MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[augiedad]

Lawrence's stats indicate that their home attendance average is 1329 so their Gym must be a little bigger than indicated here earlier.  Looks like a very balanced and disciplined team, though IWU appears to have a size advantage on them.

This has been covered in detail on the MWC message board.  LU added seating this year, but for purposes of the tourney, the fire marshal designated the capacity at 1100.

I think it stinks if they are going to clear the gym between games.  Augustana and Puget Sound fans who travel all the way to Appleton should have a right to watch the IWU/Lawrence game.  If they decide to do that, I think it will be appalling.

In a gym clearing situation, how many tickets does the home team get vs the visitor?  Normally in a 4-team sectional, the home team gets 1/2 the tickets and the other 1/2 gets split in 1/3 among the other 3.  So based on 1100 --

Lawrence 550
IWU 183
Augustana 183
Puget Sound 183

The returned tix are split evenly among the other schools who request more.  So if UPS gives 150 back and Lawrence, IWU, and Augie all want more, they each get 50.

Anyone know how it works when they do two separate sessions?  Does it start off that Lawrence has 50% and IWU 50%, with returned IWU tix going to Lawrence?  Or does it revert to the ticket policy for a 2-team tourney site where the host gets 2/3 (733) of the gym and the visitor 1/3 (367)??

[Brick]

Congrats to IWU and Augustana!

Late nite and 2000, I'm not picking up on the chest pounding or anything inappropriate coming from IWU fans.  I'm sensing some loyal fans who are proud of their team and excited to be heading to a sectional.  How bout sparing us the drama, huh?

Dad,
I'm not sure what you would call telling everyone that the sweet sixteen game between Larry and IWU is the real championship game?  By saying that you are over looking so many good teams...not even just Augie, Hope, and others...

[augiedad]

2000, trying to make it interesting in here huh?   

Here are posts from IWU fans since the games ended last night:

Congrats to the Titans.  Great win over the WIAC champion.  Congrats to Augie too for making it a great night for CCIW.  Let's keep it going and have a special CCIW match-up again in the round of 8. 

A very impressive night for the CCIW, congratulations to IWU and Augie on beating the WIAC schools.

While I'm not crazy enough to say a sweet sixteen game is the 'real' title game, I do think that the winner of IWU-LU should be the favorite in every following game

That quote directly above is a lot different than what you are suggesting it is.  I think many would agree that the IWU/Lawrence winner will be the favorite in any remaining games based on the fact Lawrence would still be undfeated and the #1 team in the nation, or IWU would be off wins @ the WIAC champ and @ the #1 Lawrence and the fact that IWU blew out Puget Sound in December and @ Augustana in the last month lost in OT and blew out the Vikings.  To say a team would "be the favorite in remaining games" is a lot different than saying the IWU/LU game is the national title game.

Again, save the drama!

[KP Eck 13]

It would be interesting to see Augie get the games, because on both nights, there are also major band and choir concerts that usually take up the entire parking lot.  Parking would be insanely impossible if Augie hosts.

[Brick]

Dad,
 
   I think we are just going to have agree to disagree here.  I do see your point, but I also see how that quote can be taken the wrong the way I have.  

KP

hence the 2 block drunken walk...

[augiedad]

I am in full Puget Sound research mode now.  I went back to read Titan Q's post after the IWU/UPS game on December 29 in Santa Barbara, CA:

Here is the IWU/Puget Sound boxscore...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2006/miwu9.htm

* Keelan Amelianovich: 24 pts, 7 reb
* Adam Dauksas: 22 pts, 12 assists/3 T.O.
* Chris Jones: 14 pts, 7 reb, 7-7 FG

* Zack McVey: 26 pts, 12 reb
* Curtiss Chase: 24 pts, 4 reb

IWU turnovers = 17 (Puget Sound average forced = 33)
Puget Sound turnovers = 24

Rebounds: IWU 45 Puget Sound 35

FG%: IWU .582, Puget Sound .387


IWU led by 21 at halftime and still by 21 with 9:22 to play in the 2nd half.  The Loggers made an impressive 5 minute run, getting the Titan lead down to 6 with 4:22 to play.  IWU's players looked completely worn out and Coach Trost said exactly that in our postgame show - "physically and mentally drained" is what he said I think.  The Titans settled down behind a huge Matt Arnold 3 with 4:06 to play that pushed the lead back to 9.

I didn't know what to think of Puget Sound as a "national power" before the game, and I still really don't know what to make of them.  Man for man, they aren't even close to a CCIW 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place team...but their system is crazy.  Their pressure is as intense as any I have ever seen, at any level.  They just completely wear you out.  Wherever the ball is, they have two guys all over it...and every single player is forced to handle the basketball.  It's tiring to watch!

Besides that 5 minute stretch in the 2nd half, IWU dominated Puget Sound...the Titans just have too many weapons for the Loggers.  I'd say Puget Sound is overrated at #5, but the may be a legitate top 10-15 team due to how well they execute their system.  Of the other ranked teams I have seen this year, Puget Sound is better than Hanover but not as good as Elmhurst.

[devildog29]

augiedad, world peace must be right around the corner when an augie-doggie is sticking up for us weenies.  In all seriousness though, that's what makes the CCIW board so great is that we aren't "chest pounders" in here, and we support our teams while also supporting the conference when we aren't playing each other.  It's humorous that our weenie crowd gets chastised for being an elderly crowd, and then we also get chastised for being chest pounders.  It's usually the younger crowds that are the smack talking chest pounders, but oh well.  Bottom line, CCIW has 2 teams in the Sweet 16.  I think we are making our case for being the best conference this year.  And Augie2000, if we in the Titan Nation see the world through green tinted glasses, I think it's because our Titan basketball team has proven itself as one of the best programs in the country.  Three Final 4 trips in the last ten years and three conf. titles in the last four years gives you the right to view the world a bit tinted I think.

[augiedad]

A great post on Puget Sound from the Top 25 board from back on Dec 9.

After seeing Puget Sound the last two years against Stevens Point, the key to beating UPS is not allowing the Loggers to force you to make too many mistakes.  UPS forced 14 UWSP turnovers in both games.  The times when UPS was making their runs was when the press was causing turnovers.  There was a point in the second half two years ago when UWSP went from being up 20 to being up just 7, with 7 minutes to go in the game.  Point helped this cause by missing 7 of their first 10 baskets (5 of those I believe were fairly uncontested lay-ups).  Point didn't help their cause, and Puget Sound took advantage.

The style that UPS has plays is definately an uptempo game.  They press with 4 players in the backcourt and one at half court.  They double the ball off the inbound and take away the first pass.  The remaining man the last two years has been very quick and athletic, playing safety, but going after the over-the-top pass, and he got it a few times.

Offensively, UPS plays a spread offense, 4 out, 1 in, and they rely very much on dribble penetration to get their offensive action moving.  They have no qualms about tearing a defense that is spread too thin to shreads with dribble drives (and, especially last season, Forward Zach McVey finished well when the his defender had to help on the drive).  If a team cuts off the penetration, then they kick to open shooters (and these guys just let 'er RIP).  They will take NBA distance 3 pointers without qualms.  Curtiss Chase has that range and won't hesitate to shoot it.

Like Grinnell, they hit the offensive boards hard.  Two years ago, they shot 37 3's and had 13 offensive rebounds.  They still lost by 21.  Last year, they shot 26 and seemed to play a BIT more conventionally.  They shot 26 3's and grabbed 6 offensive boards.  They're relentless on crashing, and pick up right away, as soon as the ball goes through the hoop.

Point beat UPS the last two seasons in a couple of ways.  First, they took what UPS MADE them take.  This included taking shots early in the shot clock that are decent shots (especially lay-ups that were open because UPS doubled on the half court as well).  Point also was able to throw over the top and get 2 on 1 situations against the UPS half court defender.  Nick Bennett was 13/17 two years ago, for 37 points.  Last year, they took away the over-the-top pass better... but UWSP was able to run their half court motion.  Eric Maus was 7/7 from the field for 18, Jason Kalsow was 6/7 for 16.

This game will test IWU's ball handlers.  And EVERYONE will have to handle the ball, even in the full court.  It just depends where the double comes from and who is open.  Jason Kalsow had 5 turnovers two years ago, as did Eric Maus had 6 last year.  But, because UPS doubles so much, there are LOTS of chances for assists.  Nick Bennett had 6 assists (most off 2 on 1 situations) two years ago and Jason Kalsow had 7 last year (most to Eric Maus, who was open under the basket b/c of the doubleteam).

In both games, the defense of the Pointers really won the game for UWSP.  They played quite a bit of 3-2 zone, which stuck a defender right in the gap in which the UPS ball-handlers were trying to penetrate.  Two years ago, Neil Krajnik had 7 steals, the team had 13, and caused 16 UPS TO's.  Last year, Point got 6 steals and caused 11 TO's.

2003-2004 box score
2004-2005 box score

Much has been said about IWU's size.  This will be to their advantage.  Looking at their roster, it looks like UPS has added some size (2 freshmen at 6'7", one at 6'5" and one at 6'4").  What they lack in size, they try to make up for in quickness, and against most teams they can do this.  If IWU can see and pass over the double team, they will always be one step ahead of the Logger defense, and this will lead to easy baskets.

[sac]

I'll ask this here, when can we expect the announcement on Sectional hosts?

[Titan Q]

Sac, it seems like every year the Sectional hosting info. comes out by about noon...or early afternoon at the latest.  I'm sure Pat Coleman will post as soon as he has it. 

[Titan Q]

Here are some matchup notes on the Sectional...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/PREVIEWS.HTM

[iwu70]

devildog, you speak for me.  My green-tinted glasses are fully in place with the good reasons you aptly gave.  I hope Augie goes well and far, until we hopefully cross paths again in the round of 8.  Q, thanks for the all the matchups and data on the teams for the sectional.  Again, I appreciated your good coverage and commentary on the games during the regional. 

[Titan Q]

A few thoughts on Puget Sound...

First a point of clarification - Puget Sound does not run the Grinnell system.  They're a full-court pressure run-and-gun outfit,  but their style is very different than the now famous David Arsenault system.  36% of Puget Sound's shots are 3's vs...59% of Grinnell's shots are 3's.  Puget Sound takes 67 shots per game from the field vs 92 for Grinnell.  I think because UPS is an up-tempo team some people assume they are running "the system", so just wanted to point that out.

Puget Sound plays some of the most intense defense you will ever see.  They force 27 turnovers per game.  As a point of reference, Augie forces 16 per game.  Defensively their scheme is similiar to Grinnell's but they play that gamble-all-over-the-floor defense with much better players/athletes than Grinnell. 

There is one very simple key to defeating Puget Sound -- limit turnovers.  IWU only turned it over 17 times (and won by 17).  In the 2005 and 2004 tournaments, Stevens Point only turned it over 14 times vs UPS in each game, winning by 18 and 21 respectively.  If Augie can keep turnovers to about 18 or less, the Vikings should win easily.  One concern I do have though is that Augie isn't a great ball-handling/passing team.  Augie's A/TO ratio as a team is .80 to 1...that's not very good.  (IWU is 1.1 to 1...Lawrence is 1.4 to 1.)  Puget Sound will make guys like Rick Harrigan (23 assists, 62 T.O.), Dain Swetella (36 assists, 52 turnovers), Jay McAdams-Thorton (40 assists, 53 turnovers), and Oliver Rorer (19 assists, 30 turnovers) handle the ball under pressure.  They won't allow Drew Wessels to break the pressure by himself.  Notice in the IWU/UPS game where the Titan turnovers came from...

http://www.iwu.edu/~iwunews/sports/mbb2006/miwu9.htm

Dauksas had 12 assists and 3 T.O., but 6-7 Freeman had 0/3, 6-6 Amelianovich 2/4, and 6-5 Chris Jones 0/3.

Another thing Puget Sound does well is recover and play good halfcourt defense.  With Grinnell, once the press is broken it's a dunkfest...Puget Sound finds a way to get back and play defense.  The Loggers are also great at picking up charges in that halfcourt defense.  They'll gamble in the halfcourt defense too, but when an offensive player starts going hard to the basket they'll slide a guy in the lane to get a charge.  Their system is very well-coached in all regards.

Puget Sound has two really good players - 6-6/215 Zach McVey (16.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and 6-2 guard Chase Curtiss (18.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg).  McVey is not Anthony Simmons or Zach Freeman, but he can do a lot of things.  The player I'd compare him to is North Park's Brett Mathisen - McVey is bigger than Mathisen but very similar in style.  Very tough.  Curtiss is their main 3-point shooter.  Kind of a Wesley Pitts type of player.

A final thought is that Augie will have to play a lot of guys and keep people fresh.  IWU got gassed in the game vs Puget Sound.  A 21-point lead at 11:05 to go turned into just a 6-point advantage at 4:22.  The Titans were running on fumes.  Puget Sound did the same thing to D1 UC-Riverside...a game in which they trailed by 18 in the 1st half and came back to win.  Puget Sound has outscored opponents by 116 points in the 1st half this year and by 211 in the 2nd. 

On the WJBC2.com archive page there is an interview with Puget Sound coach Eric Bridgeland from December 29, before the IWU/UPS game (starts at 41:00 mark of media player).  Coach Bridgeland spoke a little about their system, players, and program..

http://www.wjbc2.com/archive.htm

[titanhammer]

Dad,
 
   I think we are just going to have agree to disagree here.  I do see your point, but I also see how that quote can be taken the wrong the way I have.  

KP

hence the 2 block drunken walk...

A2K, you've been around long enough to know that you have to take some things that Mr. Y says with a grain of salt.  That's just his style.

[Titan Q]

Teams left and current D3hoops.com rankings:

Midwest/West Sectional
#1 Lawrence vs #11 Illinois Wesleyan
#13 Augustana vs #14 Puget Sound

Atlantic/Mid-Atlantic Sectional
#7 Virginia Wesleyan vs #18 Lincoln
William Paterson vs Widener


Northeast/East Sectional
#4 Amherst vs Tufts
Utica vs #16 St. John Fisher

Great Lakes/South Sectional
#2 Hope vs #3 Wittenberg
#8 Mississippi College vs #20 Transylvania