MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

I do miss Q's posts on game day.

Then go ahead and create them yourself. It's not that hard. It's all data that's ready at hand.

[Greek Tragedy]

Elmhurst beat Wheaton. That really helps their Pool C chances if they lose the Final.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Possible upset alert at the Shirk: at the half, NCC 34, IWU 28.  Matt Helwig is demanding a recount on CCIW MOP - he has 16 points at halftime!

[Gregory Sager]

North Central 81
Illinois Wesleyan 74

Matt Helwig with a big 30 and 12 game.

[GoPerry]

Elmhurst over Wheaton 74-68

I think Lavon Thomas wants to play Wheaton 25 times a season.  It seems to me he always brings his best game vs the Thunder.  He certainly did tonight scoring 27 pts on 10-21 shooting.   Wheaton seemed fairly uninspired the whole night.  Having both Adom and Cruickshank get into early foul trouble in the 1st half didn't help things.  EC smartly took advantage of their softer defense and make Wheaton pay.  Congrats to the Blue Jays.

[PauldingLightUP]

North Central 81
Illinois Wesleyan 74

Matt Helwig with a big 30 and 12 game.

Play the championship at the cracker box or King?

[Mr. Ypsi]

For much of the game it was a one-man extravaganza by Matt Helwig, but late in the game Shea Cuples threatened to steal his glory (he finished with 18 after not showing up for the first half) and Cory Noe not only threatened to steal his glory but also his win (he finished with 21 after 6? at halftime).  Others for IWU (none of whom did much in the first half): Leritz had 16, Mitchell and Yoder each had 15.  Lambesis forgot to show up, finishing with 4.

IWU is still an absolute lock for a Pool C, but may have cost themselves some home games.

Ironic that NCC and Elmhurst will have to pay mucho bucks to spend the night in Bloomington, when they are, what, 3 miles apart!  IF NCC beats Elmhurst, some unknown 'bubble' team just lost their spot in the dance.

[USee]

Well that's one way to get 3 and quite possibly 4 teams into the tournament

[Gregory Sager]

It's time to raise the serious possibility that the CCIW could get four teams into the tourney if NCC has another upset left in it and the Cards take down the 'jays in what will probably be a sparsely-populated Shirk Center tomorrow.

This would be a very, very big deal. The CCIW has never had four teams rep it in a D3 tourney. Three? Happens practically every March. Four? Never.

In fact, for all of its across-the-board prowess in D3 sports, the CCIW has only had four teams reach the D3 tourney in the same year in any team sport exactly once; a quartet of CCIW softball teams went dancing eight seasons ago. And that's it.

As I said ... a very, very big deal.

[iwu70]

Elmhurst and NCC playing very well tonight . . . Jake Rhode over 2,000 early in the first half.  Yes, Elmhurst surely the more enthused, energetic team tonight.  Interesting that both lower seeds won tonight . . .  four teams in the Dance.  I guess it could happen if NCC wins tomorrow . . .  both EU and NCC very solid teams, playing inspired basketball tonight.

IWU let some things slip away . . .  didn't always take care of the ball, with NCC doubling Matt Leritz hard tonight . . .  got him a bit frustrated with some of the no-calls.  Give credit to the NCC defense . . .and surely the Matt Helwig show on offense.  He needs little space to get off that beautiful shot of his.

IWU can rest up now, wait for the Pool C bid which is surely coming. Wheaton too, for that matter.  I think Elmhurst is in too . . . so NCC remains.  A strong incentive . .

IWU'70

[Next Man Up]

Last night, decided underdog North Central did what few but themselves expected was possible in taking down nationally ranked #5 IWU. Trailing early 17-8, the Cardinals reeled off 18 unanswered points, taking a lead which they would never relinquish while on the way to a 81-74 victory. IWU's Peter Lambesis who carries the reputation of being a superlative defender, was torched by NCC's Matt Helwig who rippled the nets for a game high 30 points plus 12 rebounds. Helwig, the CCIW's leading scorer who is tied for 5th place in scoring nationally, was on a mission to make people understand that the Conference Player of the Year isn't necessarily automatically the best player on the first place finishing team, just as the Coach of the Year isn't always automatically the Coach of the regular season winner. Matt was very strongly supported by Shea Cupples who scored a career high 18 points, and Blaise Meredith with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Cupples, with 3 steals, keyed a strong overall defense that was the primary factor in the win.
NCC matched the bigger Titans inside with 28 points in the paint. They committed only 8 turnovers while forcing the home team into 12, and scored 16 points off the break compared to only 7 by IWU. The North Central bench outscored Wesleyan's 26-3.

As previously stated, the Wesleyan loss may have cost them a final #1 regional seed and some home games? However, they can now rest up for the national campaign, and Ron Rose is free to go out recruiting tonight rather than spending the evening at the Shirk Center.

As mentioned above, the unranked 4th seeded Cardinals can secure the CCIW's automatic bid to the national tournament with a win over #3 seed and 19th nationally ranked Elmhurst tonight. The teams split the season series. Hopefully, the Cardinals can dig deep and secure a win which would likely result in 4 CCIW teams being invited to the big dance.

[Wildcat]

Being an Elmhurst fan. I want to congratulate the Bluejays on winning the CCIW tournament championship. I also want to say all the best to Illinois Wesleyan and Wheaton . I believe the CCIW should and will have three teams in the NCAA tourney. I also want to compliment Matt Helwig on an outstanding tournament. He was incredible offensively. A terrific shooter who could play professionally someplace for sure.

[iwu70]

Congrats to Coach Baines, all his staff and all the Elmhurst team for the CCIW Tournament championship.  Superb play both games. 

Yes, looks like CCIW gets three teams in . . .  sorry NCC and the Helwigs didn't make it too.  CCIW really strong this year.

I'm still hoping IWU will get to host some first / second round games at The Shirk.  We'll know on Monday afternoon.  Win or go home . . .

IWU'70

[Next Man Up]

Being an Elmhurst fan. I want to congratulate the Bluejays on winning the CCIW tournament championship. I also want to say all the best to Illinois Wesleyan and Wheaton . I believe the CCIW should and will have three teams in the NCAA tourney. I also want to compliment Matt Helwig on an outstanding tournament. He was incredible offensively. A terrific shooter who could play professionally someplace for sure.

Last night Elmhurst hit NC with a very efficient and lethal combination of energy, skill, and execution. The 'Jays got out to an early 22-11 lead, and things only got worse from there for the Cardinals, not the deepest team in the league who had spent a ton of energy in upsetting #1 IWU the previous evening.

OFFICIATING

To begin, let me make it perfectly clear that officiating was NOT why NCC lost last night. Elmhurst just plain kicked butt.
However, honestly compels me to state that the level of officiating last night left a foul odor wafting through the Shirk Center. When players get elbowed and their head gets split open, and when 160 pound players get bulldozed by 210 pounders and no foul is called, something is amiss. Likewise when officials blow the whistle before the play is completed based on what they assume will happen, that's a case of the official altering the true result of the play and adversely effecting the outcome. Last night's game was for the conference tournament championship. The league's best refs should have been assigned to that game. But it was obvious they spent their evening elsewhere.
I know basketball is one of the hardest, possibly the hardest, of all sports to officiate. However, the CCIW is widely considered to be one of the nation's premier conferences for D3 basketball. The level of officiating should match the stature of the conference and, frankly, it doesn't. Not only is the overall quality below average, but it's wildly inconsistent. Not only do members of the same team often call the same type play differently, but often you will see the same guy call the same type of play differently from one play to the next. I almost always go to a high school game every week, often to two games. I often see refs doing HS games (and I realize some of the same refs also do college games) who are more consistently correct than many CCIW refs. No doubt there are some fine officials doing CCIW games. But, based on personal observations over the last several seasons, I think it's time for the CCIW to start looking to add some fresh talent to its officiating ranks. It seems this process should begin with the conference officiating supervisor(s).
I know there are defenders of the conference officials. That's their right just as it is mine to express my opinion. As I said, there are definitely good refs within the CCIW, but I think it's certainly time to start looking for some new talent with fresh perspectives.
Lastly, I love it when officials concur to get a call right. But it should be a rather quick process—what did you see, what did you see, what did you see?-—best 2 out of 3 wins if there's a question. But gee, how many times do we see 3-4 conversations of several minutes length among the refs who seem to collectively have no idea of what transpired or what the proper call should be? Improvement is necessary. Herein endith the rant. 

[Next Man Up]

North Central's Matt Helwig's final 2021-2022 stats. Should be an All-American for sure. First Team?

24.5  PPG
52.7  FG%
43.2  3 Pt%
90.8  FT%
7.8   RPG
2.9   APG
1.1   SPG
1.2   A/TO Ratio