MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[kiko]

I'm not going to blame D-Term for NCC's struggles. I don't remember a ton of heavy lifting in a lot of those classes (I took an Excel class for the credits one year, my wife took a philosophy class or something like that, and we took the Math of Square Dancing which was more interesting than you'd think it would be.) And they can't take a ton of courses over D-Term either based on how the credit hours are arranged. Still leaves a fair amount of free time, but I don't think it creates a huge lull or anything. Last year they struggled before conference play, but the year before they went 10-1, and they ran the table in November/December the year they went to the Final Four. Makes for an easy scapegoat, sure, but given the evidence I don't think it's a very good one.

I don't doubt you that it is interesting, but now I kinda want to see the syllabus for this course...

[Gregory Sager]

I'm not going to blame D-Term for NCC's struggles. I don't remember a ton of heavy lifting in a lot of those classes (I took an Excel class for the credits one year, my wife took a philosophy class or something like that, and we took the Math of Square Dancing which was more interesting than you'd think it would be.) And they can't take a ton of courses over D-Term either based on how the credit hours are arranged. Still leaves a fair amount of free time, but I don't think it creates a huge lull or anything. Last year they struggled before conference play, but the year before they went 10-1, and they ran the table in November/December the year they went to the Final Four. Makes for an easy scapegoat, sure, but given the evidence I don't think it's a very good one.

I don't doubt you that it is interesting, but now I kinda want to see the syllabus for this course...

I can almost guarantee that this is going to be hung like an albatross around the necks of NCC alumni on d3boards.com. Just wait until Mugsy sees it, for example; Little Brass Bell Week in the CCIW football room is going to be one long Math of Square Dancing taunt every autumn.

Arbroculture of Nebraska

That would be where you discuss the trees of Nebraska while drinking PBRs and playing Xbox in your board shorts.

[lmitzel]

I'm not going to blame D-Term for NCC's struggles. I don't remember a ton of heavy lifting in a lot of those classes (I took an Excel class for the credits one year, my wife took a philosophy class or something like that, and we took the Math of Square Dancing which was more interesting than you'd think it would be.) And they can't take a ton of courses over D-Term either based on how the credit hours are arranged. Still leaves a fair amount of free time, but I don't think it creates a huge lull or anything. Last year they struggled before conference play, but the year before they went 10-1, and they ran the table in November/December the year they went to the Final Four. Makes for an easy scapegoat, sure, but given the evidence I don't think it's a very good one.

I don't doubt you that it is interesting, but now I kinda want to see the syllabus for this course...

I can almost guarantee that this is going to be hung like an albatross around the necks of NCC alumni on d3boards.com. Just wait until Mugsy sees it, for example; Little Brass Bell Week in the CCIW football room is going to be one long Math of Square Dancing taunt every autumn.

What have I done?!

[AndOne]

Arbroculture of Nebraska

That would be where you discuss the trees of Nebraska while drinking PBRs and playing Xbox in your board shorts.

Although if you're doing it in Illinois, you would probably be knocking down either some Coors or Guinness, the two most popular beers in the state. In Nebraska you'd be enjoying the Cornhusker favorite Curmudgeon Old Ale imported from Founders Brewing of Grand Rapids, MI. 

[Gregory Sager]

Arbroculture of Nebraska

That would be where you discuss the trees of Nebraska while drinking PBRs and playing Xbox in your board shorts.

Although if you're doing it in Illinois, you would probably be knocking down either some Coors or Guinness, the two most popular beers in the state.

Not among bros, brah.

[iwu70]

Oh where oh where is the talk of basketball?

Tough break (sic) for NCC.  They are still a good team and will be around in late February, I would guess.  Still looks to be like NPU is the best of the bunch after the first little bit of the CCIW season.

My Titans at Wash U and home w/ Chicago -- two key games for regional rankings later on. 

IWU70

[kiko]

I'm not going to blame D-Term for NCC's struggles. I don't remember a ton of heavy lifting in a lot of those classes (I took an Excel class for the credits one year, my wife took a philosophy class or something like that, and we took the Math of Square Dancing which was more interesting than you'd think it would be.) And they can't take a ton of courses over D-Term either based on how the credit hours are arranged. Still leaves a fair amount of free time, but I don't think it creates a huge lull or anything. Last year they struggled before conference play, but the year before they went 10-1, and they ran the table in November/December the year they went to the Final Four. Makes for an easy scapegoat, sure, but given the evidence I don't think it's a very good one.

I don't doubt you that it is interesting, but now I kinda want to see the syllabus for this course...

I can almost guarantee that this is going to be hung like an albatross around the necks of NCC alumni on d3boards.com. Just wait until Mugsy sees it, for example; Little Brass Bell Week in the CCIW football room is going to be one long Math of Square Dancing taunt every autumn.

Someone from Wheaton might want to talk smack about dancing in any form?  Bring it on... 

[Gregory Sager]

Oh where oh where is the talk of basketball?

Today is Wednesday, Mark. There won't be another CCIW game until Friday, and even then there's only one game (Central @ Augustana).

This would've been the perfect window for you to start talking about IWU opera singers or the Chinese calendar.

So bear with me on this post.  First off IMHO the North East Region is overrated pollsters.

It always has been. The upper half of the NESCAC always consists of really good teams, and there's usually a couple of NEWMAC teams that compare favorably to the rest of the country -- and sometimes UAA outfit Brandeis is pretty good as well (although that's not the case with the Judges this season). Then you've got your outliers, good teams in bad leagues such as what Albertus Magnus has been lately and what Salem State used to be. But the rest of the NE is dross, by and large.

Tonite # 1 Amherst got beat by an awful 3-5 Springfield squad.

I'm somewhat disappointed, because I was planning to watch that game but then remembered that I had a meeting to attend tonight.

If you remember last week I posted about the # 2 Babson squad losing to # 1 Amherst.  Here's where it gets interesting from a national and central region and CCIW perspective.  Chicago's only loss this year was at home to NPU.  Chicago also beat two underrated but pretty good Wheaton and Carroll squads in really hotly contested contests.  In the next two weeks Chicago travels to Illinois Wesleyan and hosts Babson on Dec 31. I will definitely be attending the Babson game at the Ratner Center

I'm going to be at Ratner for that game as well.

and it will be interesting to see the outcome of the IWU contest.  It will be real interesting to see the outcomes of those games and the impact they will have regionally and nationally as we move back into CCIW play in January.

Yes. And don't forget that IWU also has an upcoming game against Middlebury (7-1), which in recent seasons has tended to be one of those upper-division NESCAC powers of which I spoke.

[AndOne]

Arbroculture of Nebraska

That would be where you discuss the trees of Nebraska while drinking PBRs and playing Xbox in your board shorts.

Although if you're doing it in Illinois, you would probably be knocking down either some Coors or Guinness, the two most popular beers in the state.

Not among bros, brah.

All this talk of Nebraska and beer has me remembering many a raucous night quaffing mass quantities of Bud at the Little Bo(hemia) during college years in Lincoln. Best of all, the beer was free as we were friends with many of the bartenders and bouncers! 🍺🍺🍺

[Mr. Ypsi]

Arbroculture of Nebraska

That would be where you discuss the trees of Nebraska while drinking PBRs and playing Xbox in your board shorts.

Although if you're doing it in Illinois, you would probably be knocking down either some Coors or Guinness, the two most popular beers in the state.

Not among bros, brah.

All this talk of Nebraska and beer has me remembering many a raucous night quaffing mass quantities of Bud at the Little Bo(hemia) during college years in Lincoln. Best of all, the beer was free as we were friends with many of the bartenders and bouncers! 🍺🍺🍺

If it was FREE, why not drink some actual beer, instead of Bud?  Or was only the 'horse piss' free?

[AndOne]

So bear with me on this post.  First off IMHO the North East Region is overrated pollsters. Tonite # 1 Amherst got beat by an awful 3-5 Springfield squad. If you remember last week I posted about the # 2 Babson squad losing to # 1 Amherst.  Here's where it gets interesting from a national and central region and CCIW perspective.  Chicago's only loss this year was at home to NPU.  Chicago also beat two underrated but pretty good Wheaton and Carroll squads in really hotly contested contests.  In the next two weeks Chicago travels to Illinois Wesleyan and hosts Babson on Dec 31. I will definitely be attending the Babson game at the Ratner Center and it will be interesting to see the outcome of the IWU contest.  It will be real interesting to see the outcomes of those games and the impact they will have regionally and nationally as we move back into CCIW play in January.

Nice work 4samuy. Very informative. Interesting games upcoming for sure.
I've long thought some NE teams were often given a little extra credit based on past achievements and resulting reputations. Several good, even great teams for sure, but not on a constant basis.

[AndOne]

Ypsi-

Agree 100%. IMHO Bud is one of the all time worst and 'horse piss' is a very accurate description.
However, you must know this was long ago and before many of today's better brews were even invented. Besides, it was a "Bud bar." They only had a couple of other brands that were probably even worse. Also, we were young and crazy, and as long as it was alcoholic and free, no other attributes were necessary. 
By the way, the bar I referenced was then the leading retailer of beer in the state of Nebraska, primarily due to the U of N being 10 minutes away.

Back to basketball.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ypsi-

Agree 100%. IMHO Bud is one of the all time worst and 'horse piss' is a very accurate description.
However, you must know this was long ago and before many of today's better brews were even invented. Besides, it was a "Bud bar." They only had a couple of other brands that were probably even worse. Also, we were young and crazy, and as long as it was alcoholic and free, no other attributes were necessary. 
By the way, the bar I referenced was then the leading retailer of beer in the state of Nebraska, primarily due to the U of N being 10 minutes away.

Back to basketball.

Understood.  I started as a PBR fan, since their largest brewery (bigger than Milwaukee) was in Peoria Heights, 3 miles from the house I grew up in.  I then 'graduated' to an even cheaper beer (whose name I have mercifully forgotten).  Fortunately, 'cheapness' is no longer a necessary concession.  Barring a hot summer day with no better option, Labatt Blue is now my 'cheap' beer.  But I prefer to sample a wide variety of 'craft' beers.

Back to basketball.  (Though in the MIAC, this and ice fishing are the usual topics! )

[iwu70]

Well, Greg, thanks for reminding me . . . it is the Year of the Rooster upcoming.  Just in case you and the other CCIW chatsters were wishing or needing to know. 

I'm surely ready to get back to basketball, to some games . . . and will be watching the IWU games vs. Wash U, Chicago and Middlebury with great interest.  The Titans could make a great leap forward, or slide back pretty seriously. 

As to beer, since we're on that subject too, I highly recommend Surly Brewing Co. in Minneapolis.  If any of you fine gents are up that way (or getting beer in the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota or now too in the Chicago area) I highly recommend the 'craft beers" produced by this company.  And, they have a wonderful Beer Hall and fancy restaurant called Brewer's Table, at their huge facility about 4-5 blocks east of the University of Minnesota Stadium, just off University Avenue.  Give it a try . . . I 'm pretty sure you'd like the brew, enjoy the libations.  Great stuff . . . and great food too.

OK, back to basketball.  It's already Thursday in Asia.

IWU70

[WUPHF]

I am definitely looking forward to the Illinois Wesleyan-Washington University game on Saturday.

This match-up has to be the biggest non-conference rivalry for Washington University Men's Basketball and possibly the biggest for Washington University athletics overall, though I would have to do the research on that.

37 games played with Illinois Wesleyan holding the 5 game lead, including a 33-32 win in the first ever match-up in 1933-1934.  I believe that is the most number of games played with an non-conference opponent in the Mark Edwards era...

The two teams have played almost every season since 1985-1986 with just a handful of exceptions.  The regular season game has been a back and forth affair since 2009-2010.  I guess they played a few postseason games though I try not to think about those.

Massey gives Illinois Wesleyan an ever so slight edge, giving them a 53% chance of a 72-70 win.