MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[mailsy]

Wanted to thank all of the IWU fans for all the info on your team.  I got to read and know about the great supporters of the Titans.  They had a great season.  It was a great game.  It is a shame that someone had to lose this game.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Well, the Titans WILL play a title game tomorrow - IWU 67, St. Thomas 53.

George Fox has a seemingly unstoppable 6'5" center (Hannah Munger: went for 36 and 13 in knocking out undefeated, defending champion Amherst today).  Hmmm ... ya suppose Victor Davis with a body wax and a wig could get away with playing??!!

Oh well, the Titan women did eliminate GF (and Munger) in the Elite Eight last season, so there is always hope (or, being at the DeVos, perhaps that is always Hope )!

[iwu70]

Congrats to Coach Smith and the Titans.  Time for giant slaying.  Keep it rolling.  An ugly, defensive oriented game, but the Titans just had too much for the Tommies, esp. on D.  Lots of good contributions . . . esp. Shelby Jackson . . . and always Olivia Lett -- double double, like 24 and 12, her average.  Is it really true she didn't make the All-America team?  That would be a travesty, a HUGE injustice. 

Good luck tomorrow TITANS -- finish it off.  GO TITANS.

Great season by the guys -- warm congrats.  Cabrini just had one shot too many tonight.  Proud of how we fought, even against a team that for times was just out of its mind with shooting treys.  Who knew?  Titan D was much better in the second half, but just had them loose one time too many. 

IWU70

P.S.  Hope the Salem fans head for Holland, it's on the way home afterall.

Great group of seniors -- thanks to all.  And, now the underclassmen have the taste, know what it takes to "Get Back."  like the women.  Keep it going TITANS -- work hard in the off season and get ready for another great March run.

ms

[D-3 watcher]

That was a rugby match, it took a lot for a foul to be called in this one. Refs were not interested in the rules much. They didn't care what jersey you were wearing, same way for both teams, certainly fair in that aspect. The problem for IWU was, that type of game favored Cabrini more than the Titans. It finally wore them down, forcing a few bad plays,and passes late in the game. Don't get the idea the Titans didn't get their fair shares of hits, holds, and shoves in, they did. The refs didn't cost IWU the game, heck they were up 9, as late as the 7:00 min. mark.

Great game, great tourney run, great bunch of kids, will miss the seniors, but at IWU, they never really leave. We will see them around, after 4 years, their blood has a little green in it.

Thanks boys, fun watching you. You should be proud!!!!!!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Yeah, the broadcast is good overall, but the Kozanitsky is driving me crazy.

Borderline forgivable for student announcers in the regular season; unforgivable in the FF.

I agree, talk about doing your homework as we have heard Greg Sager say so many times...

FYI - since I was on the call, we did do our homework and both my broadcast partner and I heard Coach Rose say to both of us John Koschnitzky's name as Kosh... not Kuz. He and I were under the impression it was Kuz until chatting with him a few hours before the game and we both heard him say it like Kosh. I know this simply because we commented to one another that we were under the wrong impression in the first place.

So, before assuming we aren't doing our homework - and did you even realize I was on the call? - understand we did do our homework and were given the wrong impression.

We corrected our mistake, but assuming we aren't doing our job is not be fair to us, either. There was no one from IWU here except the coaching staff to answer many of our questions (or at least no one came to us except coaching staff).

Congrats to IWU on a terrific run in the tourney and season. It wasn't the way I know many wanted the ride to end, but they ran into a buzz saw in Cabrini. Coach Rose made a great coaching move to start the second half to slow things down and it rattled Cabrini. But Coach Kahn made a terrific counter-move in adding the press and changing the tempo again. It was great to watch.

Also, there is a spot(s) available for the losing teams of the semifinals in the All-Star Game. I know MIT does not have any players eligible to play since almost all of their "seniors" actually have a year of eligibility available they plan to use next year while in graduate school. There are two players, but they weren't high in the NABC balloting, so no player from MIT will take part tomorrow. As for IWU, they have the ability to have at least one player (maybe more) play if they so choose. There will be at least 9 players from each team (there is an extra player on the West squad listed, but Georgia Milligan ended up being a scratch due to an injury he suffered last weekend - one report I got is he broke a bone in his foot).

Hope I get to see some more IWU play tomorrow, in this case.

[Titan Q]

Cabrini 81
IWU 78

* Jordan Zimmer: 19 pts, 5 reb
* Victor Davis: 14 pts, 5 reb
* John Koschnitzky: 11 pts, 4 reb
* Stephen Rudnicki: 11 pts, 3 reb, 4 assists
* Kevin Reed: 6 pts, 8 reb, 6 assists

* John Boyd: 34 pts, 3 reb, 4 assists
* Cory Lemons: 11 pts, 5 reb, 8 assists

http://www.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2012/HTML/d3semi-1.htm

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/iwu-men-fall-in-national-semifinal/article_2f9ef8a8-6fc5-11e1-8160-001871e3ce6c.html


In 10 trips to Salem, this was one of the best national semifinals I've seen -- it was a fantastic basketball game.  Unfortunately for the Titans, it ended up a heartbreaker.

As billed coming in, these were two extremely different basketball teams. Cabrini's quickness and athleticism were something IWU just had not seen this year.  As one D3 head coach said afterwards, "There isn't a single team in the Great Lakes, Midwest, or West that looks anything like that."  On both sides of the floor, Cabrini's perimeter play reminded me a preseason D1 vs D3 exhibition where the D1's quickness and athleticism just stands out like a sore thumb.  It honestly looked exactly like that to me.

The Titans had their hands full with that, but overall played extremely well until late in the 2nd half.  IWU was up 70-61 with 6:58 to play and things looked to be in good shape.  Right about that point, Cabrini employed full-court pressure and it changed the outcome of the game.  The Titans not only had some big turnovers that led to Cabrini baskets, but IWU really had trouble attacking the press and getting good offensive looks against it.  This IWU team - which started a point-guard and five 6-5+ forwards - was always susecptible to turnovers vs great pressure defense on the team, but Cabrini's freakish quickness and athleticism made that problem even worse.  Cabrini could pressure the heck out of the ball coming up the floor, yet recover in time to create more chaos once the ball was across halfcourt.  From 6:58 to 2:25 Cabrini went on a 15-3 run to take a 3-point lead.  Their run was pretty much all due to that stifling full-court pressure.  I'd like to have some magic X's and O's bullet that IWU could have employed to attack the pressure better, but at the end of the day Cabrini just had the personnel to do that extremely effectively.  And at the same time, the Titans made some bad decisions with the basketball.

Down 2 with :36 seconds to play, IWU was not done yet.  Stephen Rudnicki, who had a tremendous NCAA tournament and hit numerous huge shots, made an 18-foot baseline jumpshot with :15 to play to tie the game. 

Ron Rose called timeout to set his defense and force overtime.  On the Cabrini game-winning possession, honestly, IWU got exactly what it wanted.  The Titans collapsed in the lane on the ball (had they not, it would have been a layup or foul) and forced Jeremy Knowles to take a 3-pointer to win the game.  And he did just that - swish.

A huge factor in this game was how it was officiated.  The whistle was completely even on both sides, but the consensus from all of the D3 coaches I spoke to afterwards was that this was the loosest whistle they'd ever seen in a tournament game.  To say they "let 'em play" would be an enormous understatement.  The amount of contact (pushing/shoving/grabbing) they allowed, in my opinion, crossed the line.  One of the coaches called it "way outside acceptable parameters."  Again, while the whistle was even and fair, the game called that way favored Cabrini bigtime.  They might be the shorter of the two teams, but they play an incredibly physical, rugged style...much more physical that IWU. 

Bottom line this was a great game in which the Titans just came up a play or two short.  After watching Cabrini, I think it is fair to say that IWU and Cabrini are two extremely even basketball games...even though two extremely different basketball teams.  It was fascinating to watch the X's and O's play out in a game involving such contrasting styles.  If I give it the ole, "If these two teams played 10 times...." deal, I'd honestly say they'd split 'em 5-5.  IWU would have trouble vs Cabrini's perimeter quickness and athleticism every time, and Cabrini would have trouble with IWU's size and balance. If Cabrini is #5 in the nation, then IWU (currently unranked) is #6.  If Cabrini is #1, IWU is #2.  There is just no separation here at all really.

[Titan Q]

A huge congratulations and thank you to Ron Rose and the Titans for an amazing NCAA tournament run.  I'll certainly never forget the games vs UW-Stevens Point, Hope, Wooster, and Wittenberg, or the game last night vs a great Cabrini team.  The Titans played extremely well overall in all of these games.  IWU was a couple bounces away from playing for the national championship, and with 400+ D3 teams, that's hard to accomplish.

And thank you to 4 impressive seniors - Eliud Gonzalez, Stephen Rudnicki, John Koschnitzky, and Jordan Zimmer.  I not only appreciate how these 4 played on the floor, I appreciate what they have done to be great role models and leaders for IWU's young guys.  Being with the team that last two weekends I've really gotten to see that close up.  These are 4 extremely high-character young men - they make me proud to be an IWU alum and fan.  I feel great about where IWU's program is and is heading due in large part to the impact these seniors have had, and how that will now carry forward to the talented group that will take the center stage next. 

Fun ride - I really enjoyed it.  Best of luck to the IWU women in Holland tonight!

[Titan Q]

Also, there is a spot(s) available for the losing teams of the semifinals in the All-Star Game. I know MIT does not have any players eligible to play since almost all of their "seniors" actually have a year of eligibility available they plan to use next year while in graduate school. There are two players, but they weren't high in the NABC balloting, so no player from MIT will take part tomorrow. As for IWU, they have the ability to have at least one player (maybe more) play if they so choose. There will be at least 9 players from each team (there is an extra player on the West squad listed, but Georgia Milligan ended up being a scratch due to an injury he suffered last weekend - one report I got is he broke a bone in his foot).

Hope I get to see some more IWU play tomorrow, in this case.

The Titans charter flight back home leaves this morning...might already be in the air (can't remember the time).  With the women in the title game tonight they wanted to get everyone home so those wanting to jump in the car and drive up to Holland can do so.

[Titan Q]

I don't know what to make of the Cabrini/UW-Whitewater title game tonight.  I have to believe the Warhawks will have the same trouble with Cabrini that IWU had (on both sides of the floor).  But Whitewater is a better ball-handling team than the Titans, so maybe they'll handle it better.

Also, Cabrini's performance last night was due in large part to the career night by John Boyd.  Boyd came in averaging 11 points per game, and finished with 34...and I think had 20 in the first 10 minutes of the game.  I just wonder what happens if he has an "average" game vs UWW.

After seeing both teams, I guess I'd say UWW is the favorite...but not by much.  Just like IWU vs Cabrini, UW-Whitewater vs Cabrini is a really intriguing matchup of very different styles.  Should be a great game to watch. 

[OurHouse]

A huge factor in this game was how it was officiated.  The whistle was completely even on both sides, but the consensus from all of the D3 coaches I spoke to afterwards was that this was the loosest whistle they'd ever seen in a tournament game.  To say they "let 'em play" would be an enormous understatement.  The amount of contact (pushing/shoving/grabbing) they allowed, in my opinion, crossed the line.  One of the coaches called it "way outside acceptable parameters."  Again, while the whistle was even and fair, the game called that way favored Cabrini bigtime.  They might be the shorter of the two teams, but they play an incredibly physical, rugged style...much more physical that IWU. 

Officiating? (always an excuse) - if they called everything, the game would last 5 hours. They can't call everything so the officials do their best. A favoring fan always sees it to one sided in which its not. This is the way officiating should be compared to the grade school officials you get from the CCIW. Don't bring up bad officiating as an excuse ever again.

[Titan Q]

A huge factor in this game was how it was officiated.  The whistle was completely even on both sides, but the consensus from all of the D3 coaches I spoke to afterwards was that this was the loosest whistle they'd ever seen in a tournament game.  To say they "let 'em play" would be an enormous understatement.  The amount of contact (pushing/shoving/grabbing) they allowed, in my opinion, crossed the line.  One of the coaches called it "way outside acceptable parameters."  Again, while the whistle was even and fair, the game called that way favored Cabrini bigtime.  They might be the shorter of the two teams, but they play an incredibly physical, rugged style...much more physical that IWU. 

Officiating? (always an excuse) - if they called everything, the game would last 5 hours. They can't call everything so the officials do their best. A favoring fan always sees it to one sided in which its not. This is the way officiating should be compared to the grade school officials you get from the CCIW. Don't bring up bad officiating as an excuse ever again.

There is no way to get around the fact that the way the game was called impacted the game - that can probably be said about most college basketball games to some degree.  Had I not heard 7 impartial Division III coaches say that exact thing (that they "let 'em play" to a degree you just don't see in this type of game, and that that happened to favor Cabrini) I wouldn't even bring it up.

Again, it was a very even whistle...I was very clear about that.

[John Gleich]

Tremendous season by IWU! 

We had a saying when I played in the WIAC... "Just let us get in!"  All you need is a shot in the tournament, and in a league like the CCIW, even in a season where, on paper, it seems like the league might be down, the programs are run in such a way to peak at the right time.

All ya need is a chance and great things can happen.  Great run by IWU and the other CCIW schools this season!

[markerickson]

If Boyd had 20 points in the first 10 minutes, presumably mostly by hitting the trey, how did he continue to get so many shots?  IWU had a significant height advantage yet attempted more treys.  Why is that?  How does Cabrini block seven shots whereas the taller Titans only get two?

The taller Titans did enjoy a significant rebounding advantage (42-28).

[Titan Q]

If Boyd had 20 points in the first 10 minutes, presumably mostly by hitting the trey, how did he continue to get so many shots?  IWU had a significant height advantage yet attempted more treys.  Why is that?  How does Cabrini block seven shots whereas the taller Titans only get two?

The taller Titans did enjoy a significant rebounding advantage (42-28).

In Cory Lemons and Aaron Walton-Moss, Cabrini has two legitimate Division I-caliber guards.  They have the quickness with the basketball of the guards playing on CBS this weekend.  Both were completely unlike anything IWU has faced all season long...and IWU played the 2nd toughest schedule in the country per Massey.  It honestly reminded me of IWU's game vs the Fighting Illini in 2005-06, watching Adam Dauksas, Jason Fisher, and Matt Arnold try to deal with Dee Brown & Co.  Cabrini is that quick on the perimeter with Lemons and Walton-Moss.

To try to stop dribble penetration, IWU had to collapse in the lane big time.  It was just almost impossible to prevent Cabrini perimeter players from getting decent looks.  It was a pick your poison kind of thing - you either give Lemons or Walton-Moss a layup, or you make them hit a long jumpshot.  The Boyd kid simply stepped up in a huge game and converted.  IWU started staying home more on him, and he'd shoot from further out...or then start taking it to the basket (where he was converting as well).

As far as blocked shots, Cabrini might have been shorter than IWU, but they are way more athletic overall - a guy who can jump out of the gym can make up for 2-3 inches in height difference pretty easily.

As far as IWU taking a ton of 3's, I think that illustrates how hard Cabrini's perimeter pressure makes it to enter the post.  The Titans had a lot of trouble getting the ball to big guys on the blocks...and when they did get it there, Cabrini would make it very difficult to make a move.

Just looking at a roster is very misleading in terms of Cabrini.  They may start 5-9, 5-10, 6-3, 6-4 at the 1-4 spots, but they are an incredibly quick, athletic, and physical team.

[TitansIWU]

A huge factor in this game was how it was officiated.  The whistle was completely even on both sides, but the consensus from all of the D3 coaches I spoke to afterwards was that this was the loosest whistle they'd ever seen in a tournament game.  To say they "let 'em play" would be an enormous understatement.  The amount of contact (pushing/shoving/grabbing) they allowed, in my opinion, crossed the line.  One of the coaches called it "way outside acceptable parameters."  Again, while the whistle was even and fair, the game called that way favored Cabrini bigtime.  They might be the shorter of the two teams, but they play an incredibly physical, rugged style...much more physical that IWU. 

Officiating? (always an excuse) - if they called everything, the game would last 5 hours. They can't call everything so the officials do their best. A favoring fan always sees it to one sided in which its not. This is the way officiating should be compared to the grade school officials you get from the CCIW. Don't bring up bad officiating as an excuse ever again.

Typical Ourhouse comment, has sat at home after his team's loss and was locked and loaded to come on here and bash IWU in some way.

Q was perfectly clear officiating wasn't the problem. Hell, there was no problem... IWU played at Cabrini's level and vice versa in different ways. Last possession game that could have gone either way. Had Eliud's last second heave went in, we still would be talking about the loose officiating. Anyone who watched saw hacking from both teams on every shot in the first half and almost no calls. The announcers commented on it several times. After a shot when you see a player smashed onto the ground and there is no call, that is loose.

Ourhouse, did you even watch the game or were you just ready to pounce on anything, whether it made sense to say or not?