MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[augiefan]

Augie stumbled to an ugly 55-46 win over Millikin tonight in Rock Island. It seems Augie prefers the road. A new low with 42% FT shooting, but Matt Pelton and Brian DeSimone scored enough to gain the wuin. The usual good Augie defensive effort.

We now know the 4 teams that will play in the CCIW tourney, as Wheaton beat IWU to nullify for conference tournament purposes NPU's 1 point win at Elmhurst. Carthage came from behind to win over NCC, so the Redmen are in sole possession of first place with two games to go.

[Titan Q]

Wheaton 65
IWU 59

A great defensive performance by Wheaton tonight.  The Thunder just took IWU out of everything they want to do offensively.  While Wheaton controlled the entire game, IWU was right in with about 2:00 to play.  The Titans had the lead down to 2 and played good defense on the other end.  At the shotclock buzzer, Jake Carwell banked in a 3 that pushed the Wheaton lead back to 5...it was Carwell's first 3 of the season (and I wonder possibly in his career?).  That was the dagger.

Ben Panner was terrific tonight for Wheaton.  He had a stretch about midway through the 2nd half where he carried Wheaton offensively.

Wheaton held Sean Johnson scoreless.  That kind of says it all.  The Thunder defense also neutralized Doug Sexauer for most of the game.

What a big loss for the Titans.  They go from tied for 1st to scrapping for a 2 or 3 seed with two tough road games to play.

Wheaton goes to Augustana and to IWU in back-to-back games and comes away with two wins...very impressive.

[Mr. Ypsi]

augiefan, you are either prescient or livestats were not live!  At the time of your post, IWU was only down 3 with 41 seconds to go!

Alas, Wheaton scored the last three to close out the contest.

[Titan Q]

Home win = +0
Road win = +1
Home loss = -1
Road loss = +0

Carthage +4
Augustana +3
Ill. Wesleyan +2
Wheaton +2
North Park +0
North Central -2
Millikin -4
Elmhurst -5

[Titan Q]

Updated standings:

Carthage 10-2
Ill. Wesleyan 9-3
Wheaton 8-4
Augustana 8-4
North Park 6-6
North Central 4-8
Millikin 2-10
Elmhurst 1-11

[Titan Q]

I'd have to think about it more, but I believe IWU is now in a "must win" position @ Augustana Wednesday in terms of avoiding the #4 seed.  It gets really complicated with tie-breakers, and with all the possible scenarios, but I do think the Titans have to win in Rock Island.  If they do, they'd be guaranteed the 2 or 3 spot, regardless of what they do @ NPU Saturday.

[Titan Q]

Again, probably have to think about this more but I believe...

* Augustana clinched a conference tournament spot tonight.  (Even if they lose remaining 2 - which is unlikely - and NPU wins both, Augie would own 8-6 tie-breaker via sweep over NPU.)

* I do not think Wheaton has clinched a spot yet.  If Wheaton loses final 2 and NPU wins final 2, NPU would own the 8-6 tie-breaker due to the hypothetical win over Carthage.  Wheaton can clinch a spot with a win at home over Millikin Wednesday, or via Carthage home win over NPU.  (Wheaton is in great shape, but it is not quite official yet.)

[usee]

Huge game for the Thunder tonight. Keeping IWU under 60pts is some kind of feat. They have now swept Augie and IWU. A few observations from the game:

IWU really struggled to find shots. Very few open looks. The officials were very inconsistent. 2 refs let them play and it was very physical underneath and 1 official continually called hand checks and touch fouls. Overall I thought IWU got the short straw on more calls. I was surprised at Sean Johnson's performance. He didn't get many looks but he also didn't seem as aggressive as I have ssen him in the past.

If I was picking teams from the group on the floor I think Duncan Lawson wouldn't be in the top 10 picks based on looks but he was huge tonight for IWU. He played great defense vs McCrary and hit some huge shots to keep the titans within striking distance. Wheaton really extended their defense against the titans perimeter shooters and they aggressively fronted Sexauer. The game really became about IWU's guards inability to get the ball into the post vs the Thunder pressure. Vs that defense Sexauer really should have had more pts.

[usee]

Q is right, Carwells 3pter was the dagger. That had no business going in. Reminded me of Tim Duncans 3 ball at the end of a playoff game a couple years ago (it was Duncan's first and only 3 of the season). What was impressibe though is after the 3 carwell ran down and had a block of a Sexauer layup that led made IWU have to start fouling.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Here's hoping the Titan men can imitate the women: IWU 87, Wheaton 70.

Since Sean Dwyer and women's star Christina Solari are a couple, I wonder if he could talk her into giving a few (7 to 16 would be good ) of those 'surplus' points to the men's team?

Since I will probably be predicting a loss in Rock Island, I was really counting on a win tonight.

[usee]

I think the All Conference selections are going to very tough when talking about the final spot(s) on the 1st team. I think Ben Panner has made a very strong case to be included. He carried this Wheaton team to consecutive road wins this week @Augie and @IWU. His defense on Sean Johnson and offensive firepower were the difference tonight and he hit huge free throws at the Culver center. I don't envy the coaches in their voting but if BP isn't one of the 5 best players in the conference this year I don't know who is.

[Mugsy]

I think the All Conference selections are going to very tough when talking about the final spot(s) on the 1st team. I think Ben Panner has made a very strong case to be included. He carried this Wheaton team to consecutive road wins this week @Augie and @IWU. His defense on Sean Johnson and offensive firepower were the difference tonight and he hit huge free throws at the Culver center. I don't envy the coaches in their voting but if BP isn't one of the 5 best players in the conference this year I don't know who is.

I mentioned it after the Augie game.  Another big game against IWU is building the case...  If he continues it through the CCIW tourney, it will be difficult to keep him off the 1st team.

[Viking Mike]

The venue in Rock Island where the Vikings play is called the Carver Center.... not the Culver Center.
The Carver Center has hot dogs where I believe Culver's does not.

It sounded like a real defensive struggle in RI tonight  Augie is in most games with their tough defense, but never has the offensive flow to put anyone away.  Each win is a 40min struggle.  I guess every coach, player, and fan in the CCIW could say the same about their team.

Titan Q is right.  By my calculations, if Augie can contain the Titans Wed and score enough to win,  AND  beat North Central at home on Sat, they will be a #3 seed.  IWU would be the #4 seed.  I figured this on the 4th tiebreaker which is road record in conference games.  Augie is 5-2 on the road where IWU would fall to 4-3 with a loss in RI.

Come on Augie..... need a good offensive showing on Wed!!!

[AndOne]

I think the All Conference selections are going to very tough when talking about the final spot(s) on the 1st team. I think Ben Panner has made a very strong case to be included. He carried this Wheaton team to consecutive road wins this week @Augie and @IWU. His defense on Sean Johnson and offensive firepower were the difference tonight and he hit huge free throws at the Culver center. I don't envy the coaches in their voting but if BP isn't one of the 5 best players in the conference this year I don't know who is.

I mentioned it after the Augie game.  Another big game against IWU is building the case...  If he continues it through the CCIW tourney, it will be difficult to keep him off the 1st team.

Aren't the all-conference teams determined by the players accomplishments during just the regular conference season?

[Titan Q]

Aren't the all-conference teams determined by the players accomplishments during just the regular conference season?

I think the all-conference team is voted on and announced in the days leading up to the conference tournament.