MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

USee · March 13, 2021, 03:43:33 PM

Greg, The Wheaton football team has pretty regularly had 5th year seniors going back 10 yrs or so. This fall they are set to have about 8 5th year guys. Most of them space out their class work so they don't have to do grad school and they can take 1 or 2 classes during the season. It's also easier to do in football when the season starts and ends in the same term.

Gregory Sager · March 13, 2021, 03:45:21 PM

That's a good point. It's much easier to space out your classes so as to do an extra semester than the entire extra full year that a fifth-year-senior basketball player requires.

USee · March 13, 2021, 04:06:08 PM

I thought Wheaton couldn't handle the high pick and roll offense the Titans executed in the second half and that was the key. We were hacking up 3's and the Titans were getting layups. If you are not gonna switch the pick and roll (understandably the Thunder didn't want a guard defending Leritz or Lambesis, then you gotta do a better job hedging that action and forcing the ball to reverse to the corner 3 and take your chances with defensive rotations. I thought we got caught 2 on 1 time after time going to the rim. The Titan guards did a great job executing that action down the stretch. To me that was when the Titans stretched the lead and was the key to the game.

WUPHF · March 13, 2021, 05:04:27 PM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 12, 2021, 09:45:41 PM
But Millikin AD Craig White didn't see it that way, and it was his call.

It is time for the AD to go from two coaches that probably deserved more time to one that definitely did in Millikin grad Todd Kelly.

Gregory Sager · March 13, 2021, 05:12:04 PM

I wonder if he's going to apply?

kiko · March 13, 2021, 06:37:33 PM

Millikin is certainly not interested in my advice, but from my POV, they need to stop starting over. I'm sure there are extenuating circumstances, but rebooting the program with a new coach every few years just exacerbates the challenge.

matblake · March 14, 2021, 01:08:43 PM

Not basketball related, but CCIW related. Because the D3 wrestling championships were canceled, the National Wrestling Coaches Association put on a national championship type of event and a number of CCIW teams participated. Congratulations to the placewinners from the CCIW schools (Concordia-Wisconsin and MSOE are associate CCIW members for wrestling)
125:Bradly Rosen NCC 3rd
133:Robbie Precin NCC 2nd
Austin Vincent CUW 8th
141:Jimmy McAuliffe Elmhurst Champ
149:Peter McCusker Millikin 6th
157:Jack O'Donnell CUW 6th
Cole Cervantes NCC 8th
165: Braden Birt Millikin Champ
Rafael Roman NCC 6th
174: No placewinners
184: Brock Montford NCC 4th
Helton Vandenbush MSOE 8th
197: Cody Baldridge NCC Champ
Logan Hagerbaumer Millikin 3rd
285: Ben Bergen NCC 7th
Now back to typical Posting Up conversation.

matblake · March 14, 2021, 01:19:43 PM

Quote from: USee on March 13, 2021, 04:06:08 PM
I thought Wheaton couldn't handle the high pick and roll offense the Titans executed in the second half and that was the key. We were hacking up 3's and the Titans were getting layups. If you are not gonna switch the pick and roll (understandably the Thunder didn't want a guard defending Leritz or Lambesis, then you gotta do a better job hedging that action and forcing the ball to reverse to the corner 3 and take your chances with defensive rotations. I thought we got caught 2 on 1 time after time going to the rim. The Titan guards did a great job executing that action down the stretch. To me that was when the Titans stretched the lead and was the key to the game.

I actually thought that Wheaton struggled with this all season (both the pick and roll defense and a dependence on 3's). Adom and Cruikshank were good/great enough prior to this game to overcome the problem. Throw in the fact that Wheaton bombed at the line. Both teams missed plenty of usually made layups. Don't know if it was good defense, nerves, or something else. It was a fun game to watch, despite my annoyance that IWU was clearly a step faster and a thought ahead all night.

Titan Q · March 14, 2021, 01:46:40 PM

My bracket.

https://www.iwuhoops.com/Q%20Invitational.pdf

iwu70 · March 15, 2021, 12:33:46 PM

Q, how we wish!

I know, not CCIW related, but LOVE those Illini. Great game yesterday vs. Ohio State. Now for the real bracket.

'70

augie77 · March 15, 2021, 01:14:04 PM

From MIAA Board: It would be great to see IWU play Yeshiva, with the winner to play Randolph-Macon for a de facto national championship. Far more manageable than Q's dream scenario--which would be awesome as well.

Final from Ashland VA: Randolph-Macon 69 Trine 55

Not overly disappointed, the Jackets are pretty darn good. Anthony and Mallory lived up to their hype, and Robertson off the bench always seemed to make big 3s for them. For Trine, it was an uphill struggle pretty much all the way. Losing Cox to an ankle injury in the 1st half didn't help. But they didn't pack it in when the Jackets went up big. Cut it to 9 late and had an open shot from three to cut to 6 but missed.

Good expierence for the Thunder to take on a squad like Randolph-Macon. Can only make them better down the road. Great season Thunder!!

hopefan · March 15, 2021, 03:50:54 PM

Thought this might be of interest to my CCIW buddies... I posted in the SLIAC room...

Some readers may have watched the series "Last Chance U" on Netflix.... there were several seasons on Netflix, a show following a junior college team through it's football season, and concentrating on several specific individuals to show their successes and failures.... it was a fantastic show... FANTASTIC....

Well, Netflix has just put out the same Last Chance U, but this time reviewing a JUCO Basketball team...just started streaming March 11
Of real interest is that the school being focused on is East Los Angeles Junior College.... Greenville has pulled probably a dozen players out of California Jucos... gives us a chance to get a feel where those guys might be coming from....

Titan Q · March 15, 2021, 04:01:52 PM

A season recap interview with Ron Rose...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvJOKe0ytIU

0:00 - Playing through a pandemic
9:24 - Playing at a high level; the rotation
16:17 - The North Park loss
21:00 - The Wheaton game
33:50 - The IWU/Wheaton rivalry
36:25 - Senior class
43:23 - Thinking ahead to 2021-22
47:03 - Wrap up

iwu70 · March 15, 2021, 09:32:29 PM

Titans finish up in the new poll at #4. Great job Coach Rose and all the team.

Next year will be even better.

IWU'70

Titan Q · March 15, 2021, 10:18:30 PM

Only 3 players in IWU MBB history have averaged 15.0+ PPG and 10.0 RPG in a season:

* Jack Sikma
'73-74: 15.4/10.6
'74-75: 20.3/13.8
'75-76: 20.0/11.6
'76-77: 27.0/15.4

* Sheldon Thompson
'70-71: 18.7/10.7

* Matt Leritz
'20-21: 16.1/10.1