MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[AndOne]

Yes, thats the place. As you said, the food is pretty good there.
As far as the drinks, I think LOTS of restaurants are currently watering down drinks in an effort to generate profits in this recessionary time. I took my much better half to a new Mexican restaurant (La Hacienda) in Naperville Sat night, and had a very weak Margarita, which should be the specialty of such an otherwise classy new Mexican place.

The White Tavern--Did you get in any fights? The White Tavern on Ogden Ave is basically the pit of Naperville's drinking establishments. The city's police cars can find the place without having to be steered. And thank God you didn't get pizza from Uncle Steve's next door (there is a hole cut through the wall between Steve's and White's) or the Edward Hospital ER would likely have done more business that night. Of the multitude of pizza places in Naperville, Uncle Steve's is by far the greasiest, worst tasting there is.   

[titan2000]

Yes, thats the place. As you said, the food is pretty good there.
As far as the drinks, I think LOTS of restaurants are currently watering down drinks in an effort to generate profits in this recessionary time. I took my much better half to a new Mexican restaurant (La Hacienda) in Naperville Sat night, and had a very weak Margarita, which should be the specialty of such an otherwise classy new Mexican place.

The White Tavern--Did you get in any fights? The White Tavern on Ogden Ave is basically the pit of Naperville's drinking establishments. The city's police cars can find the place without having to be steered. And thank God you didn't get pizza from Uncle Steve's next door (there is a hole cut through the wall between Steve's and White's) or the Edward Hospital ER would likely have done more business that night. Of the multitude of pizza places in Naperville, Uncle Steve's is by far the greasiest, worst tasting there is.   

Smile, Andone.  Smile. 

[buf]

Yes, thats the place. As you said, the food is pretty good there.
As far as the drinks, I think LOTS of restaurants are currently watering down drinks in an effort to generate profits in this recessionary time. I took my much better half to a new Mexican restaurant (La Hacienda) in Naperville Sat night, and had a very weak Margarita, which should be the specialty of such an otherwise classy new Mexican place.

The White Tavern--Did you get in any fights? The White Tavern on Ogden Ave is basically the pit of Naperville's drinking establishments. The city's police cars can find the place without having to be steered. And thank God you didn't get pizza from Uncle Steve's next door (there is a hole cut through the wall between Steve's and White's) or the Edward Hospital ER would likely have done more business that night. Of the multitude of pizza places in Naperville, Uncle Steve's is by far the greasiest, worst tasting there is.   

Smile, Andone.  Smile. 

I bet its not as greasy as the potato oles at Taco Johns! 

[sac]

Photo gallery from Wheaton's games this past weekend
http://athletics.wheaton.edu/photo_gallery.aspx?gallery=2&path=mbball

[sac]

Here's the offensive and defensive efficiencies of the four teams at Wheaton this weekend.

Offensive
St. Thomas 117.7
Washington 116.1
Wheaton 115.6
Puget Sound 109.2

Defensive
St. Thomas 86.7
Puget Sound 89.5
Wheaton 95.3
Washington 96.7

I had to do a double-check on St. T's defensive number, that deserves a wow.  The difference this week is there are a couple of really outstanding defensive teams.  Wheaton and Washington are just outstanding.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Here's the offensive and defensive efficiencies of the four teams at Wheaton this weekend.

Offensive
St. Thomas 117.7
Washington 116.1
Wheaton 115.6
Puget Sound 109.2

Defensive
St. Thomas 86.7
Puget Sound 89.5
Wheaton 95.3
Washington 96.7

I had to do a double-check on St. T's defensive number, that deserves a wow.  The difference this week is there are a couple of really outstanding defensive teams.  Wheaton and Washington are just outstanding.

On the other hand, look at the opponents.  The Tommies played zero regionally-ranked teams until defeating UWSP on Saturday.  UPS's schedule is better, but only barely.  Wheaton and Wash U had much tougher opponents.

[cardinalpride]

The only regret all weekend was going to Rock Bottom restaurant in Naperville after Friday night's game.

You didn't like it?  Its one of my favorite places to go.

Pioneer--

Part of the problem might have been that you weren't in Naperville at the time. The local Rock Bottom is in Warrenville.  
And 74 is right about it being a pretty good place

Big place, by the AMC?  Ok, I'll say this.  My food was good.  Problem is that we went with a bigger group, our waiter was not ready for us.  We're basically all on a mini-vaction, and I thought he should've split our group with another waiter/waitress.  Drinks are overpriced and clearly not strong enough.  We needed to eat and all that, but our group was probably better off at a smaller setting and probably better off with burgers and fries.  Saturday was better though.  Spent all day at White Tavern and had food delivered to us from Mickeys...much better on the wallet and the stomach.

Sorry to hear you missed Crosstown Bar & Grille just a few blocks east on Ogden!  Same drink specials with great bar food!  Voted #1 for wings in Naperville by NBC!

[voxelmhurst]

The White Tavern--Did you get in any fights? The White Tavern on Ogden Ave is basically the pit of Naperville's drinking establishments. The city's police cars can find the place without having to be steered. And thank God you didn't get pizza from Uncle Steve's next door (there is a hole cut through the wall between Steve's and White's) or the Edward Hospital ER would likely have done more business that night. Of the multitude of pizza places in Naperville, Uncle Steve's is by far the greasiest, worst tasting there is.   

Hahaha. Wow!

My buddy and I have been in and out of Naperville many a time, and usually get back onto Ogden via Loomis when heading back.  We have always been curious about the White Tavern and this is pretty much what we expected! 

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

Sorry to hear you missed Crosstown Bar & Grille just a few blocks east on Ogden!  Same drink specials with great bar food!  Voted #1 for wings in Naperville by NBC!

See where you after the game when we needed a place? 

The White Tavern--Did you get in any fights? The White Tavern on Ogden Ave is basically the pit of Naperville's drinking establishments. The city's police cars can find the place without having to be steered. And thank God you didn't get pizza from Uncle Steve's next door (there is a hole cut through the wall between Steve's and White's) or the Edward Hospital ER would likely have done more business that night. Of the multitude of pizza places in Naperville, Uncle Steve's is by far the greasiest, worst tasting there is.   

Hahaha. Wow!

My buddy and I have been in and out of Naperville many a time, and usually get back onto Ogden via Loomis when heading back.  We have always been curious about the White Tavern and this is pretty much what we expected! 

Well four of us found it on a ride looking for a liquor store or something to get more beer for the hotel.  It certainly reminded me of a bar back here in Platteville with the crowd there Friday night, but we pretty much just played darts, the jukebox, and had a merry ole time.  Steves actually wasn't open when we wanted to eat, but after being in there for 4 hours, and having a pretty good time with the other group of people in there, the owner of Steves actually brought in free pizza for us out of towners...we were on the verge of leaving though, so I didn't eat a whole lot.  I do know the guy cooking the pizzas was in the bar the night before, but at this point it was 3PM.  We had fun though, so right now I can't complain about the place.  I'll have to remember Crosstown Bar & Grill for next time.

[usee]

Great article on D3 hoops, D3Sports in general as well as Wheaton's recent success. Interesting banter on the blog at the bottom too!

http://theloveofsports.com/2009/03/09/under-the-spell-of-division-iii-hoops/#more-3147

[fcnews]

What a great game those in the Chicago area are going to get a chance to see. From some one who had both Wash U and Wheaton as opponents and saw both in other games, it's a great match up.

IMHO:
Wash U would have to be a rooting choice because of our campuses relationships.
But, I think this is a very tough match for Wash U.

Panner blew me away. Good size, smart, and can do it all. Very over shadowed by Raymond. Panner will match Wallis in size and may be quicker.

Kent Raymond and Aaron Thompson - Match up of POY candidates.

Carwell and Nading - This is the most intriguing. Tyler Nading is a very gifted player and a proven commodity. I think the kid from Wheaton matches him size for size and may be more athletic.

Big Game for STL product Andy Wiele. He is not facing Jeff Skemp. He needs to show up big and taken advantage of this oppurtunity.

If Wash U tries to help in the post they will have to deal with Jahns and Plfederer. McCary does a very good job of knowing his role.

Wheaton is a very very good team. Good team size. And can beat you in many ways.

Wash U is the reining Champs. And, to be the champs you got to beat the Champs. Wash U - Experience, Experience and more Experience. And very well coached.

Unknown - How will Wash U shoot in the King Arena? Tightest rims I've seen this season.

I like WC in a classic.

[Titan Q]

Remembered posting this before Elmhurst played Wash U.  Re-posting in case anything here about the Bears is useful...

Great game on tap today, as #10 Elmhurst hosts #1 Wash U at 4:00pm.  Wish I could see this one...it could go either way.  I've seen Wash U. play 3 times this year, and I saw the Bears final 4 games last season (Sectionals, Final Four).  I've got a pretty good handle on the defending national champs to say the least.  I just saw Elmhurst play a few days ago, at Fontbonne.

Wash U is a much different team in 2008-09, after the graduation of D3hoops.com Player of the Year Troy Ruths (20.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg).  The 6-7 center was kind of the Tyler Hansbrough of Division III - he was just a beast down low for the Bears.  Wash U's other two key players last season were 6-7 wing Tyler Nading and 6-4 SG Aaron Thompson (PG Sean Wallis was hurt).  Wash U was just so hard to stop last year because you had the inside horse in Ruths, the outside sharpshooter in Thompson, and the do-it-all guy in Nading.  The Bears rolled in Salem, beating Hope by 15 and Amherst by 22.

This year's Wash U team also has 3 great players, but the difference is that they don't have a great player down low.  Junior Sean Wallis (9.9 ppg, 7.7 apg) is back, and is one of the best pure PG's in Division III.  Nading (14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg), a 6-7 senior small forward, is one of the toughest matchups in Division III because of his height at the 3 and his ability to play outside and in.  I believe Wash U's best player is 6-4 junior SG Aaron Thompson (18.3 ppg, 30-66 3-pt, .455), who is now their leading scorer on the season.  Thompson is a tremendous shooter and the Bears do a great job getting him shots.  He also has a knack for hitting the really big 3's...in game-changing moments. 

6-7 junior Zack Kelly has been very solid for the Bears this year, but he got hurt vs Fontbonne - I believe it was a concussion (he was literally old cold after catching an elbow to the head).  And earlier in the year, Wash U lost 6-9/250 Tom Blount to injury, who was originally Kelly's backup at the 5.   6-6 freshman Alex Toth started last night vs Eureka and 6-5 John Wolf moved into the rotation as his backup - the duo combined to go 8-9 from the field and score 20 points.

Wash U has a couple other key players.  6-5 starting PF Cameron Smith (6.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg) is your protypical "role player" - he just does a great job doing all the little stuff and also seems to always score a big basket late.  6-3 freshman small forward Dylan Richter (8.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) is going to be a D3 All-American as a junior and senior...he'll start next year at Nading's spot and the Bears won't lose a thing.  6-6 sophomore Caleb Knepper (7.3 ppg, 2.1) is a reserve who might lead the nation in 3's per minute played - that dude comes off the bench firing.

Wash U is extremely well-coached and their offense is a thing of beauty.  The Bears are shooting .536 on the season, which is amazing.  They have 198 assists to 124 turnovers. 

But again, Wash U does not have a horse down low - just some serviceable bigs - and I think they'll have a hard time defending Brent Ruch.  If Elmhurst's guards can take care of the ball, make their open shots, and get it to the big boy, the Bluejays can win this game.  That won't be easy, as Wash U's perimeter players are very good defenders.  The Bluejays will also have to bottle up Wash U's big guys - they can't have Toth, Smith, Wolf, etc combining to score 20+ points.  Nading, Thompson, Wallis, Richter, and the perimeter group as a whole is going to score tonight...can't afford for the 4/5 guys to do damage.

Wash U has been dodging bullets in the non-conference:

@ Augustana, W in OT
vs Aurora (neutral), W in OT
@ Anderson, W by 2
vs Illinois Wesleyan, W by 7 (very close game)
vs Fontbonne, W by 9 (very close game)

Wash U is a great team, but they are beatable.  If you're a Division III basketball fan in the Chicago area, you need to get out to Elmhurst tonight to see this one.

[Pat Coleman]

Richter is now hurt and out for the year, according to Sean Wallis' latest blog post.

[thundermike]

Just curious what people think about how Wheaton and Wash U matchup. The starting fives look pretty similar to me.

Wash U
G Sean Wallis 6'2" Sr
G Aaron Thompson 6'4" Jr
F Cameron Smith 6'5" Jr.
F Tyler Nading 6'7" Sr.
F Zach Kelly 6'7" Jr.

Wheaton
G Ben Panner 6'3" Jr.
G Kent Raymond 6'3" Sr.
F Tim McCrary 6'6" Fr.
F Jake Carwell 6'7" Jr.
C Andy Wiele 6'8" Sr

[usee]

I would expect Panner to guard Wallis and Raymond to matchup on Thompson. Might be the opposite or more likely they will trade off but I think Harris will look at it like he does Carthage. Raymond and Panner shared duties on Stevie D. I think McCrary may guard Nading since Harris will want Carwell closer to the basket so he and Wiele will match up with Smith and Kelly. You will see Jahns come in when Caleb Nepper enters the game and otherwise to spell Raymond and Panner.

The big thing for Wheaton is they won't face a physical mismatch like Skemp the rest of the way and they can match big lineups or small lineups with equal players in most cases. Their versatility will come in handy in each game should they be fortunate enough to continue.