MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

OK

[voxelmhurst]

Aston Francis      45 pts, 5 rebs, 4 assts, 2 stls, 7 tos
Spencer Peterson   12 pts, 4 rebs
Luke Peters      11 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assts, blk, stl
Ricky Samuelson     9 pts, 5 rebs
Trevor Gunter      7 rebs, 4 assts

Jake Rhode      26 pts, 4 rebs, 10 assts, stl
Jeremy Ireland      19 pts, 15 rebs
Lavon Thomas      16 pts, 8 rebs
Many other Bluejays   lots of rebounds   


After a 1 of 8  for 7 pts first half, #1 in navy blue pretty much did what he does in the 2nd half and the 2 OTs.  After a stretch of 5  straight threes from Francis early in the 2nd, Wheaton had extended the lead out to as much as 13.  But Elmhurst came back with a 15-5 run at the end of the game to tie and send it to OT.

Wheaton got really terrific games from Luke Peters and Spencer Peterson, the latter displaying some really soft touch in the offensive post the likes of which Thunder fans haven't seen from a forward in a while.  Peterson is the only man on the roster who can physically match up with most CCIW forwards.  So you need his physicality but it was great to see him have some offensive success in the paint. I'm sure Coach Schauer would love to see more.

Luke Peters, who had come into the game a woeful 7/19 from the foul line at 36%, really stepped up to go 7/10 tonight, including several critical makes in the OTs.   Add to that him having to guard Jake Rhode all night and you have that type of performance that really helped your team win.

Speaking of Rhode, as good as Francis was, Rhode was equally dominant.  His quickness, ball handling and passing just make him a ton to guard.  Plus he can shoot and score.  The latter part of the 2nd half and the OTs, Coach Baines pretty much ran everything through him and it worked to bring the 'Jays back into the game.  If he wasn't making long 3s he was driving and dishing for easy layups or and-ones.

One thing of note: I'll be rechecking when the video is made available.  But with about a minute left in regulation and Wheaton clinging to a 2 pt lead, Elmhurst committed a clear shot clock violation when the operator reset the shot clock after a Thomas desperation shot only hit the backboard. Gunter then got called for a foul.  So instead of WC ball with a 2 pt lead, EC was allowed 2 free throws to tie the game.  So good thing the Thunder went on to win it.

Double OT loss notwithstanding, this was a very encouraging performance from Elmhurst. I thought the young team might fade after going down 13 in the second half but they showed a resilience above their years in getting back into the game and almost pulling off the win. Rhode (who almost sent it to 3OT) also almost won the game outright for the Jays with a half court heave to end regulation which hit off the rim. He is already a big time player and I can't wait to see him develop even further. Jeremy Ireland had his 5th double-double for the Jays and Lavon Thomas, another EC freshman, with a strong performance in only his 3rd appearance this season.

Despite giving up 45 to Francis, I thought at times the EC team played great defense, which got them back into the game and kept it going. I believe that Wheaton did not get a shot off on their last possession in both regulation and the first OT. Also, this is one of the more creative EC passing teams I've seen in recent years, and they are also rebounding the ball extremely well. Elmhurst, who started 1 true Freshman, 1 Red Shirt Freshman, 1 Sophomore, and 2 Transfers, seems to have a high trajectory and I look forward to watching them the rest of the season and beyond.

[GoPerry]

Aston Francis      45 pts, 5 rebs, 4 assts, 2 stls, 7 tos
Spencer Peterson   12 pts, 4 rebs
Luke Peters      11 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assts, blk, stl
Ricky Samuelson     9 pts, 5 rebs
Trevor Gunter      7 rebs, 4 assts

Jake Rhode      26 pts, 4 rebs, 10 assts, stl
Jeremy Ireland      19 pts, 15 rebs
Lavon Thomas      16 pts, 8 rebs
Many other Bluejays   lots of rebounds   


After a 1 of 8  for 7 pts first half, #1 in navy blue pretty much did what he does in the 2nd half and the 2 OTs.  After a stretch of 5  straight threes from Francis early in the 2nd, Wheaton had extended the lead out to as much as 13.  But Elmhurst came back with a 15-5 run at the end of the game to tie and send it to OT.

Wheaton got really terrific games from Luke Peters and Spencer Peterson, the latter displaying some really soft touch in the offensive post the likes of which Thunder fans haven't seen from a forward in a while.  Peterson is the only man on the roster who can physically match up with most CCIW forwards.  So you need his physicality but it was great to see him have some offensive success in the paint. I'm sure Coach Schauer would love to see more.

Luke Peters, who had come into the game a woeful 7/19 from the foul line at 36%, really stepped up to go 7/10 tonight, including several critical makes in the OTs.   Add to that him having to guard Jake Rhode all night and you have that type of performance that really helped your team win.

Speaking of Rhode, as good as Francis was, Rhode was equally dominant.  His quickness, ball handling and passing just make him a ton to guard.  Plus he can shoot and score.  The latter part of the 2nd half and the OTs, Coach Baines pretty much ran everything through him and it worked to bring the 'Jays back into the game.  If he wasn't making long 3s he was driving and dishing for easy layups or and-ones.

One thing of note: I'll be rechecking when the video is made available.  But with about a minute left in regulation and Wheaton clinging to a 2 pt lead, Elmhurst committed a clear shot clock violation when the operator reset the shot clock after a Thomas desperation shot only hit the backboard. Gunter then got called for a foul.  So instead of WC ball with a 2 pt lead, EC was allowed 2 free throws to tie the game.  So good thing the Thunder went on to win it.

Double OT loss notwithstanding, this was a very encouraging performance from Elmhurst. I thought the young team might fade after going down 13 in the second half but they showed a resilience above their years in getting back into the game and almost pulling off the win. Rhode (who almost sent it to 3OT) also almost won the game outright for the Jays with a half court heave to end regulation which hit off the rim. He is already a big time player and I can't wait to see him develop even further. Jeremy Ireland had his 5th double-double for the Jays and Lavon Thomas, another EC freshman, with a strong performance in only his 3rd appearance this season.

I would agree that with only one senior (who see's little significant minutes) on the roster, BlueJay fans have reason to be enthusiastic about the future.  I'm not sure they're a top 4 league team this year however but we'll see.  I was also impressed with Lavon Thomas.  He's a big body, listed on the roster at 255lbs – (yikes!), and has some good shooting touch. 

Despite giving up 45 to Francis, I thought at times the EC team played great defense, which got them back into the game and kept it going. I believe that Wheaton did not get a shot off on their last possession in both regulation and the first OT. Also, this is one of the more creative EC passing teams I've seen in recent years, and they are also rebounding the ball extremely well. Elmhurst, who started 1 true Freshman, 1 Red Shirt Freshman, 1 Sophomore, and 2 Transfers, seems to have a high trajectory and I look forward to watching them the rest of the season and beyond.

Regarding EC's defense, I think Wheaton's failure to get shots at the end of reg and the OT had as much to do with bad execution by the Thunder.  I will say however that they didn't double Francis hardly at all throughout the game except at these 2 times where two white jerseys ran at him as soon as he received a pass.  I think this surprised him and he was not able to pass out of it to somebody open for a shot. 

Also, I'm afraid that a standard, and effective, defense that I'm seeing deployed against Wheaton means 1. Trying your best to contain Francis and 2. Never leave Ricky Samuelson open for shots because he's the only other player that is worrisome offensively i.e - the double team never comes from the guy guarding Samuelson.  With this, even if Francis is lighting it up you're probably still in the game with a chance to win.  If he's icy or off, then you're winning by 10 or so.

Also, this is one of the more creative EC passing teams I've seen in recent years, and they are also rebounding the ball extremely well.

Maybe.  But right now, anybody looking to pad their rebounding stats is eyeing the schedule for Wheaton.  -18 and -19 for WC's last 2 games.

[AndOne]

The key is "so far." Up until this year Beasley has been a poor 3 point shooter. This year has seen a marked improvement in his long distance marksmanship. The question is,  can he keep it up/sustain it throughout the year?

I suspect most of it comes down to confidence.  As I have watched from afar (online), it's always looked like to me like in past seasons Beasley has been timid on the offensive end.  It seemed like if he made his first couple of shots, he would keep shooting and maybe have a big game (I remember he had a big game vs Chicago last year, for example).  But if he missed early, he'd defer to others the rest of the game.  Or he'd shoot, but not really look like he was stepping into it confidently.  That was always frustrating to see because Beasley has always been a very good pure shooter

This year, as a senior, he looks like a different player.  He is looking for his shot, and just looks very confident on the floor.  He's become a guy opponents have to account for.

Yes, confidence. It's a big deal. And, I believe a large part of the success he has enjoyed so far.
Observing from afar, it's always been obvious Beasley is one of the more athletic players in the conference. This year, in addition to his physicality, he seems to be bringing an increased mental aspect of the game which manifests itself in an increased level of that important facet of the game, confidence.

[AndOne]

With regard to the above discussion regarding "allowing" Aston Francis to go off for 45 points.........

Sometimes, letting a team's star get almost whatever he wants, and shutting down everyone else, particularly the opponent's #2 scorer, can prove to be a very effective game plan. 🏀

[AndOne]

AO, either you can't count or you are one of those shills.  Perhaps both.  You 'd better be careful, Greg will come for you!  Sorry to hear about Sorenson's flu.  He played a good game and is a great player, probably a All-CCIW first teamer.  That wasn't my point. My point was that O'Neil and Burdine did decently against him, good enough to keep him from really going off and having a monster game, which he has done in the past. And, giving the TITANS a chance to win, which, as you have pointed out, they did.  Your boys are 1-2 in CCIW and 'dems da facts.  O'Neal has overall played pretty well in conference play so far.  Let's hope he continues and improves too over the next stretch of games.  He's new to IWU and to CCIW intensity of play.  We're hoping Beasley stays at this wonderful level of rebounding and shooting going forward too. 

Your friendly IWU shill.  I wear the title with pride.   

'70

70, help me please. I'm confused (again  )

1. O'Neill had 8 points and 4 rebounds. Burdine had 0 points and 1 rebound. That's a total of 8 points and 5 rebounds. Conversely, Sorenson had 15 points and 14 rebounds—more than twice as many rebounds, and just one point short of twice as many points as the two Green players combined.
Exactly how can that be referred to as holding Sorenson down?

2. I better be careful or Greg will "come for me"?
I wasn't aware I have anything Greg would want. But if such is the case, all he has to do is ask politely, and I be glad to provide whatever I can. 

3. What's this business about being a shill? I certainly didn't refer to you in that manner, and I don't believe that label applies to me. I have simply always thought of you as a great (if sometimes over zealous  ) IWU fan as I am confident I occupy the same position in conjunction with NCC.
Shill? Sorry, but not even close. 

[WUPHF]

Add pretty decent to the list of words and phrases that the CCIW fans cannot agree on. #significant

[WUPHF]

Honestly, the phrase pretty decent is such a low level compliment that it just as much a compliment to the all-American.

[GoPerry]

Add pretty decent to the list of words and phrases that the CCIW fans cannot agree on. #significant

+1 k!

[iwumichigander]

Great first half by IWU.
Great second half comeback by NCC.
Great last play resulting in a 2 pt win by IWU.

We hope you enjoyed the action even if you didn't enjoy the final result. 

I enjoyed the result!  Q and 70 did, too!  For that matter, probably most the posters on this board did other than yourself.  .   

[iwu70]

I'm done about Sorenson.  May he play on and play well -- flu or no flu.   I'm sure he will. He's clearly one of the top players in the CCIW.  Next time I comment on him will likely be for the re-match w/ NCC at The Shirk, later in the season.  Q, thanks for your comments. 

Yes, glad with the outcome, a hard-fought, important win 68-66, away at NC.  Bonnett and Beasley the MVPs of that game. 

Moving on . . . we have Wash U and Emory to worry about, upcoming.

IWU'70

[AndOne]

Great first half by IWU.
Great second half comeback by NCC.
Great last play resulting in a 2 pt win by IWU.

We hope you enjoyed the action even if you didn't enjoy the final result. 

I enjoyed the result!  Q and 70 did, too!  For that matter, probably most the posters on this board did other than yourself.  .   

Posters or not, I sense few fans, other than those who like to dress in green, liked the result that well.

But, yes, enjoy it you should. After all, it was the first time you've been able to enjoy the result of a meeting with the Cardinals in almost three years! 

[iwu70]

AO, you're hopeless.

Good luck to all the Titans, exam week upcoming.

Some really great games after -- Wash U at home, then the trip to Atlanta at the end of December to face Emory.  More great basketball.

'70

[iwu70]

Must say the current, tough stretch of games for IWU probably crucial to their overall season.

From Dec. 2 - January 3:

Carthage, Wheaton, North Central, Wash U, U of Chicago, Emory, Birmingham Southern, and Augustana.  A tough road.

If the Titans come out of that gauntlet 6-2, I'll be very happy.

IWU'70

[Mr. Ypsi]

Great first half by IWU.
Great second half comeback by NCC.
Great last play resulting in a 2 pt win by IWU.

We hope you enjoyed the action even if you didn't enjoy the final result. 

I enjoyed the result!  Q and 70 did, too!  For that matter, probably most the posters on this board did other than yourself.  .   

Posters or not, I sense few fans, other than those who like to dress in green, liked the result that well.

But, yes, enjoy it you should. After all, it was the first time you've been able to enjoy the result of a meeting with the Cardinals in almost three years! 

Au contraire.  Since NCC was picked to finish 2nd (while IWU was picked for 4th), I suspect fans of nearly every school not located in Naperville were pleased.