MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

FYI - with the craziness of the year, the added programming of "The Whiparound," still recovering from a severe virus last week of February, a computer that refuses to work properly (and greatly affects the show), oh Hoopsville, traveling, family... and some health challenges... I completely missed the conversation about Nadelhoffer and an interview he did. Sorry. I wouldn't have asked if I had seen the conversation. Probably one of those times I had to roll through this chat room quickly just to catch up.

[Gregory Sager]

The announcement about Nadelhoffer is at the bottom of page 3015, Dave, and the conversation continues from there. The Decatur radio interview with Nadelhoffer, which is definitely worth hearing if you have 30 minutes or so to spare, is on page 3017. (I know that you're gonna sympathize with a guy whose family dog is named Rizzo. )

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Thanks, Sager... sympathy is all your's for all the right reasons. LOL

I will be driving tomorrow... might just call that interview up. I would be surprised at 40 minutes, but come on... I could do 40 easy... so more impressed than anything with that length .

[USee]

CCIW NCAA matchup:

Augustana vs Wartburg

Wartburg:

Jordan "Spieth" Cannon F, 6-3, Sr

Nick "Chris" Webber F, 6-3, Sr

Nate "Frank""What a" Woeste F, 6-4, Jr

"Tom" Sawyer "Huck Finn" Herman G, 6-2, Jr

Camden "Gardens"  Kickbush G, 6-0, So

"Drake and" Josh Gehling C, 6-6, So

Lenart "Kato" Kalan G, 6-0, Sr

Clifton "The Big Red Dog" Brown F, 6-5, Jr

Ryan "Gosling" Stulken C, 6-7, Fr

Jaran "Big Yellow"  Sabus G, 6-1, So


Augustana:

Chrishawn "Agent" Orange  G, 6-2 So

Jacob "Moose" Johnston G, 6-5, Sr

"Matt" Dylan Sortillo G, 6-3, Jr

Nolan "Richardson" Ebel G, 6-1, So

"George" Brett Benning "and the jets" G, 6-6, So

AJ "McCarron" Dollmeyer C, 6-8, Jr

Micah "Kenyon"  Martin C, 6-10, Fr

Lucas "Oil Stadium" Simon  G, 6-5, Fr

[newCCIWfan]

IIT will be eligible for the NCAA tournament as an independent next year.  With another solid recruiting class coupled with another great season, he could find his team in the big dance as early as next year.

No, you're one year too early. Illinois Tech is a third-year provisional in 2016-17. Next year will be IIT's fourth and final year as a provie, and then the Scarlet Hawks will be eligible for D3 national tournaments and meets starting in the fall of 2018.

http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Feb2017DIIIGOV_Provisional-Reclassifying-Exploratory-Chart_20170215.pdf

Once again I stand corrected!

Not incidently, unless there are a lot of conference changes, 2018 will also be the re-appearance of a Pool B bid.  Just in time for them.

Of course, this is meant to be the ultimate and eventual antidote to the absence of a Pool B bid:

http://www.rooathletics.com/news/2017/2/14/general-ncaa-d-iii-membership-committee-approves-new-multi-sport-conference.aspx?path=general

One of the reasons that I thought Kelly might be willing to take the Millikin job is that, as long as IIT is Independent (and there is no Pool B bid awarded) ... he has virtually no shot at making the NCAA tournament.

Despite their 22-6 record ... they only had 20 countable games (15-5 record by my count). It's really difficult for independents to schedule enough D3 games especially during January and February's conference play for most schools. Additionally, scheduling will only become harder as IIT gets better. Just ask Augustana or North Central how many non-WIAC/UAA D3's in the Midwest are lining up to play them. 

I can't honestly remember the last Independent to get a Pool C bid.

[Mr. Ypsi]

At the half in Holland, Wartburg leads Augie, 36-33.

[Gregory Sager]

Wartburg leads Augie at the half, 36-33. The Wartburg defense has been outstanding, mixing up man and 2-3 to keep the Doggies off-balance and prevent penetration. Augie's kept it close with three NBA-range treys in the final 2:08 of the half, the first two by Nolan Ebel and the third, to nobody's surprise, by Chrishawn Orange at the buzzer.

[4samuy]

Quite frankly, IMHO Augustanas defense has been spectacular as well. Wartburg is a really good offensive squad with a ton of weapons.  I believe Augie is probably feeling pretty good at half.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Augie now up by 4, 53-49, with 8+ to go.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Augie pulling away late - up 68-57 w <4 to go.

[Gregory Sager]

Augustana 80
Wartburg 69

[Augie6]

Wasn't the prettiest game, but Augie will move on to the Elite 8, with gritty defensive effort against Wartburg.  Final 80-69.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Augie wins it, 80-69.  FIVE Vikings in double-digits.

[Gregory Sager]

Augie really tightened up the defense in the second half -- I think that Wartburg only shot in the low thirties or high twenties from the field in the last 20 minutes -- and, without pulling away, managed to keep a comfortable margin down the stretch. Offensively, Orange had a really solid second half, and I thought that Ebel did a great job of controlling the tempo. Augie had a huge advantage on the glass that was largely negated by Wartburg's large turnover advantage; you usually don't see a team turn the ball over 18 times in a sectional game and still win by double digits, but that's what Augie did tonight.

[Gregory Sager]

Congratulations to Juwan Henry, who was a unanimous selection to the Reese's NABC All-Star game. The game will take place a week from Saturday in Salem, prior to the national championship game.