MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

The Augie @ NCC game was a little strange, as two of the CCIW teams that have the best defensive reputations ended up shooting quite well against each other. Augie shot 63% (31-49) from the field on the night; AC's previous high FG percentage this season was 52% against Beloit back in mid-November. The Doggies also shot a blistering 45% (10-22) from downtown. Whatever they were doing tonight, I'm sure that Grey Giovanine would like to put some of it in a bottle and save it. They did, however, carry on their tradition of chipping orange paint off of the rim by going 9-18 from the charity stripe.

North Central shot a very solid 52% (26-50) from the field in response, going 5-12 (42%) from long range. The Cards didn't do much better than Augie at the line, going 14-22 for 64%. Augie outrebounded North Central by one, but had three more turnovers than did the host Redbirds.

Kyle Nelson led Augie with 22 points and 6 boards, while Matt Pelton added 19 points (he scored all his points on treys, as he went 6-9 from downtown) and Troy Rorer chipped in 10. NCC was led by David Twyman, who scored 22 points before fouling out in the game's waning minutes, while Derek Raridon scored 19, Reid Barringer contributed 12, and Brian Evans added 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Todd Raridon only used seven players in this game, but what's even more unusual is that Grey Giovanine only used eight.

[izzy stradlin]

Wheaton has ROTC?  God's Crusaders taken to another level.  Uff da!

They sure do. 
http://www.wheaton.edu/rotc/

I am a bit younger than Mugsy (I graduated within the last decade), but I also had two good friends from Wheaton ROTC who served recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Both were also football players.  They put their lives on hold to serve.

Wheaton ROTC inciting a reaction like that from you says much more about you than it does about Wheaton.

[usee]

I know Stevie D is the obvious pick but Wheaton's Tim McCrary is making a case to be in the conversation for POY at this early stage. He is on track to be a hands down All American as a sophomore. I watched him play tonight at King Arena and he is as complete a player as I have seen in the CCIW. He is really hard to defend as he moves so well without the ball in Wheaton's motion offense.

Here are his numbers:

24.7 ppg, 10 reb, 4.76 assists, 1.17 steals, 1.33 blcks, 60.8% FG, 66.7% FT, A/T ratio 2.00

Stevie D for comparison:
21.8ppg, 4.8 reb, 8.33 assists, 1.17 steals, .33 blcks, 55.7% FG, 81.3% FT, A/T ratio 3.13

[Titan Q]

The Augie @ NCC game was a little strange, as two of the CCIW teams that have the best defensive reputations ended up shooting quite well against each other. Augie shot 63% (31-49) from the field on the night; AC's previous high FG percentage this season was 52% against Beloit back in mid-November. The Doggies also shot a blistering 45% (10-22) from downtown.

FG% of NCC opponents this season in CCIW play...

vs IWU - 62%
@ Wheaton - 49%
vs North Park - 46%
@ Millikin - 42%
vs Carthage - 62%
vs Augustana - 63%


Regardless of past team defensive reputation, I don't think we should be surprised when a 2010 NCC opponent (especially a "contender") shoots well from the floor.

Now, NCC shooting 52% vs Augie...yes, definitely a surprise.

[stormbball]

What is the status with Cody Hilton from CC? 
I haven't been to a game since he has been ill but the boxscores since he's been back show that he hasn't been doing much of anything in the games.  I imagine he is still recovering but I was wondering if there is anything else there. 
In addiiton, why would Bosko continue to start him over the two guys who are coming off the bench and playing well. 

[Titan Q]

Big game @ IWU today between the 4-1 Titans and 4-1 NPU Vikings (4:00pm).  Unfortunately I can't see more than about 750 people in the stands at the Shirk Center today.  

Sunday game attendance...

11/29/09, vs Manchester - 325
11/22/09, vs Wash U - 1000
11/15/09, vs Benedectine - 785


I don't remember IWU playing any Sunday home games until 3 years ago when the Titans hosted Albion.  Since then there have been quite a few Sunday games and attendance has been awful at all.  I expect the same today...especially with the AFC and NFC championship games.

The Titans will have to generate their own energy today.  As with any home game in the CCIW, this is one IWU has to win if they want to contend in the league this year.

[bigz61550]

Wheaton has ROTC?  God's Crusaders taken to another level.  Uff da!

They sure do. 
http://www.wheaton.edu/rotc/

I am a bit younger than Mugsy (I graduated within the last decade), but I also had two good friends from Wheaton ROTC who served recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Both were also football players.  They put their lives on hold to serve.

Wheaton ROTC inciting a reaction like that from you says much more about you than it does about Wheaton.

I first mentioned ROTC on the board so I want to clarify that I meant no disrespect.  I attended Wheaton during the Viet Nam war and had many of my classmates served in Viet Nam.  Three close friends died over there and another died from complications when he got back.  Like they say 'war is hell', but I have the highest respect for those who serve our country.

[CCIWchamps]

Wheaton outshot Elmhurst from the field, but actually not by that much: 44% to 41%. The difference is that Wheaton got off 55 shots to Elmhurst's 39. That's because Wheaton almost doubled the Bluejays off the glass, 45-21. Elmhurst also turned the ball over four more times than did Wheaton.

Tim McCrary had 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists for Wheaton. He was joined in double figures by Andrew Jahns and John Shackelford, who had 15 points apiece. EC was led by Zach Boyd, the only double-figure scorer with 12. He, Dustin Bainter, and James Robertson led the Bluejays with three boards apiece.

I didn't read much in the preseason, but what was the outlook for Elmhurst coming in?  It was night and day from the epic games Wheaton played them in last year.

[Mugsy]

Wheaton has ROTC?  God's Crusaders taken to another level.  Uff da!

They sure do. 
http://www.wheaton.edu/rotc/

I am a bit younger than Mugsy (I graduated within the last decade), but I also had two good friends from Wheaton ROTC who served recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Both were also football players.  They put their lives on hold to serve.

Wheaton ROTC inciting a reaction like that from you says much more about you than it does about Wheaton.

I first mentioned ROTC on the board so I want to clarify that I meant no disrespect.  I attended Wheaton during the Viet Nam war and had many of my classmates served in Viet Nam.  Three close friends died over there and another died from complications when he got back.  Like they say 'war is hell', but I have the highest respect for those who serve our country.

No offense taken from your posts.

[markerickson]

Izzy:  thanks for the compliment.  I'm not offended either.

[AndOne]

The Augie @ NCC game was a little strange, as two of the CCIW teams that have the best defensive reputations ended up shooting quite well against each other. Augie shot 63% (31-49) from the field on the night; AC's previous high FG percentage this season was 52% against Beloit back in mid-November. The Doggies also shot a blistering 45% (10-22) from downtown.

FG% of NCC opponents this season in CCIW play...

vs IWU - 62%
@ Wheaton - 49%
vs North Park - 46%
@ Millikin - 42%
vs Carthage - 62%
vs Augustana - 63%


Regardless of past team defensive reputation, I don't think we should be surprised when a 2010 NCC opponent (especially a "contender") shoots well from the floor.

Now, NCC shooting 52% vs Augie...yes, definitely a surprise.

My bet is that the North Central coaching staff, taking a no excuses stance, would say that the players just aren't very good on defense right now. I'll take a somewhat more forgiving position in that I believe that while guts, determination, and effort can makeup to some degree for a lack of height, bulk, and quickness, once you get to a certain number of inches shorter, and a certain number of pounds lighter than your opponents, the compensatory elements of the guts, determination, and effort are no longer able to compensate for the physical differences.

Such is the plight of the NCC Cards in most games this season. On the interior, they lack both the height and bulk to effectively defend the paint, and on the perimeter, they lack the same elements plus the necessary quickness to effectively fight over, under, and through screens to present chest to chest or even hand in the face defense beyond the arc. Accordingly, we see the resulting high percentage shooting from the Cardinals opponents. 

I do think one thing the Cards deserve credit for is effort given. In most cases, I believe they are battling to the best of their ability, and certainly have not quit on themselves, despite what must be very disheartening results. Evidence of this is suggested by the fact that they have only really been out of one game (Carthage).
They lost to Wesleyan and North Park by 5 and to Wheaton by only 3. Last night, after leading by 2 at the half, they trailed Augie by only 1 with 3:50 left. At that point, the weary Cards fell victim to the final Augie push to victory. If the Augie coaches and players answered truthfully, I'd bet they would tell you that there is no way in heck that they thought they would be behind at halftime or have to battle so hard to get the win last evening. 

I know the NCC staff is working hard to bring kids on board next year to address the height and weight differentials.

Lastly, for those of you who love stats, here is one from the CCIW web site that I find awesomely amazing. Leading the league in offensive rebounding is North Central's 6'3" Brian Evans. Great work!   

[Red.Men1]

What is the status with Cody Hilton from CC? 
I haven't been to a game since he has been ill but the boxscores since he's been back show that he hasn't been doing much of anything in the games.  I imagine he is still recovering but I was wondering if there is anything else there. 
In addiiton, why would Bosko continue to start him over the two guys who are coming off the bench and playing well. 

Cody Hilton is not recovering. Hilton was never out. I think you're confusing two Carthage players. Max Cary has been out for a few weeks with mononucleosis according to kenoshanews.com. He's not back yet.

Not all facets of a basketball game can be seen from a box score. While Hilton doesn't boast huge numbers he is an amazing defender from what I've seen and heard, and that seems to be why Bosko continues to play him.

As far as the players coming off the bench and doing well...maybe they're players that do better coming off the bench. Especially as freshman, I've seen it where players have an opportunity to start and don't do as well as when they're coming off the bench. I have no doubts that Thompson will be starting next year, but why change what seems to be working for him now?

[AndOne]

The Augie @ NCC game was a little strange, as two of the CCIW teams that have the best defensive reputations ended up shooting quite well against each other. Augie shot 63% (31-49) from the field on the night; AC's previous high FG percentage this season was 52% against Beloit back in mid-November. The Doggies also shot a blistering 45% (10-22) from downtown. Whatever they were doing tonight, I'm sure that Grey Giovanine would like to put some of it in a bottle and save it. They did, however, carry on their tradition of chipping orange paint off of the rim by going 9-18 from the charity stripe.

North Central shot a very solid 52% (26-50) from the field in response, going 5-12 (42%) from long range. The Cards didn't do much better than Augie at the line, going 14-22 for 64%. Augie outrebounded North Central by one, but had three more turnovers than did the host Redbirds.

Kyle Nelson led Augie with 22 points and 6 boards, while Matt Pelton added 19 points (he scored all his points on treys, as he went 6-9 from downtown) and Troy Rorer chipped in 10. NCC was led by David Twyman, who scored 22 points before fouling out in the game's waning minutes, while Derek Raridon scored 19, Reid Barringer contributed 12, and Brian Evans added 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Todd Raridon only used seven players in this game, but what's even more unusual is that Grey Giovanine only used eight.

David Twyman is having a fine season for the Cardinals. Perhaps the most explosive player in the conference, and already the author of several monster dunks, Twyman is averaging 18.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3 apg, 1.17 spg, and is shooting .620.

[AndOne]

What is the status with Cody Hilton from CC? 
I haven't been to a game since he has been ill but the boxscores since he's been back show that he hasn't been doing much of anything in the games.  I imagine he is still recovering but I was wondering if there is anything else there. 
In addiiton, why would Bosko continue to start him over the two guys who are coming off the bench and playing well. 

Cody Hilton is not recovering. Hilton was never out. I think you're confusing two Carthage players. Max Cary has been out for a few weeks with mononucleosis according to kenoshanews.com. He's not back yet.

Not all facets of a basketball game can be seen from a box score. While Hilton doesn't boast huge numbers he is an amazing defender from what I've seen and heard, and that seems to be why Bosko continues to play him.

As far as the players coming off the bench and doing well...maybe they're players that do better coming off the bench. Especially as freshman, I've seen it where players have an opportunity to start and don't do as well as when they're coming off the bench. I have no doubts that Thompson will be starting next year, but why change what seems to be working for him now?

Thompson was a very strong force off the bench for Carthage vs North Central. He had 6 points on 3 for 5 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals in 19 minutes. Very impressive work.

[AndOne]

Kyle Nelson led Augie with 22 points and 6 boards, while Matt Pelton added 19 points (he scored all his points on treys, as he went 6-9 from downtown) and Troy Rorer chipped in 10. NCC was led by David Twyman, who scored 22 points before fouling out in the game's waning minutes, while Derek Raridon scored 19, Reid Barringer contributed 12, and Brian Evans added 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Todd Raridon only used seven players in this game, but what's even more unusual is that Grey Giovanine only used eight.

Although some posters, one in particular, are exceptionally fond of criticizing my penchant for questioning why some players would choose to attend a school already loaded with players at their position rather than attending another school where they can also get a great education AND play sooner rather than later, this just serves as yet another example of why, from a basketball standpoint, such a choice is questionable. (Hows that for a run-on sentence??)

If you want to PLAY college ball, go someplace where you can PLAY, rather than just being another spectator.