MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[sac]

Illinois Wesleyan (8-3, 1-3) vs #4-Whitman (8-1, 2-0), 6pm PT/8pm CT...

Titans (8-3, 1-3)
G - Brady Rose, 6-3/185 Sr.  21.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.8 apg
G - Colin Bonnett, 6-4/190 Sr.  12.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.2 apg
G - Jason Gregoire, 6-4/205 Sr.  11.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.4 apg
F - Charlie Bair, 6-7/205 So.  7.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg
C - Alex O'Neill, 6-9/245 Jr.  7.5ppg, 4.8 rpg

Blues (8-1, 2-0)
G - Michael Gutierrez, 5-11/170 Jr.  6.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 1.2 agp
G - Joey Hewitt, 6-2/195 So.   15.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg
G - Cedric Jacobs-Jones, 6-2/235 Sr.   9.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.6 apg
G - Austin Butler, 6-3/195 Sr.   9.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 6.2 apg
G - Jack Stewart, 6-3/185 Sr.   11.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.4 apg

This is a timely notification, not only with regard to tonight's game, but also because it answers a question which I've recently been asked several times, both in person and on line, by fans of a few different teams. It's a question I also wondered about but that I was going to throw out primarily for IWU fans as I thought they might have the best insight.

The question is, "Is Brady Rose going to play 2nd semester"? At first, it seemed like like a weird guestion. I thought "why not." But then I realized the thinking behind the question. I could be wrong, but I believe most of the players that we have seen granted a fifth medical hardship year as Brady was, have usually been players who graduated in four years but then used the 5th/med hardship year while attending grad school at the same institution. My understanding is that IWU doesn't have graduate classes. Accordingly, since he didn't graduate with his original class, and wouldn't be in grad school this year, perhaps he would have earned enough credits to graduate after the fall semester. However TQ's post about tonight's game seems to answer the question. Good for Brady and IWU, and bad news for opponents who have to try to defend him going forward.

In Michigan those guys typically end up in the Education BA programs where student teaching takes up the majority of at least one semester.  They'll frequently graduate with two degrees but not always   

I don't know what Illinois teacher certification is like however.

[iwu70]

Ypsi, you're trampling on hallowed ground there!     Jesse Price was a marvel, no doubt.  I remember the games, sitting on top the wall there by the entering ticket booth at the old Fred Young Fieldhouse.  Glad our players knew where the dead spots were. . .

This game in CA. is a horse race kind of game, up and down, run and gun, TITANS up 57-55 at the half.  Two very skilled, excellent-shooting teams.  I can see why Whitman is top 5.   Lots of one-on-one wizzardry, with kick-outs for threes.  Grant Wolfe playing well, weaving through the Whitman press and pressure. 

Hope the TITANS get one more basket. 

IWU'70

[GoPerry]

One of the games I'm watching right now is Elmhurst versus Marietta at some gym in Phoenix, AZ. The floor is black with red lanes. The walls, which are right behind the endlines and right behind the benches, are black as well.

It's freaking me out.

Yikes, yeah - looks like a middle school gym with leftover ABA markings.

[Gregory Sager]

Sure, if Wes Craven is the middle school's principal.

[Gregory Sager]

Elmhurst fought its way to a huge 76-72 victory over eighth-ranked Marietta tonight on the Court of Death in AZ.

[Gregory Sager]

Illinois Wesleyan almost made it two CCIW wins over Top Ten teams tonight, but the Titans fell just short, as fourth-ranked Whitman prevailed, 105-103, in southern Cal.

[voxelmhurst]

Elmhurst fought its way to a huge 76-72 victory over eighth-ranked Marietta tonight on the Court of Death in AZ.

And unlike their misadventure at Manchester, Elmhurst sealed the deal tonight by hitting all their foul shots in the last minute.

Sure, if Wes Craven is the middle school's principal.

It sort of reminded me of the ballroom restroom from the Shining. Those large, rectangular panels behind the team benches and scorers table look as if they were inspired from Kubrick. 

[GoPerry]

Illinois Wesleyan almost made it two CCIW wins over Top Ten teams tonight, but the Titans fell just short, as fourth-ranked Whitman prevailed, 105-103, in southern Cal.

What a shootout.  IWU looked down for the count twice, but twice came back to take the lead.  Huge shots made on both sides - the last by Preseason AA Hewitt.

No livestats, but I assume Brady Rose must have fouled out?  If not, very mystifying he wasn't on the floor in that last minute.

[Gregory Sager]

Nice balance for Elmhurst tonight, vox. Jeremy Ireland had 18 and 8, Jay Militello had 15, Jake Rhode had 11 plus three steals, and Nick Perry added 10 to a solid 4:1 floor game, with three blocks thrown in for good measure.

That was Marietta's first loss of the season after ten wins.

[Titan Q]

No livestats, but I assume Brady Rose must have fouled out?  If not, very mystifying he wasn't on the floor in that last minute.

He fouled out with 1:53 to play

[iwu70]

#4 Whitman 105, IWU 103

Great game, punch for punch, up and down, run and gun, just with the Titans again not executing in the final minutes.  If Whitman is #4 in the country, then the Titans are surely not far behind. 

Deeply disappointing, as we had them several times, let them slip away.  TO in the last minute, missed FTs.  Have to admit I'm unhappy with the Zebras (could surely tell Coach Rose was too!), and would like to see how many more FTs WC got to shoot than IWU.  I bet it's pretty big.  Anyway, gotta execute.  Brady Rose fouling out on a silly call, with 1:53 to go.

Will post more when the Box is available.

Must admit, don't quite get the last call, the last play, the shot for a 2 by Bonnett with 9.2 seconds left.  Why not step back and go for the win with a trey?   Guess I'm not coaching or playing, but that seemed a strange final play along the baseline.  A miss at the buzzer by the Titans. 

One can see why Whitman is #5, a lot of weapons, great penetration and foot speed, and lots of shooters.  Bet they made 12-14 treys. 

Tough loss.  No night off -- tomorrow against #12 Stevens Point.  A very different cup of tea. . .

Titans now 8-4 on the year.  Oh so close. 

IWU'70

[Titan Q]

Great game at Cal Lutheran.

IWU has battled #3 Augustana and #4 Whitman in back and forth games decided in the final seconds, but didn't finish either.

[Gregory Sager]

Thing is, you could remove "#3 Augustana and #4 Whitman" from that sentence ard replace it with "4-8 Carroll", and it would still be correct (as long as you changed the plural "games" to a singular).

Just keeping it honest.

[Titan Q]

IWU/Whitman box - https://www.iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=6757&path=mbball

[GoPerry]

No livestats, but I assume Brady Rose must have fouled out?  If not, very mystifying he wasn't on the floor in that last minute.

He fouled out with 1:53 to play

Ok - I missed that.  Obviously hurt not having him as a 'go to' down the stretch.  Not that Bonnett or others aren't capable but still.