MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[cciwrabblerouser]

if the greenies come ready to play friday night, they will dispatch cabrini.  cabrini, though ranked highly, plays in an extremely weak conference.  they have not been tested much at all this season.  expect to see iwu in the championship game...if they come ready to play.

[Titan Q]

I don't know anything about Cabrini, but in just looking at the numbers and roster, this game looks to be one of those contrasting styles-type matchups that are so common in Salem.  IWU is a traditional "midwest" team, with a lot of size, while Cabrini appears to be a guard-oriented team that pushes the tempo.  It seems to be the type of game with a lot of strange, uncomfortable one-on-one matchups on both ends.  Many IWU players will probably be defending smaller, quicker players and Cabrini will have to find a way to deal with all of IWU's size.

The interesting thing is that IWU, while certainly a big/physical team, prefers to run.  In the CCIW, most teams tried to slow IWU down, and force them to execute in the halfcourt offense.  Friday night, IWU won the battle of tempo and baited Wooster into a fast-paced, up and down-type game...which is where the Titans excel.

The thought of Cabrini being an up-tempo team sounds good to me.  Obviously Eliud Gonzalez is very good at pushing the ball up the floor and finding open teammates, and all of IWU's big guys run the floor extremely well.

Very intriguing matchup of two very different teams.  Should be fun.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

congratulations to both green weenie teams for making the final four

also congratulations to North Central for winning their 3rd straight NCAA Div 3 men's indoor track championship - the CCIW's 44th NCAA championship

[Titan Q]

if the greenies come ready to play friday night, they will dispatch cabrini.  cabrini, though ranked highly, plays in an extremely weak conference.  they have not been tested much at all this season.  expect to see iwu in the championship game...if they come ready to play.

This is what some said in 2001 when IWU faced William Paterson, and then in 2006 when the Titans faced Virginia Wesleyan (both losses in the national semifinal).  To say IWU will "dispatch Cabrini" sounds good on the chat board...but when you get to Salem you find out that every team in the field is there for a reason, and is dangerous.

That said, there is no question that one of the two teams has played one of the best schedules in Division III, while the other has played an extremely weak schedule (I have to wonder what Cabrini's record would be with IWU's schedule?).  I guess we'll see what strength of schedule means when IWU and Cabrini meet.

[Titan Q]

"Inside Cabrini" video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FsnUA6YTb0&feature=related



Here is a short video of Cabrini from December vs Centre (Cabrini in blue)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlEiCFmxc0c

The shot made at the end of the clip is by Cabrini's star player, 5-10 Cory Lemons.  Eliud Gonzalez will really have his work cut out for him Friday...Lemons looks really quick with the basketball.

[Titan Q]

Just saw a D3hoops tweet that both Ron Rose and Mia Smith will be on Hoopsville this evening, somewhere right at the beginning of the show (6:00pm CST).

http://www.d3hoops.com/landing/index

[NCF]

congratulations to both green weenie teams for making the final four

also congratulations to North Central for winning their 3rd straight NCAA Div 3 men's indoor track championship - the CCIW's 44th NCAA championship

And you can bet they will be going for the the triple crown (cc,indoor and outdoor track) come late May!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Just saw a D3hoops tweet that both Ron Rose and Mia Smith will be on Hoopsville this evening, somewhere right at the beginning of the show (6:00pm CST).

http://www.d3hoops.com/landing/index

Someday you will follow the Hoopsville Twitter account... right?!  (www.twitter.com/d3hoopsville)

[Titan Q]

Just saw a D3hoops tweet that both Ron Rose and Mia Smith will be on Hoopsville this evening, somewhere right at the beginning of the show (6:00pm CST).

http://www.d3hoops.com/landing/index

Someday you will follow the Hoopsville Twitter account... right?!  (www.twitter.com/d3hoopsville)

I've been following the Hoopsville twitter account for a while, Dave.

[Titan Q]

A few Cabrini highlights from last night's win over Scranton...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z91CPVZ1ZbE&feature=player_embedded#!

[hopefan]

TQ...  you're flying??!!    I was counting on you picking me up in St Louis on the way down to Salem!!

Congrats and Best of Luck to the Titans!!!!!

[diehardfan]

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!

Hah, I thought about saying something, but I knew I could count on someone else to.

Thanks for doing that Q; It is interesting to things lined up like that. It also highlights IWU's need to share.

[John Gleich]

I don't know anything about Cabrini, but in just looking at the numbers and roster, this game looks to be one of those contrasting styles-type matchups that are so common in Salem.  IWU is a traditional "midwest" team, with a lot of size, while Cabrini appears to be a guard-oriented team that pushes the tempo.  It seems to be the type of game with a lot of strange, uncomfortable one-on-one matchups on both ends.  Many IWU players will probably be defending smaller, quicker players and Cabrini will have to find a way to deal with all of IWU's size.

The interesting thing is that IWU, while certainly a big/physical team, prefers to run.  In the CCIW, most teams tried to slow IWU down, and force them to execute in the halfcourt offense.  Friday night, IWU won the battle of tempo and baited Wooster into a fast-paced, up and down-type game...which is where the Titans excel.

The thought of Cabrini being an up-tempo team sounds good to me.  Obviously Eliud Gonzalez is very good at pushing the ball up the floor and finding open teammates, and all of IWU's big guys run the floor extremely well.

Very intriguing matchup of two very different teams.  Should be fun.

One things that jumped out to me with the stats you posted was the rebounding stats... Cabrini appears to have an edge (8.9 margin vs. 5.9 margin).  Getting more defensive rebounds (for Cabrini) will enable them to get out and run.  If IWU can press the offensive boards, they can both get some second chance points, while at the same time slow Cabrini down.

I think some of the stats are likely a bit deceiving... Cabrini has a better opponent 3 pt percentage than IWU... but if CC was ahead in games, teams likely could have been trying to get back quick and jacked 3's.  I also think that the SOS may play into that... IWU just played against more skilled teams who could shoot from deep better.

I think that IWU's inside players might have an opportunity to shine here and have some bigger outputs.

I'm hoping for a Whitewater/Wesleyan final... I want to see Davis Vs. Davis (Victor vs. Chris)

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Just saw a D3hoops tweet that both Ron Rose and Mia Smith will be on Hoopsville this evening, somewhere right at the beginning of the show (6:00pm CST).

http://www.d3hoops.com/landing/index

Someday you will follow the Hoopsville Twitter account... right?!  (www.twitter.com/d3hoopsville)

I've been following the Hoopsville twitter account for a while, Dave.

I know... I was just trying to have some fun with you. We have to make sure we get a beer together in Salem this weekend! Where are you staying? And where is your choice? Pine Room? Mac & Bob's? Awful Arthurs? I won't be at the Hotel Roanoke for the first time in I think ten years... but that's what happens when Turner is paying for my accommodations!

[Titan Q]

I know... I was just trying to have some fun with you. We have to make sure we get a beer together in Salem this weekend! Where are you staying? And where is your choice? Pine Room? Mac & Bob's? Awful Arthurs? I won't be at the Hotel Roanoke for the first time in I think ten years... but that's what happens when Turner is paying for my accommodations!

All of the above!  Just let me know when free and let's do it.