MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[diehardfan]

Very big in-region win for North Central.  I have to believe the Hope win is going to really help NCC in the seeding/selection process.

On the flip side, this loss will hurt Hope.

Shhh, it's not like Hope needs a more fluffy schedule... 

In other news, How bout that Thunder? 

[wheels81]

Wheaton is looking good to start the season.  Really fun team to watch especially with several new faces making some big contributions.   Both teams they played weren't able to do much after 10 minutes of play.  Great defense and slashing offense.  Can't wait for the pre-conference season to be over. 

[Titan Q]

Final...

IWU 75
Loras 63

* Mike Mayberger: 18 pts (4-5 3-point)
* Dylan Overstreet: 13 pts, 2 reb, 3 assists
* Victor Davis: 11 pts, 3 reb

The boxscore, Pantagraph article, and On Demand video link from IWU/Loras game...

http://www.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2013/HTML/tip4.htm

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/big-early-lead-stakes-titan-men-to-victory/article_0aeacb7a-3123-11e2-9ef9-001a4bcf887a.html

http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#


A few thoughts...

* The Titans looked much, much better in game 2 due in large part to the fact that they made the rather routine shots they missed against Coe.  The big guys finished around the basket, and on the perimeter the Titans knocked down an impressive 10 of 18 3-point attempts.

* IWU was up 21-6 at the 10:06 mark, and 44-21 at halftime.  Loras played much better in the 2nd half and got it down to 11 late, but the Titans were in firm control of this one from start to finish.

* The leader on the perimeter was junior Mike Mayberger (the hero against Coe), who made 4 of 5 3's.  Mayberger is a 6-6 wing who played JV as a FR and missed almost all of last year with tendinitis in his knees.  He is a smart, steady player with a very nice touch from beyond the arc - he will be on the the guys counted on to knock down shots on the perimeter this year.  It's nice to see a guy who has dealt with adversity and worked hard get out there and have success.

* Victor Davis, who really struggled against Coe, played much better.  Once again, when Davis got the ball down low, he was  swarmed by defenders - sometimes 3 Loras defenders were around him.  The attention Davis commands creates so many perimeter opportunities for the Titans.  Victor did a nice job passing out of double teams last yesterday and not forcing the issue. 

* IWU starting PG Dylan Overstreet needs to keep developing - he's made a few bad decisions with the ball through 2 games - but I like him.  It's nice to have a scorer at the 1, and Overstreet is definitely a guy who can score.  He can knock down 3's, hit the mid-range jumpshot, and get to the basket.  Overstreet is a much better ball handler than I pictured - I heard "combo guard" and assumed he was more 2 than 1.  But he is definitely a legitimate, solid PG.

* 6-3 JR Eric Dortch is a nice weapon.  He plays outstanding perimeter defense and offensively can get to the rim.  I'd take those 6 point/7 rebound numbers every night out.

* This IWU team has a chance to be very good defensively.  Coe scored 51 points on 37% shooting, and Loras 63 on 41%.  The 2012-13 Titans are just very big (not just tall, but really thick) and physical and really make you earn your baskets.

* It definitely feels like IWU is missing a perimeter piece - getting 6-4 SG Brady Zimmer in there at some point will really help.  (Zimmer is now practicing but is not ready for game action.)  6-3 PG/SG Pat Sodemann has received good news regarding his groin injury and should return to practice in more like 2 weeks than the originally feared 12 weeks.  By CCIW time the Titans could be in good shape as far as personnel goes.

* The 2012-13 Titans will probably have about 8 or 9 different leading scorers throughout the season.  There are a lot of interchangeable parts on the floor.  I won't be surprised if five players end up averaging in the 10-12 ppg range and no one higher than 12.0 ppg.


I'm looking forward to watching this new IWU group continue to figure things out.

[Titan Q]

Here is Millikin's 9-man rotation through two games, by minutes played per game...

G - Chase Robbins, 6-2 FR (34.5 min/g)
F - Deavis Johnson, 6-6 FR (28.5)
G - TJ Griffin, 6-0 FR (28.5)
G - Elijah Kinmon, 6-5 FR (24.0)
C - Mitch Wilfer, 6-8 FR (22.0)
F - Jaylon Owens, 6-5 FR (20.0)
G - Tives Gardner, 5-9 FR (15.0)
G - Trent Windemuller, 6-2 FR (15.0)
F - Alex Tueth, 6-4 FR (7.0)

Millikin is not only starting 5 freshmen, but they are basically playing exclusively freshmen (sophomore Brady Knapp averages 3.0 minutes per game).  I can't remember seeing anything like this in my years around the CCIW.

I really respect how Matt Nadelhoffer is going about building a program.  From the positive attitude he had all of last year, to the way he attacked recruiting last year, to his efforts to rally the Millikin community and students around the Big Blue...just doing all of the right things. 

Millikin has the right guy here and the Big Blue are going to get better.  (And I don't just say this because Matt Nadelhoffer is my favorite non-Titan CCIW player of all-time!!)

[sac]

Final from the airplane hangar:

NCC 60
Hope 49

Derek Raridon had 21 and Landon Gamble had 10 for NCC.

It was back-and-forth until the last five minutes or so, at which point Hope stopped scoring and the Cards slowly opened up the lead.

It was a real foulfest, too. All four NCC bigs finished with four fouls apiece. Hope's star inside player Nate Snuggerud, who had four fouls in the first half alone, fouled out while only playing about ten minutes all night, while 6'10 Nate VanArendonk and west suburban product Brock Benson had four fouls apiece for the Dutch.

http://miaa.org/mbb/stats/1213/mbk02.htm
NCC held Hope to 1 FG in the games final 10 minutes........which was one less than the number of FG's NCC scored in those same minutes.  From 46-44 it was nearly all Ft's for both teams. 

Sort of an unusual finish to a game.

[kiko]

Here is Millikin's 9-man rotation through two games, by minutes played per game...

G - Chase Robbins, 6-2 FR (34.5 min/g)
F - Deavis Johnson, 6-6 FR (28.5)
G - TJ Griffin, 6-0 FR (28.5)
G - Elijah Kinmon, 6-5 FR (24.0)
C - Mitch Wilfer, 6-8 FR (22.0)
F - Jaylon Owens, 6-5 FR (20.0)
G - Tives Gardner, 5-9 FR (15.0)
G - Trent Windemuller, 6-2 FR (15.0)
F - Alex Tueth, 6-4 FR (7.0)

Millikin is not only starting 5 freshmen, but they are basically playing exclusively freshmen (sophomore Brady Knapp averages 3.0 minutes per game).  I can't remember seeing anything like this in my years around the CCIW.

If those five freshmen are named Webber, Rose, Howard, King, and Jackson, then I know seven other teams who are in trouble this year.

But I agree with the general sentiment here -- he's got a blueprint and you can see the house being framed with each step they take.

[Gregory Sager]

Here is Millikin's 9-man rotation through two games, by minutes played per game...

G - Chase Robbins, 6-2 FR (34.5 min/g)
F - Deavis Johnson, 6-6 FR (28.5)
G - TJ Griffin, 6-0 FR (28.5)
G - Elijah Kinmon, 6-5 FR (24.0)
C - Mitch Wilfer, 6-8 FR (22.0)
F - Jaylon Owens, 6-5 FR (20.0)
G - Tives Gardner, 5-9 FR (15.0)
G - Trent Windemuller, 6-2 FR (15.0)
F - Alex Tueth, 6-4 FR (7.0)

Millikin is not only starting 5 freshmen, but they are basically playing exclusively freshmen (sophomore Brady Knapp averages 3.0 minutes per game).  I can't remember seeing anything like this in my years around the CCIW.

The only upperclassman on the Big Blue roster, senior Rodney Clark -- who is probably one of the three or four most experienced players in the league in terms of minutes played -- did not appear in either game for Millikin this weekend. Is he injured? He's still on the roster.

[AndOne]

Final...

IWU 75
Loras 63

* Mike Mayberger: 18 pts (4-5 3-point)
* Dylan Overstreet: 13 pts, 2 reb, 3 assists
* Victor Davis: 11 pts, 3 reb

The boxscore, Pantagraph article, and On Demand video link from IWU/Loras game...

http://www.iwusports.com/custompages/MBB/MBB2013/HTML/tip4.htm

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-wesleyan/big-early-lead-stakes-titan-men-to-victory/article_0aeacb7a-3123-11e2-9ef9-001a4bcf887a.html

http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/iwu.portal#


A few thoughts...

* The Titans looked much, much better in game 2 due in large part to the fact that they made the rather routine shots they missed against Coe.  The big guys finished around the basket, and on the perimeter the Titans knocked down an impressive 10 of 18 3-point attempts.

* IWU was up 21-6 at the 10:06 mark, and 44-21 at halftime.  Loras played much better in the 2nd half and got it down to 11 late, but the Titans were in firm control of this one from start to finish.

* The leader on the perimeter was junior Mike Mayberger (the hero against Coe), who made 4 of 5 3's.  Mayberger is a 6-6 wing who played JV as a FR and missed almost all of last year with tendinitis in his knees.  He is a smart, steady player with a very nice touch from beyond the arc - he will be on the the guys counted on to knock down shots on the perimeter this year.  It's nice to see a guy who has dealt with adversity and worked hard get out there and have success.

* Victor Davis, who really struggled against Coe, played much better.  Once again, when Davis got the ball down low, he was  swarmed by defenders - sometimes 3 Loras defenders were around him.  The attention Davis commands creates so many perimeter opportunities for the Titans.  Victor did a nice job passing out of double teams last yesterday and not forcing the issue. 

* IWU starting PG Dylan Overstreet needs to keep developing - he's made a few bad decisions with the ball through 2 games - but I like him.  It's nice to have a scorer at the 1, and Overstreet is definitely a guy who can score.  He can knock down 3's, hit the mid-range jumpshot, and get to the basket.  Overstreet is a much better ball handler than I pictured - I heard "combo guard" and assumed he was more 2 than 1.  But he is definitely a legitimate, solid PG.

* 6-3 JR Eric Dortch is a nice weapon.  He plays outstanding perimeter defense and offensively can get to the rim.  I'd take those 6 point/7 rebound numbers every night out.

* This IWU team has a chance to be very good defensively.  Coe scored 51 points on 37% shooting, and Loras 63 on 41%.  The 2012-13 Titans are just very big (not just tall, but really thick) and physical and really make you earn your baskets.

* It definitely feels like IWU is missing a perimeter piece - getting 6-4 SG Brady Zimmer in there at some point will really help.  (Zimmer is now practicing but is not ready for game action.)  6-3 PG/SG Pat Sodemann has received good news regarding his groin injury and should return to practice in more like 2 weeks than the originally feared 12 weeks.  By CCIW time the Titans could be in good shape as far as personnel goes.

* The 2012-13 Titans will probably have about 8 or 9 different leading scorers throughout the season.  There are a lot of interchangeable parts on the floor.  I won't be surprised if five players end up averaging in the 10-12 ppg range and no one higher than 12.0 ppg.

ONE thought/question:

Should the Green Weenies not beat the team picked to finish tied for 5th in the mighty IIAC by this margin or more?

[D-3 watcher]

A O. Maybe the Titans should have won by a bigger margin, but they didn't. But as far as being weenies, your team had a a bad case of being weenies in the sweet 16 last year, and almost every year when the big dance starts. Why is that? Seems to me your team gets a little soft when it counts. No pun intended. By the way, dropped the final 4 banner last night, looks great up in the rafters. It's BIG and GREEN. No pun intended.

[Titan Q]

ONE thought/question:

Should the Green Weenies not beat the team picked to finish tied for 5th in the mighty IIAC by this margin or more?

Simpson finished 5th in the IIAC last year.  Here is how CCIW champion North Central faired against Simpson...

http://northcentralcardinals.com/custompages/MBK/mbk1112/Mbk06.htm

[sac]

ONE thought/question:

Should the Green Weenies not beat the team picked to finish tied for 5th in the mighty IIAC by this margin or more?

Simpson finished 5th in the IIAC last year.  Here is how CCIW champion North Central faired against Simpson...

http://northcentralcardinals.com/custompages/MBK/mbk1112/Mbk06.htm

[AndOne]

A O. Maybe the Titans should have won by a bigger margin, but they didn't. But as far as being weenies, your team had a a bad case of being weenies in the sweet 16 last year, and almost every year when the big dance starts. Why is that? Seems to me your team gets a little soft when it counts. No pun intended. By the way, dropped the final 4 banner last night, looks great up in the rafters. It's BIG and GREEN. No pun intended.

D-3,

Soft had nothing to do with it. If you want to know why NCC lost in the Round of 16 last year, I refer you to Greg Sager's spot on analysis following that event. The Cardinals are a very rough and tumble team that can go toe to toe with anyone as evidenced by last night's win against the lumberjacks from #7 Hope. Even more so this year than last with the addition of Jack Burchett.

And, just how many wins did the boys from Bloomington have against the Naperville softies last year? 

[AndOne]

ONE thought/question:

Should the Green Weenies not beat the team picked to finish tied for 5th in the mighty IIAC by this margin or more?

Simpson finished 5th in the IIAC last year.  Here is how CCIW champion North Central faired against Simpson...

http://northcentralcardinals.com/custompages/MBK/mbk1112/Mbk06.htm

Aaron Tiknis was injured and unable to play in that game and Kevin Gillespie had not played in the previous game as was nowhere near 100%.
Nevertheless, last year's loss to Simpson in Iowa was probably NCC's 2nd crappiest game of the year after the complete and utter debacle which took place in Platteville, WI.

[AndOne]

Final from the airplane hangar:

NCC 60
Hope 49

Derek Raridon had 21 and Landon Gamble had 10 for NCC.

It was back-and-forth until the last five minutes or so, at which point Hope stopped scoring and the Cards slowly opened up the lead.

It was a real foulfest, too. All four NCC bigs finished with four fouls apiece. Hope's star inside player Nate Snuggerud, who had four fouls in the first half alone, fouled out while only playing about ten minutes all night, while 6'10 Nate VanArendonk and west suburban product Brock Benson had four fouls apiece for the Dutch.

http://miaa.org/mbb/stats/1213/mbk02.htm
NCC held Hope to 1 FG in the games final 10 minutes........which was one less than the number of FG's NCC scored in those same minutes.  From 46-44 it was nearly all Ft's for both teams. 

Sort of an unusual finish to a game.

An unusual finish to be sure.

However, much more well played by NCC than Hope in that the Cardinals dictated play by going right at Hope.
Over the last 3:52 of the game, NCC went to the line 7 times, making 6, as compared to no FT attempts by Hope. This was a tactical error by the visitors as in addition to creating a chance or chances from the line, they could have disqualified one or more of the Cardinals, 4 of whom had 4 fouls apiece by that time. No NCC player wound up fouling out. 

[Titan Q]

Aaron Tiknis was injured and unable to play in that game and Kevin Gillespie had not played in the previous game as was nowhere near 100%.
Nevertheless, last year's loss to Simpson in Iowa was probably NCC's 2nd crappiest game of the year after the complete and utter debacle which took place in Platteville, WI.

So sometimes in the non-conference season a team that might end up to be a pretty good team later in the year might struggle and lose a game they shouldn't to a mediocre team (especially when injuries are involved).  I get it.

But what exactly is your point about IWU's 12-point win over Loras, in a game the Titans led by 23 at halftime and never by less than double digits the final 26 minutes?  (Considering this is an IWU team working to figure out a completely new perimeter cast, and dealing with 3 key injuries at perimeter spots.)

Or were you just kind of doing your AndOne thing of getting things stirred up.  I guess the use of "Green Weenies" was a dead giveaway on that one huh?