MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[TitansIWU]

Congrats Titan Men and Women!

FINAL FOUR! FINAL FOUR! FINAL FOUR! FINAL FOUR!

[Titan Q]

IWU 70
Wittenberg 49

http://www.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2012/HTML/neutral7.htm

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-men-roll-head-to-div-iii-final-four/article_835e9f2c-6b1d-11e1-a002-0019bb2963f4.html

http://www.iwusports.com/photo_gallery.aspx?gallery=34


* Jordan Zimmer: 14 pts, 2 reb, 2 assists (4-7 3-point)
* Eliud Gonzalez: 10 pts, 3 reb, 5 assists
* John Koschnitzky: 10 pts, 3 reb
* Kevin Reed: 9 pts, 11 reb


After watching both IWU and Wittenberg Friday evening, I was confident that IWU was the better overall team.  I thought the national quarterfinal game with the Tigers would be extremely tight, however, due to Wittenberg's size and ability to defend.  What the Titans did last night in dominating a very good Wittenberg team was extremely impressive.

Right out of the gates Ron Rose decided to double the post, which NCC head coach Todd Raridon chose not to do the night before.  Where the Tigers had all of those one-on-one, back-down post situations vs NCC, they had virtually zero one-on-one opportunities down low vs IWU.  The Titans would send help, but the key is how effectively they recovered on the perimeter.  IWU did such a great job of taking the post away all night long, but also forcing Wittenberg into tough, contested, almost "uncomfortable" perimeter shots.

Wittenberg head coach Bill Brown was quoted (Pantagraph link above) as saying, "They were very aggressive and very good defensively tonight. It bothered us everywhere."

And that is exactly what it looked like - that the Tigers just never could get any type of offensive flow because of how good IWU was defensively.  On the game, the Titans held Wittenberg to a ridiculous 28.8% from the field (15-52).

Offensively IWU continued to look confident, balanced, and poised.  The Titans shot 48% (27-56) against a very strong defensive Wittenberg team.  An extremely telling stats is IWU's assist to turnover numbers - 15 to 7.  The Titans just share the basketball so well and shots come from all over the floor.  Whereas a few weeks ago, certain IWU players looked tentative offensively, now everyone seems ready to shoot when open.  Victor Davis, John Koschnitzky, and Stephen Rudnicki in particular look like different players.

IWU held a 10-point halftime lead and, quite frankly, it felt like there was no way the Titans could lose.  In fact, the halftime lead vs Wittenberg felt a lot more comfortable than that vs Wooster, even though IWU was up 5 more points at the break vs the Scots.  It just looked and felt like the whole game that IWU was a lot better basketball team.  And that's how it played out in the 2nd half.  The closest Witt was in the 2nd was 11 points with 12:52 to play.  IWU's biggest lead was 21 with 4:53 to play.

I think everyone acknowledges that this has been a very different type of IWU team that everyone is used to, because this team is very physical and defends really well.  It was really cool to see the Titans win a tough NCAA tournament game on the defensive end.  It was really quite a performance by Ron Rose's team.

Bill Brown told the Springfield News Sun...

"We've played an extremely difficult schedule this year," Wittenberg coach Bill Brown said. "The list goes on and on. Even outside our league, on the night we played our games, it's not even close, this is the best team we've played all year long."

Alex Brandt said:

"I've got to give Illinois Wesleyan a lot of credit," said Brandt, one of seven seniors to play his last game Saturday. "They're a great team, a big team, a physical team.

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/springfield-oh-sports/wittenberg-university-tigers/illinois-wesleyans-size-gave-witt-fits-1341867.html

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/springfield-oh-sports/wittenberg-university-tigers/tigers-dream-fades-in-final-8-1341899.html

[Titan Q]

D3 Final Four Appearances, Salem Era (1995-96 to 2011-12)
Williams 6 (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011) - NESCAC
Illinois Wesleyan 5 (1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2012) - CCIW
Amherst 4 (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008) - NESCAC
Franklin & Marshall 3 (1996, 2000, 2009) - Centennial
Hope 3 (1996, 1998, 2008) - MIAA
UW-Stevens Point 3 (2004, 2005, 2010) - WIAC
Washington U. 3 (2007, 2008, 2009) - UAA
Wooster 3 (2003, 2007, 2011) - NCAC
Calvin 2 (2000, 2005) - MIAA
Guilford 2 (2009, 2010) - ODAC
Hampden-Sydney 2 (1999, 2003) - ODAC
Rochester 2 (2002, 2005) - UAA
UW-Platteville 2 (1998, 1999) - WIAC
Virginia Wesleyan 2 (2006, 2007) - ODAC
William Paterson 2 (1999, 2001) - NJAC
Alvernia 1 (1997) - MACF
Cabrini 1 (2012) - CSAC
Carthage 1 (2002) - CCIW
Catholic 1 (2001) - LAND
Connecticut College 1 (1999) - NESCAC
Elizabethtown 1 (2002) - MACC
Gustavus Adolphus 1 (2003) - MIAC
John Carroll 1 (2004) - OAC
Middlebury 1 (2011) - NESCAC
MIT 1 (2012) - NEWMAC
Nebraska Wesleyan 1 (1997) - ind
Ohio Northern 1 (2001) - OAC
Otterbein 1 (2002) - OAC
Randolph-Macon (2010) - ODAC
Richard Stockton 1 (2009) - NJAC
Rowan 1 (1996) - NJAC
Salem St 1 (2000) - MASCAC
St. Thomas 1 (2011) - MIAC
Ursinus 1 (2008) - Centennial
UW-Eau Claire 1 (2000) - WIAC
UW-Whitewater 1 (2012) - WIAC
Wilkes 1 (1997) - MACF
Wittenberg 1 (2006) - NCAC
York (Pa) 1 (2005) – CAC

[TitanPride]

IWU 70
Wittenberg 49

* Jordan Zimmer: 14 pts, 2 reb, 2 assists (4-7 3-point)
* Eliud Gonzalez: 10 pts, 3 reb, 5 assists
* John Koschnitzky: 10 pts, 3 reb
* Kevin Reed: 9 pts, 11 reb


After watching both IWU and Wittenberg Friday evening, I was confident that IWU was the better overall team.  I thought the national quarterfinal game with the Tigers would be extremely tight, however, due to Wittenberg's size and ability to defend.  What the Titans did last night in dominating a very good Wittenberg team was extremely impressive.

Right out of the gates Ron Rose decided to double the post, which NCC head coach Todd Raridon chose not to do the night before.  Where the Tigers had all of those one-on-one, back-down post situations vs NCC, they had virtually zero one-on-one opportunities down low vs IWU.  The Titans would send help, but the key is how effectively they recovered on the perimeter.  IWU did such a great job of taking the post away all night long, but also forcing Wittenberg into tough, contested, almost "uncomfortable" perimeter shots.

Wittenberg head coach Bill Brown was quoted (Pantagraph link above) as saying, "They were very aggressive and very good defensively tonight. It bothered us everywhere."

And that is exactly what it looked like - that the Tigers just never could get any type of offensive flow because of how good IWU was defensively.  On the game, the Titans held Wittenberg to a ridiculous 28.8% from the field (15-52).

Offensively IWU continued to look confident, balanced, and poised.  The Titans shot 48% (27-56) against a very strong defensive Wittenberg team.  An extremely telling stats is IWU's assist to turnover numbers - 15 to 7.  The Titans just share the basketball so well and shots come from all over the floor.  Whereas a few weeks ago, certain IWU players looked tentative offensively, now everyone seems ready to shoot when open.  Victor Davis, John Koschnitzky, and Stephen Rudnicki in particular look like different players.
IWU held a 10-point halftime lead and, quite frankly, it felt like there was no way the Titans could lose.  In fact, the halftime lead vs Wittenberg felt a lot more comfortable than that vs Wooster, even though IWU was up 5 more points at the break vs the Scots.  It just looked and felt like the whole game that IWU was a lot better basketball team.  And that's how it played out in the 2nd half.  The closest Witt was in the 2nd was 11 points with 12:52 to play.  IWU's biggest lead was 21 with 4:53 to play.

I think everyone acknowledges that this has been a very different type of IWU team that everyone is used to, because this team is very physical and defends really well.  It was really cool to see the Titans win a tough NCAA tournament game on the defensive end.  It was really quite a performance by Ron Rose's team.

Titan Q -- I agree wholeheartedly.  In addition to those four guys whose offensive breakdown listed above, you can add Rudnicki with 9 points, Davis with 8, Ziemnik with 8.  IWU had 7 guys who scored between 8 and 14 points last night -- talk about balance.  Two weeks ago, I would have never guessed that we would see this type of confidence and efficiency on the offensive end.  Wow, is it fun to watch!

[David Collinge]

For what it's worth, I think that the two students who did the video broadcast of the Wheaton/Whitewater game did a pretty good job, overall.  I think they would be the first to admit that they weren't perfect and are still learning... but they also were doing their second game in a row, having done the Va Wesleyan/Whitworth game immediately preceding the Wheaton/Whitewater game.

I mean, if you really have a problem with it, ask for your money back.


Oh. It was a free service provided by the (public) university.  Guess you can't.

They are decent announcers but seeing as the majority of the listeners are people supporting the two schools it occurs to me perhaps the biggest measuring stick of competence is knowing who is in the game and how to say their name. It takes about a minute to figure that out and is part of any good broadcaster's prep work. This lack of prep makes the school look bad. I know the football guys don't make that mistake.

I completely agree with USee on this. Even if you've never done a broadcast before, or worked the P.A. mic before, common sense dictates that you should learn how to pronounce people's names before you speak into a live mic. Not only are you making the institution you represent look bad if you botch names, you make yourself look bad as well. It's not as though there's some sort of heavy burden involved in getting the pronunciations right. You simply check with an assistant coach or a trainer from the other team during warmups. You say, "Excuse me, but could I go over the pronunciations for your team with you?" I've never encountered anyone who has refused to do that for me. It's basic common courtesy, and the opposing staff appreciates it when you take the (minimal) time and trouble to do your job properly and make sure that you do right by the other team.

What's even worse is when the announcers don't even bother to get the pronunciation of the other team right. This is something I suffer through more times than not following Wooster. Even one of the Wittenberg announcers (women's broadcasts) gets it wrong, although that's probably on purpose.

[Titan Q]

In the Columbus airport about to head back to Omaha, through Midway.  I'll just add, before we board, that it was a real thrill to be part of things in Wooster this weekend after being stuck in video stream land all season long.  As I posted yesterday, this IWU team is a real easy bunch to root for - they just play great team basketball, and on and off the court they represent the university so well.

I'd also like to point out the fantastic job Ron Rose has done with this team.  Rose's NCAA tournament record is now 8-2, which in of itself is outstanding, but especially when you consider the quality of the wins, and the fact that Rose has yet to coach an NCAA tourney game at home.  For example, the wins @ #1 Wash U and vs CCIW champ Carthage in 2009-10, and obviously this year with the game @ #1 Hope, @ Wooster, vs Wittenberg.  Coach Rose does a fantastic job assessing where his team is heading into the tournament, making adjustments, preparing his players, and then letting them go play.  It was neat watching the emotions between Ron and his players after the horn sounded last night...it's just real clear he has built an incredible family atmosphere within that locker room.  I'm proud to have him leading the program.

Last night I bought an $850 airline ticket to Roanoke, VA from Lincoln, NE - it was as happy as I've ever been to spend $850 on airfare.  Very proud to be a Titan and can't wait to see the boys on the big stage in Salem.  To say they have earned the opportunity to compete for the national championship, after this playoff road, would be an understatement.

[devildog29]

Congrats to IWU for advancing to the Final Four yet again. I cannot tell a lie though; I am going to be rooting for MIT next weekend. You guys can all blame devildog29. Also I think you Titan people should practice sharing better.

sac, nice usage of the word "interesting"

devildog29-haven't heard from him since football season-at least that long.

Hey now, don't start projecting April!!!!  As I told you last night, we haven't been to the Final 4 since '06, and this is only the fifth time since '96, so I think 11 out of 17 years is plenty of sharing!  Not to mention, in the previous four trips, we only brought home the trophy once, so we have a lot of room in the Shirk to fill and add to that collection......

And newcard, yes, I've followed the boards all season, but living down in San Antonio, I don't get to see any CCIW games live very often, save for what games I can watch streaming online now.  Hence, without much first hand knowledge and experience, I have been keeping my opinion to myself for the most part, not sure really what kind of validity I could add to the conversation.  I actually wasn't even going to mention anything about the FF for fear of looking like a bandwagoner coming out of the woodworks, but everyone's favorite tree-hugger decided to return from exile and call me out personally, so since she doesn't want to let sleeping dogs lie, I decided it would be ok to gloat a little......HA!   

[NCF]

Congrats to IWU for advancing to the Final Four yet again. I cannot tell a lie though; I am going to be rooting for MIT next weekend. You guys can all blame devildog29. Also I think you Titan people should practice sharing better.

sac, nice usage of the word "interesting"

devildog29-haven't heard from him since football season-at least that long.

Hey now, don't start projecting April!!!!  As I told you last night, we haven't been to the Final 4 since '06, and this is only the fifth time since '96, so I think 11 out of 17 years is plenty of sharing!  Not to mention, in the previous four trips, we only brought home the trophy once, so we have a lot of room in the Shirk to fill and add to that collection......

And newcard, yes, I've followed the boards all season, but living down in San Antonio, I don't get to see any CCIW games live very often, save for what games I can watch streaming online now.  Hence, without much first hand knowledge and experience, I have been keeping my opinion to myself for the most part, not sure really what kind of validity I could add to the conversation.  I actually wasn't even going to mention anything about the FF for fear of looking like a bandwagoner coming out of the woodworks, but everyone's favorite tree-hugger decided to return from exile and call me out personally, so since she doesn't want to let sleeping dogs lie, I decided it would be ok to gloat a little......HA!   

It's OK to gloat:), I plan on doing that during next football season (IF and only IF good things happen for NC):D:D But it was almost like your name is mentioned and you appear out of nowhere:D

[Mr. Ypsi]

D3 Final Four Appearances, Salem Era (1995-96 to 2011-12)
Williams 6 (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011) - NESCAC
Illinois Wesleyan 5 (1996, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2012) - CCIW
Amherst 4 (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008) - NESCAC
Franklin & Marshall 3 (1996, 2000, 2009) - Centennial
Hope 3 (1996, 1998, 2008) - MIAA
UW-Stevens Point 3 (2004, 2005, 2010) - WIAC
Washington U. 3 (2007, 2008, 2009) - UAA
Wooster 3 (2003, 2007, 2011) - NCAC
Calvin 2 (2000, 2005) - MIAA
Guilford 2 (2009, 2010) - ODAC
Hampden-Sydney 2 (1999, 2003) - ODAC
Rochester 2 (2002, 2005) - UAA
UW-Platteville 2 (1998, 1999) - WIAC
Virginia Wesleyan 2 (2006, 2006) - ODAC
William Paterson 2 (1999, 2001) - NJAC
Alvernia 1 (1997) - MACF
Cabrini 1 (2012) - CSAC
Carthage 1 (2002) - CCIW
Catholic 1 (2001) - LAND
Connecticut College 1 (1999) - NESCAC
Elizabethtown 1 (2002) - MACC
Gustavus Adolphus 1 (2003) - MIAC
John Carroll 1 (2004) - OAC
Middlebury 1 (2011) - NESCAC
MIT 1 (2012) - NEWMAC
Nebraska Wesleyan 1 (1997) - ind
Ohio Northern 1 (2001) - OAC
Otterbein 1 (2002) - OAC
Randolph-Macon (2010) - ODAC
Richard Stockton 1 (2009) - NJAC
Rowan 1 (1996) - NJAC
Salem St 1 (2000) - MASCAC
St. Thomas 1 (2011) - MIAC
Ursinus 1 (2008) - Centennial
UW-Eau Claire 1 (2000) - WIAC
UW-Whitewater 1 (2012) - WIAC
Wilkes 1 (1997) - MACF
Wittenberg 1 (2006) - NCAC
York (Pa) 1 (2005) – CAC

Well no wonder Adam, Keelan, et. al. didn't win in 2006 - they were playing 5 on 10!

[sac]

Congrats to IWU on making Salem.

Its always interesting to view a team in person and you just can kind of tell they 'get it'.  Good luck in Salem.

Ha, well I didn't mean it in any disparaging way.   I just think sometimes watching a tournament game you can tell when teams just understand whats going to get them to advance in the tournament.

[iwu70]

Deighted, and double delighted -- both TITAN teams make the Final Four.  So happy and so proud of both squads.

Q captured it well, on the team play, chemistry of the Titans men this season, much due to Coach Rose and his staff, his leadership, no doubt.  The team chemistry you could see way back to the Green/White games in pre-season and the depth, team chemistry etc. has paid off all along this post-season road and journey.  (bopol, can't agree with you more . . . Eliud Gonzalez should have been first, or at least second team CCIW). 

Congrats to the women, too -- just tremendous defense and competitive spirit, riding the incredible drive and talents of so many, but esp. of Olivia Lett.

OK, double Final Four achieved, now let's go get a double national title -- more banners coming to the Shirk rafters.  Gotta love it.

Thanks to all the CCIW fans and Chat room colleagues for the kind words and support for out Titans.  Congrats to Carthage, Wheaton and North Central on incredibly fine seasons, great efforts in the Dance.

Go CCIW, Go TITANS!!!

IWU70

Brandon Landau RIP

[NCF]

IWU70-your teams are playing great bball at the right time of the season! They have done the CCIW proud to make the Final Four. North Central and Wheaton-you guys also did a fantastic job this year in this "down" year! Three conference teams in the 16 is amazing. Looking forward to reading AndOne's summary of Friday's game and his outlook for 12-13.

[iwumichigander]

Back from Wooster - Thank-you Titans.  Wins over Wooster and Wittenberg were really team efforts. 

[TitansIWU]

I know you have to play the game to really know for sure, but I wonder how this IWU team would have played against St. Thomas' team last year?

It's just such a change to see such defense being played and the rebounding just looks so much better.

[Titan Q]

Illinois Wesleyan (23-7, 10-4 CCIW) vs Cabrini (30-1, 18-0 CSAC)...

- D3hoops.com Top 25 rank: Cabrini #5, IWU n/a
- Massey Index rank: IWU #8, Cabrini #12
- Massey Strength of Schedule rating: IWU #2, Cabrini #245


PG
(CC) Cory Lemons, 5-10 Sr - 17.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.1 A/TO (196-403 FG, .486)
(IWU) Eliud Gonzalez, 5-9/170 Sr - 6.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 5.5 apg, 2.3 A/TO (62-144 FG, .431)

SG
(IWU) Jordan Zimmer, 6-5/190 Sr - 15.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.9 apg (102-242 3-point, .421)
(CC) A.J. Williams, 5-10 Jr - 9.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.4 apg (22-70 3-point, .314)

G/F
(CC) John Boyd, 6-3 Sr - 10.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg (48-158 3-point, .304)
(IWU) John Koschnitzky, 6-6/205 Sr - 9.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg (93-236 FG, .394)

F
(IWU) Victor Davis, 6-5/225 So - 10.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg (124-244 FG, .508)
(CC) Fran Rafferty, 6-4 So - 9.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg (34-87 3-point, .391)

F/C
(IWU) Kevin Reed, 6-7/225 Jr - 8.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg (116-194 FG, .598)
(CC) Goran Dulac, 6-7 Jr - 6.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg (73-150 FG, .487)

Bench

(CC) Jeremy Knowles (G), 6-1 Jr - 12.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 apg (53-151 3-point, .351)
(CC) Aaron Walton-Moss (G), 6-1 Fr - 11.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.6 apg (77-125 FG, .616)
(CC) Jon Miller (F/C), 6-6 So - 4.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, (44-78 FG, .564)
(CC) Abraham Bah (F), 6-4 Jr - 4.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg (28-81 FG, .486)

(IWU) Andrew Ziemnik (F), 6-5/225 So - 7.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg (72-165 FG, .436)
(IWU) Stephen Rudnicki (G), 6-3/173 Sr - 6.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.2 apg (30-65 FG, .422)
(IWU) Nick Anderson (C), 6-9/200 So - 4.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg (47-89 FG, .528)
(IWU) Eric Dortch (F), 6-3/210 So - 3.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg (29-73 FG, .397)


Team stats...

PPG
Cabrini - 85.1
IWU - 76.5

Opp PPG
IWU - 66.2
Cabrini - 71.8

FG
Cabrini - .470
IWU - .465

Opp FG
Cabrini - .411
IWU - .413

3-point
IWU - .363
Cabrini - .355

Opp 3-point
Cabrini - .301
IWU - .357

Reb. Margin
Cabrini - +8.9 per game
IWU - +5.9/game

FT
Cabrini - .701
IWU - .678

A/TO
Cabrini - 1.1
IWU - 1.1

Opp A/TO
IWU - 0.7
Cabrini - 0.8