MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Mr. Ypsi]

In Bloomington, the Titans jumped off to a 12-0 lead, but NCC caught 'em at 23, and lead at the half, 36-32.

In Kenosha, Carthage was up 15 w/ 3:06 in the first, but Wheaton has cut the halftime deficit to 9: 31-22.

[sac]

I'm enjoying these late finishes in the CCIW tonight.

Augustana 59 North Park 57

[magicman]

Augustana survives at North Park, 59-57, as a three point attempt by North Park for the win at the buzzer doesn't happen. It was a long three point attempt on a long pass from underneath the Augie basket with only 2 seconds left.

[diehardfan]

I totally hate everyone right now.   

[magicman]

Three games right down to the wire . 74-73 North Park over IWU with 40 seconds left

Carthage 67 Wheaton 66 with 5 seconds left.

[magicman]

Carthage defeats Wheaton 69-66 according to live stats

Video shows final score as Carthage winning 69-67

[magicman]

North Central wins 80 -73 over IWU

[bopol]

Carthage 69, Wheaton 67 is the final...

Wow, is Wheaton good, but Carthage played a great game (even with minimal use of Luke Johnson) and got the W.  Best win of the year for the Big Red.

[Titan Q]

North Central 80
Illinois Wesleyan 73

* Aaron Tiknis: 23 pts, 8 reb
* Landon Gamble: 16 pts, 9 reb
* Derek Raridon: 15 pts, 5 reb, 3 assists
* CJ Goldthree: 15 pts

* Victor Davis: 19 pts, 3 reb
* Jordan Zimmer: 14 pts
* Eliud Gonzalez: 11 pts, 5 reb, 4 assists
* John Koschnitzky: 11 pts, 5 reb

IWU leading scorer Jordan Zimmer left the game with about 11 minutes remaining after a scary injury - he ran into a screen (did not see it coming) and suffered what was probably a concussion.  He did not return.

Without Zimmer, IWU hung in there and chipped away at a 8-9 point NCC lead.  IWU took a 66-62 lead with 5:51 on a Victor Davis 3-pointer.  NCC showed a lot of poise though, going on a 5-0 run to reclaim the lead.  IWU tied it at 71 with 1:08 to go on a Davis conventional 3-point play, but Aaron Tiknis (who was huge for the Cards tonight) hit the game winning shot on the next possession - a 3 from the top of the key.  IWU had the ball down 3 with about :20 to play, but Stephen Rudnicki missed a shot in the lane to basically end the game.

Obviously the Zimmer injury was a huge factor in the final 10 minutes of the game, but that said, North Central out-played IWU tonight.  In my opinion, the Titans lost the game in the final 10 minutes of the 1st half, and the opening of the 2nd when they just couldn't get anything going offensively, and could not contain CJ Goldthree from beyond the arc.  The Titans also executed very poorly down the stretch on both ends of the floor, after securing that 4-point lead with 5:00 or so to play.

North Central is not spectacular, but they are are very smart, balanced, fundamentally sound, and well-coached team.  The Cardinals don't ever do much to hurt themselves.  The Titans, on the other hand, just suffer from so many self-inflicted wounds throughout the course of games - missed FTs, turnovers, and empty possessions.

[Stagg Again!!]

North Central wins 80 -73 over IWU

Shhhh Magicman!!!  We don't want too many people noticing the fact that NCC has only one loss since December 20th, has swept its season series with AC and IWU, and is playing really good basketball.  Let's just keep it between us until after the Cardinals play the Crusaders, OK?

[Titan Q]

Standings through 2/7
North Central: 10-1
Wheaton: 8-3
Illinois Wesleyan: 7-4
Augustana: 7-4
Carthage: 6-5
Elmhurst: 5-6
North Park: 2-9
Millikin: 0-11

+/- standings through 2/7
(+1 for road wins, -1 for home losses)

North Central: +5
Wheaton +3
Illinois Wesleyan: +1
Carthage: +1
Augustana: +1
Elmhurst: -1
North Park: -5
Millikin: -5


All the sudden we have a heck of a battle for the final 2 spots in the conference tournament between Augie, IWU, and Carthage...and IWU and Augie both have to go to Kenosha.  If IWU has to go up there without Jordan Zimmer Saturday, the Titans have issues.

[iwu70]

My congrats to NCC for their big win at the Shirk tonight.  They played tough, smart, and out shot the Titans by a pretty big percentage. I would bet.  Also, I'm sorry to say that we got outcoached tonight and we played stupidly down the stretch on the final possessions within 2-3 minutes of the end, with TOs, and why oh ?? no three ball attempt down three with 20 seconds to go.  What was Rudnicki thinking? Surely you at least want to try to tie the game and get to OT?   I don't get it.

I am also impressed with NCC and have been won over to them obviously after their wins vs. top contenders home and away.  I was a doubter earlier but have to admit they are the best team in the CCIW this year, it would surely appear.  With Wheaton's loss too, they only have more distance in front now.  No one can catch them.  Tournament will be on their home floor.  Titans also still have a tough game yet to play @Kenosha.

Victor Davis had a good game and Rudnicki played well.  Again a few key turnovers by Eliud tonight, very painful.   Ziemnik hit some key threes to get us back in this one, but as Q has mentioned, after taking a 4 point lead with 5 to go, we should have toughened up and put them away.  Instead, they toughened up and got back into it, then hit FTs down the stretch to preserve the win.  Titans shot a poor percentage of FTs, killing our chances tonight. 

The play where Zimmer was hammered, well, from where I was sitting it looked like a foul, an elbow to the head, so I want to see that video for sure, as nothing was called.  The officiating tonight was bizarre, with obvious hard fouls not called and then ticky-tacky fouls called.  Several times Titans went to the hoop, got hammered and nothing called at all.  Then, the trio of blind men started calling the game differently in the second half, and missed several key calls where everyone in the house knew the possession, out of bounds tip calls were wrong.  Lot of boo-ing of the refs tonight.  Just strange, very frustrating.  Not sure it would have changed the outcome, but surely Zimmer being out much of the second half didn't help the Titans prospects for outside scoring.  Feel bad for him and the team, and surely hope he is OK.  Talked to several players after the game and they say he's OK, but with a head hit, we'll see.  He was down, flat and out for some minutes after the play, on which no foul of any kind was called.  We know how long Goldthree and Molinari were out earlier. 

Congrats to North Central.  I think they've about wrapped up the CCIW crown with this win, and Wheaton's loss tonight. 

What's with Augie winning only by 2 vs. NPU?  Is that strange or what?

More on the morrow . . . gotta get home in the light snow falling tonight.

Tough loss for the Titans, gotta protect home court and we just didn't get it done tonight, especially from the FT line.

IWU70

[spencer1988]

IWU70.  Couldn't disagree with you more.  Conventional wisdom tells you to take the two if they give it to you.  Which they did.  Missing a lay up is not a coaching issue.

[shepherd]

Carthage played a great game and deserved to win that game.  I disagree with the radio announcer that this was one of Wheatons worst games.  It wasn't one of their best but they have played many games this year where they were great one second and looked worse than a pick up game the next while turning over the ball 3 times in a row.  This is a Carthage team that took North Central into overtime.  They did dribble the ball a bit too much as the coach stated and offensive rebounding needs to be addressed. This is a very talented Wheaton team that is still learning how to play as a team and not rely on McCrary too much. Now it is time for Wheaton to have a laser focus on NCC not only for the next game but also for the fact that the tournament will most certainly be at NCC and Wheaton hasn't beaten them their since 2004.  One thing about NCC some may have overlooked is that when they are playing at their best during a game they are one of the fastest teams in the CCIW making them extremely hard to defend.  Just peaking at the IWU game tonight you would see NCC players crossing over around the horn confusing the defense then setting up for their shot inside or out.  Wheaton will need to play great defense while shooting a fairly good percentage to have a chance Saturday.  Hopefully they will also stay very focused and take full advantage of getting used to that court as possible so that if we make the tournament and hopefully don't get NCC the first game they can try to take advantage of their depth if they happened to play NCC the second game of the tournament.
Go Thunder!

[Titan Q]

Also, I'm sorry to say that we got outcoached tonight and we played stupidly down the stretch on the final possessions within 2-3 minutes of the end, with TOs, and why oh ?? no three ball attempt down three with 20 seconds to go.  What was Rudnicki thinking? Surely you at least want to try to tie the game and get to OT?   I don't get it.

I have absolutely no issue with that play, 70.  Rudnicki missed that layup (which he should have made) with about :15 left.  If he makes it, you're down just 1 and have plenty of time to foul.  You hope they miss 1 or 2 FT's to put you in position to just need a 2 to tie it/go ahead.  And even if they make both, you can take the 3 on that next possession (with plenty of time - 10 seconds or so).

I'd say most coaches would go for the quick 2 there.  There was nothing strange about that decision at all.