MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[74impala]

According to the geriatric IWU fan that was sitting across from me, the Titans never foul.  Well at least he complained about every call that went against them.

And IWU fans in internet land had to put up with the WETN homers for a couple hours this evening, so let's call it even, 74.

I'm just not use to someone that old using the kind of language I heard.

[USee]

According to the geriatric IWU fan that was sitting across from me, the Titans never foul.  Well at least he complained about every call that went against them.

And IWU fans in internet land had to put up with the WETN homers for a couple hours this evening, so let's call it even, 74.

I'm just not use to someone that old using the kind of language I heard.

You must not get to the city much!

[CCIWchamps]

According to the geriatric IWU fan that was sitting across from me, the Titans never foul.  Well at least he complained about every call that went against them.

And IWU fans in internet land had to put up with the WETN homers for a couple hours this evening, so let's call it even, 74.

I'm just not use to someone that old using the kind of language I heard.

You must not get to the city much!

Or the country, in this case. 

[Titan Q]

I'm just not use to someone that old using the kind of language I heard.

We need to take you to a tavern on the south side sometime.

[thunder38]

Great atmosphere at King tonight.  Probably one of the biggest crowds I've seen maybe since Raymond graduated.  I agree with Mugsy that I was glad the officials decided to let them play early in the game because that could've easily turned into a foul plagued game which we saw more towards the end of the game.  I think the big thing tonight was Jordan Zimmer only attempted seven shots from the field.  After being so explosive in the first matchup the Pflederer/DeMoss tandem seemed to quiet him tonight.  Interesting second half for McCrary as he had 15 in the second half but a lot of them were coming in the 12-16 ft. range as the Titans seemed content to let him shoot jumpers which he obliged.  There was definitely some sloppy play on IWU's side, the pass into the back of Victor Davis' head comes to mind, but overall a very defensive game all the way through.  Me thinks these two teams have one more matchup coming before all is said and done this year.

[blue_jays]

According to the geriatric IWU fan that was sitting across from me, the Titans never foul.  Well at least he complained about every call that went against them.

And IWU fans in internet land had to put up with the WETN homers for a couple hours this evening, so let's call it even, 74.

Homers, says the pot to the kettle... When you go out and find a student radio station that is totally impartial, let me know and I'll have a nice bridge to sell you. Besides, no one's making you listen to it.

That Augie-Millikin score tonight looked like the equivalent to that North Central-North Park football game from a few years back. Yikes.

[Mr. Ypsi]

According to the geriatric IWU fan that was sitting across from me, the Titans never foul.  Well at least he complained about every call that went against them.

And IWU fans in internet land had to put up with the WETN homers for a couple hours this evening, so let's call it even, 74.

Homers, says the pot to the kettle... When you go out and find a student radio station that is totally impartial, let me know and I'll have a nice bridge to sell you. Besides, no one's making you listen to it.

That Augie-Millikin score tonight looked like the equivalent to that North Central-North Park football game from a few years back. Yikes.

Even professional broadcasters are gonna be somewhat 'homerish' - after all, most of their audience is gonna be home fans.  But there are 'homers' and then there are 'HOMERS'.

BTW, you DO realize, don't you, that Q used to announce IWU games?  Some of us 'home fans' thought he was way too damned close to impartial!

[wheels81]

Great game at King arena tonight.  It appeared that IWU survived a potential first half collapse and started off the 2nd half strong with 4 lay ups by Reed that came by what appeared to be set plays and Wheaton looked really bad on defense.  Reed then picked up his 3rd foul and left and no from titans bench or starters could get that spark back.  Wheaton was able to get going again and made several stops to finally put a little distance and keep it that way for the rest of the game.  McCrary was probably the demonstrative and focused as I have ever seen him and really took Wheaton on his back down the stretch.  Definitely not a quiet 21 tonight despite what the WETN guys said. 
Titan Q, yes the radio guys are homers but not as bad as years past.  You can always mute the home audio.   At least they give the score often and actually make some very good commentary and analysis. 

One thing that did make me laugh was what my son told me.   He said "Dad,  I know who the Titan fans are" and I said "Yes they are ones wearing green" and He said,  "No they are all those elderly people over there who aren't standing"  pointing to the stands across the aisle from where Impala74 was located.   Good thing we were near the Wheaton student seciton so he missed out on the language they were using.

[USee]

Standings through 1/28
North Central: 7-1
Illinois Wesleyan: 6-2
Wheaton: 6-2
Augustana: 5-3
Elmhurst: 4-4
Carthage: 3-5
North Park: 1-7
Millikin: 0-8

+/- standings through 1/28
(+1 for road wins, -1 for home losses)

North Central: +3
Illinois Wesleyan: +2
Wheaton: +2
Augustana: +0
Elmhurst: +0
Carthage: -1
North Park: -3
Millikin: -3

Top 4 vs Top 4 games remaining:

* North Central: vs Augie 2/4, @ IWU 2/7, vs Wheaton 2/11
* Illinois Wesleyan: @ Augie 1/31, vs NCC 2/7
* Wheaton: @ NCC 2/11, vs Augie 2/21
* Augustana: vs IWU 1/31, @ NCC 2/4, @ Wheaton 2/21

Q (or anyone),

Looking a pool C options and assuming 2 of these teams will go 0-1 and 1 of them will be 1-1 in the CCIW tourney, what is the minimum these teams have to do to best position themselves for a pool C bid?

As an example, Wheaton sits at 15-4. If they go 1-1 in the tourney, do they pretty much have to go 5-1 the rest of the way or does 4-2 (20-7 overall) give them a shot?

[Titan Q]

Q (or anyone),

Looking a pool C options and assuming 2 of these teams will go 0-1 and 1 of them will be 1-1 in the CCIW tourney, what is the minimum these teams have to do to best position themselves for a pool C bid?

As an example, Wheaton sits at 15-4. If they go 1-1 in the tourney, do they pretty much have to go 5-1 the rest of the way or does 4-2 (20-7 overall) give them a shot?

I'll try to do an updated Midwest Region ranking projection after the Wash U vs #4 Emory game concludes, and provide some opinion on the Pool C picture. 

(I would provide a link here to the Wash U basketball homepage, and remind any interested CCIW fans about the big Wash U/Emory game tipping at noon, but I don't want to catch the wrath of AndOne today for inappropriate non-CCIW game linking.)

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

CCIW fans... make sure you tune into Hoopsville tonight!

Some of the key segments you may be interested in:
- Men's National Committee Chair Ken Schumann will join us to talk about the upcoming regional rankings (February 8th) and the slight changes in the selection process this year.
- And a regional report from Bob Quillman (TitanQ) for the first time this season with his take on the region.

Show runs form 7 - 9 PM EST.

And you can follow us on multiple social media platforms:
Twitter: @d3hoopsville or #hoopsville (now over 900 followers)
Website: www.d3hoopsville.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hoopsville
Email: hoopsville@d3hoops.com
Ustream: www.ustream.tv/channel/hoopsville

[markerickson]

Elmhurst attempted 19 more free throws than the home team, North Park, and made 10 more, which was the margin of victory.  The Blue Jays also shot very well from beyond the arc.  (I attended a concert where my kid played and was not available to attend the loss.)  Did the home team suck defending the trey?

[Titan Q]

- In-region record listed
- Includes "in-region" wins over teams I project would be ranked in Midwest (below) or other regions (example, UW-Stevens Point in West)
- Also includes all losses 

1. Transylvania (HCAC), 14-1 (won vs Wabash, vs Hanover, vs Rose-Hulman...lost @ Defiance)
2. Lake Forest (MWC), 13-1 (none...lost @ Edgewood)
3. Grinnell (MWC), 12-1 (none...lost @ Carroll)
4. Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW), 12-3 (won vs Wash U, vs Wheaton, vs Augustana...lost @ Ripon, @ UW-Whitewater, @ NCC)
5. Washington U (UAA), 12-3 (won vs Augustana, vs Wheaton...lost @ Whitworth, @ IWU, vs NYU)
6. Wheaton (CCIW), 12-3 (none...lost @ Hope, @ Wash U, @ IWU)
7. Hanover (HCAC), 12-3 (won vs Ohio Wesleyan, vs Rose-Hulman...lost vs Ohio Northern, @ Manchester, @ Transylvania)
8. Edgewood (NATHC), 12-3 (won vs Lake Forest...lost vs UW-Stevens Point, @ UW-Whitewater, @ MSOE)
----------
9. Augustana (CCIW), 12-4 (won vs UW-Stevens Point ...lost @ Wash U, vs North Central, @ IWU, @ Elmhurst)
10. Rose-Hulman (HCAC), 13-4 (none...lost vs Wabash, @ Hanover, @ Transylvania, @ Bluffton)
11. North Central (CCIW), 10-4 (won @ Augustana, vs IWU...lost @ Aurora, @ Simpson, @ UW-P, @ Wheaton)

My updated Midwest Region ranking projection through games of Sunday, January 29...

- In-region record listed
- Includes "in-region" wins over teams I project would be in the ranking discussion in the Midwest (below) or other regions (example, UW-Stevens Point in West)
- Also includes all losses 

1. Transylvania (HCAC), 16-1 (won vs Wabash, vs Hanover, vs Rose-Hulman...lost @ Defiance)
2. Grinnell (MWC), 14-1 (won @ Lake Forest...lost @ Carroll)
3. Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW), 13-4 (won vs Wash U, vs Wheaton, vs Augustana...lost @ Ripon, @ UW-Whitewater, @ NCC, @ Wheaton)
4. Washington U (UAA), 14-3 (won vs Augustana, vs Wheaton, vs Emory...lost @ Whitworth, @ IWU, vs NYU)
5. Wheaton (CCIW), 13-4 (won vs NCC, vs IWU...lost @ Hope, @ Wash U, @ IWU, @ Augustana)
6. Lake Forest (MWC), 14-2 (none...lost @ Edgewood, vs Grinnell)
7. Hanover (HCAC), 14-3 (won vs Ohio Wesleyan, vs Rose-Hulman...lost vs Ohio Northern, @ Manchester, @ Transylvania)
8. North Central (CCIW), 12-4 (won @ Augustana, vs IWU...lost @ Aurora, @ Simpson, @ UW-P, @ Wheaton)
----------
9. Augustana (CCIW), 14-4 (won vs UW-Stevens Point, vs Wheaton...lost @ Wash U, vs North Central, @ IWU, @ Elmhurst)
10. Edgewood (NATHC), 13-4 (won vs Lake Forest...lost vs UW-Stevens Point, @ UW-Whitewater, @ MSOE, @ Marian)
11. Concordia, WI (NATHC), 13-4 (none...lost @ UW-Eau Claire, @ Benedictine, @ Carroll, @ Edgewood)
12. Rose-Hulman (HCAC), 14-5 (none...lost vs Wabash, @ Hanover, @ Transylvania, @ Bluffton)

[shepherd]

Looking at the remaining games of the top 4 teams North Central, Wheaton, Il Wesleyan and Augustana the team with the best shot to win and host the tournament is NCC.  That is considering that the teams can hold home field advantage and win the games against the bottom 4.  The NCC road win over Augustana is turning out to be huge with the other top four teams holding home court.  If the top 4
teams hold home court the rest of the way and beat the bottom 4 you have:

North Central going 4-1 with a loss at Il Wesleyan. 
Wheaton going 4-1 with a loss at North Central
Illinois Wesleyan going 4-1 with a loss at Augustana
Augustana going 3-2 with losses at North Central and Wheaton

If this happens NCC would win the CCIW and host the tournament. Im using this as a tool to show who has the easiest path to the title and hosting as we all know this is the CCIW and things will and can be shaken up.

[Titan Q]

In terms of Pool C, you have to look at two key factors:

1) Position in the regional rankings -- you can't be selected for a Pool C if you don't make it to "the table" (from your region) for discussion.  This is why I like to track the Midwest Region picture throughout the year - regional rankings are huge.

There is still so much to sort out with the order of the Midwest teams -- we have no way to know which order the Pool C candidates might be lined up.  But it's safe to say that CCIW Pool C hopefuls need to root for the following to happen:

* Transylvania to win the HCAC Pool A bid
* Grinnell to win the MWC Pool A bid
* Wash U to win the UAA Pool A bid (no conference tournament)

These teams could (not a lock) all end up ranked ahead of the top CCIW Pool C candidate, so you don't want these 3 in position to need a Pool C.

2) Resume relative to other Pool candidates across the country -- while you get to the Pool C "table" via your region, you are evaluated vs teams from across the county. 

I don't personally have the 2011-12 season data necessary to break this down, but KnightSlappy does some great work on this.  See his data through 1/23...

http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/2012/01/regional-rankings-1242012.html

It's probably also helpful to consider the in-region records and strength of schedule numbers for the 18 Pool C's selected last year...

Here is my best guess at the order the Pool C's were selected...

1. Williams (NE): .920/.558
2. Concordia (MW): .875/.501
3. WPI (NE): .846/.516
4. Virginia Wesleyan (S): .840/.506
5. Penn St-Behrend (GL): .885/.481
6. Oswego St (E): .852/.507
7. Becker (NE): .852/.505
8. Ramapo (Atl): .826/.507
9. Gwynedd-Mercy (Mid-Atl): .800/.502
10. Amherst (NE): .875/.464
11. UW-River Falls (W): .750/.585
12. Ithaca (E): .760/.547
13. Mary Hardin-Baylor (S): .750/.508
14. Western Conn (NE): .800/.531
15. Hanover (MW): .731/.542
16. Wittenberg (GL): .727/.552
17. Texas-Dallas (S): .800/.485
18. Illinois Wesleyan (MW): .692/.543


Left on the board, in the order of selection competitiveness (by my estimation):

* Carleton (W): .750/.528
* Ferrum (S): .800/.471
* St. Joseph's LI (Atl): .769/.504
* Wabash (GL): .760/.499
* Edgewood (MW): .692/.547
* Stevens (E): .731/.512
* Leb Valley (Mid Atl): .720/.509
* Eastern Conn (NE): .680/.526


(Obviously I have just listed winning % and SOS above.)

These would be the Selection Sunday in-region records for the CCIW's top 4 assuming two things - 5-1 record during the final 6 CCIW games (and note, these four obviously can't all go 5-1 the rest of the way) AND 1-1 in conference tournament (and obviously only one team is actually going to to 1-1)...

North Central: 12-4 currently + 6-2 = 18-6 (.750)
Illinois Wesleyan: 13-4 currently + 6-2 = 19-6 (.760)
Wheaton: 13-4 currently + 6-2 = 19-6 (.760)
Augustana: 14-4 currently + 6-2 = 20-6 (.769)


All would be very much in the Pool C picture with these in-region records as I see it, but certainly not locks. 

Now with 4-2 in the CCIW's final 6 games, and then the 1-1 in the conference tourney things get very dicey...

North Central: 12-4 currently + 5-3 = 17-7 (.708)
Illinois Wesleyan: 13-4 currently + 5-3 = 18-7 (.720)
Wheaton: 13-4 currently + 5-3 = 18-7 (.720)
Augustana: 14-4 currently + 5-3 = 19-7 (.731)


Note, strength of schedule would obviously also be a big factor (IWU got in due to a big strength of schedule # last year), as would "results vs regionally ranked teams" and all that other stuff.

Finally, just my annual reminder that the CCIW conference tournament, most likely, will hurt the resumes of the CCIW's Pool C candidates - two teams are going to go 0-1, and another 1-1.  The UAA's Pool C candidates won't hurt their in-region records via a conference tournament.  I know the CCIW conference tournament is fun, but is it really good for the league?