MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[iwu70]

Congrats to the Titans -- what a great comeback.  Let's keep it going now . . . Salem calls.  Hope more and more IWU fans make the trip up for Saturday night's game.  Wish I could be there.

[maddog]

A great comeback win for the Titans tonight, beating Lawrence on their home court. Trailing by 10 most of the game, withstanding the 73% Lawrence shooting in the first half, this is just a tremendous victory for IWU. Looking forward to beating UPS tomorrow night to get to the Final Four in Salem. I will be making the 4 1/2 hour trip to Appleton to see the game. GO TITANS!

[mightyIWUmolly]

a desperate plea...

i am so psyched about the titans' win tonight.

are any iwu fans from the bloomington or chicago area going to be going up for tomorrow night's game?

i am an iwu student serving on a university search committee, and we are currently doing interviews in chicago, near o'hare.  i would do anything to be able to make it to the game tomorrow night (especially because i am presenting at a literature conference next weekend so this is the absolute last time i could see the titans play).  the only problem is, even though i'll be done with committee work by tomorrow early afternoon, i can't get to the game because i have no transportation.  are any iwu fans coming through the o'hare area who might be willing to pick up a grateful gracious fan for her last iwu game as an undergrad?  i would pay for gas!  please message me if you can help.  my boyfriend may be able to drive and pick me up, and he is getting me a ticket,but it's not looking likely.  

[Loggerville]

Looking forward to beating UPS tomorrow night to get to the Final Four in Salem.

Tomorrow night - Puget Sound.  On December 29th we already beat them by 17 on a 'west coast' neutral site; tomorrow should be almost an 'IWU-home-game' neutral site.  NOT counting any unhatched chickens, but we SHOULD win that game!

like the confidence in your team, but it will be interesting to see who has improved the most since Dec. '05.  Looking for a great game from both squads...may the best team come out on top and earn a trip to Salem!  Go LOGGERS!!!!!

[Titan32]

Loggerville, you read my mind.  Puget sound is a good team.  They came back strong in the second half against IWU in Santa Barbara and deserve a lot of respect.  There is not doubt the fans will be supporting IWU tomorrow, but its a quick turnaround in the sectional and the Titans have less than 24 hours to get focused on the PS style.  Lose and tonight's amazing comeback win on Lawrence's court means nothing.  Let's WIN TITANS!

[Loggerville]

T32 -

Are you going to be at the game?  Can't make it out, but am hoping for a good one...obviously both teams deserve to be in this game; here's hoping for a classic.  And as far as the crowd goes, having attended the elite 8 held in Tacoma two years ago and watching two teams (UWSP v. LU) play with no fan base at all, I think both programs will benefit from the advantage in fans that IWU will have; at the very least it UPS can approach the game as a "road" contest and get their "us v. the world" game face on!  Better to have some noise than nothing at all! 

[Titan32]

Unfortunately, I won't be at the game.  You may be right, after the win against Augie PS know to have the mindset that this is a road game no matter which team wins, LU or IWU.  No doubt in my mind IWU is the favorite tomorrow, but everybody should remember, PS had a bye in the first round of this tournament for a reason.  I'm sure they'll be much debate about strength of schedule between now and tomorrow night, but the only thing that matters is 40 minutes on 3/11/06.

IWUmolly:  word of advice...if IWU makes it to Salem, you must skip out on your lit conference...what will you remember 10 years from now?

[TitanFan12]

Does anyone have a box score or box score link for the IWU game tonight?


GO TITANS!!!!

[iwu70]

Can't find any link on the boxscore for either sectional game just yet.  I suppose Lawrence will put it up on their website by tomorrow (Saturday US time).  Sounds like the rebounding and second half scoring by Zach Freeman was the real difference.  Our normal scorers couldn't make a shot for anything.  Thank God for Matt Arnold, Mr. Clutch.  Also, very good second half defense and key rebounding, esp. by Cory.

[veterancciwfan]

Great comback tonight by the Titans. I thought if they could get close, LU would feel the pressure. Lu was stuck on 63 for 3-4 minutes. The key plays in the game acording to AD Dennie Bridges, and he should know something about b'ball. were the 2 blocks by Cory Jones that gave IWU the ball. A 3 pt. play then cut the lead to 4 and that's when LU started feeling the pressure. Just a brilliant 2nd half by IWU, holding LU to 23 2nd half points, about half of the 45 they had at half.  The basket that LU shot at in the first half and that IWU shot in the 2nd half has a shooter's soft rim. A LU fan confirmed that. The last thing a #1 or #2 team wants is to face IWU on its home court in the 2nd or 3rd round. I won't relate the recent history on that.   IWU has been a better road team this year. Hope the players are in bed now as tomorrow's game is a tossup I think. UPS has a unique system, just like Hanover, though different.  It will be a great matchup tomorrow.

[patcummings]

For being outmatched for most of the game -- in terms of the fact IWU was trailing from 2-0, until they took a lead late...IWU actually led in many of the stat categories...

More rebounds, more free throws, fewer turnovers...

Puget Sound is a MUCH different team than December...so says the UPS coach in our postgame show, so says Trost...so says Titan Q for that matter

[patcummings]

One observation from tonight...

IWU fans @ Lawrence (not saying players or coaches, but fans) - were acting like they were headed to the Final Four...storming the floor, massive hugs and love all around.  Most of them also didn't see how strong Puget Sound played and manhandled Augie for the night...don't get too lofty off the big win, Puget is playing with revenge and a more mature freshman squad.

[Titan32]

I repeat what I posted earlier...this is a PS team that deserves respect (they had a bye, IWU did not...strength of schedule notwithstanding).  The win tonight isn't worth much without a final 4 bid.  Please remember the 2nd half PS gave IWU back in December.  This is a game that could be a blowout or could be fantastic...What happened in December means nothing in March with a Final Four berth on the line.  GO TITANS, GREAT WIN OVER LU!

[iwu70]

Agreed, we should all have respect for UPS.  Titans may be emotionally tired and have tired legs as well.  I'm sure it will not be an easy win tomorrow night.  Must keep the focus strong one more night to secure the Salem return.

[mightyIWUmolly]

titan32 (and whoever gave me negative karma for my lastpost) - i would definitely skip out on the literature conference, except the school is funding my entire trip and i think i would be dead if i backed out.  i could shoot myself in the foot for making such a stupid error -- the date conflict didn't cross my mind at all, and if it had i certainly wouldn't have even applied to the conference.  stupid stupid stupid me... it is sort of a big deal to the school (or at least the humanities), though, and i am mentoring other students who are also going... but there is not much that is bigger than titans in the final four, is there?  believe me, thoughts of skipping the conference have tempted me many a time, but i have made an obligation that i must keep.  i am crying inside.      i just hope i can make it to the game tomorrow, and hopefully someone will be able to help me out..