MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[dansand]

The Midwest Regional Advisory Committee (the group that has been making the regional rankings this year and will turn in the final rankings tomorrow):

Steve Zapolski, Augustana (chair)
Gary Grzesk, St. Norbert
Mike McGrath, U. of Chicago
Brad Nadborne, Manchester
Skip Noon, Wisc. Lutheran
Matt Rogers, Maryville (Mo.)
Mark Scherer, Elmhurst



http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/basketball/2009/3_mbasketball_handbook.pdf
(last page)

Q,

It's Mike Zapolski...and where's my money? 

As far as last night's game, same refrain we've used all year after Augie losses (well, six of those losses, anyway)--just not enough offense. 17 turnovers and too many missed layups made another great defensive effort for naught. Tremendous performance by Chandlor Collins in his last game. He and the other five seniors, Jordan Delp, Alex Washington, Brett Wessels, Justin Bertrand and Jeff Becker, will sure be missed. They leave a great legacy including three CCIW titles.

Congrats to Elmhurst and Wheaton for advancing. It should be a great game tonight. Both teams are capable of going a long way in the NCAA tournament. In fact, I think Wheaton, in particular, probably has as good a chance as anyone to win the whole thing. Good luck to both of them.

[Titan Q]

Q,

It's Mike Zapolski...and where's my money? 

My apologies to Mr. Zapolski!

And yes, thanks for getting me the WETN feed last night.  Unfortunately, the feds have been all over me and I've been advised not the speak about my offer at this time.

[Titan Q]

I was speaking to Dave Kunka (IWU '93 classmate of mine) last night before the Wheaton/NCC game - he was in King Arena.  I told him that it was going to be game 1 of 8 of a special run to end Kent Raymond's career.

Game 1 - 36 points

Game 2 - CCIW title game
Game 3 - regional semifinal
Game 4 - regional final
Game 5 - sectional semifinal
Game 6 - sectional final
Game 7 - national seminfal
Game 8 - national title


We'll see if Kent proves me right.

[dansand]

Is WETN going to video stream non-Wheaton CCIW tournament games?  If that is not planned currently, can I slip someone a few bucks to make it happen?  (While I now live in Missouri, I still have Illinois/Chicago roots and "know how things get done.")

And yes, thanks for getting me the WETN feed last night.  Unfortunately, the feds have been all over me and I've been advised not the speak about my offer at this time.

Q,
That video feed is a #@&*$% valuable thing. I'm not givin' it away for #@&*$%  nothin'!

[augiefan]

A disappointing end to a disappointing season for a senior dominated Augie team. The lack of a go to offensive star was the team's major flaw. Nobody like Raymond or Ruch on Augie to take charge with the game on the line. In the end the CCIW's two best teams play for the championship tonight. Whoever wins I'm confident the loser will be in the NCAA tourney. It would be a travesty for the CCIW to get only one representative, and it's not going to happen that way.

I said from the beginning of the season that I believe a healthy Wheaton squad is the best DIII team in the country. Raymond's injury was a minor setback, but with DIII basketball's best offensive player on the floor at full strength I see Wheaton winning the title. I also think Elmhurst makes it to the "Elite 8", unless they have to face Wheaton before that round. Good luck to both teams from her on out.

As for Augie it's a long wait until next November and a rebuilding year. I know we all look forward to the basketball season, and it's tough to see it end with a tough loss in a must win game.

[79jaybird]

Interesting game last night.   Augie was more physical, dominated the glass,  and outhustled Elmhurst all game long, and yet EC was able to pull out a gutsy effort. 
In the first half, the difference was Robert Stzremp who had the hot hand.  In crunch time though it was the AA Ruch who was able to battle for the loose boards and sink the vital free throws.  Also give credit to Dustin Bainter who (not a great FT shooter) made his clutch free throws when Augie was still one possession away from tying the game.

Both teams played well and it was a pretty entertaining game. 

Kudos to Elmhurst's Students who were voisterous and well represented.  Many FB players and fans alike.   They were courteous and very spirited.  For an often criticized non-existent fan base, Elmhurst did show up last night.

My gut feeling is that Wheaton and Elmhurst are in regardless of the outcome tonight.  These two have been the frontrunners for most of the season and clearly the league's two best teams led by two All Americans. 

[Jim Matson]

Great game at Wheaton last night.  As I mentioned to a few friends, Raymond was a one-man wrecking crew.  His first half three point shot from up top as he was moving hard to his left pretty much epitomized the evening for the Thunder.  And several times after plays like these, the North Central coaching staff could only watch in disbelief.  But Raymond did get support: Pflederer was wonderful in his first serious tourney experience as a Wheaton player.  His three pointer, steal and layup in the second half I think was the real turning point for the Thunder.  Jahns and Panner were also important at times, and Wiele came alive in the second half, finally experiencing some success down low.  My only question for the experts is that of the Wheaton response to the tight North Central defense.  There were some real sloppy periods in this game and it didn't appear to me that there was much adjustment made at the half for either team (other than perhaps a more successful strategy in getting Wiele the ball - but I really think that it was his effort, not any change in the offense).

I thought Matt Rogers was fantastic for North Central.  He hit almost every shot that he had to make, and he left it all on the court, even diving in for a must-have rebound very late in the game.  That did result in a foul, but he had no choice.  He really stepped up well in this game.  I thought Drennan also played well.  He and Raymond had a few "encounters" but it was really a great thing watch as two of the best in the league (and the Midwest) went at it.  I did not realize how good an athlete Drennan really is.  Very quick, smooth, and very aware of the play going on around him.  Also, Cardinal Dean Prince showed a ton of commitment, coming back to play in the second half from a very painful injury suffered late in the first half.  Tough kid.

After some of the tough battles between these two squads over the years, it was good to see the teams come together for prayer (led by Coach Raridon) after the game.  A good show of respect for each other.

Great game to watch and certainly up in the air until the final 2 or 3 minutes.  North Central was a very good basketball team last night.

[Titan Q]

(Note - I am assuming Elmhurst is in with a loss tonight.)


If you are an Augustana fan, here is a list of teams you need to root hard for today (all are hosting conference tournament games and would probably be ahead of Augie in the Pool C line with a loss):

Conference tournament championship games
St. Lawrence (vs RPI, 2:00pm)
Widener (vs Elizabethtown, 2:00pm)
DeSales (vs Manhattanville, 3:00pm)
Farmingdale St. (vs St. Joseph's L.I., 6:00pm)
Wooster (vs Wabash, 6:00pm)
Transylvania (vs Franklin, 6:30pm)
Calvin (vs Hope, 6:30pm)
St. Thomas (vs Bethel, 7:30pm)
Puget Sound (vs Whitworth, 8:00pm)

Conference tournament semi-final games
Middlebury (vs Bowdoin, 1:00pm)
Franklin & Marshall (vs Muhlenberg, 2:00pm)
Ithaca (vs Nazareth, 3:00pm)
Worcester Polytech (vs Springfield, 3:30pm)
Texas-Dallas (vs Mary Hardin-Baylor, 3:30pm)

The following Pool C's are most likely accounted for already:

1. UW-Whitewater*
2. Buena Vista*
3. St. Mary's (Md)*
4. Randolph-Macon* or Guilford* (maybe both, but I am not sold ODAC is getting 3 in)
5. UW-Stevens Point or UW-Platteville
6. Wheaton or Elmhurst
7. John Carroll or Capital
8. Rhode Island or Mass-Dartmouth
9. Hamilton* (I struggle with this one as I watched IWU pound this team on neutral court)
10. Salem St. or Bridgewater St.
11. Trinity-Tx or Centre

* already lost in conf tournament


So there are about 7 spots left (there are 18 Pool C's this year).  Augustana absolutely can't afford more than about 1 or 2 of those 14 teams I listed above to get upset if they want to even be discussed tomorrow.  There will be other teams out there sitting in the same spot as Augie - very much on the bubble - that might be a little ahead (like Amherst, Whitworth, Carnegie Mellon, and Brandies, for example).  So no room for upsets.

Scoreboard: http://www.d3hoops.com/schedule/mens/2009-02-28

[petemcb]

Thanks for the link, Q.  Good quality broadcast.  Congrats to the Lady Titans on their 20 point win over Carthage.  They looked very impressive.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Thanks for the link, Q.  Good quality broadcast.  Congrats to the Lady Titans on their 20 point win over Carthage.  They looked very impressive.

And a salute to the Lady Reds.  While they could never cut the second half margin to single digits, they absolutely refused to go away.

I have very high hopes of the CCIW sweeping both national titles.  (And Raymond and Solari just might sweep the POY titles as well.)

[Titan Q]

If you are an Augustana fan, here is a list of teams you need to root hard for today (all are hosting conference tournament games and would probably be ahead of Augie in the Pool C line with a loss):

Conference tournament championship games
St. Lawrence (vs RPI, 2:00pm)
Widener (vs Elizabethtown, 2:00pm)
DeSales (vs Manhattanville, 3:00pm)
Farmingdale St. (vs St. Joseph's L.I., 6:00pm)
Wooster (vs Wabash, 6:00pm)
Transylvania (vs Franklin, 6:30pm)
Calvin (vs Hope, 6:30pm)
St. Thomas (vs Bethel, 7:30pm)
Puget Sound (vs Whitworth, 8:00pm)

Conference tournament semi-final games
Middlebury (vs Bowdoin, 1:00pm)
Franklin & Marshall (vs Muhlenberg, 2:00pm)
Ithaca (vs Nazareth, 3:00pm)
Worcester Polytech (vs Springfield, 3:30pm)
Texas-Dallas (vs Mary Hardin-Baylor, 3:30pm)
Scoreboard: http://www.d3hoops.com/schedule/mens/2009-02-28

Bad result for Augie...

http://www.stlawu.edu/sports/m_hoop/2008-09/llchamp1.htm

RPI upsets St. Lawrence (#2 East region).  Hamilton (#3 East) from the the same league (Liberty) was also upset by RPI in the Liberty League tournament, yesterday.

I've mentioned this before, but here is what happened when IWU faced Hamilton @ Wash U...

http://www.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2009/IWU6.HTM

IWU outrebounded Hamilton 52-31.

This league could get 3 teams in.  I can't actually see that happening, but I guess 2 is a safe bet. 

[Gregory Sager]

Mute the video and listen to D3hoopsNet next time. (Hopefully the buffer isn't too far off in either direction.)

Good idea. Thanks, Pat.

[larry_u]

You're Welcome Augie.

Lawrence  88 Grinnell 69

[Titan Q]

If you are an Augustana fan, here is a list of teams you need to root hard for today (all are hosting conference tournament games and would probably be ahead of Augie in the Pool C line with a loss):

Conference tournament championship games
St. Lawrence (vs RPI, 2:00pm) lost
Widener (vs Elizabethtown, 2:00pm) won
DeSales (vs Manhattanville, 3:00pm) won
Farmingdale St. (vs St. Joseph's L.I., 6:00pm)
Wooster (vs Wabash, 6:00pm)
Transylvania (vs Franklin, 6:30pm)
Calvin (vs Hope, 6:30pm)
St. Thomas (vs Bethel, 7:30pm)
Puget Sound (vs Whitworth, 8:00pm)

Conference tournament semi-final games
Middlebury (vs Bowdoin, 1:00pm) won
Franklin & Marshall (vs Muhlenberg, 2:00pm) won
Ithaca (vs Nazareth, 3:00pm) lost
Worcester Polytech (vs Springfield, 3:30pm) lost
Texas-Dallas (vs Mary Hardin-Baylor, 3:30pm) won

Scoreboard: http://www.d3hoops.com/schedule/mens/2009-02-28

More trouble...

Ithaca has been upset by Nazareth.

Worcester Poly has fallen to Springfield.

[AndOne]

Over an extended period many of us have commented that while we personally don't care for Augie Coach Grey Giovanine's demeanor and antics, we recognize he is an excellent tactician and coach. However, in last night's CCIW tourney semifinal, I felt he neglected to capitalize on a huge advantage he was presented by the Elmhurst defensive alignment which may well have cost Augie the chance to win the game.

Let me explain---frequently during the 2nd half, I noticed Augie's 6'7" Chandlor Collins being defended by Elmhurst's guards. At the times I noticed this, Collins was usually being guarded either by 6'2" Zack Boyd or 6'2" Joe Acosta. To my amazement, when these EC players were defending him, Collins was most often hanging around the 3 point line, particularly on the right side of the basket. Why in the world didn't Giovanine instruct Collins to set up down low? All it would have taken was an indefensible lob in to Collins over the much shorter defenders for an almost automatic 2 points given Collins' huge height advantage. Instead, Collins spent much of his time camped out on the arc, as if awaiting the opportunity to launch a 3 point bomb, which surely isn't his weapon of choice.

Augie (and EC) fans---did any of you also notice this? If so, do you think it may have made a difference in the final outcome? Thanks.