MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Everybody else already has three losses. Wesleyan's not going to lose four out of six.

Certainly not 4, but 3 losses is very possible...and could lose an 11-3 tie-breaker.

IWU is in tremendous shape for a share of the title...I just don't think sole possession of the title is close to a lock at this point.

[NCF]

This pretty much gives Wesleyan the CCIW title.

Well it certainly puts IWU in tremendous shape, but I think this statement is way too strong.  IWU still has...

@ Augustana
vs Wheaton
@ Carthage
@ North Central

There could easily be 3 losses there.

Highly unlikely, maybe two losses and that's a big maybe.

[iwumichigander]

Everybody else already has three losses. Wesleyan's not going to lose four out of six.

Certainly not 4, but 3 losses is very possible...and could lose an 11-3 tie-breaker.

IWU is in tremendous shape for a share of the title...I just don't think sole possession of the title is close to a lock at this point.

Agree.  I'm certainly not doing a victory dance at this point.

[Gregory Sager]

I didn't say "sole possession" ... I just said "the CCIW title."

But as far as sole possession is concerned, I think the Titans have very strong odds in their favor. NCC, Wheaton, and Augie will each find it very difficult to go 6-0 from here on out, and Carthage is a mirage at 5-3.

[Titan Q]

I didn't say "sole possession" ... I just said "the CCIW title."

Oh.  "The CCIW title" kinda sounded like sole possession to me.  But I know I can't win this, so just gonna get out now.

[Gregory Sager]

Millikin's win over Carthage in Decatur was by 12 points. Carthage's win tonight over Millikin in Kenosha was by 24. Not often you see a 36-point swing in a two-game series in this league.

[iwumichigander]

I didn't say "sole possession" ... I just said "the CCIW title."

Oh.  "The CCIW title" kinda sounded like sole possession to me.  But I know I can't win this, so just gonna get out now.

Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please. -- Mark Twain (smart move Q)

[Gregory Sager]

Whatever.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

This pretty much gives Wesleyan the CCIW title.

Well it certainly puts IWU in tremendous shape, but I think this statement is way too strong.  IWU still has...

@ Augustana
vs Wheaton
@ Carthage
@ North Central

There could easily be 3 losses there.

Hopefully I don't jinx it... we are hoping to have IWU on Hoopsville Monday

[Mr. Ypsi]

This pretty much gives Wesleyan the CCIW title.

Well it certainly puts IWU in tremendous shape, but I think this statement is way too strong.  IWU still has...

@ Augustana
vs Wheaton
@ Carthage
@ North Central

There could easily be 3 losses there.

Hopefully I don't jinx it... we are hoping to have IWU on Hoopsville Monday

IF we lose @Augie, I'm holding you personally responsible, Dave.

IF we win @Augie, I really like our chances for sole possession, since I can't really foresee losing BOTH @Carthage and at home to Wheaton.

[thunder38]

Congrats if you were at King Arena tonight.  That is what Division III basketball is all about.  The crowd was Wheaton's second-largest regular season crowd in King Arena history and they were treated to a terrific ball game.  The energy and the crowd was circa 2009.

[iwu70]

Congrats to Coach Rose and the Titans on the win at EC.  Sounds like an absolutely fabulous game at WC, with the outcome all of us Green Weenie fans were hoping for.   Sure is nice to be 3 up with 6 games to go, even with the tough road game pathway the Titans still have to play.  I, too, could see some losses coming, but hope the Titans keep playing as well, or better, as in the recent 8 games.  An outright CCIW crown would be a great reward, putting the Titans in a nice, hosting at home place for the CCIW tourney.  Thought Kevin Reed had one of his best games ever as a Titan and, of course, great to see Victor Davis lead the team in scoring, I think for the first time this season, in game 19 of the season? Not sure.  We do need Brady Zimmer back and healthy as soon as possible.   Glad we have WC at home in this second go 'round of the conference games lineup.  Need some bigger crowds to turn out at The Shirk for these remaining home games.

IWU70

[Titan Q]

Thought Kevin Reed had one of his best games ever as a Titan and, of course, great to see Victor Davis lead the team in scoring, I think for the first time this season, in game 19 of the season? Not sure. 

Victor was the leading scorer against UW-Whitewater in game 5.

The Titans have had 6 players lead the team in scoring in a game this season...

Ziemnik: 5 times
Zimmer: 5 times
Sodemann: 3 times
Mayberger: 2 times
Davis: 2 times
Overstreet: 2 times

[Titan Q]

WJBC's postgame with Ron Rose yesterday - http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=711&c=3911&f=1016151

[Titan Q]

I've taken a shot at a Midwest region ranking as of today.  I don't think we'll get actual regional rankings until a week from this Wednesday (2/6).


(in-region winning %/in-region SOS)

My projected regional rankings, Sun 1/27
1.      Transylvania  .824 (14-3)/.560

2.      Ill. Wesleyan  .813 (13-3)/.524

3.      North Central  .824 (14-3)/.515

4.      Wheaton  .765 (13-4)/.531

5.      Washington U  .765 (13-4)/.577

6.      Augustana  .778 (14-4)/.582

7.      Rose-Hulman  .889 (16-2)/.465

8.      Grinnell  .800 (12-3)/.494
-----
9.      St. Norbert  .824 (14-3)/.516


Notes
* My criteria includes 1) in-region winning %, 2) in-region SOS, 3) in-region head-to-head, and 4) in-region common opponents.

* My SOS data is coming from KnightSlappy's incredible regional ranking work on his blog.  These numbers are only through 1/24, so the SOS figures above are close, but not 100% right - http://tomaroonandgold.blogspot.com/p/2010-2011-d3-mens-regional-rankings.html

* I'm assuming Wash U wins @ Case Western Reserve in UAA play today - that win is already factored into Wash U's regional record.

* The following in-region head-to-head results among the teams above were factored into my projection:

   - Transylvania - win @ Rose-Hulman
   - Illinois Wesleyan - wins @ Wheaton, vs Augustana, vs NCC/loss @ Wash U
   - North Central - wins vs Wheaton, vs Augustana/losses @ IWU, @ Wheaton
   - Wheaton - wins @ Augustana, vs NCC, vs Wash U/losses @ NCC, vs IWU
   - Wash U - win vs IWU/loss @ Wheaton
   - Augustana - win @ St. Norbert/losses @NCC, @IWU, vs Wheaton
   - Rose-Hulman - no wins/loss @ Transylvania
   - Grinnell - win @ St. Norbert
   - St. Norbert - no wins/loss vs Augustana, vs Grinnell

* Key common opponent games include: IWU's loss to Franklin/Transylvania's win over Franklin...Wash U's win over IWU/Augustana's loss to IWU...St. Norbert's loss to Augustana...IWU, NCC, Wheaton wins over Augustana.

* Since there are no actual regional rankings yet, I have not factored in in-region results vs teams who will be ranked in other regions.  For example, Transylvania's win over Wooster (Great Lakes) and St. Norbert's win over UW-Whitewater (West).

* My toughest call was what to do with Rose-Hulman.  .889 is the best in-region record on the board, but SOS is lowest and no wins over the other Midwest teams in the mix.