MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

"The final word from the NCAA's travel department...Hope to Carthage (and vice versa) is 199 miles."

Hope/Carthage is a regional game.

Was that the one that used the ferry?

[ecdubb420]

Usee, you are right on.
Elmhurst's struggles over the last 8 have corresponded with Brian Lee losing virtually all touch from the outside.  He was lights out for the middle 12 games or so (actually outshooting Burks) for a good while.  
His outside shot really sets up his ability to drive and not only create for himself, but for the rest of the team.  Finding his shot could be the difference between a deep NCAA run or watching from the sidelines.
Coach Scherer being out on Wednesday cannot be understated.  As said earlier, I think Baines will be a great coach in the future, but to be at the helm on basically 48-hour notice is a tough task.  Especially against Raridon.  
After Ruch's performance against NCC he will have to have a few big games vs. Wheaton and Millikin.  MOP has to be Raymonds to lose, or with a win over Augie, Mr. Waltons.

[diehardfan]

Coach Scherer was absent from the NCC/Elmhurst game Wed evening due to the death of his mom. I believe the funeral was originally scheduled to be held Tuesday, but was pushed ahead to Wed due to the snowstorm Tues.

Condolences to Coach Scherer and his family.

How sad! I don't know how anyone could coach a basketball game so soon after something like that. My thoughts and prayers are with the Scherer family.

[79jaybird]

Most people (me included) could not play after a loss of a loved one, and take a few days to handle the emotional event.
The only person I know that could play through the difficult moment is Brett Favre.  His Father passes away, goes out and plays.. his Wife is diagnosed with Breast Cancer, goes out and has a great game, etc.  that is how Favre I guess, "copes".
I know that if I lost a loved one, the LAST thing I would be doing is playing sports, because life is so much more important that any game.

I agree Lee is going to be a major factor, but I also think a real key for Elmhurst is to not get into foul trouble early.  The game in Wheaton was a foul frenzy and it seemed everytime Raymond drove to the bucket, the whistle was blowing.  Elmhurst can't give Wheaton the bonus with half the frame left to play.

[AndOne]

Usee, you are right on.
Elmhurst's struggles over the last 8 have corresponded with Brian Lee losing virtually all touch from the outside.  He was lights out for the middle 12 games or so (actually outshooting Burks) for a good while. 
His outside shot really sets up his ability to drive and not only create for himself, but for the rest of the team.  Finding his shot could be the difference between a deep NCAA run or watching from the sidelines.
Coach Scherer being out on Wednesday cannot be understated.  As said earlier, I think Baines will be a great coach in the future, but to be at the helm on basically 48-hour notice is a tough task.  Especially against Raridon. 
After Ruch's performance against NCC he will have to have a few big games vs. Wheaton and Millikin.  MOP has to be Raymonds to lose, or with a win over Augie, Mr. Waltons.

I had heard about Lee's slump (is that a good word?) beginning several games ago, however, before the loss to NCC hadn't EC won 3 in a row? Did Lee play poorly in the wins and the rest of the team was just able to overcome it?

As far as a deep run into the NCAA tourney, I think EC, and prob all the other CCIW teams that have a chance to do so with the likely exception of Augie, better concentrate on winning the CCIW tourney first. I think Augie will be in the national tourney even if, like last year, they don't win the conference tourney. All the other teams that get in that one better win it if they want to advance to the national.

While a spark on offense by Lee would no doubt help EC in its batttle with Wheaton, I think there is another key to beating the Thunder. This thought comes from watching North Central defeat WC twice this season. I think the EC big men can handle the Wheaton bigs despite the fact the WC big men have certainly had some nice games. Therefore, I feel the battle will amount to a question of whether or not the Wheaton duo of Raymond & Mohan is allowed to go off to the extent they can overcome EC's inside advantage. As such, the key will be how well the EC guards can guard on the perimiter. This was the primary factor to NCC's two wins over Wheaton. In the two contests, Raymond was held to 7 for 22 shooting(31.8%)
From a coaching standpoint---and maybe this is what Baines should have done more of against NCC Wed---I would put Lee on Raymond so he (Lee) can use his speed and strength to counter Raymond and keep him off balance. I'd tell Lee to primarily think about driving and dishing on offense rather than scoring--especially if hes in a shooting slump. To make up for Lee's lost points I'd play Bacon a lot more than Sayre. Bacon is stronger, faster, and a better shooter and scorer. I think thats how you beat Wheaton. Take away their guards contribution and the WC bigs will have probs scoring. If EC's guard contribution is limited, I think Michael and Ruch still find a way to get their points. 

[tjcummingsfan]

As I remember, Lee was kind of a non-factor in the NP @ Elmhurst game (although he was real hot at the Crackerbox). 

[Pat Coleman]

"The final word from the NCAA's travel department...Hope to Carthage (and vice versa) is 199 miles."

Hope/Carthage is a regional game.

Was that the one that used the ferry?

The ferry was 66 miles.

[BRLHSFAN]

Coach Scherer's mom passed away on Sunday and visitation was Wed and funeral on Thursday.  Here's a link to the obituary in Wednesday's pantagraph.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/02/14/obits/123476.txt

When I had first glanced at the obit's earlier this week I wondered, but didn't ever go back to read until the guys from wrse.com made mention of the coach's absence from the game Wed. night.  Went back and read it then before the game began.

I'm sure Saturday night will be hard for him to coach though after just having gone through all of this.

[dansand]

Congrats to Augie players and staff on back to back conference champs.  The "Carver Magic" will be at its all time best Saturday night due to the amount of people coming back for the Alumini game.  Featured players such as Drew Carstens (04), Kirk Anderson (94), Aben Cooper (94) and Shaun Clements(04) are rumored to be playing in the pre-game festivities.  Should make for a great night!!!

Augie22 (or anyone else),

Do you have a time for the alumni game. Is it pre-jayvee or is it being played in place of the JV game at 5:15?

BTW, wow! mighty quiet on the CCIW board.

[Titan Q]

Bob Freeman, father of Zach and Andrew, takes some really great pictures at every IWU game.  They are posted here...

http://web.mac.com/freem2/iWeb/iwuhooops.com/IWU%20Titan%20Basketball%20.html


While they are obviously IWU-focused pics, you should all be able to find pics of your teams there.

[Late nite]

I heard the Alumni game is at 2:30---JV at 5:15---Main Event at 7:30

Congrats to Augie players and staff on back to back conference champs.  The "Carver Magic" will be at its all time best Saturday night due to the amount of people coming back for the Alumini game.  Featured players such as Drew Carstens (04), Kirk Anderson (94), Aben Cooper (94) and Shaun Clements(04) are rumored to be playing in the pre-game festivities.  Should make for a great night!!!

Augie22 (or anyone else),

Do you have a time for the alumni game. Is it pre-jayvee or is it being played in place of the JV game at 5:15?

BTW, wow! might quiet on the CCIW board.

[armywife]

Dansand, if you go to the alumni game, could you recap it on the board? Or anyone who goes? I agree about it being really quiet. Long weekend, everyone must be out having fun.

[armywife]

Great Pictures Q. Looks like that announcer is doing a great job with the future Titans.

[Late nite]

Dansand, if you go to the alumni game, could you recap it on the board? Or anyone who goes? I agree about it being really quiet. Long weekend, everyone must be out having fun.

Lots of nervous teams and their supporters

[Titan Q]

One of the great things about CCIW and Division III basketball is that I'm positive the North Park/IWU game - which is completely meaningless in terms of the league standings - is going to be very competitive and a great one for fans to watch.  The players will be playing as hard as if it were for the league title.

IWU got beat up pretty good by NPU in Bloomington.  I think tonight will be a close game start to finish.