MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

I wonder why Raymond sat much of the second half. Harris may have been upset over his turnovers or perhaps he was hurt?

I think his sitting was mainly due to his below average (for him at least) shooting. He had to work extremely hard for the shots he did get off, and a couple of them were just jacked up in order to beat the 35 second clock. As we know, he did recently return from a knee injury, but I don't think he aggravated his knee or sustained any type of new injury.

* The other thing I noticed, and the NCC coaching staff prob took note of this also, was that upon receiving the ball, Raymond began nearly every move by going left. I seem to remember him going both left & right about equally when he played 2 yrs ago. Maybe his recent knee injury is limiting his ability to go right thus making it easier to defend his initial movements??

[79jaybird]

I was looking at the standings today and while nothing is squared away by any means, I think some things are beginning to take shape.  I think slots 1 and 2 are pretty solid (as to who is going to be there), but slots 3 and 4 are a toss between 4 teams.  Carthage is playing very well right now, Wheaton is hot/cold, NC is the same, and North Park I feel has a great shot.  I don't gamble, but I think the CCIW Tournament is going to be this
1)Augie
2)Elmhurst
3) Carthage
4) North Park
Now I know a few things have to happen for this hypothesis to work out, but the momentum is up with Car/NPU, and the momentum is stale and/or down with Wheaton/NC.
No offense to IWU here, but I still find it really shocking that we aren't at least discussing IWU as a member of the 4 team Conference pool.  For their sake, I hope Ron Rose can quickly get the Titans back to their norm.  (ah, that's normal-not Eash  )

[Brick]

Jaybird +1 for the shot at good old Norm Eash!!

[OurHouse]

I was looking at the standings today and while nothing is squared away by any means, I think some things are beginning to take shape.  I think slots 1 and 2 are pretty solid (as to who is going to be there), but slots 3 and 4 are a toss between 4 teams.  Carthage is playing very well right now, Wheaton is hot/cold, NC is the same, and North Park I feel has a great shot.  I don't gamble, but I think the CCIW Tournament is going to be this
1)Augie
2)Elmhurst
3) Carthage
4) North Park
Now I know a few things have to happen for this hypothesis to work out, but the momentum is up with Car/NPU, and the momentum is stale and/or down with Wheaton/NC.
No offense to IWU here, but I still find it really shocking that we aren't at least discussing IWU as a member of the 4 team Conference pool.  For their sake, I hope Ron Rose can quickly get the Titans back to their norm.  (ah, that's normal-not Eash  )

How can you even consider IWU in the mix this year? It isn't Ron Rose but instead a bunch of injured payers and one great All American that cannot help himself right now....

I predicted that IWU will NOT win another conference game 5 games ago and I stand next to my words - they just cannot compete this year at an elevated level.

Just the way it is     

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I should add that the way wheaton lost is more disappointing than the loss itself. It really wasn't ever close. That's not a good sign

This was a strangely coached game by Wheaton's Harris as well....

- besides the Crusaders hurting for points and Raymond spending so much time on the bench in the 2nd half...

- Mohan hits consecutives threes with eight minutes to play to cut the lead to seven and before the ball is through the net Harris sends in a sub for him

- with the large Wheaton crowd cheering like crazy the "Thug and Mug" Wheaties get within five on a steal and layup by Standard with 7:30 to play.  Harris immediately calls timeout after the basket and lets North Central's excellent pep band and cheerleaders make noise and bring the Card crowd back into the game.

Three very strange coaching moves by Harris.

MW

FWIW - there were no Trost sightings Saturday night in Naperville.

[petemcb]

I should add that the way wheaton lost is more disappointing than the loss itself. It really wasn't ever close. That's not a good sign

This was a strangely coached game by Wheaton's Harris as well....

- besides the Crusaders hurting for points and Raymond spending so much time on the bench in the 2nd half...

- Mohan hits consecutives threes with eight minutes to play to cut the lead to seven and before the ball is through the net Harris sends in a sub for him

- with the large Wheaton crowd cheering like crazy the "Thug and Mug" Wheaties get within five on a steal and layup by Standard with 7:30 to play.  Harris immediately calls timeout after the basket and lets North Central's excellent pep band and cheerleaders make noise and bring the Card crowd back into the game.

Three very strange coaching moves by Harris.

MW

FWIW - there were no Trost sightings Saturday night in Naperville.

But if there had been, which side do you suppose he would have sat on, whose wife would he be sitting with, what colors would he be sporting, and who the heck would the 12 year old sitting with them be?  Enquiring minds want to know.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I should add that the way wheaton lost is more disappointing than the loss itself. It really wasn't ever close. That's not a good sign

This was a strangely coached game by Wheaton's Harris as well....

- besides the Crusaders hurting for points and Raymond spending so much time on the bench in the 2nd half...

- Mohan hits consecutives threes with eight minutes to play to cut the lead to seven and before the ball is through the net Harris sends in a sub for him

- with the large Wheaton crowd cheering like crazy the "Thug and Mug" Wheaties get within five on a steal and layup by Standard with 7:30 to play.  Harris immediately calls timeout after the basket and lets North Central's excellent pep band and cheerleaders make noise and bring the Card crowd back into the game.

Three very strange coaching moves by Harris.

MW

FWIW - there were no Trost sightings Saturday night in Naperville.

But if there had been, which side do you suppose he would have sat on, whose wife would he be sitting with, what colors would he be sporting, and who the heck would the 12 year old sitting with them be?  Enquiring minds want to know.

Pete: Trost might have been there 

I just said I didn't see him.

The only person that I knew in the stands was Dave McCarrell (Dan's older brother), who hardly ever misses a Wheaton game.

There were several people wearing hoodies, but they were not red !!

MW

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Since I do have my druthers - this wednesday night i think i will take in the carthage at wheaton game.

With three losses already this is really an elimination game for both teams.  Wheaton obviously needs to find a consistent offensive threat besides Raymond putting his head down and driving for the basket every time he touches the ball.  Carthage needs to show that it can beat a disciplined team that plays tough man to man defense like the Wheaties do.

I wish my alma mater well on Wednesday night, but I fear this is another game with 'no cigar' written all over it at the end.

Having seen Augustana play, the RI Vikings look like they are cooking on both ends of the court - and their in-your-face 60 minutes of hell basketball style - does not portend well for a team that often has a hard time managing possession of the ball.

As for the stats from last Saturday's win at Millikin - I obviously did not see the game - and I'm betting there weren't many who did - but I have to suggest that perhaps the stat crew also missed their wake-up call.  The low number of assists and turnovers for both teams in an overtime game, between two squads who normally throw it around a lot, leaves me questioning the stat sheet, other than the final score.

MW 70:3

[robberki]

DP, your lack of faith is disturbing. -Darth Vader

[Dennis_Prikkel]

DP, your lack of faith is disturbing. -Darth Vader

as long as you don't telepathically choke me or send me to Pizza the Hut, oh Dark Helmet, I'll get over it.

I am planning a pilgrimage to Foster & Kedzie late in the season, though.

It takes me only 15 minutes to get to Elmhurst, 20 minutes to Wheaton, 30 minutes to North Central from where I live.

There was a story in the Daily Herald last week about the in-bound traffic on the Northwest Tollway backing up at the new River Road tollboth.  With my daily commute out to the suburbs I can attest the inbound backup often stretches beyond Arlington Heights Road (7 miles from the River Road Toll Booth).  At that rate NPU would take me an hour and half in the evening.

Still, I do need go - if only to use my lifetime pass.

MW 70:3

[REDMENFAN]

Newspaper said there was a crowd of 1650 at the Carthage game Saturday night, a very respectable number. Back in the days of Wiertel, McDaniel, and Garnes the atmosphere was nuts. The average home attendance for conference games had to be right around 2,000. Normally, this Saturdays game against Augie would have a great crowd, but the students finish up their J-term and get 5 days off, so I'm sure many will be heading home to get away for a few days before 2nd semester starts. Hopefully a lot will stay, or decide to come  back for the night and provide a great atmosphere for a big game.

[79jaybird]

Carthage is coming on fast and steadily improving each week.  That's a good sign if you're a Redmen fan, because it's not how you start the season, rather how you finish it.  Look at NC last year, turning it up in the CCIW Tourney and making the playoffs.
You always stand by your alma mater win or lose, hehe even though at times it can be very hard to hold your head high. 
Augie is smoking hot, but I look for North Park to give the Vikes a fight.  NPU's "rough style" inside and physical play just might give them a chance to stay in line with Augie.  Who knows?  But I do think Augie is on fire and the way they just "minimized EC's style" last Saturday was very impressive.

[diehardfan]

Awww!

[knarocky22]

New Top 25 poll

10. Augie
12. Elmhurst
17. Carthage

Wheaton and North Central receiving votes

[tjcummingsfan]

Rob I think the CCIW is trying to spite us for knocking Ruch's and Schlemm's warm-up routines, they are co-players of the week!