MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[The Roop]

So Carrolls 77-68 win over St. Norbert today didn't help matters.

[Gregory Sager]

congratulations to north park on a winning season

When was the last one?

The Vikings went 14-11 as recently as two years ago (2007-08).

[BlueJay21]

Well Elmhurst ended a very long and disappointing season this year with a home loss to Wheaton to close out the careers of 2 very good Elmhurst players. I would like to congratulate and thank both Chris Childs and Dustin Bainter for all they did at EC during their four years. Obviously it didn't end up the way they wanted it too, but both players played a HUGE role in the success during the last few years.

Dustin Bainter-Played all 4 years at guard for the Bluejays, and was a great defensive player. He also was the starting PG for our NCAA tourney team last year.
Chris Childs-An electric player that could fill up a highlight film with all of his crazy passes and shots during his career at Elmhurst. He had a couple monster games last year.

Both players will be greatly missed up at EC, and will be very tough to replace. Sad to see both of them have to go through a year like this one, but they were definitely very important parts of the special run we had. Thanks guys!

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 70, Illinois Wesleyan 67

* Roshawn Russell: 15 pts
* Jorge Gonzalez: 14 pts, 9 rebs
* Nick Williams: 13 pts, 7 rebs
* Davone Robinson: 11 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts

* Sean Johnson: 24 pts
* Doug Sexauer: 15 pts, 5 rebs
* Edmond O'Callaghan: 6 rebs
* Travis Rosenkranz: 6 asts

This morning I posted this thought about the upcoming game in the crackerbox:

* Illinois Wesleyan @ North Park (7:30pm) - the Titans will probably know before the tip if they're playing for a share of the title or not, but either way, this game is very big for IWU.  A road win tonight vs the Vikings would really help IWU's Pool C position.

This game is big for the Vikings as well, Bob. NPU is not just out to play spoiler tonight. The Vikings are on the threshold of a winning season overall and a .500 season in conference. In light of the team's struggles last season and its last-place prediction for this season, that's quite a set of benchmarks that they can achieve with a win tonight. Plus, it's Nick Williams's last game, and I don't foresee him going out quietly.

I added the underline tonight, because as it turns out Nick Williams did not go out quietly. He had a solid if unspectacular night in terms of scoring and rebounding, but his defense on Doug Sexauer made a very big difference in this game -- and, as USee noted, it was Nick's huge block of Sean Johnson's layup attempt with eleven seconds left and the Titans trying to play quick-two-then-foul while trailing by three -- followed by Williams retrieving the ball himself -- that showed just how unwilling he was to call it a career without winning his last game. Of course, he then clanked the front end of a one-and-one after Duncan Lawson had tackled him at halfcourt, so nobody's perfect.   But Jordan Zimmer's running 22-footer at the buzzer was swatted away by Shaun Collins, and the Vikings walked off the floor with the W.

The Vikings were the more physical and more aggressive team tonight, but they didn't do a good job of adjusting to the refs, who came out in the second half and called a much tighter game than they did in the first. That, combined with Emanuel Crosby's inability to move laterally quick enough to guard Sexauer (and his inexperience at focusing on taking away Sexauer's left hand) aided the Titans in erasing their ten-point halftime deficit very quickly. It was at that point, after Sexauer had scored seven points against Crosby fairly quickly at the start of the half, that Paul Brenegan moved Williams onto Sexauer, and the Titans star suddenly had a very hard time finding the bottom of the basket. That, plus Brenegan's extensive use of Jorge Gonzalez in tandem with Williams down low, really spelled the difference. Gonzalez was too quick for any Titans forward to stop, and he gobbled up rebounds left and right with those amazing springs of his.

The Williams and Collins blocks were the lingering memories of the game, but Gonzalez was really the star in crunch time. Down the stretch it was a back-and-forth game, but Gonzalez's rebounding and a huge putback at 1:11 by the junior from Niles North, following by his big layup with :24 left and the shot clock down to two took NPU from a 67-66 deficit to the lead in the waning seconds and set up those two big blocks.

Ro Russell wasn't a big factor in the second half, but his scoring in the first half really sparked that early NPU lead. Congrats to the Vikings sophomore as well upon winning his second straight CCIW free-throw title. Davone Robinson very quietly played a strong all-around game for the Park and deserves notice.

Sean Johnson, who consistently got behind the Vikings' guards and made easy transition baskets, and was very effective in the halfcourt as well, had an outstanding night for the visitors. And Sexauer made the most of his opportunities when he didn't have Williams guarding him. But the Vikings simply worked harder on the boards (36-25, including a 13-7 offensive rebounding bulge), in sharp contrast to the game the two teams played in Bloomington in January, and they made the big stops at the end of the game when everything was on the line.

Great, great win for the Vikings, who end the season on an up note and look ahead to 2010-11 with a renewed sense of optimism. And Nick Williams, fittingly, went out with a bang.

[The Roop]

Sorry CCIW fans but I don't see you getting 2 teams in.

Any bells ringing now ??

[Gregory Sager]

Sorry CCIW fans but I don't see you getting 2 teams in.

Any bells ringing now ??

I never said two teams was a done deal. In fact, I've had my doubts about it all along; as I've been saying since, oh, roughly about five minutes after the season ended last year, the 2009-10 edition of the CCIW is going to go down as a pretty forgettable one. There's been a significant dropoff this season from what the CCIW has achieved over the past decade, no two ways about it.

But there's still a league tournament to be played, and Carthage hasn't won it yet -- and Carthage is a done deal as far as getting a Pool C berth if it needs one is concerned.

[The Roop]

Just thought I'd say "tag; you're it" 

[thunderstruck88]

Is there still any debate over whether Panner deserves first team all-CCIW? There shouldn't be.

Of course there is. There are several deserving candidates and it is very hard to get 2 players on the 1st team especially when you aren't the conference champion. There are several players to argue over the last 3 spots for 1st team.

Given Panner's level of play in recent games, I am inclined to think he might get the first team nod over McCrary. I wouldn't be surprised either way, but given Panner's play on both ends of the court, I think he deserves it more than Tim.   

[CCIWchamps]

Is there still any debate over whether Panner deserves first team all-CCIW? There shouldn't be.

Of course there is. There are several deserving candidates and it is very hard to get 2 players on the 1st team especially when you aren't the conference champion. There are several players to argue over the last 3 spots for 1st team.

Given Panner's level of play in recent games, I am inclined to think he might get the first team nod over McCrary. I wouldn't be surprised either way, but given Panner's play on both ends of the court, I think he deserves it more than Tim.   

That's really interesting because I was wondering the same thing.  Every since TM's fast start, he's dropped off somewhat with the constant double teams.  However, he still puts up 18-6-8, so I think he's done a lot.  On defense, though, you're right.  Panner has really stepped it up.  Congratulations to him on a great final regular season game for his career.  I'm happy to have watched him play for an "extra" season.  I look forward to seeing him next weekend as well.  His experience is going to be a huge help now more than ever.

[CCIWchamps]

Congratulations to Carthage for the first outright CCIW title in 8 yrs. 12-2 in this league is something special. Many had carthage pegged as the favorite but I don't think anyone thought they (or anyone) would go 12-2. We also have a chance to see 2 others go at least 10-4 which is often a record that wins this league. It will be interesting to see how Carthage and any other CCIW reps fare in the postseason.

Congrats to CU.  It's funny how Wheaton's 10-4 seems so far from its 11-3 of last year.  Considering how they started the season, I'm impressed that they were able to come out and finish second, behind only CU.  It'd be great to see them both play a couple extra games.

[Gregory Sager]

Here's where Nick Williams ended up on three of the NPU career lists:

CAREER SCORING

Michael Thomas	2085	1978-81
Justyne Monegain	2039	1982-85
Michael Harper	1880	1977-80
Modzel Greer	1826	1977-80
Greg Crawford	1690	1967-70
Keith McDonald	1609	1970-73
Rick Alspach	1562	1997-00
Mike Barach	1507	1986-88
Michael Starks	1499	1986-88
Denny Keizer	1377	1996-99
Nick Williams	1348	2007-10
Marc Horner	1278	1989-92
Lamar Townsend	1082	2002-05

CAREER TREYS

Rick Alspach	251	1997-00
Jason Collins	163	1999-02
Dan Hill	162	1989-91
Nick Willliams	145	2007-10
Mike Barach	143	1986-88
Jeff Pearson	129	1989-92
Lamar Townsend	128	2002-05
Keith Born	115	1993-96
Jason Vukas	112	1989-92
Keith Peterson	111	1998-01

CAREER TREY PERCENTAGE

Dan Hill	.468	1989-91
Jeff Pearson	.467	1989-92
Mike Barach	.445	1986-88
Jason Vukas	.419	1989-92
Rick Alspach	.411	1997-00
Nick Williams	.410	2007-10
Joe Sebek	.395	1988-90
Jason Collins	.381	1999-02
Keith Peterson	.380	1998-01
Kerry Pates	.374	1999-00

[thunder38]

great win for the Thunder tonight led by Panner.  Schauer said it best in the post game, "I don't think I've ever coached a kid who can dominate the game on both sides of the  floor the way he can." 34 points and holds Bainter to just six points on the night.  I think Mr. Panner has won himself a spot on the 1st team based on his play the last two weeks.

Who would've though that North Park would led such a helping hand to the Thunder as they did tonight.  that loss is a huge loss on the Wesleyan resume especially when you stack it up against that of the Thunder.

If you blindly compare their resumes a second place conference finish is going to look much more impressive than a third place finish.  Wheaton sweeping the regular season against Wesleyan is a huge hit to the Titans as well.  Looking at their non-conference opponents might be the best to separate the two and that too probably favors the Thunder:

Wheaton has a quality win over a Calvin team that won the MIAA outright as well as a demanding win over the same University of Chicago team that beat Wesleyan.  Their two common opponents had similar results with Wheaton looking better on paper: Monmouth (Wheaton won 84-53 in Cali. IWU won 65-55 in Shirk.) Wash U. (Wheaton lost 64-62 in St. Lou in a game they led until the closing seconds.  IWU lost 76-71 in the Shirk Center).

Both teams have bad losses (Wheaton:Hope, Wesleyan:Carthage) however, four of the other six losses for the Thunder came by a combined seven points. 

A lot rides on Friday's semi-final game but on paper it looks like gang-green may have a little more to gain by a win than the Crusaders.  Looking forward to all the tournament action.

[Gregory Sager]

Who would've though that North Park would led such a helping hand to the Thunder as they did tonight. 

Three of the fifteen people participating in this week's picks over in the CCIW pick'em room forecast a Vikings win over the Titans, FWIW.

[petemcb]

Who would've though that North Park would led such a helping hand to the Thunder as they did tonight. 

Three of the fifteen people participating in this week's picks over in the CCIW pick'em room forecast a Vikings win over the Titans, FWIW.

Sadly, for me, that number was four until I waivered at the wire before supper last night.   

[Titan Q]

So Carrolls 77-68 win over St. Norbert today didn't help matters.

Unless I'm missing something, I don't think St. Norbert's loss to Carroll has any impact on CCIW Pool C chances.  St. Norbert has a better Pool C chance than any CCIW team - no question about that.  But unless they lose in the MWC conference tournament, they won't need a Pool C bid.  (Last night's loss didn't take MWC hosting rights away from St. Norbert or have any impact as far as I can see.)