MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Quite a day at IWU's Shirk Center.  This is what things look like this afternoon...

https://twitter.com/SGarland17/status/297827428338905088/photo/1

On the other side of the wall, the men's JV just played an alumni team.  Then a 5:00pm women's game between IWU and Wheaton, and a 7:00pm men's game.

[Gregory Sager]

Millikin 91
North Park 71

NPU's baseball season opener is twenty days away. It can't come soon enough.

[kiko]

Millikin 91
North Park 71

NPU's baseball season opener is twenty days away. It can't come soon enough.

Based on the temps outside, I sure hope that's not a home game on the 22nd.

[Gregory Sager]

It's in Birmingham, AL, where it only hit 53 degrees for a high today. But it'll be in the low sixties most of next week, and it should be pretty tolerable by the time the Vikings come to town.

NPU doesn't play at home until the Vikes host preseason #24 Aurora on March 20. The average high for that day in Chicago is 48 degrees, so it probably won't be too pleasant a day for me to be outside running the scoreboard. But that's part of what opening day's all about when you're a baseball fan in Chicago, no matter which team you support.

[Mr. Ypsi]

It's in Birmingham, AL, where it only hit 53 degrees for a high today. But it'll be in the low sixties most of next week, and it should be pretty tolerable by the time the Vikings come to town.

NPU doesn't play at home until the Vikes host preseason #24 Aurora on March 20. The average high for that day in Chicago is 48 degrees, so it probably won't be too pleasant a day for me to be outside running the scoreboard. But that's part of what opening day's all about when you're a baseball fan in Chicago, no matter which team you support.

Make that anywhere in the north (if you don't have a dome) - the Tigers home opener has been snowed out several times in recent years.

[und63]

No room for the timid tonight at the Shirk, on court or in the standing room only crowd!

[mwunder]

Carthage playing without Marlon Senior this evening?  Anyone know why?

[Mr. Ypsi]

At the half, Titans 39, Thunder 30.  Titans were threatening to run away with it late, but Thunder got the last 4 points of the half.

[und63]

It's 1 on 1, the Tyler Peters show!

[mwunder]

Augie beats Carthage by 9 tonight, 83-74.

Augie has 5 guys in double figures led by Ben Ryan with 15.  Carthage is led by Thompson with 20.  Augie shot 60% and out rebounded Carthage by 13.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Titans 79, Thunder 64.  Final.

[iwu70]

Congrats to the Titans.  Great win at home.  Getting to 78+ almost always a win.  Strong bench play again.  Great to have Zimmer back, making a contribution.  The difference tonight was balanced scoring, tough D, esp. Eric Dortch, and limited TOs.  Everyone did their part tonight. 

Hey, hey, 10-0 in conference.  I'm lighting my cigar.  Keep it rolling Titans, no letdown.

IWU70

[Titan Q]

IWU 79
Wheaton 64

http://www.iwusports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=1822&path=mbball

* Andrew Ziemnik: 18 pts, 9 reb (7-7 FT)
* Pat Sodemann: 14 pts, 3 reb, 2 assists
* Victor Davis: 12 pts, 9 reb, 3 assists
* Kevin Reed: 8 pts, 10 reb

* Tyler Peters: 19 pts, 2 reb, 4 assists
* Brayden Teuscher: 18 pts, 4 reb
* Nathan Haynes: 12 pts, 10 reb
* Peter Smith: 10 pts, 10 reb

Even in video stream land I could tell how great the crowd and atmosphere was at the Shirk Center tonight.  2500 on hand and just a lot of electricity in the building.

IWU took command of this game in the final 8 minutes of the 1st half and never let Wheaton back in.  The Titans led by 9 at the break and scored the first 7 points of the 2nd half to go up 16. IWU's biggest lead was 64-43 with 11:50 to go.  Wheaton went on a nice 16-4 run to cut the deficit to 9 at the 4:04 mark, but the Titans closed it out from there.

Three pretty simple keys to this game in my opinion:

1) IWU's physical strength is tough for the Thunder to handle.  IWU out-rebounded Wheaton 46-31 and was just clearly the stronger, more physical basketball team.  The 15 rebound margin is just 3 less than the game on January 2 at Wheaton, when the Titans out-rebounded the Thunder 50-32.

2) The perimeter-oriented Thunder do not have much of an inside game.  When the 3's are falling (like in Rock Island), Wheaton can beat anyone in the country.  But the 3's aren't always going to be falling.  Tonight, in a tough road game in a hostile environment, Wheaton went just 5-22 from beyond the arc.  To contrast, IWU went a much more efficient 9-16 from 3.

3) IWU's depth was also a huge factor.  When the Titans pulled away at the end of the first half, it was with guys like Eric Dortch, Nick Anderson, Parker Musselman, and Mike Mayberger on the floor.  IWU got 25 points from its bench tonight.

I'm pretty sure Andrew Ziemnik secured a spot on the 1st Team all-CCIW tonight.  Another great night for the junior on both ends of the floor.  IWU's other forward, Victor Davis, also had a nice night.  IWU's starting forwards had 30 points and 18 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Pat Sodemann was very good tonight too.  He really brings a lot to the floor - poise, leadership, scoring ability, and tremendous FT shooting.  Sodemann is now 25-26 from the FT line in CCIW play.

Tyler Peters, who is an absolutely tremendous player, had a very similar game in terms of scoring to the one at Wheaton.  Peters had just 2 points in the 1st half, and did not have a FGA (he only played 10 minutes due to foul trouble.)  12 of his 19 points in the game came in the final 11 minutes, after the Titans opened up a 19-point lead.  Really similar to that game on January 2.

Illinois Wesleyan is 10-0 in the CCIW for the first time since Jack Sikma's senior season (1976-77).  In addition to staying 3 games ahead of North Central, the Titans most likely won the tie-breaker over the Cardinals tonight -- IWU now has a sweep over Wheaton, while NCC split with the Thunder.

 

[Titan Q]

Millikin head coach, and Wheaton grad, Matt Nadelhoffer tweeted the following during the 2nd half:

Matt Nadelhoffer ‏@CoachNgoBIGBLUE
Watching IWU Wheaton online-...wow IWU is really good-main reason...they play for the program


For me, this is the story of the 2012-13 Titans.  It's a very talented team, but more importantly it is a a group of guys that is incredibly unselfish and just loves playing basketball together.

In my 24 years following IWU basketball, I can't remember a team that was more cohesive and team-oriented than this one.  It's just a really easy group to pull for.

[Titan Q]

Chemistry and team play aside, I do think what gets a little lost with this IWU team is how talented they are.  I believe the Titans have:

* The second best starting backcourt (to Wheaton)
* The second best starting frontcourt (to North Central)
* The best bench by a wide margin

There are really no significant gaps or deficiencies.

IWU doesn't have a Tyler Peters or Derek Raridon, but has six guys who are very good (CCIW-only stats):

* Brady Zimmer - 13.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg
* Pat Sodemann - 11.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.7 A/TO
* Andrew Ziemnik - 11.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg
* Victor Davis - 10.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.4 apg
* Dylan Overstreet - 8.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.3 A/TO
* Kevin Reed - 8.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.8 apg

And the Titans have others guys who can play too - Nick Anderson, Mike Mayberger, Eric Dortch, and Parker Musselman have all made significant contributions in CCIW play.

Most of IWU's players are good on both ends of the floor, and there is so much offensive versatility.  Overstreet, Sodemann, and Zimmer can all play either guard spot...Ziemnik and Davis can play either forward spot...Reed can play with his back to the basket, but is also the best passing big man in the league.  The Titans have six legitimate all-CCIW candidates, which is very rare.  I'm assuming it's impossible for all six to make it, but who do you leave off of that group above? 

Some numbers through 10 games illustrate just how effective and balanced the Titans are:

* Coming into tonight's game, IWU was both the best offensive team in the CCIW per efficiency stats (111.2 pts/100 poss.), and the best defensive team (87.7 opponent pts/100 poss.).

* Through 10 games, IWU leads the CCIW in FG% (.481) and FG% defense (.365).

* IWU leads the league in 3-point shooting % (.409) and 3-point defense (.276)

* The Titans are second in rebound margin (+9.9) to Augustana.

* IWU has the CCIW's top three FT% shooters - Pat Sodemann (25-26, .962), Brady Zimmer (32-37, .865), and Andrew Ziemnik (25-30, .833).


These results are ultimately the product of having a lot of very good players.  Ron Rose's team has this really unique balance of size and strength and nastiness, and really impressive pure basketball skill.  As Coach G said, "The reason they are undefeated in the conference is because they have great front-line strength and they have very skilled perimeter players. So they can really pound it inside and they are a terrific 3-point shooting team."
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=625363&query=illinois%20wesleyan%20at%20augustana


I think the Titans are the most talented and complete team in the CCIW from top the bottom.