MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwufans]

Great picture.  Is Zac Freeman out jumping James Augustine?

[thevicar]

http://photos-782.facebook.com/n11/129/123/49200297/n49200297_30061782_371.jpg

We both have a Big Ten test on our sccomplishment list. Granted, the scores indicate that you had a slightly better time with the Illini than we did with the Badgers. 

[martin]

Augiedad - Interesting choice of cutoffs for looking at sectional hosts.  CCIW schools have hosted 1 of the past nine years.  Extend it one more year and you get 2 out of ten.  IWU hosted in 1997 en route to their national championship.  You also overlook the fact that in three years (1999, 2000 and 2005), there was no CCIW team still in the tournament at sectional time.  So in the past ten years, CCIW schools have hosted sectionals twice in the seven opportunities.

The school that has suffered is IWU since it generally has been the only school still in the tournament at sectional time.  In 1998, IWU (along with Gustavus Adolphus and Chicago) went to UW-Platteville, the eventual champion.  In 2001, Elmhurst and IWU went to Chicago while Carthage went to Ohio Northern.

In 2003, IWU went to Randolph Macon.  In 2004, IWU went to Wooster.  This year, IWU and Augie are off to Lawrence.

During that same time, Buena Vista (2000 and 2003) and Wooster (2003, 2004) have each hosted twice.

[Sam Johnson]

I think the whining arguement comes down to the idea of "what's best for the majority of the fans" vs. "whats the best/most fair decision based on the teams in the sectional".  In this case, the most fair decision (letting LU host) is at odds with what's best for the majority of the fans.  I'd like you to keep in mind that this applies to LU fans as well.  At this point in time, I won't have a ticket to the games as I live in Madison.  B/c I work while they go on sale this week and there are no phone orders, I will find myself in the Green Room, or in line in the cold praying for returned tickets.

CCIW fans are right to note that no one is arguing that LU doesn't deserve the right to host.  And if the complaints about Alex's size stopped with the availability of tickets to fans issue, that's not whining either.  Its the sad truth and I agree with it.  But once the next step is made and IWU or Augie fans suggest the proper solution is to host the sectional at Carver/Shirk...that's when we have whining.  Run the logic.  If LU deserves to host and you all agree with it, then Carver/Shirk should NEVER enter in to the conversation...period. 

Nobody from IWU is complaining about Lawrence hosting the sectional. It's just the way the D3 tournament works, or doesn't work. The last thing the D3 tournament committee thinks about is what is best for the majority of the fans in selecting sectional sites. That's just the way it is. If CCIW fans have any complaint about LU, it would probably be that the LU administration obviously doesn't think that providing a 2nd half of the 20th century (at least) adequate basketball facilty is important.

I find this to be ludacris.  We're in D-III and the reason LU should be held accountable is that LU has focused its funding on world class academic facilities and scholarships?  I mean, I hate that our admin has yet to pump even a little extra $ towards upgrading our aging and inadequate facilities...but this comment certainly comes off as "we're better than you and we know it".  I LOVE Shirk...its a great arena...but ya know what? So is Alex.  Up until the last few years it was all LU needed.  Hopefully the Vikes recent runs will result in upgrades to the facilities. 

[Pat Coleman]

Carthage football will tell you, though, there's nothing like a little snub to spur some improvement in athletic facilities.

[Gregory Sager]

Very interesting transition from one billboard to the next.

A hookah bar just opened up two blocks west of NPU, adjacent to the Northeastern Illinois campus. It's called the Carthage Cafe.

Remember what the dormouse said: "Feed your head." 

[Gregory Sager]

2) IWU' record in D3 tourney games is now 36-17, winning % of 68%.

Actually, Lanny, Wesleyan is only fourth among CCIW teams in D3 tourney win percentage:

North Park ---- 26-6 (.813)
Augustana ---- 22-9 (.710)
Carthage ------ 7-3 (.700)
Ill. Wesleyan -- 36-17 (.679)
Elmhurst ------- 5-5 (.500)
Millikin --------- 2-4 (.333)
Wheaton ------ 2-4 (.333)
North Central -- 2-6 (.250)

[Gregory Sager]

With the capacity lowered to 1100 by the fire marshal and the fact that IWU is getting 350 tickets, only 750 Viking fans will get to see the game...550 (42%) less than usual.

This will be one of the smaller road crowds IWU has had to contend with all season long.


Good points, Q.  As the visiting team, Wesleyan always brings out the home team's biggest crowd of the season. 

Not always. NPU had better turnouts with regard to Vikings fans for both the Wheaton and Carthage games than for the Illinois Wesleyan game this year. In fact, both Rob Berki and I whined about that on CCIW Chat because, apart from the two horrid years at the end of Keith Peterson's tenure at the Park, it was the first time that Wesleyan fans have actually outnumbered NPU fans at a game in the crackerbox. It's usually 60/40 at worst in favor of the Vikings.

Augie22 asked for a comparison of capacity between NPU's crackerbox and Larry U's Alexander Gym (he actually wanted to know which was "worse"; I think that the argument some have made, that a small gym with close court proximity for the fans can be an asset for the home team rather than a liability, is a valid one). You can squeeze 1,100 into the crackerbox if the temporary endline bleachers, which haven't been used since Bosko left (gee, I wonder why), are brought back out. Alexander can, and has, actually held about 1,400. The reason why capacity (and thus ticket sales) are listed 300 seats lower than that for this coming weekend's sectional is because of the Appleton fire marshal's restrictions, as Q said earlier.

Boy, I honestly can't remember a thread going on and on for as long as this argument over Alexander Gym's suitability as a sectional site has lasted on CCIW Chat. For the most part, CCIW fans have been gracious and sensible enough to observe that, yes, Lawrence deserves to host. And, yes, the split session inconveniences some people, but I suspect that Augiefan is right: Anyone who really wants to see both games will probably get the chance to do so. An Augustana fan might have to pay through the nose a bit to get a ducat for the game between the Titans and the Larries, but that's life. A Wesleyan fan should have no problem acquiring a seat for the first game. NWC fans don't travel well, for obvious reasons.

But I think that taking a swipe at Lawrence because the school's administration has yet to update the antiquated gym is out of bounds. First of all, I doubt that anyone who posts here has all that comprehensive an understanding of Lawrence University, its mission, its policies, its stated goals, and its budget. Second, it's pretty obvious to me that Lawrence's administrators must care something about the school's basketball program, because they hired John Tharp. If you gave me the choice between a top-drawer facility and a top-drawer coach, I'd take the top-drawer coach in a New York minute. And John Tharp is a top-drawer coach.

This isn't like pro sports, where the fans whose money makes it all possible have a legitimate right to air grievances when they're mistreated by greedy owners and players. Let's not lose sight of the fact that we, the fans, are not the primary constituency of the NCAA and its postseason tournament. The student-athletes are the primary constituency.

Can't we move on and talk about something else? Like ... oh, basketball, f'rinstance?

[Greek Tragedy]

All because the Alexander isn't that big, doesn't mean it's a dump.  From the pictures I've seen, it's not the DeVos Center,though! 

I've been to the Alex several times and it's a fine facility.  I mean, there's bleachers on one side of the court and they added movable bleachers to one end of the court.  It's not like there are cobwebs all over the place or dust settling in on top of the backboards. 

It's definitley a small facility, but it's not "cold" feeling or anything like that.  Contrary to what some of you believe or have been told, there is electricity, so you don't have to bring your lighters to help light the place and there is running water, so no need to bring your own toilet paper. 

I find the only "problem" some fans will have is because it's small.  In all honesty, I don't find the place or it's fans intimidating at all...though I've just seen them play Ill. College, Oshkosh and Grinnell in the past (not the likes of Ripon, Carroll or the new Evil Empire, in LU's eyes, Stevens Point)  . 

[Greek Tragedy]

Mugsy: Remember that it's the other Michigan IWU fan, Mr. Ypsi, who is the certified statistician. If he had made the typo error, it would have been inexcusable.

Old School: No, the U. of I. couldn't draw 60,000 fans to Memorial Stadium unless it was an April celebration...

Diehardfan is back in the good graces of the CCIW faithful now?  That's cause for celebration! lol. 

[Titan Q]

Great picture.  Is Zac Freeman out jumping James Augustine?

iwufans, a little closer analysis shows that 6-7 Zach held his own with 6-10 Augusitine...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/jump.jpg

[titan2000]

All because the Alexander isn't that big, doesn't mean it's a dump.  From the pictures I've seen, it's not the DeVos Center,though! 

I've been to the Alex several times and it's a fine facility.  I mean, there's bleachers on one side of the court and they added movable bleachers to one end of the court.  It's not like there are cobwebs all over the place or dust settling in on top of the backboards. 

It's definitley a small facility, but it's not "cold" feeling or anything like that.  Contrary to what some of you believe or have been told, there is electricity, so you don't have to bring your lighters to help light the place and there is running water, so no need to bring your own toilet paper. 

I find the only "problem" some fans will have is because it's small.  In all honesty, I don't find the place or it's fans intimidating at all...though I've just seen them play Ill. College, Oshkosh and Grinnell in the past (not the likes of Ripon, Carroll or the new Evil Empire, in LU's eyes, Stevens Point)  . 

Is Stevens Point in the tournament?  Are they in the CCIW ?  Just kidding, Old School.  Maybe we should move the sectional to Quandt, I mean, it might meet the expectations of the Augie fans.

[Greek Tragedy]

Is Stevens Point in the tournament?  Are they in the CCIW ?  Just kidding, Old School.  Maybe we should move the sectional to Quandt, I mean, it might meet the expectations of the Augie fans.

T2K,

I don't think they are.  I've been trying to find Pointer scores and haven't been able to locate them!    I guess that means they aren't in the tourney this year, yet, that didn't stop me from going down to Whitewater three times in the last two weeks to see the WIAC Conference Final, and then the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA tourney.

There was a little part of me that wanted to see this weekend's sectional, but I didn't feel like going up to Appleton at 8 in the morning tomorrow, sitting there for 4+ hours until the box office opened and then paying $10 a ticket for ONE game...and then going up early on Friday to stand in line again to get a $10 ticket for the UPS/Augie game...$20 for two games and 6 hours or so standing in line!  Last weekend I saw two games for $7.00 total and I ordered tickets in my bear slippers, while drinking hot chocolate and watching a tape of last year's national Championship game!  (since I have nothing to watch this year).

Upgrade their gym?  How about updating their ticketing system! lol. 

[Late nite]

Enough about facilities and ticket availability!!---Real fans will find a way to be there and find a way to secure the tickets that they need---Let's talk about the games and the matchups---Go CCIW!!---But....LU and UPS were both tourney teams last year---LU was one game away from the Final Four---I'm sure that they remember that feeling---Check out the track record of UPS the past two years and you'll see a great program---Augie is the only team in this sectional that was not a tourney team last season---So, stating the obvious, this is going to be one heck of a challenge for our conference

[Late nite]

Sorry---LU was an Elite Eight team two years ago---Still a tourney-tested team