MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[tjcummingsfan]

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I can't understand the officiating from tonight's game.  Especially how 20 minutes can pass without a foul being called against a team.  At one point McCrary got bend over backwards and no foul was called but yet twice Carwell was called for some very questionable foul calls.  Jahns got grabbed on a break and ended up getting turned around and there was a no-call. Even in the final seconds Pierotti had Russell in a bearhug and it took two seconds four a foul to finally be called.  I'm not at all saying that this was the reason for the Thunder losing but when you're looking at a two-point overtime game you can't say it wasn't a factor.

Credit the Swedes, they absolutely deserved to win that game tonight.

This certainly goes to show how fans tend to see things differently depending on their team of choice. I was looking for times NP got shafted and sure found them as well.  Now granted my view on a half screen of my laptop in Swanzey, New Hampshire isn't the greatest seat in the gym, but I thought there were several more times that North Park really got the short end of the stick with foul calls (certainly not in volume, but in timing).  There were a couple of calls real late in regulation that went against North Park that really made me scratch my head. 

[usee]

Greg, great recap, particulartly of the last 2 second of regulation. I was wondering how that went down. Thanks for the details. Sounds like a great game and a big win for NPU.

[robberki]

Too bad I missed this game and the ceremony for my old friend and teammate. Congrats to the Vikings, what a great win. I'll be back in the booth on Wednesday hoping for another victory!

[mr_b]

This is one of those nights that makes me happy that I drive through city traffic and announce North Park's games for next-to-nothing (after you account for gas).

What an atmosphere.  As I had hoped, the Crazies certainly showed (the Ninja thing was awesome.  Wish North Park's assistant AD had had the stones to go tell them to put away the bagpipes himself, as opposed to making me announce it).

I will leave it to Sager to give the in-depth analysis, but any North Park fans out there who could not attend, I will leave you with this description of tonight's game:
In the 11 years that I have been watching and announcing NP's games, I can't think of a single one that was more exciting and intense that this one.

Viking Blue's assessment of the contest is right on the mark.  It's one of those games that you consider yourself fortunate to have attended -- a see-saw match, an emotional rollercoaster, two teams that fought hard for every possession, and the exuberance of the crowd, both home and visitors.  The Ninjas (sans bagpipe and accompanying drum) did a great job of energizing and entertaining the crowd.  The recognition of Rick Alspach and the dedication of alumni games in his memory was one more fitting aspect.  You can hang a gold star on this one for both teams.

Let's not get carried away....we're only four games into the season here.  But to me, this is the biggest win North Park has had in a decade.  MUCH needed.

Very true -- it's just one game in what is shaping up to be a very competitive CCIW season -- but it further underscores North Park's turning the corner after a tough 2008-2009 CCIW campaign.

[mr_b]

It was played in front of at least 800 fans (don't know where the 550 figure in the box score came from), including a full student section and a howling pack of Carlson Crazies all dressed up for Ninja Night.

I estimated the crowd at 800+ (I might have put 850 in the book). 

[Dennis_Prikkel]

GS recap of how close the north  park / wheaton game was last night, reminded me of the 1976 npc win over the crusaders won on a last second 25 footer by the vikings tony reibel, wheaton's biggest lead multiple times was two, north park led once by four, and the score was tied at least a dozen times.

[CCIWchamps]

I want to say a few words on behalf of Wheaton head coach Mike Schauer. This evening before the game he asked me to point out Rick Alspach's dad in the stands. He then went over and introduced himself to Rick's dad and said a few words to him. I don't think a lot of coaches would've done something like that, especially right before a big game, and he certainly didn't have to do it. Mike Schauer is a class act and an outstanding role model for his players. It's great to have him back in the league.

Thanks for adding that.  I thought the pre-game presentation for Alspach's family was well done, and it was amazing to hear the noise drop to silence in honor of the ceremony, and then right back to craziness!  Too bad Wheaton couldn't pull it out, but a great atmosphere for a close game.  Next time we'll get 'em.....

[Mr. Ypsi]

Final from Elmhurst: Titans 77, Jays 67.

The story of the game was the first 5 minutes of the second half.  Sean Johnson went berserk, notching 13 points in that span, and a six point halftime lead grew to 20.  The Jays never quit, coming within 7 with 4+ minutes left, but never seriously threatened again.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

fun game in the sauna at elmhurst this afternoon - my hearing will return in about a week

titans broke out to a 20-point lead 54-34 in the 2nd half, but the host blue jays refused to go away.  able to cut the lead to 7 with 4 to play, the titan guards sealed the win at the line.

this game was all about guards:
1- elmhurst played four of them most of the time and the titans big forwards were forced to chase the little gnats all over the gym.  the titan forwards got tired.

2- sean johnson lit it up at the start of the 2nd half from beyond the arc and broke the game open.  doug sexauer had the quietest 14 points youve never seen

3- ryan connolly played very thuggish in limited minutes dealing out three unneeded elbows that facialed three different jays

4- elmhurst guards can shoot and dont go away

5- illinois wesleyan really pushes the ball up the court on offense, but from seeing this game i wonder how well their guards would do against a 40-minute full court press - because the big men cant the dribble the ball at all.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

i hope elmhrst has a major for ear doctors and hearing aid design - with that thousand decibel worthless music they blast at every opportunity most of those suburban cub scouts are going to need hearing assistance in the not too distant future.

[markerickson]

I agree, Dennis, that music gets played too often at professional and amateur competitive events.  Nothing wrong with "Welcome to the Jungle" when the Vikings kickoff, but recorded music has unfortunately supplanted the pep band at bball contests. 

If it was all Tupac, all the time, well that's a different story.

[Viking Blue]

I agree, Dennis, that music gets played too often at professional and amateur competitive events.  Nothing wrong with "Welcome to the Jungle" when the Vikings kickoff, but recorded music has unfortunately supplanted the pep band at bball contests. 

If it was all Tupac, all the time, well that's a different story.

If North Park had a pep band and cheerleaders, I would gladly take that over the canned music that we have to play.  However, we know how well cheerleaders in the Crackerbox have fared...the Crazies usually eat them for lunch. 

I will say this, though (and I hope the regulars notice).  Whenever the Crazies make an attempt to involve the crowd in one of their chants during a timeout, the music get turned down. 

[wheaton.thunder]

I just have to mention this and get it off my chest in the hopes that a Thunder basketball player may read it and take it to heart, possibly even doing something about it because it is within his power to do so. Wheaton's ball handling is atrocious and lackadaisical, they pass more like they are playing a pick up game in the park rather than competing at the highest level in Division 3. If it were only a single game occurrence then I would have no grounds for this rant. I have watched women's teams more fundamentally sound. Maybe this is not even coached, I am not sure, but it presents a serious flaw on the court that I have watched too many teams take advantage of and cost Wheaton the win. Turnovers lose games.

PS. nobody bleeds more Orange and Blue than I do, that is why I am writing this blurb in the hopes that it may just piss off a Wheaton student athlete to do something about it.

Of course it would also be nice if they actually spent a little more time during shoot around after practice than rushing off to visit with their fat little girlfriends. (Sorry couldn't resist the opportunity to say that again.)

[Dennis_Prikkel]

I agree, Dennis, that music gets played too often at professional and amateur competitive events.  Nothing wrong with "Welcome to the Jungle" when the Vikings kickoff, but recorded music has unfortunately supplanted the pep band at bball contests. 

If it was all Tupac, all the time, well that's a different story.

If North Park had a pep band and cheerleaders, I would gladly take that over the canned music that we have to play.  However, we know how well cheerleaders in the Crackerbox have fared...the Crazies usually eat them for lunch. 

I will say this, though (and I hope the regulars notice).  Whenever the Crazies make an attempt to involve the crowd in one of their chants during a timeout, the music get turned down. 

vb - the music at north park games is played at one-tenth the volume of the elmhurst music.

[pgkevin]

I just have to mention this and get it off my chest in the hopes that a Thunder basketball player may read it and take it to heart, possibly even doing something about it because it is within his power to do so. Wheaton's ball handling is atrocious and lackadaisical, they pass more like they are playing a pick up game in the park rather than competing at the highest level in Division 3. If it were only a single game occurrence then I would have no grounds for this rant. I have watched women's teams more fundamentally sound. Maybe this is not even coached, I am not sure, but it presents a serious flaw on the court that I have watched too many teams take advantage of and cost Wheaton the win. Turnovers lose games.

PS. nobody bleeds more Orange and Blue than I do, that is why I am writing this blurb in the hopes that it may just piss off a Wheaton student athlete to do something about it.

Of course it would also be nice if they actually spent a little more time during shoot around after practice than rushing off to visit with their fat little girlfriends. (Sorry couldn't resist the opportunity to say that again.)

Maybe you should lock them all in a shed