored flipped with Carthage losing?

[GoPerry]

After IWU beats MSOE they'll be at 7-4. 11-3 in CCIW play would put them at 18-7, and in the conference tourney. A win and a loss there makes it 19-8, and in receipt of an invitation to the big dance. And, of course, two wins in the conference tourney makes it automatic. 

Well, that's the problem.  IWU would need 11-3 to be competitive...and 11-3 is generally the record of the team that wins the CCIW.  Pool C teams from the CCIW are generally in the 10-4 or 9-5 range.  At 10-4 or 9-5, IWU would be on the outside looking in.

More importantly, there is the reality that IWU, through 10 games, has not played like a team capable of 10-4 in the CCIW.  I think the Titans certainly could make that kind of push...but the body of work so far doesn't suggest it.

I see IWU being fairly even right now with North Central and North Park in the battle for 3rd and 4th.  (With Augie and Elmhurst 1st and 2nd respectively.)

I would agree with that last statement.  And I'm wondering if there's a more significant than usual separation between #2-Elmhurst and that 3-4-5 spot.  In any case, it seems to me that getting out of the CCIW with only 4 losses will be a tall order if you're not Augie or EC.  Thus, I would make the same statement regarding NCC and NPU if they were to get a 4th non-con loss.  They will have to play pretty well just to be on the bubble with at least 8, and more likely 9 losses. 

Thus the Benedictine game looms pretty large for NCC and NPU has a big week coming with 2 games at Defiance.

[AndOne]

Bob,

Interesting, the Carthage website has the scored flipped with Carthage losing?

I think CC fixed it.

[kenoshamark]

AndOne,

Yes, I see that now.

[AndOne]

After IWU beats MSOE they'll be at 7-4. 11-3 in CCIW play would put them at 18-7, and in the conference tourney. A win and a loss there makes it 19-8, and in receipt of an invitation to the big dance. And, of course, two wins in the conference tourney makes it automatic. 

Well, that's the problem.  IWU would need 11-3 to be competitive...and 11-3 is generally the record of the team that wins the CCIW.  Pool C teams from the CCIW are generally in the 10-4 or 9-5 range.  At 10-4 or 9-5, IWU would be on the outside looking in.

More importantly, there is the reality that IWU, through 10 games, has not played like a team capable of 10-4 in the CCIW.  I think the Titans certainly could make that kind of push...but the body of work so far doesn't suggest it.

I see IWU being fairly even right now with North Central and North Park in the battle for 3rd and 4th.  (With Augie and Elmhurst 1st and 2nd respectively.)

I would agree with that last statement.  And I'm wondering if there's a more significant than usual separation between #2-Elmhurst and that 3-4-5 spot.  In any case, it seems to me that getting out of the CCIW with only 4 losses will be a tall order if you're not Augie or EC.  Thus, I would make the same statement regarding NCC and NPU if they were to get a 4th non-con loss.  They will have to play pretty well just to be on the bubble with at least 8, and more likely 9 losses. 

Thus the Benedictine game looms pretty large for NCC and NPU has a big week coming with 2 games at Defiance.

The Ben U game is HUGE for NCC. And, although it will be played in The Hangar, it will be a virtually neutral court with NC being in the midst of their 6 week Holiday break. The keys to victory for the Cardinals will be:
* NC's Alex Sorenson being able to neutralize BU's future NBA player, HWSNBN.
* Perimeter D, especially against BU's primary 3 point shooter, Mike Blaszczyk.
* Winning the board battle
* Hitting 75% of their FTs

Two areas I believe could tip the scales in the Cards' favor are better overall team quickness, and a deeper bench (primarily Kevin Honn, Aiden Chang, & Jaquan Phipps).
However, the BU boys aren't undefeated for no good reasons. Chief among them are that they play together/play good team basketball, and they execute.

The Cardinals also have a non-conference game remaining with 12-3 NAIA member Robert Morris. 14 of 17 of the RMU varsity team members are listed as having attended another school previous to RMU.
Besides it being a very tough game, the Selection Committee won't give NCC any credit toward national tourney consideration fo a win, as they have shown a history, as recently as last year, of disregarding victories over teams outside the confines of NCAA governance.

[mr_b]

North Park topped Covenant College, 85-73, in Lookout Mountain, GA. Juwan  Henry (26 points) and Jordan Robinson (23) paced the attack for the Vikings (6-3).

[Gotberg]

North Park topped Covenant College, 85-73, in Lookout Mountain, GA. Juwan  Henry (26 points) and Jordan Robinson (23) paced the attack for the Vikings (6-3).

Robinson also had 19 rebounds.

[iwu70]

Maybe Robinson is the CCIW MOP in the making?  Amazing numbers. 

'70

[Gotberg]

Maybe Robinson is the CCIW MOP in the making?  Amazing numbers. 

'70

I saw Robinson play against Dubuque for the first time in person this past Saturday. He's a very athletic, fundamentally sound player - with amazing endurance.  MOP?  Not sure about that, but very happy he's in a NP uniform.

[AO]

Big 20 pt comeback by Carthage last night in an overtime win over The Real North Central™.

[veterancciwfan]

Regarding D3 tourney selections: I think the committee in recent years has shown not only in selections but also in seeding teams in the 1st and 2nd Rounds pod of 4 an emphasis on strength of schedule. The CCIW, which is probably the best league in the 15/16 season, has a good chance to have its best 3 teams in the field. Get in the CCIW tournament, win the 1st game and the chances of inclusion are fairly good. Look at last year, the top 3 teams were included and NCC barely was excluded. I think the committee recognizes the strength of the CCIW. Elmhurst was only 9-5 in the league last year, really 9-6 including an initial CCIW tourney loss to IWU by 13, but made the tournament. Elmhurst had only 1 nonconf. loss last year, due partly by a less than challenging nonconf. schedule. I realize the overall record is important, however, I don't think an IWU team that goes 10-4 (11-5 including CCIW tourney games) would automatically be excluded on selection Monday. The flip side of that scenario is that IWU would finish 18-9 and NCC was excluded last year with an 18-8 record. But NCC was not a top 3 league team last year. NCC finished 8-7 in league play (including a close loss to Augie in conf. tourney) and 4th at 8-6 a game behind Elmhurst.

[iwu70]

Vet, I hope you are right.  I think it will be very tough for IWU to repeat the 10-4, 11-5 (including CCIW tournament) of last year that you outlined.  Injuries are not helping the Titans pull this thing together, find their best identity and rotation, esp. on the defensive end.

IWU'70

[veterancciwfan]

A few observations from San Antonio: 1) Even without 3 significant players (Marietti, Coyle and Rose), there is nothing wrong with IWU on the offensive end. IWU is an elite shooting team and Beasley (soph) and Folotico (fresh) add to the arsenal and quite likely will improve with more PT and experience.  2) IWU's woes on the defensive end are the problem. TX Luth is a top 3 or 4 team (possibly 2)  in the CCIW. They have extreme quickness at almost every position. If IWU had played them man to man, my guess is TX Luth would have won easily. But give Ron Rose credit for the excellent coach he has proven to be. Playing multiple zones mixed in with a minimum of man to man was very effective. The final score was not indicative of how IWU dominated the 2nd half after trailing 40-38 at half. Bryce Dolan put on a 3 point shooting clinic to start the 2nd half.  But it was the switching defenses that was equally important. 3) Pennington, Stempel (an outstanding performance), Rose, Beasley, Bonnett & Folotico are talented players who are gaining more experience and confidence. I expect them to show improvement. 4) IWU's nonconf. schedule was extremely challenging and playing against good opponents should help once league play begins with the Jan. 2 game at Elmhurst. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Kudos to Coach Rose (or AD Bridges; don't know who does the scheduling) for a VERY tough preconference schedule - in the first ten games, they have played five teams in the Top 25!  Considering their injury problems, I'm reasonably content with going 2-3 against such teams (though losing at Loras was a kick in the teeth).  If and when they ever get healthy, I'm still fairly confident they will make The Show.

The women, alas, appear to be a year away, but to me it is still "In Mia, we trust"!  (And I would not be totally shocked if they get it together and still make a tourney run this year.)

[bbfan44]

A 2 point come from behind win for Benedictine vs North Central.  Good game.