MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

Still a very long way to go, but as most of us guessed coming into the conference season, it looks like the 4th CCIW tournament spot is going to come down to North Park and IWU.  This obviously means that both IWU/NPU games are big.  A sweep would be extremely hard to overcome.

The Titans vs Vikings is as intriguing of an Xs and Os matchup as you'll see.  IWU has no ability to chase NPU's guys around the perimeter or stay with them off dribble drive. NPU is giving up a crazy amount of size to IWU in the low post.  The say these are teams with contrasting styles would be quite an understatement.

Uh oh! Shots fired!!!

It seems that the key to chasing NPU's guys around the perimeter and/or staying with them off the dribble drive is to counter speed with speed. NPU has 3 guys that are quicker than either Pennington or Dolan. Perhaps Ron Rose might consider adding a little speed to his rotation. He has it sitting on his bench. He may not know its down there at the other end of the bench, but I doubt if IWU has anyone any quicker than Derrick Streety. While nobody is likely going to be able to stay with Juwan Henry, Streety has the quickness to stay with Cobbs or, even more so, Lake. He certainly has more quickness than Mr. Dolan or Mr. Pennington. I'm not sure why Streety hasn't played more since his arrival in Bloomington. In HS, he was terrific in running a good Elgin Larkin team, with one of his primary assets being his speed/quickness which, as we all know, kills. Recently, Rose seems to favor bringing in Mark Falotico in relief of Pennington/Dolan. However, in his last game against Augie, he committed 4 fouls in 18 minutes of PT. In the prior game against North Central, he had 5 fouls, fouling out in only 14 minutes! Given these recent results, it would appear his ability to render any help against the quickness NPU has, is seriously in question. Offensively, Falotico went 0 for 2 against NCC, and 0 for 5 against Augie, so his offensive contribution contribution certainly hasn't countered his lack of defense.

Accordingly, why not get inventive and try another option? Isn't that one of the marks of a good coach? Given recent past performance, it doesn't appear doing so will hurt anything, and it might even help. Sure, with its inside domination, both offensively and defensively, IWU might not need a great defensive effort on the perimeter. But, if they do, given that the recent perimeter defensive rotation/help hasn't been much help, it sure seems it might be worth a try. JMHO 

(modified by GS, because in cardinalpride's long absence he apparently forgot how to properly use the quote function )

I'm sure someone will look at it as "shots fired," but it's just an opinion based on not too tough of an analysis based on recent past performance along with a prominent factor that will be present in tonight's NPU-IWU game

[cardinalpride]

Andone,
I see not a lot has changed since I've been gone. Benjy takes another coaching gig and you're jabbing the green weenies for their personnel and coaching decisions. 😀

[AndOne]

Current Massey (SoS in parentheses):

    1. Augustana (3)
    3. Elmhurst (13)
  11. North Central (2)
  26. North Park (4)
  51. Illinois Wesleyan (8)
161. Carthage (32)
162. Wheaton (6)
205. Millikin (72)

Massey sez:

@ Augustana 78, Millikin 49 (AC 99% favorite)
@ North Park 75, Illinois Wesleyan 72 (NPU 59% favorite)
@ Wheaton 72, Carthage 67 (WC 68% favorite)
@ North Central 74, Elmhurst 73 (NCC 52% favorite)

Would love it if Massey is right! 
A real barn burner in The Hangar tonight?

[AndOne]

Andone,
I see not a lot has changed since I've been gone. Benjy takes another coaching gig and you're jabbing the green weenies for their personnel and coaching decisions. 😀

Well, is the purpose of D3Hoops chat not to promote both analysis, and the free and open discussion of D3 issues and games? That's all I did.

And, speaking of jabs, tell me again who just referred to a certain team as the "green weenies"?

[Gregory Sager]

My apologies. Thanks Greg!

No prob, cp. Good to see you back on the boards again.

And now it's time to put on the headset and (I hope) call a couple of NPU wins over the ... uh ... School Whose Teams Are Sometimes Provocatively Referred To As Grass-Colored Encased Grill Meats.

[iwumichigander]

Still a very long way to go, but as most of us guessed coming into the conference season, it looks like the 4th CCIW tournament spot is going to come down to North Park and IWU.  This obviously means that both IWU/NPU games are big.  A sweep would be extremely hard to overcome.

The Titans vs Vikings is as intriguing of an Xs and Os matchup as you'll see.  IWU has no ability to chase NPU's guys around the perimeter or stay with them off dribble drive. NPU is giving up a crazy amount of size to IWU in the low post.  The say these are teams with contrasting styles would be quite an understatement.

Uh oh! Shots fired!!!

It seems that the key to chasing NPU's guys around the perimeter and/or staying with them off the dribble drive is to counter speed with speed. NPU has 3 guys that are quicker than either Pennington or Dolan. Perhaps Ron Rose might consider adding a little speed to his rotation. He has it sitting on his bench. He may not know its down there at the other end of the bench, but I doubt if IWU has anyone any quicker than Derrick Streety. While nobody is likely going to be able to stay with Juwan Henry, Streety has the quickness to stay with Cobbs or, even more so, Lake. He certainly has more quickness than Mr. Dolan or Mr. Pennington. I'm not sure why Streety hasn't played more since his arrival in Bloomington. In HS, he was terrific in running a good Elgin Larkin team, with one of his primary assets being his speed/quickness which, as we all know, kills. Recently, Rose seems to favor bringing in Mark Falotico in relief of Pennington/Dolan. However, in his last game against Augie, he committed 4 fouls in 18 minutes of PT. In the prior game against North Central, he had 5 fouls, fouling out in only 14 minutes! Given these recent results, it would appear his ability to render any help against the quickness NPU has, is seriously in question. Offensively, Falotico went 0 for 2 against NCC, and 0 for 5 against Augie, so his offensive contribution contribution certainly hasn't countered his lack of defense.

Accordingly, why not get inventive and try another option? Isn't that one of the marks of a good coach? Given recent past performance, it doesn't appear doing so will hurt anything, and it might even help. Sure, with its inside domination, both offensively and defensively, IWU might not need a great defensive effort on the perimeter. But, if they do, given that the recent perimeter defensive rotation/help hasn't been much help, it sure seems it might be worth a try. JMHO 

(modified by GS, because in cardinalpride's long absence he apparently forgot how to properly use the quote function )

I'm sure someone will look at it as "shots fired," but it's just an opinion based on not too tough of an analysis based on recent past performance along with a prominent factor that will be present in tonight's NPU-IWU game

like most shots he fires the gun is loaded with blanks 

[Naperick]

Current Massey (SoS in parentheses):

    1. Augustana (3)
    3. Elmhurst (13)
  11. North Central (2)
  26. North Park (4)
  51. Illinois Wesleyan (8)
161. Carthage (32)
162. Wheaton (6)
205. Millikin (72)

Massey sez:

@ Augustana 78, Millikin 49 (AC 99% favorite)
@ North Park 75, Illinois Wesleyan 72 (NPU 59% favorite)
@ Wheaton 72, Carthage 67 (WC 68% favorite)
@ North Central 74, Elmhurst 73 (NCC 52% favorite)

Would love it if Massey is right! 
A real barn burner in The Hangar tonight?

It should be a great one!  Moten gave Elmhurst fits last year in "The Hangar."  Sorenson causes problems with his size and his shooting.  Raridon continues to improve. 
Bluejays hope to go 7-0 in CCIW play for the 2nd time in school history.  It won't be easy.

[kiko]

Tonight:

Finals:
Carthage 85, Wheaton 79 at King Arena
North Central 80, Elmhurst 62 at the Hangar
Augustana 90, Millikin 56 at Carver

In progress:
North Park 68, Illinois Wesleyan 51 with 8 and change to go at the Shirk Crackerbox

[iwumichigander]

Tonight:

Finals:
Carthage 85, Wheaton 79 at King Arena
North Central 80, Elmhurst 62 at the Hangar
Augustana 90, Millikin 56 at Carver

In progress:
North Park 68, Illinois Wesleyan 51 with 8 and change to go at the Shirk

@Crackerbox

[kiko]

Tonight:

Finals:
Carthage 85, Wheaton 79 at King Arena
North Central 80, Elmhurst 62 at the Hangar
Augustana 90, Millikin 56 at Carver

In progress:
North Park 68, Illinois Wesleyan 51 with 8 and change to go at the Shirk

@Crackerbox

Fixed -- thanks.

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 82
Illinois Wesleyan 70

It wasn't nearly that close, folks.

[mr_b]

Final from Chicago: North Park 82, Wesleyan 70. The Vikings led virtually the whole game and were up by 18 at the half.  After the break they flirted with 20-point leads before the starters for each side left with about 1:30 to play and the Titans cut the lead by eight points.  The Vikings were led in scoring by Juwan Henry (19), Colin Lake (14), and Jordan Robinson (14).  The Titans were paced by Seibring (16) and Bonnett (15).

[Mr. Ypsi]

So - NPU draws first blood in what is looking like the battle for the last tourney spot.  See ya in B'town!

At least the Titan women are looking much better than almost anyone expected - a year or two ahead of schedule!

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 82
Illinois Wesleyan 70

Juwan Henry: 19 pts, 6 rebs
Jordan Robinson: 14 pts
Colin Lake: 14 pts, 3:1 a:to, 3 stls
T.J. Cobbs: 8 rebs

Trevor Seibring: 16 pts
Colin Bonnett: 15 pts, 6 rebs
Joel Pennington: 10 pts
Ryan Coyle: 6 rebs

NPU put its foot on IWU's throat very early on and never picked it up. The Titans did cut the lead to 14 in the second half at one point, but they never got closer until Ron Rose emptied his bench at the 2:29 mark with the Park up, 79-60, and the Titans scrubs made up some ground. The Vikes had a few 20-point and 21-point margins in there during the second half, and were thoroughly in control the whole way. It was a speed-kills kind of game, as NPU just ran circles around the Titans all night, but the Vikings also seemed to display more energy and determination throughout the game, winning on the boards (which really surprised me) by a 37-36 margin.

NPU can't rest on its laurels, however, as there's no such thing as laurel-resting  in the CCIW. Now it's time to get ready for Carthage. But it sure is nice to have this win over the Titans in the proverbial back pocket as the Vikings enter the second round-robin on Wednesday.

[markerickson]

IWU brought a lot of fans to see the Titans defeat the Vikings in the women's game that went into OT with IWU winning in front of a packed house that included the stage being opened for seating.  The gym was not packed for the ensuing men's game.  I brought my 5th grade nephew to the game and we sat in the front row of a section filled with IWU fans.  Had good talks with a grey-haired IWU fan who lamented the demise of the role of the center and the lack of palming calls.  "That's not how we played when I played center", he said.  He was right.  I don't know why IWU did not slow down the pace, post up Seibring, and build up the foul totals against the undersized Vikings.

The refs were a slight degree above horrible tonite.  I rode them in the second half as Seibring had zero fouls the ENTIRE game and Jordan Robinson ended up with four ticky tack fouls.  Seibring at one point hammered Henry's head on a layup yet no foul.  Less than a second after I reminded the ref that Seibring had zero fouls, he was literally pushing Lake across the lane.  No call.

North Park relies too much on the trey, but did pass to Henry on the wing who would penetrate often for the teardrop.  That play is indefensible.  Lake did it too.