MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[WUPHF]

I really believe these matchups are pretty even overall.  A few thoughts...

-A no excuses, but minor consideration to add as I listen to my team play with a deep deficit.  The finals factor.  IWU finals ended a week ago Friday.  Washington University finals began on Friday and end next week Thursday.

[Titan Q]

IWU 71
Wash U 56

* Jordan Zimmer: 23 pts, 5 reb (7 3's)
* Victor Davis: 12 pts, 6 reb
* John Koschnitzky: 10 pts, 3 reb
* Eliud Gonzalez: 3 pts, 9 assists/1 T.O.

* Alan Aboona: 15 pts, 4 reb
* Dylan Richter: 13 pts, 2 reb
* Brayden Teuscher: 13 pts, 2 reb

The Titans led from wire to wire in this one, and by a comfortable margin for the final 27 minutes or so.  IWU went into the locker room up 15, led by Jordan Zimmer's 5 1st half 3's.

IWU controlled the 2nd half, maintaining a pretty comfortable lead throughout.  Wash U went on a nice run to get it down to 7 with 3:00 or so to play, but the Titans were able to close it out.

Defense is a big plus for this IWU team.  The Bears came into this game averaging 76 ppg -- the Titans held them to 56.  6-3 forward Eric Dortch is strong and athletic and can guard a variety of perimeter players.  6-6 John Koshcnitzky, who starts at the 3, can also guard an athletic, physical perimeter player like Dylan Richter.  It sounded like IWU made Richter work very hard for his 13 points today.  PG Eliud Gonzalez is as good of an on-ball perimeter defender as you'll find.  On the WJBC post game show, Ron Rose called Wash U's offense "very rhythm-oriented" and pointed out that Gonzalez really disrupted that rhythm. 

Another balanced effort for IWU today, with important contributions on both ends of the floor from several players.  A real nice win for the Titans vs a good Wash U team that has wins over Augustana and Wheaton.

IWU had two clunkers (@ Ripon, @ UW-Whitewater) but has been very good in the 7 wins.  This is not a "perfect" Titans team (they have some question marks), but this is an extremely talented group.  It seems that roles are quickly being established now and that some of the young/inexperienced players are starting to gain confidence.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yeah, the Bears' comeback to cut the deficit to 7 got me really nervous; I finally relaxed when Eliud got the steal with about 62 seconds remaining to ice the W.  (But, Bob, the Titans didn't lead throughout - they were down 3-2! )

[carthagealum]

Final: Carthage 79, Cardinal Stritch 76.

[robberki]

5 o'clock and nothing to do? Or even really busy and need some background noise? North Park basketball is on tonight, Greg Sager and I are on the call, check us out at: http://athletics.northpark.edu/
Technical issues should be worked out, thanks for staying patient with us. The Vikings play Fontbonne tonight and it features the dramatic return of Steve Schafer to North Park gymnasium. Be there or be square!

[Titan Q]

IWU/Wash U boxscore...

http://www.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2012/HTML/iwumbb9.htm


- Starting backcourt production:
   IWU: 26 pts, 7 reb, 8 assists,
   Wash U: 0 pts, 2 reb, 2 assists

- Rebounds: IWU 39 Wash U 31 (Wash U came in with a +11 per game rebound margin)

- Wash U: 7 assists, 15 T.O.s

[AndOne]

Final from the far side of the Lombardi-Halas Line:

UW-Platteville 71
North Central 51

Derek Raridon had 16 and Landon Gamble 14 to lead the Cardinals, who were pretty thoroughly outplayed. They only shot 32% from the field while the Pioneers shot a torrid 60%. Weird fact of the game: UWP outrebounded NCC, 32-26, yet the Pioneers didn't register a single offensive rebound all evening. Don't think I've ever seen that before.

Todd Raridon got T'ed up towards the end of the game, and even the UWP announcers couldn't really figure out why. The refs weren't all that kind to NCC tonight, not that it really made any difference in the outcome.

What is going on with NCC?  Their play just doesn't match up with the talent on that roster.

The best thing that happened for the Cardinals in their game vs Platteville was that for the 1st time in 3 games, everyone got on the bus. While its not an excuse, and there are many other problems the Cards have to solve, they have been hit hard by the injury bug. Of the 5 players who started at Platteville, only 2 were/are completely healthy. Additionally, that evening's 6th man is also not currently near 100%. In the days leading up to the P'Ville game, one Cardinal starter was on crutches, one was walking around with a huge icebag taped to his back, one visited the doctor for an injection, and one was heavily taped in 2 different places.

With regard to the game itself, when you permit the opponents to shoot 70% in the 1st half, including several 3 balls with 2-3 seconds left on the shot clock, you quickly get behind the 8 ball and crete a large hole that its pretty difficult to dig yourself out of. Having a miniscule 4 assists in the game makes it a virtual imppossibility.

As far as Todd Raridon's T, I'd say it was an example of a ref using the power he is granted by virtue of wearing the striped shirt, to use that power to smite someone he just took a personal dislike to. The officiating crew that evening, a WIAA crew most likely, was generally poor. While all 3 members turned in substandard performances, one was particularly inept and, I don't believe made one call in favor of the visitors all night long. Coach R had correctly pointed out the error of his ways a few times previously. Then, late in the game, after the same ref made his most outrageous call of the night, Coach R stood up and basically gave a question look at the ref who hit him with the T. The fact that it was not deserved, is that eve the P'ville broadcasters were at a loss to explain what was done that warranted being T'd up.

Don't know about any other posters, but the officiating I've see so far this year leaves a lot to be desired, and I hope we see improvement as the season progresses. Granted, I'm a bit biased when calls go against NCC. However, NCC has been the beneficiary of some bad calls/non-calls, plus I've seen games at Wheaton, Benedictine, and Elmhurst that did not involve NCC, where the refs were no better than much of the officiating I've seen at many high school games 

[Gregory Sager]

North Park 70
Fontbonne 56

Mark Holmes: 19 pts
Mike Gabriel: 17 pts, 8 rebs
Ro Russell: 11 pts

File under: A Win Is A Win.

NPU played pretty poorly today, turning the ball over 16 times and generally getting outhustled by the scrappy Griffins. Fontbonne is a team that was 1-7 coming into the game for a reason; the Griffins have no post presence whatsoever, and there's only one guy on the entire team who can shoot. In spite of that, they actually led late in the first half and trailed NPU by only three at the intermission. The Vikings slowly pulled away in the second half, but never really put the game out of reach until near the very end.

NPU's halfcourt offense was a total mess for the first twelve minutes or so. The Vikings eventually found a good rhythm, getting good open looks on the perimeter and some nice inside shots as well. They simply couldn't make any of them. Things got a bit better in the second half, especially when NPU got the transition game going; the Park had such a serious size advantage that there were plenty of good opportunities for runouts after defensive rebounds, and they started to take advantage of them.

Ro Russell had a solid game; it didn't show up on the stat sheet, but his floor game and his defense were very good. Mike Gabriel was dominant, as one would expect against an outmanned and undersized SLIAC foe; his bugaboo remains turnovers, however, as he coughed up five of 'em today. Emanuel Crosby appears to be finally coming around, and Kendell Greer and Reggie McGee were solid but not spectacular (which is all Vikings fans are asking from them, really). Mark Holmes scored 19, but it took him a lot of shots to get those 19 points. He has to start going to the basket more rather than settling for jumpers; a guy with his size and skills should be getting to the rim (and to the free-throw line) a lot more than he is at the moment. Of course, he's still really just settling in as a player. One thing that we have to remember about him was that, ex-D1 player or not, he did not see much of the court while he was at Mississippi Valley State. There is no substitute for game experience, regardless of level.

This was an unimpressive win. NPU is going to have to dial up both the intensity and the execution when Albion shows up at the crackerbox on Tuesday evening.

[Gregory Sager]

I know that both Augie people and NPU people are following the career of Steve Schafer down at Fontbonne. His Griffins are struggling as he works his way through his first year as a head coach, but I think that he's got them on the right path. The Griffins play very hard, and they're translating the things he's telling them to do onto the court, and that's always a good sign of a coach who has his team's attention. They just don't have the horses. They may make a little noise in the SLIAC this year, but it'll probably take him a year or so to get them back up to competing with the Websters and the Westminsters. But I'm pretty sure that Steve's going to make it work down there in the Gateway City. Getting Clayton Cahill into a Fontbonne uni next season will seriously help his cause, as Cahill should be dominant in that league. Steve's certainly got his feelers out for players; former NPU guard Bjorn Berg has already sent him a guard from Las Vegas, and it sounds like Schafer might get another one from out there. I'm still waiting for Bjorn to give his alma mater some love by sending a player to the Park!

[Gregory Sager]

North Central 74
Benedictine 60

Landon Gamble had 19, Derek Raridon had 18, and Kevin Gillespie had 10 for the Cards, but the star was clearly Aaron Tiknis, who flirted with a triple-double by scoring 10, pulling down 9 boards, and dishing out 7 assists. Of course, the flip side to this is that Benedictine really isn't any good this year; their star player Nate Green scored 22 but was 7-18 from the field, and I can guess without even having watched the game that a number of his shots were most likely ridiculously wild, off-balance runners that had little or no hope of going in.

But NCC always loves to win the Battle of Maple Avenue, and at this point the Cards -- and the CCIW in general -- will take any win that they can get.

[Titan Q]

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/zimmer-leads-titan-men-past-washington/article_c851200e-292e-11e1-8ef5-0019bb2963f4.html

"You have to commend Illinois Wesleyan. They played a great game, and they did it at both ends of the floor," Bears' coach Mark Edwards said. "They hounded us defensively and limited the type of shots we took."



Through 9 games now, IWU opponents are shooting .382.  They have 89 assists to 144 turnovers.  The Titans have a rebound margin per game of +10.0.

IWU's ability to defend and rebound should keep them in most CCIW games.

[wheels81]

A former D3 basketball player is scheduled to debut with the Harlem Globetrotters...He played for Illinois college and I usually don't see the MWC having much team talent as a conference but this guy is incredible.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Ex-YouTube-star-dunker-finds-a-home-with-the-Har?urn=nba-wp11902

[Titan Q]

I tried to identify Midwest Region teams that would be in the discussion if regional rankings came out today.  I came up with 12 and tried my best to place in order, based on NCAA criteria...although I certainly did not have all of the necessary data in front of me (like SOS).  Trying to come up with these rankings was very difficult with just over 1/3 of the season in the books. 

(These are "in-region" records.  I also listed wins over other teams on this list and wins vs prominent teams from other regions if the game was counted as "in-region.")

T1. Augustana (CCIW), 7-1 (won vs UW-Stevens Point...lost @ Wash U)
T1. Grinnell (MWC), 7-0 (won vs Ripon)
3. Ripon (MWC), 4-1 (won vs Illinois Wesleyan...lost @ Grinnell)
4. Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW), 7-2 (won vs Wash U...lost @ Ripon, @ UW-Whitewater)
5. Washington U (UAA), 7-2 (won vs Augustana, vs Wheaton...lost @ Whitworth, @ IWU)
6. Edgewood (NATHC), 7-0 (won vs Lake Forest, @ Lakeland)
7. Transylvania (HCAC), 7-0 (none)
8. Wheaton (CCIW), 5-2 (none...lost @ Hope, @ Wash U)
9. Hanover (HCAC), 6-2 (won vs Ohio Wesleyan, vs Rose-Hulman...lost vs Ohio Northern, @ Manchester)
10. Lake Forest (MWC), 7-1 (won vs Lakeland...lost @ Edgewood)
11. Rose-Hulman (HCAC), 8-2 (none...lost vs Wabash, @ Hanover)
12. Lakeland (NATHC), 4-2 (none...lost @ Lake Forest, vs Edgewood)

(The only Midwest Region conference I do not have representation for is the SLIAC.)

Notable in-region games involving these teams before Jan 1:

* Today - Edgewood vs UW-Stevens Point (4:00pm)
* 12/19 - Rose-Hulman @ DePauw
* 12/21 - Wheaton vs Whitman (@ Trinity-Tx)


My proposed ranking is pretty rough but it at least paints a picture of the top teams in the region right now.

Wash U's loss @ IWU was significant yesterday - at 8-1 in-region, with those wins vs Augie and Wheaton, I think the Bears would be a no-brainer #1 in the region.  On the flip side, it was huge in-region win for the Titans.

[A Lover of the Game]

"I really believe these matchups are pretty even overall.  A few thoughts...

- IWU has to find a way to contain Richter, but the Titans do have two good defenders at the 3 in 6-6 John Koschnitzky and 6-3 Eric Dortch - both are extremely athletic, like Richter.  IWU should at least be able to make Richter work very hard for his points. 

- I think Wash U has a tough matchup with IWU sophomore Victor Davis - freshman Matt Palucki might have trouble handling the very strong, physical, and athletic Davis.   (Anyone know the extent of Chris Klimek's injury?  Klimek was Wash U's starting 4 during the first 4 games.)

- Love the battle of Prospect H.S. centers - Alex Toth vs Kevin Reed.  The "Camardella Bowl" in the post.

- On the perimeter, Wash U has to deal with Jordan Zimmer...IWU has to deal with freshman stud Brayden Teuscher."

Titan Q,

Looks like you were right on the money with your thoughts regarding IWU and WASH U's matchup. It certainly made my almost three-hour drive to the Shirk Center worth it! The score was 20-17 when I arrived at the Shirk, and I was thinking your prediction that the game would be tight was correct. When the Titans gave themselves a little cushion in the point spread, I knew it would be a great game for the Titans.

Normally, I try to use reserve and not get too loud but the energy of the fans and the Titans were GREAT! The Titans were poised, and played all-around team ball. I drove out of a little snow and into the rain in Bloomington, and I didn't have an umbrella for the 3's that rained out of Zimmer (I can hear my kids saying – wow mom, did you really just say that) - lol.  It's awesome watching Speedy Gonzales, Eliud. That kid has so much energy. Koschnitzky and Dortch did a very good job locking down WASH U's lead scorer (his name escapes me- sorry). Davis is a beast on the floor. Anderson, Reed, Rudnicki, and Ziemnick took care of business. I can't tell you the number of times I yelled their names. At one point I had to excuse myself to the folk that were sitting next to me, but they gave me the green light to yell as much as I wanted (my daughter was embarrassed – sorry sweetie). The old saying of, "Ladies should be seen and not heard," certainly did not apply to me last night. I'm so excited for the Titans!

Happy Holidays, Everyone.

Go Titans!

[A Lover of the Game]

*....was great!