MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[GoPerry]

Wheaton #3 and NCC moves up to #4 in the last RR.  Augustana and Oshkosh stay #1 and #2.

UW LaCrosse a pretty strong #5.  That win over Oshkosh a big help no doubt.

[BobbyO]

Pierson Wofford is rounding into form.  After missing most of the last two seasons due to school and injury issues, he's now 31-2 in CCIW games he's played.

https://qconline.com/sports/college/augustana/augie-lands-four-on-men-s-all-cciw-basketball-team/article_807fd58a-79f4-5049-bdf3-3423d5d44c31.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share&fbclid=IwAR3cqOXe2MxdtSv1BgVYfvlQV8plgwKElzDM_UyJVkjfHa5Dt0Uy82pc1V8

He has been a big part of the team this season.  Without him I doubt Augie would have the five.

[Titan Q]

Just booked my flight for the CCIW tournament.  Looking forward to it!

[BobbyO]

Just booked my flight for the CCIW tournament.  Looking forward to it!

Hope to see you there.

[augie77]

Augustana parents reflect....


https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2187502694896625

[79jaybird]

DuckFan41- Great season for Elmhurst?  I would have to disagree.  As someone alluded to earlier,  IMO this season would have be characterized as a disappointment and falling short of the primary goal(s).  Too many winnable games were just not finished.  If Elmhurst wants to be a 400 or 500 pct. team, then yes, this could be a great season,  but I think the majority of the Bluejay nation would argue this was a very frustrating year.

[voxelmhurst]

DuckFan41- Great season for Elmhurst?  I would have to disagree.  As someone alluded to earlier,  IMO this season would have be characterized as a disappointment and falling short of the primary goal(s).  Too many winnable games were just not finished.  If Elmhurst wants to be a 400 or 500 pct. team, then yes, this could be a great season,  but I think the majority of the Bluejay nation would argue this was a very frustrating year.

Yes, definitely not a 'great' season at all. So where do you lay the blame? I feel like the players, as individuals, met their expectations if not exceeded them in some cases. The focus then has to shift to Baines. As has been pointed out numerous times, Elmhurst had second half leads in every single one of their road losses in the CCIW this season. They had a 9 point lead at halftime the other night in Wheaton. So, is Baines being out-coached in these games? I think there is a case to be made that he is, but I feel that ultimately, this year's team was just not as deep as they needed to be in order to beat the top teams, all whom which were deeper and more experienced than Elmhurst.

This brings us to recruiting, where the conversation starts to go beyond my knowledge, but after traveling to every gym in the CCIW over the years and to the gyms of a few other d3 schools, I can see how Elmhurst would sink down on a player's short list, compared to other area schools.

Being an Elmhurst fan is nothing if not a testament to patience.

[79jaybird]

Vox- I think it is a combination of both.  Coaching has a lot to do with it of course, but the players have to execute in the clutch too. 

Elmhurst needs to grovel the recruiting trail hard this off season.  There are some gaping holes that if not filled up adequately are going to prove costly come next season. 

[Titan Q]

#4-Illinois Wesleyan (18-8, 10-6) vs #1-Augustana (23-2, 15-1), 7pm...

#4-Titans (18-8, 10-6)
G - Brady Rose, 6-3/185 Sr.  21.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.7 apg
G - Colin Bonnett, 6-4/190 Sr.  12.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.5 apg
G - Jason Gregoire, 6-4/205 Sr.  9.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.8 apg
F - Doug Wallen, 6-5/210 So. 8.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg
F - Danny Baker, 6-6/210 Sr.  3.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg

#1-Vikings (23-2, 15-1)
G - Nolan Ebel, 6-1/175 Sr.  16.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.2 apg
G - Chrishawn Orange, 6-2/180 Sr.  12.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.1 apg
G - Brett Benning, 6-6/191 Sr. 10.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.2 apg
F - Pierson Wofford, 6-4/202 Jr.  13.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.2 apg
C - Donovan Ferguson, 6-9/240 Jr.  4.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg


Pantagraph - https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-faces-host-augustana-in-cciw-semifinals/article_6746cd95-9418-5f17-b97c-3f2e188a883c.html

Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/augustana/

WEXG Radio - https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/index.cfm?stationCallSign=WWHP

Stats - https://athletics.augustana.edu/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

[Titan Q]

Nice article about Lexi and Doug Wallen...

https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/sibling-support-lexi-doug-wallen-scoring-points-all-over-town/article_7a59b8a8-81d9-5468-862e-16cae1b869b8.html

Pretty unique to have siblings both playing college basketball...let alone in the same community.

[GoPerry]

Nice article about Lexi and Doug Wallen...

https://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/sibling-support-lexi-doug-wallen-scoring-points-all-over-town/article_7a59b8a8-81d9-5468-862e-16cae1b869b8.html

Pretty unique to have siblings both playing college basketball...let alone in the same community.

Thanks for sharing.  I really enjoy stories like that about siblings as opposed to coach-son/coach-daughter.

[Titan Q]

My take on Pool C - http://www.d3boards.com/index.php?topic=4232.msg1922779#msg1922779

Assuming there will be 3 more major upsets that steal Pool C bids, I have North Central (#17) as basically the very end of the bubble right now.

[Augie6]

Augustana parents reflect....


https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2187502694896625

Thanks for sharing that.  Really good reminder of true communities that are built through sports, and these tend to be very strong at the D3 level. 

[Gregory Sager]

Massey sez:

North Central 73, Wheaton 72 (NCC 51%, WC 49%)
Augustana 81, Illinois Wesleyan 72 (AC 76%, IWU 24%)

[Greek Tragedy]

Curious of the chances of NCC, especially if they lose tonight, going 0-1 this week while other Pool C candidates could go as much as 2-1 this week. Also, the chances of FOUR CCIW teams getting in with IWU beating NCC in the Final. I really think NCC needs a win tonight. I'm not an expert though.